Need recommendation on a new rig

[NewNew]

Hi DIYers,

Going to build a rig for normal usage like movies, music, studies, work and maybe some light gaming.
GPU, mouse, keyboard and monitor not needed.
Budget $600+, lower the better.
Read up abit and come up with this config:

MB+ CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 + ASRock H81M-HDS or HDS R2.0 (PCT $235/TP $214)
Ram: Kingston/G-skill 8GB (PCT$47)
HD: Western Digital Blue 7200rpm 1TB (PCT $76)
PSU: FSP Hexa plus 450W (PCT $58)
Case: Corsair R100 or Spec-01 (PCT $85/$79)
OS: Win8.1PRO 64bit(Reddit $30)
SSD: ?

Total: $520+/-

Few questions:
MB: What is the diff between HDS and HDS R2.0?
PSU: If I add in more HD or GPU in future, will 450w suffice?
Case: Any significant difference other than the design. Are they value for money. Leaning toward R100. Will need more suggestions.
SSD: 120gb or 240gb? Brand Zotac seems popular and getting online cheaper?

Read about Lazada, no experience but willingly explore this option. How much savings will I be looking at?

Any help to improve my build is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[lukart]

Don't think there's much difference. Looks like a decent model to me.
For the PSU, depends on which GPU will you have, but I would try to go for at least 500w if you plan to have a discrete VGA in the future.

The SSD, the bigger the better. And you should always have one on your PC, it makes the computer look so much faster..
About Zotac, never heard they had SSD's. Go with A-data, they are cheap are reliable.

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

Hi DIYers,

Going to build a rig for normal usage like movies, music, studies, work and maybe some light gaming.
GPU, mouse, keyboard and monitor not needed.
Budget $600+, lower the better.
Read up abit and come up with this config:

MB+ CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 + ASRock H81M-HDS or HDS R2.0 (PCT $235/TP $214)
Ram: Kingston/G-skill 8GB (PCT$47)
HD: Western Digital Blue 7200rpm 1TB (PCT $76)
PSU: FSP Hexa plus 450W (PCT $58)
Case: Corsair R100 or Spec-01 (PCT $85/$79)
OS: Win8.1PRO 64bit(Reddit $30)
SSD: ?

Total: $520+/-

Few questions:
MB: What is the diff between HDS and HDS R2.0?
PSU: If I add in more HD or GPU in future, will 450w suffice?
Case: Any significant difference other than the design. Are they value for money. Leaning toward R100. Will need more suggestions.
SSD: 120gb or 240gb? Brand Zotac seems popular and getting online cheaper?

Read about Lazada, no experience but willingly explore this option. How much savings will I be looking at?

Any help to improve my build is appreciated.

Thanks!

anyway how light is ur gaming? normal browser games can but not those abit graphic intensive.

As for the mobo is just that same model, different revisions (meaning some tweak or changes) how much differences tl:dr.

PSU is only suffice if u add those lower power gpu like GTX 750ti or GTX 950. adding HDD wont eat up a lot of power.

Casing is that spec-01 only have 1 usb3.0 port and 1 usb2.0, 100r got 2 usb3.0. but both have different design purpose, sepc-01 is for gaming and 100r is more on silent.

SSD currently u can get zotac T500.

as for lazada purchase if u can, purchase on this 3 days, 7-9 for free delivery and deals product on lazada app.

 

[JihJing]

I am also just started journey to learn about diy PC.
For the processor, if you are on light gaming, can consider g3258.
For ssd, I got my zotac 120gb from Lazada and the performance is quite good.
Casing, if you want save money, can check out Armageddon.
You may consider the money save up here and top up a bit for gtx750ti.

Post HardwareZone Forums app

 

[NewNew]

Thank all. This rig is for a lady user. Probably Sims gene games and dota/lol/online games when relatives kids come. Or some light vid or photo edit.

Don't think there's much difference. Looks like a decent model to me.
For the PSU, depends on which GPU will you have, but I would try to go for at least 500w if you plan to have a discrete VGA in the future.

The SSD, the bigger the better. And you should always have one on your PC, it makes the computer look so much faster..
About Zotac, never heard they had SSD's. Go with A-data, they are cheap are reliable.

Seems like more consideration is needed for PSU. For SSD, leaning toward 240GB. Seems more worth it.

anyway how light is ur gaming? normal browser games can but not those abit graphic intensive.

As for the mobo is just that same model, different revisions (meaning some tweak or changes) how much differences tl:dr.

PSU is only suffice if u add those lower power gpu like GTX 750ti or GTX 950. adding HDD wont eat up a lot of power.

Casing is that spec-01 only have 1 usb3.0 port and 1 usb2.0, 100r got 2 usb3.0. but both have different design purpose, sepc-01 is for gaming and 100r is more on silent.

SSD currently u can get zotac T500.

as for lazada purchase if u can, purchase on this 3 days, 7-9 for free delivery and deals product on lazada app.

I read up on both models MB, but couldnt see really big diff. I will make do with either.

For PSU, do you reco me to get something slightly higher or stick to current?

Case should be R100. Spec01 look fierce for a lady, being silent and sleek is more suitable.

That's some good new, free delivery on lazada. Will check it out.

I am also just started journey to learn about diy PC.
For the processor, if you are on light gaming, can consider g3258.
For ssd, I got my zotac 120gb from Lazada and the performance is quite good.
Casing, if you want save money, can check out Armageddon.
You may consider the money save up here and top up a bit for gtx750ti.

Post HardwareZone Forums app

It is a very enjoyable process building up a rig. I like it. I got my rig from here too. Still working good! Hope you have an interesting journey too.
I will stick with the i3, in case if more cores are needed.
I suggest Armageddon before, but user dont like it.

 

[NewNew]

For SSD, how much faster will it boost up a rig? It's more for faster loading of programs?
I have the same question couple of years ago when i DIY mine. In the end, I choose to skip it. Using win8.1, boot up is fast for me, 30s+.

Food for thoughts:

Should I skip the SSD 240GB($80++) and get a i5($95) instead but she may not fully utilize it.
Or stick with the SSD, which boost speed may not be noticeable to her.
Hmm.....

Appreciated all help.

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

For SSD, how much faster will it boost up a rig? It's more for faster loading of programs?
I have the same question couple of years ago when i DIY mine. In the end, I choose to skip it. Using win8.1, boot up is fast for me, 30s+.

Food for thoughts:

Should I skip the SSD 240GB($80++) and get a i5($95) instead but she may not fully utilize it.
Or stick with the SSD, which boost speed may not be noticeable to her.
Hmm.....

Appreciated all help.

boot up 10~15 sec and loading apps still depends, words maybe 10~15sec, excel 15 sec and ppt should be faster (note that all base on normal clean install and starting it up)

why not gets both?
i5 and a SSD?

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

Thank all. This rig is for a lady user. Probably Sims gene games and dota/lol/online games when relatives kids come. Or some light vid or photo edit.


I read up on both models MB, but couldnt see really big diff. I will make do with either.

For PSU, do you reco me to get something slightly higher or stick to current?

Case should be R100. Spec01 look fierce for a lady, being silent and sleek is more suitable.

That's some good new, free delivery on lazada. Will check it out.

i see but video and photo editing, best u can get a i5 in case i3 is too slow for rendering.

psu is more than enough unless u gonna add-on some stuff, but overall should be more than enough though, unless u gonna give her even better gpu (show her more affection~)

yes 100R is already more than enough (but too bad no hello kitty or pink design case in SG )

its only for this week, so i hope that if there is any thing u wanna get from lazada can get it now or next 2 days. if not u have to wait for next few weeks or months for better deals.

 

[deepblue_82]

For now I feel.. Ssd is a must at least 240... U will nv go back go hdd after U touch a ssd no joke...

 

[NewNew]

boot up 10~15 sec and loading apps still depends, words maybe 10~15sec, excel 15 sec and ppt should be faster (note that all base on normal clean install and starting it up)

why not gets both?
i5 and a SSD?

i see but video and photo editing, best u can get a i5 in case i3 is too slow for rendering.

psu is more than enough unless u gonna add-on some stuff, but overall should be more than enough though, unless u gonna give her even better gpu (show her more affection~)

yes 100R is already more than enough (but too bad no hello kitty or pink design case in SG )

its only for this week, so i hope that if there is any thing u wanna get from lazada can get it now or next 2 days. if not u have to wait for next few weeks or months for better deals.

She does not want to exceed her budget, so can only get either.
Vid photo edit is not a frequent thing, esp vid, once in a blue moon. Those timing seems good. Still torn between SSD and i5.

I will stick with the current PSU and yea, hello kitty or pink design case, that might be great!

Will browse thru lazada and see what i can grab.

 

[NewNew]

For now I feel.. Ssd is a must at least 240... U will nv go back go hdd after U touch a ssd no joke...

Seriously, i have not experience a SSD yet., so hard for me to make judgement. But often hear good thing with it.
+1 SSD vote from you.

 

[zephyr11]

since editing is not often, ssd should be more worth it. and yea, i agree with ssd being supreme.

 

[Tornesoul]

this vid kinda sealed the deal for me, although i know gaming not in the list of usage, but i guess u could extrapolate it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqoKUFGjFR0

 

[NewNew]

since editing is not often, ssd should be more worth it. and yea, i agree with ssd being supreme.

this vid kinda sealed the deal for me, although i know gaming not in the list of usage, but i guess u could extrapolate it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqoKUFGjFR0

After some consideration and esp the power video link from Tornesoul, decide to settle for SSD for daily instead of i5 which is uncertain usage.

Thanks!

 

[NewNew]

My final rig should be:

MB+ CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 + ASRock H81M-HDS (PCT $235)
Ram: Kingston/G-skill 8GB (PCT$47)
HD: Western Digital Blue 7200rpm 1TB (PCT $76)
PSU: FSP Hexa plus 450W (PCT $58)
Case: Corsair R100 (PCT $85)
OS: Win8.1PRO 64bit(Reddit $30)
SSD: ZOTAC T500 240GB SSD ($82.50/ $67.50 after code "SAFRANEW")

TOTAL: $598.50

Does it look alright?
Is it necessary to top up $10 more for a FSP Hexa plus 550W or 450w will really suffice?

For OS, i need to use a thumbdrive to install? Any recommendation for it? Mine is only 2GB, so is SanDisk Ultra Flair a good choice? Getting from BB, seems to offer the best price.

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

My final rig should be:

MB+ CPU: Intel Core i3-4160 + ASRock H81M-HDS (PCT $235)
Ram: Kingston/G-skill 8GB (PCT$47)
HD: Western Digital Blue 7200rpm 1TB (PCT $76)
PSU: FSP Hexa plus 450W (PCT $58)
Case: Corsair R100 (PCT $85)
OS: Win8.1PRO 64bit(Reddit $30)
SSD: ZOTAC T500 240GB SSD ($82.50/ $67.50 after code "SAFRANEW")

TOTAL: $598.50

Does it look alright?
Is it necessary to top up $10 more for a FSP Hexa plus 550W or 450w will really suffice?

For OS, i need to use a thumbdrive to install? Any recommendation for it? Mine is only 2GB, so is SanDisk Ultra Flair a good choice? Getting from BB, seems to offer the best price.

nah its fine,the psu is more than enough.

yes u need to burn the iso into thumbdrive and install but if u install a 64bits u need 8GB which should be quite cheap by now. btw whats BB?

add-on for u, see if u wanna add GTX 750ti @153+3 and use dbs code to discount to 133+3 (discount max cap $20) for her since u say she gaming.

 

[Koenig168]

Is it necessary to top up $10 more for a FSP Hexa plus 550W or 450w will really suffice?

For OS, i need to use a thumbdrive to install? Any recommendation for it? Mine is only 2GB, so is SanDisk Ultra Flair a good choice? Getting from BB, seems to offer the best price.

PSU should always have a min 50% buffer so I would say go for the 550W.

Either DVD or thumbdrive for installation. The Sandisk Ultra Flair is good if you can get it cheap. Samsung is better but quite a bit more expensive. I have two Sandisk Ultra Fits and one Ultra Flair. All three get quite hot during usage, a problem which the Samsung does not have.

 

[NewNew]

nah its fine,the psu is more than enough.

yes u need to burn the iso into thumbdrive and install but if u install a 64bits u need 8GB which should be quite cheap by now. btw whats BB?

add-on for u, see if u wanna add GTX 750ti @153+3 and use dbs code to discount to 133+3 (discount max cap $20) for her since u say she gaming.

BB= bestbargain
I see, i will get some high capacity thumbdrive. Using 64bits.
GPU, will leave this option untouched. Should she ever need it, then decide again
For PSU, there's 2 school of thoughts, I will see what i can do to it. +1 for 450w

 

[NewNew]

PSU should always have a min 50% buffer so I would say go for the 550W.

Either DVD or thumbdrive for installation. The Sandisk Ultra Flair is good if you can get it cheap. Samsung is better but quite a bit more expensive. I have two Sandisk Ultra Fits and one Ultra Flair. All three get quite hot during usage, a problem which the Samsung does not have.

Nice personal review!
I read that it's hot too. I will consider Samsung too.
For PSU, mixed on this as there is 2 school of thoughts. Guess I might have to think through abit. +1 for 550w

 

[ZrE0_Cha0s]

PSU should always have a min 50% buffer so I would say go for the 550W.

Either DVD or thumbdrive for installation. The Sandisk Ultra Flair is good if you can get it cheap. Samsung is better but quite a bit more expensive. I have two Sandisk Ultra Fits and one Ultra Flair. All three get quite hot during usage, a problem which the Samsung does not have.

samsung got sells thumbdrive in sg?