Planning my first build and in need of suggestions.

[gputer]

Hello everyone, I am going to attempt my first computer build this year and from what I have read I have a very good Idea of what I want, but I would just like some suggestions and someone to look over my list. I am not a gamer so I am not in need of a monster computer. I am however a student and I love listening to music so with that in mind here are the things I plan on doing with this computer :Using office tools(word,excel,powerpoint), E mail, watching youtube in HD, web surfing, downloading and watching movies once in a while, listening to music.

As far as my needs go I am basically looking for a basic computer for everyday needs, however I want a set of Monitor speakers to enjoy my music and a decent ($100) sound card to go along with them. I am also recycling a few parts from an older(2010) computer and I will also need a monitor. I have been eyeing the Asus VH238H for $150. My budget for the build is $400-500 just for the tower and parts I need for it not including OS. I am not a gamer, have never been into gaming, and I dont plan on it.

Here is what I have so far:
CPU: intel pentium G3420 http://

CPU cooling: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 http://pcpartpicker.com/part/noctua-cpu-cooler-nhu9bse2

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H87M-D3H http://

RAM: recycled Elpida 2x2GB DDR3 1333 DIMM 240 pin http://www.cybershopcomputers.com/3/product.php?id_product=226

Harddrive: recycled Hitachia 3.5" SATA 3.0 GB/s 7200 rpm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145565

Optical drive: recycled HP(hitachi?) GH40L http://www.amazon.com/GH40L-HP/dp/B002TWRXQ6

Audio card: Asus xonar dx http://

Case: Cooler master N200 http://

Power supply: Corsair CX500M http://

All this totals out to $400 on pcpartspicker give or take $50 depending on shipping and what websites I get everything from.


Do you think the Intel CPU with the Intel HD graphics will be ok for youtube in HD? I spend a lot of time watching youtube and our store bought HP always has problems lagging with 1080p vids on youtube. what do you think about the sound card? I mainly listen to rap/hip hop with some rock/alternative and anything else that sounds good. The only OS I have experience with is windows and I plan on going with Windows 8.

 

[fornoob]

to OCF!

Could you please answer the following questions:

1) Is size important for you? Does the rig need to be small?
2) Does it have to be particularly silent?
3) How much storage space do you need? 200GB? 1TB? more?
4) Do you plan to overclock CPU, memory, GPU?

Regarding your parts:

*The CPU may be a little weak if you go heavy multitasking, an A6 or A8 APU from AMD would be ideal in your case.
*Low power CPUs don't usually run hot, so your CPU cooler might be a little overkill. The choice of the cooler will depend on the size of the rig you want (small and compact or wide).
*Any recent (less than 4 years) motherboard which is quite decent have an equivalent sound chipset than any dedicated sound card (non pro). The only interest left in dedicated PCI sound card is live encoding and recording.
* If you don't plan to go gaming with higher level components, a 500W PSU is overkill, a quality 300W is already way more than enough.

 

[gputer]

to OCF!

Could you please answer the following questions:

1) Is size important for you? Does the rig need to be small?
2) Does it have to be particularly silent?
3) How much storage space do you need? 200GB? 1TB? more?
4) Do you plan to overclock CPU, memory, GPU?

Regarding your parts:

*The CPU may be a little weak if you go heavy multitasking, an A6 or A8 APU from AMD would be ideal in your case.
*Low power CPUs don't usually run hot, so your CPU cooler might be a little overkill. The choice of the cooler will depend on the size of the rig you want (small and compact or wide).
*Any recent (less than 4 years) motherboard which is quite decent have an equivalent sound chipset than any dedicated sound card (non pro). The only interest left in dedicated PCI sound card is live encoding and recording.
* If you don't plan to go gaming with higher level components, a 500W PSU is overkill, a quality 300W is already way more than enough.

1. Size is important. I am looking for a medium size tower.

2. It does not have to be particularly silent but i dont think the things i will be doing will make the fan scream.

3. I dont need much storage, the 640 gb harddrive i have will be fine.

4. I do not plan on overclocking at all.

As far as the cpu goes i want to stick with intel, although i have been thinking of getting one of the i3 cpus. I think the cooler i chose will fit just fine in the case wont it? I chise all these parts under pcpartspicker and found no discrepencies. I was under the impression that a sound card would offer much better quality over the motherboard snd I thought this psu would be too much but i wanted some head room.

 

[EarthDog]

I like the build for the most part.

Since you are using the iGPU, I would get faster ram. At least DDR3 1600 Mhz. You are not gaming or anything so faster than that I wouldn;t bother with.

If you are not (and in this case, cannot) overclock(ing), there is no need for a different cooler. The stock intel cooler is made to cool a stock CPU.

A sound card is generally better, however if you have bad speakers/headphones, there is no point.

If you NEVER plan on getting a discrete GPU, you can go less with more than enough headroom. I would go Corsair CX430. That gives you plenty of headroom and saves a few $ on the PSU.

 

[gputer]

Would i run into problems if i add some 1600 mhz ram down the road? As far as the sound card goes do you think it would be worth it for studio monitors?

 

[fornoob]

Ok for Intel, the i3 is pretty interesting too . Since you don't plan to go OC, the B85 chipset would save you some cash for nothing.
What ED said is right: the Intel stock cooler is perfectly fine for an Intel CPU with stock settings and since the i3 almost never gets hot, noice would never be an issue.

If you're listening the highly-compressed sound of youtube videos/ musics or any kind of mp3 music file, then you can't tell the difference between a sound chipset onboard and a 100$ discrete sound card.
Differences could be noticed with high quality speakers AND uncompressed audio files.

With the savings, you could go for a 120GB SSD which is always a nice upgrade (but it is just an option).

Here is what I propose:

 

[EarthDog]

If you're listening the highly-compressed sound of youtube videos/ musics or any kind of mp3 music file, then you can't tell the difference between a sound chipset onboard and a 100$ discrete sound card.

Differences could be noticed with high quality speakers AND uncompressed audio files.

Ehhh, there are plenty of improvements to be had without the use of uncompressed audio with a new card and better speakers. Uncompressed audio can take things to the next level, however, and show greater differences, sure.

But make no mistake about it. The difference between most onboard sounds solutions and a decent discrete solution, you can notice with a decent set of speakers or cans.

 

[gputer]

I want to recycle the HDD for sure and i will not be doing anything to warrant the SSD. That board does not have an HDMI output that i see.

 

[fornoob]

That board does not have an HDMI output that i see.

No it hasn't, this one has for instance:
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-b85mpro4

Regarding the SSD, it as an option as I said: you could do this. You perfectly can have a SSD + your HDD at the same time (it is even one of the best combination to have: fast loading times for the important apps on the SSD and plenty of space for the other files on the HDD).

Ehhh, there are plenty of improvements to be had without the use of uncompressed audio with a new card and better speakers. Uncompressed audio can take things to the next level, however, and show greater differences, sure.

I do agree for the speakers ED, I did experiment it myself many many times but I would be more reserved regarding the ~100$ audio card. Sure it can have many features like 3D spacing, live encoding, filters, etc. but many of similar features actually come with quality headphones or speakers.
Once you're done with all the audio chain (speakers, uncompressed, etc...), it IS an interesting upgrade but the least important IMHO (if you have a motherboard with a decent chipset of course )

 

[EarthDog]

Agreed with an SSD. To be able to afford an SSD and not get one... is "uncivilized" (Old spice commercial).

 

[fornoob]

I do like the "uncivilized"

 

[gputer]

Ok im confused now, do you think it would be worth having a $100 sound card or not? I I plan on going with some Bi amp monitor speakers such as the M audio Bx8d2's.

 

[gputer]

I am confused, do you guys think the $100 sound card would be worth it for some monitor speakers? I plan on getting something along the lines of the M audio bx8d2's which are bi amp.

fornoob is there a reason you chose the i3 4330 over the slightly faster i3 4340?

 

[fornoob]

I would first go for really high quality speakers and when I am sure I have the good ones, I would go for the sound card, not before

The slightly higher frequency between the i3 4330 and the i3 4340 doesn't make any tangible difference (maybe 1-2 seconds in a minute-long compilation): the 4330 is more than fast enough and cheaper. Btw, I piked it for the HD4600 Intel Graphics which are better than the defaults one.

If you like audio so much, I would avoid the BX series which is pretty disappointing and lacks of proper connectivity (no RCA, only TRS). And audio quality isn't really better than any entry-level 5.1 (which cost less than 100$).
If you plan to go all balls out on audio, I do recommend the Adam A8X (costs twice the price of the M BX) and then an audio card.

It is never simple to go for an high quality audio setup and very rare to build it in one shot

 

[gputer]

My budget is $400 max for the speakers.

 

[gputer]

Ok I have decided to go ahead and get an SSD for the performance benefit and also use my HDD. From the one article I read the whole point it to put the OS and main apps on the SSD for faster loading and everything else on the HDD correct? How big of an SSD will I need? Will the 120GB you recommended be enough for everything? I plan on running windows 8.1 and I decided to get an Asus motherboard instead because i read a few bad reviews about the ASrock all having the same problem. The new board is Asus B85M-E/CSM.

What are the differences between the windows 8 OS that are on pcpartspicker labeled (OEM) and the ones that are not? I am looking for a clean windows 8 install with no bloatware.

 

[fornoob]

Windows 8 OS takes around 20GB, that is 100GB for your apps. Since you dont plan to play games, 100GB is really large compared to your needs. Your pictures, music, movies, etc... go to the HDD.

OEM means it is intended for manufacturer: you can pick the licence but it is available only for one PC with no major upgrade allowed.
For example:
You install an OEM version of windows on your PC which has an i3, 8GB of specific RAM, and an ASUS B85M motherboard.
Everything will work fine.
If you plan to change one of those components (CPU, RAM, motherboard), then your license is dead.
If you go OEM, it is for one rig only. You have to buy a new one if you change major parts of your PC.

Non OEM version are available for one PC only too but allows you to change parts, your license would still be good.

 

[fornoob]

My budget is $400 max for the speakers.

Then the M-AUDIO Studiophile DSM2 could suite you well

 

[gputer]

Windows 8 OS takes around 20GB, that is 100GB for your apps. Since you dont plan to play games, 100GB is really large compared to your needs. Your pictures, music, movies, etc... go to the HDD.

OEM means it is intended for manufacturer: you can pick the licence but it is available only for one PC with no major upgrade allowed.
For example:
You install an OEM version of windows on your PC which has an i3, 8GB of specific RAM, and an ASUS B85M motherboard.
Everything will work fine.
If you plan to change one of those components (CPU, RAM, motherboard), then your license is dead.
If you go OEM, it is for one rig only. You have to buy a new one if you change major parts of your PC.

Non OEM version are available for one PC only too but allows you to change parts, your license would still be good.

Do you think I could get by with a 64 GB SSD?

Then the M-AUDIO Studiophile DSM2 could suite you well

those are $650 on amazon.

 

[fornoob]

No, 64GB SSD are generally not that much cheaper than 120GB SSD but are slower and could just give you headaches for nothing. :
Better be large with a 120GB in any case.

What??? Those are less than 250 euros in Europe