Build for Landscape Design Software

[mjkovis]

The build that I am posting is for a landscaping business and they will be strictly using this PC ONLY for the internet, email and DynaScape Design (landscape professional design software). I am going to be ordering the parts today, 4/11/09, and I just needed some quick feedback, if possible.

I was keeping them on a budget at my own discretion of around $500-600 without the monitor included. If I can save a few dollars here or there and still create an effective and upgradable build then please by all means give me something to work with. My goal is to provide them with a quality PC that we can upgrade in the future if needed. I absolutely need to keep this system on XP for the time being, but I want it to be able to run Vista or 7 in the future, if this PC lasts that long.

Case: Antec Sonata III ($119.99)
PSU: (Included with case)
Motherboard: ASUS P5QL Pro LGA 775 ($86.99)
CPU: Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale ($69.99)
Video Card: ASUS Radeon HD 3450 512MB ($36.99 w/$10 Rebate)
RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 800 PC2 6400 ($29.99)
HD: WD Caviar SE 320GB 7200 RPM SATA ($49.99)
Optical Drive: Lite-On Black 22x DVD Burner w/Lightscribe ($25.99)
Keyboard/Mouse: Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 ($29.99)
OS: WinXP Home ($89.99)

GRAND TOTAL: ~$540.00 (w/o Rebates)

I do have a few other options that I may mix in:

Motherboard: ASUS P5KPL-CM LGA 775 ($54.99)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L LGA 775 ($52.99)

...Problem is, with the Micro ATX boards I lose out on some of the options that I could use in the future for this system.

Case: Raidmax Apex ATX-802B ($39.99 w/$10 Rebate)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 330 ($39.99)
PSU: Enermax Tomahawk 500W ($74.99)
PSU: OCZ StealthXStream 500W ($54.99 w/$10 Rebate)

..."Mix N' Match" cases and PSU's.

Monitor: ASUS VW224U 22" LCD Widescreen ($169.99 w/$20 Rebate)

...This isn't added into the total, but this will be the monitor that I will be purchasing for them with this system.

Thanks all!!! Look forward to hearing any ideas or if I should go ahead with what I have got!!!

[glc]

I would go with the P5KPL-CM and the onboard video. Dynascape is far from video-intensive, I know landscapers running it on laptops with base video. What options are you losing that you would actually USE?

Here is the case/PSU I would use:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811153100

[mjkovis]

Case: Foxconn TV544 ($49.99)
PSU: (Included with case)
Motherboard: ASUS P5KPL-CM LGA 775 ($54.99)
CPU: Intel C2D E7400 Wolfdale ($119.99)
Video Card: (On-board Video)
RAM: G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) ($41.99)
HD: WD Caviar 500GB SATA ($69.99)
Optical Drive: Lite-On 24x DVD Burner SATA ($28.99)
Keyboard/Mouse: Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 ($29.99)
OS: WinXP Home ($89.99)

GRAND TOTAL: ~$486.00

[not important]

I would go with the E5200 CPU. The rest looks good.

[Matt_Smi]

Originally Posted by mjkovis Case: Foxconn TV544 ($49.99) PSU: (Included with case) Motherboard: ASUS P5KPL-CM LGA 775 ($54.99) CPU: Intel C2D E7400 Wolfdale ($119.99) Video Card: (On-board Video) RAM: G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) ($41.99) HD: WD Caviar 500GB SATA ($69.99) Optical Drive: Lite-On 24x DVD Burner SATA ($28.99) Keyboard/Mouse: Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000 ($29.99) OS: WinXP Home ($89.99) GRAND TOTAL: ~$486.00

I like this much better, I recently did a build that was very similar using that same CPU/board and I love it! I was even able to OC the CPU from 2.8 to 3.2 with just a FSB increase. That case/psu combo is good too and I agree that a video card is not needed for this build. All looks good!

[glc]

Originally Posted by not important I would go with the E5200 CPU. The rest looks good.

I discussed this with him on IRC, there's reasons to upgrade the processor. The software company recommends a Core 2 Duo or a 2.8 GHz Pentium. The E5200 is neither, it's a 2.5 GHz dual core Pentium. It also has a faster FSB and more cache. There's plenty of room in the budget for it.