New Build help

[CHayes1126]

Ok so I usually build computers for everyone else with parts you guys suggest. Ive never been let down, this time I need a build for myself. Spending limit about 500-600 but a little more wouldn't hurt. Here is what I need. I need a computer that will work well with surfing the internet, a little Photoshop editing (not a huge photoshoper), I do game every now and then but right now id like to hold off on the graphics card, but I need room to expand and get a great graphics card closer to Christmas time. So possibly a mobo with a good graphics card. Also, id like one that runs cool, I dont want it to heat up my room like my last one. Id like to make it as energy efficient as possible too, im not sure if that really is possible. I also need it to be relatively small in size. Im tired of lugging my computers around that are bigger than me. Any help would be great! Im also impartial to brands, I could care less AMD or INTEL

[Masaki 7-11]

Do you need monitor, peripherals, or OS? Or just the tower? The graphics card will most likely be your biggest source of heat and energy consumption, what kind of games will you be playing and what settings?

[CHayes1126]

No I dont need a moniter or any extras like that. But I will be running windows 7 when it comes out. Games, I play sims 3 and flight simulator on occasion. But honestly its not enough to try and build a rig around games, I use my xbox now.

[glc]

You can buy a very serviceable video card that will play those games well for 50 bucks.

[Masaki 7-11]

Here is a build list for a small computer with good performance, low power usage and low noise:


LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Writer SATA Model iHAS-324-98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106334
$31.99

COOLER MASTER Elite 341 RC-341C-KKN1-GP Black Steel MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119193
$39.99

Western Digital Caviar Green WD6400AACS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136298
$54.99

ASUS M4A785-M AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131595
$79.99

ASUS EAH4670/DI/512MD3 Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121329
$69.99

Antec earthwatts EA380 380W Continuous Power ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371005
$44.99

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184
$64.99

AMD Athlon II X2 245 Regor 2.9GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX245OCGQBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103687
$66.00

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116677
$109.99

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185125
$27.98

Subtotal: $590.90

[CHayes1126]

Great suggestion. What if I could take off the hard drive, DVD drive, windows, and video card. Take off the energy effitiant requirement and upgrade the processor anduse the extra money towards performance. I want to run windows 7 smoothly

[David M]

Contrary to Microsoft's past track record of new OS releases, Windows 7 is supposed to be less resource intensive.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by CHayes1126 Great suggestion. What if I could take off the hard drive, DVD drive, windows, and video card. Take off the energy effitiant requirement and upgrade the processor anduse the extra money towards performance. I want to run windows 7 smoothly

Windows 7 works quite well with most parts currently available, even low end ones. I have windows 7 running on a laptop with a 1.5GHz dual core, 4GB of ram and gma x3100 graphics and it runs really well; quite a bit quicker (at least in terms of user interface) than when I had vista on it. With the processor I recommended, you should easily be able to run windows 7 smoothly.

[CHayes1126]

So I didnt buy the ram in time and the price went up. Is there a decent alternative that may be cheaper or should I just go ahead and get the corsair?


how about this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145241

[glc]

Go to the Asus website and download the QVL for that motherboard, and pick some ram that's on the list.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by CHayes1126 So I didnt buy the ram in time and the price went up. Is there a decent alternative that may be cheaper or should I just go ahead and get the corsair? how about this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145241

Have you bought the motherboard yet? If not, at this time it would be better to go with an AM3 motherboard and DDR3 ram.

[CHayes1126]

I havnt yet but im going to buy it today or tomorrow whats your suggestion?

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by CHayes1126 I havnt yet but im going to buy it today or tomorrow whats your suggestion?

Here is a good motherboard and CPU to use, instead of the ones in the build list above:

ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131406
$94.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231253
$74.99

If you want to hold off on the video card, and don't mind having a bit higher power consumption, here is a good processor that will run a good amount faster than the athlon ii x2:

AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103648
$99.99

[CHayes1126]

I like it, done deal for me. You guys always suggest great things. Ill let you know how this one goes!

[CHayes1126]

I finally got everything together after a big shipping fiasco with newegg. Here are the parts I went with.

AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz
ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3
G.SKILL 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600)
I went with the stock cooler for the PSU. I dont plan on over clocking.

I tried to get the cool master case you suggested I bought it the first time around but UPS lost all of my items somehow so I had to reorder. When I went to reorder the cool master was out of stock so I got this case instead.
APEX TX-381-C Black Steel Micro ATX

The stock fan in the back is a little loud but the case itself is ok. Also I went to order the Earthwatts PSU and at the time it was discontinued. So I got the original Apex 420 Watt PSU. Im thinking I may take it back and get the new earthwatts that came out. Is the earth watts going to make much difference in regards to noise and heat? This one does seem just a little louder but its not too bad. I dont seem to have a problem with heat either.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by CHayes1126 I finally got everything together after a big shipping fiasco with newegg. Here are the parts I went with. AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 G.SKILL 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) I went with the stock cooler for the PSU. I dont plan on over clocking. I tried to get the cool master case you suggested I bought it the first time around but UPS lost all of my items somehow so I had to reorder. When I went to reorder the cool master was out of stock so I got this case instead. APEX TX-381-C Black Steel Micro ATX The stock fan in the back is a little loud but the case itself is ok. Also I went to order the Earthwatts PSU and at the time it was discontinued. So I got the original Apex 420 Watt PSU. Im thinking I may take it back and get the new earthwatts that came out. Is the earth watts going to make much difference in regards to noise and heat? This one does seem just a little louder but its not too bad. I dont seem to have a problem with heat either.

If the stock fans in the case are running too loud, you can always replace them with quieter ones; usually you can find pretty good quiet fans for $10 or under. Regarding the PSU, with a Earthwatts you will have a quieter PSU that produces less heat, has better efficiency, more headroom and most importantly better reliability than the built-in Apex power supply.