Building an Office Computer

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Xfootballer814

New Member
Hello all my parents 8 year old computer is finally starting to go on the fritz and i'm looking to build them a new one to replace their old one. I'd like to keep the budget under 600 dollars or so. I already own two monitors that i plan on using for the setup. Basically i want it to be able to run Quickbooks, word and basic office programs/ occasional picture editing and of course internet. I'm also getting a deal on the windows seven operating system through my school so don't factor that in. Anyway enough with the babbling here's what i thought.
For the processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103871
Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128394
Memory, if room in the budget allows i was going to get two of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Deals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=
Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Deals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=
CD/DVD Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066
Harddrive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Deals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

Im not sure what to do about the graphic card/sound card. With the graphics card/sound card i don't need anything special or fancy but don't want some pos thats going to gimp the whole system so heres the graphic card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130536
And for sound card do i even need one? Also thanks in advance for all your help! If you see a part that can be downgraded to save some money i'd love to hear your suggestions. Also are the pieces compatible and am i missing anything?
 
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Yes.
Also,
I think the on board video on that motherboard is better than that card. Doesnt look like it will need a vc for that use you describe. Also it has 8 channel audio built in, so no sound card needed. If you wanted to move up to the newer chipset motherboard that has 200mhz more for obv(which isnt much)and also has 8 channel sound, you could put the card $ towards this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157192
And that will allow you to use that good memory you picked out. Since the board you picked only supports 1200 if you overclock it.
The processor you chose is a bit overkill for those apps but if anything more intense needs to be done, you'll be more prepared.
Are 2 monitors going to be used with this pc?
 
Yes two monitors are going to be used. So should i drop the graphics card completely? Also do i need a card for wireless interent? So im going to swap out the motherboard i posted above for the one you picked out, its far better from what i can tell, which is not much haha.
 
Yes it will run 2 monitors, but 1 will be analog if that matters
Ive added a 5750 video card with 2 hd outs and eyefinity.
The next step up to 5770 is about $25 more.
Check this out.
An x3 w/L3 cashe - way plenty &w/reserve, for the use/cpu cooler/ 880G w-usb3.0 obv oba/ 1333 memory or yours, not noticable diff/HD 5750(free 4gb drive)/top grade psu, more watts than needed but with the combo-rebate the price is definately right/WD Black 500/case by CM(<-good deal for $40 but cases are of preference as long as they perf.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.547009
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.556748
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102859
This case has better cable management and hdd rack design than the Antec(and costs less), but the Antec is ok if it's liked more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

This case & memory = 421 +10 for cpu paste + 20 for cd/dvd = $548.
add 10-15 for card reader/writer if you need one.

You could also go with the Athlon II x3 445 Supermultitasker for it's price point of $74 and it would work very well also. It's less that the 440 and can be easily clocked up to the 550, but it wouldn't need to be. You'd loose the combo above but there may be another w/ it. Didn't look because for the 550ish I'd just do the Phenom II.
 
so does the non integrated graphics card offer an advantage over the one built into the motherboard when it comes to day to day tasks of office software? Also what does it mean when you say it would have to run analog? It would still work and be able to run one app on one screen and another on the second screen right?
Also with the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103872 you mentioned the reviews talk about unlocking a fourth core with the use of http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138181 What does that mean and is that something i should go for?
Oh and with the processor you picked out above does the combination of the heat sink improve performance over a shelf model? Just so curious and eager to learn about all of this and how computers work. And i almost forgot Thanks a bunch and Happy Thanksgiving!
 
You can't unlock any cores on the Athlon cpus that is only on the Phenoms. Having a better cpu cooler will keep the cpu cooler but for a cpu that s not overclocked, temps should be regulated just fine by the stock cooler.
 
salvage-this said:
You can't unlock any cores on the Athlon cpus that is only on the Phenoms. Having a better cpu cooler will keep the cpu cooler but for a cpu that s not overclocked, temps should be regulated just fine by the stock cooler.
Click to expand...
Woops silly me, linked the wrong proccesor.Heres the one i was talking about
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103699
So what does it mean to "unlock" a fourth core? The specs only mention three...
Also i thought about picking up this combo but the mother board doesn't mention coming with an integrated graphics card so would i have to purchase one? And for non gaming purposes does a better graphics card offer any benefits?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...cm_mmc=BFUS-_-NormalCombo-_-559887&nm_mc=BFUS
Alright done searching for the night. Let me know what you guys think about the following setup
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Combo...cm_mmc=BFUS-_-NormalCombo-_-559887&nm_mc=BFUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_mmc=BFUS-_-147-_-N82E16820231277&nm_mc=BFUS *2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161315
Is this overkill for basic work? I got scared off buying this combo http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.556748 due to reviews stating the hardrive failed after one year. But it is a really good deal....Also how does this ram compare to the one i have listed. Its reviews were not as good as the one i picked so i was a little bit worried about it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251
One last thing, how do these graphic cards compare to the one i picked out? Is the difference worth the price increase? I chose the one i currently have listed because it included a fan in it for cooling purposes but is this worth the money?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131355
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102882
Thanks again you guys rock and i'd buy you all a cookie if i could!
 
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The Phenom II cpus are all (as far as I know) quad cores by design. The dual cores and tri cores are made by disabling the 4th or the 3rd and 4th core. They may have disables it because it was not stable on all of the cores or they might just disable them to make more dual or tri cores. You might get lucky and be able to go into your bios and re enable the cores and get more cores than you had originally purchased. This is a gamble. It is in no way a guarantee that you will get one that can unlock stable cores. My suggestion, get whatever processor that has the cores that you would be satisfied with and anything that you unlock is a bonus.
 
Wait..what?

You CAN unlock cores on Athlons. X3's can unlock to quads. The duals don't, though...different die. However, if you don't want to mess with that, an Athlon II x4 of some sort would be perfectly fine and ~$100.

The onboard graphics would be just fine. Anything more powerful would be wasted on an office computer, honestly, unless you want DirectX 11...in which case an HD5450 would be perfectly fine.

As a heads up, TS, at your price point, look for a motherboard with the 880G chipset. 785G is also ok, if you can find a good one. They both have HD4000 series onboard graphics. 890GX does as well, but they're more expensive and useless in a build like this.
 
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Well the combo package i was going to buy is sold out. So i need a new processor and motherboard. Heres what i'm going with now, going to pull the trigger soon so let me know if anything here is a flat out no. I'm sticking with a dedicated graphics card to help with the dual monitors and any picture/video editing. Also im going to be able to unlock the fourth core on the processor right?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_mmc=BFUS-_-147-_-N82E16820231277&nm_mc=BFUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161315
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198
Edit: is this processor better?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886
 
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As stated, that obv WILL support 2 monitors, but one would have to be analog and so if you want hd/hdmi x2 a card will be needed. For the price point of hdmi x2 the 5670 was listed.
That 740 cpu didnt come with a cooler so 1 was added and it was part of a combo. At the price point there were no A II x4's to be coupled in a deal for the $ and the 740 was plenty of cpu. A retail boxed AMD comes with a sufficient cooler for the needs. Also an A II x3 will perform the said tasks very efficiently and is $25 less that an x4.
Some AMD cpu's may unlock and be stable. Some may unlock and not be stable. Some won't unlock. So for all intent and purposes here, where it unlocks or not has no decision making warrants. The motherbaord has to have the unlocking feature and if you get an unlockable and it's stable, it's just a bonus. Don't plan on it.
 
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Xfootballer814 said:
Well the combo package i was going to buy is sold out. So i need a new processor and motherboard. Heres what i'm going with now, going to pull the trigger soon so let me know if anything here is a flat out no. I'm sticking with a dedicated graphics card to help with the dual monitors and any picture/video editing. Also im going to be able to unlock the fourth core on the processor right?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_mmc=BFUS-_-147-_-N82E16820231277&nm_mc=BFUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161315
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198
Edit: is this processor better?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886
Click to expand...
HDD, deals on hdds right now. Get wd black or seagate 700.12 w/32mb cashe
CPU, the A II x3 445 is cheaper that the 440 and will perform as well as the 450 witch is 5 more i think. I't's not actually worth the 5 more because it's the same cpu just a tad more ghz which won't be a noticable difference. The ghz on all 3 can be adjusted.
 
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Yes :good: And you're welcome !

FYI you will not be able to use the onboard video AND the video card at the same time. Since the card is more powerful the motherbaord should automatically use it. You can investigate how to manually disable the obv on that motherboard to take the guess out.
^^ This means your monitor outs on the pc will be the ones on the card only. HDMI has the audio in the cable. DVI does not. Your motherbaord has the sound out if/when using DVI.

EDIT: be sure and post back to the forum if you need help or when it's built and let us know how it's going :)
 
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Benny Boy said:
Yes :good: And you're welcome !

FYI you will not be able to use the onboard video AND the video card at the same time. Since the card is more powerful the motherbaord should automatically use it. You can investigate how to manually disable the obv on that motherboard to take the guess out.
^^ This means your monitor outs on the pc will be the ones on the card only. HDMI has the audio in the cable. DVI does not. Your motherbaord has the sound out if/when using DVI.

EDIT: be sure and post back to the forum if you need help or when it's built and let us know how it's going :)
Click to expand...

Thanks again man and i will! Going to order it now, then back to college for exams so i can't start it another 2 weeks :mad: still couldn't pass on these deals.
 
If you consider combo deal and MIR, I think this would probably be one of the best. But I think those offer will end soon.

AMD Phenom II X4 955 + GIGABYTE GA-880GMA-UD2H + Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB + G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 2 x 2G DDR3 1600 F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.548058

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

ASUS EAH5550/G/DI/1GD3(LP) Radeon HD 5550 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121407

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

COOLER MASTER Elite 430 RC-430-KWN1 Black Steel / Plastic Computer Case + Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.548000.11-119-227

Antec Basiq BP430 430W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371023

Total: $567, MIR $70
 
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