mid grade build, amd vs intel help

A

allmondjoy87

New Member
Parents want a new pc this year for christmas, and rather than just getting a dell, they asked me to build one. It won't be used for much more than internet/word processing/multimedia (viewing/listening no editing). I want it to be "fast" for a while, so i picked out components that would be overkill for its purposes, in hopes that it will stay current longer.

i've only built the pc in my sig, so i'm partial to intel. however, after reading a heated thread that went off on a tangent about amd vs intel i picked two builds, both which i think to be comparable. Already have a psu and monitor. Went with mini itx cus.. why not?

AMD Build:
CPU: Phenom II X2 3.2 Ghz dual core
MOBO: ASUS M4A88T-I Deluxe
MEM: CORSAIR 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM
HSU: SILVERSTONE NT07-AM2

Intel Build:
CPU: i3-550 Clarkdale 3.2GHz
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-H55N-USB3
MEM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB
HSU: Dynatron K199

Common Parts:
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB
OPTICAL: Samsung DVD Burner
CASE: APEX MI-008
OS: Win 7
PSU: Corsair 550 vx

AMD: ~$520
Intel: ~$550

both mobos have usb 3.0 and on board graphics.
thanks guys
 
1- Why on earth have you picked mini-ITX? You can't fit that power supply in that case, and those motherboards lack a lot of features compared to full sized ones, but are more expensive.

2- Those CPU coolers are not going to be enough for those processors.

3- I'd go with an Athlon II x4 instead of the Phenom II x2. It's much more powerful, and only $10 more.

4- Why do you have different memory on the AMD build? The G.Skill from the Intel build is cheaper and better.
 
1. picked mini because this comp wont need alot of features, and why have a big clunky pc that has a lot of unused space? - i'll look into micro boards
2. picked coolers cus of the low profile for the small case, but if psu wont fit i'll obviously go micro
3. will do
4. memory reflected what was compatible w/ mobo

since the pc wont be used for gaming, i'm happy with integrated video. do you have any suggestions for a mobo? it prob will never be overclocked, and i'd like to have usb 3.0.

also for this use is there any advantage for amd vs intel?

thanks for the help
 
Ah, didn't realize the AMD board used SO-DIMM.

For this sort of work, you probably won't notice the difference between the AMD build and the Intel build. I'll throw a couple together in a few minutes.

edit: I'm guessing that you didn't include Windows when you quoted the prices?
 
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What about this for the AMD build.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.547177
Good little case. A good cheap one is hard to find. Also small platform/dual positioning/fits atx ps/atx-matx mobo/good cooling. And the cable management is better than it appears-everything fits under the bays/psu and behind the front panel. Add 1 120mm or 2 quiet ones on low rpm in push-pull. Get rid of the 3rd party coolers. You can find it for $80 or less shipped if you shop around..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146034&cm_re=duet-_-11-146-034-_-Product
It wont need it, but if you get a cooler get this.
http://www.coolermaster.co.jp/products/product.php?language=en&act=detail&tbcate=1&id=8240

edit:didnt know you were working on it.
 
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wow thanks for such speedy help, i haven't gotten a chance to look at anything yet and you guys have already hooked me up!

sorry if i wasn't clear in my post (and this is why you figured i didn't calculate in the OS), but i already have a VX550W. The build in my sig fried one before 30 days was up, so corsair sent me a knew one. To prevent more problems i bought a tx750 :)
 
Ah alrighty then. I removed the PSU from the other post and fixed the price.

Here's the AMD build. It's a bit more expensive, but has USB 3.0/Sata 6GB/s and much better onboard graphics. Comes to $445.66 shipped.

CPU + Mobo- $182
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.553729

Case + OS- $114
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.546483.11-121-003

RAM- $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

HDD- $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

DVD- $23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040
 
Drenlin said:
Ah alrighty then. I removed the PSU from the other post and fixed the price.

Here's the AMD build. It's a bit more expensive, but has USB 3.0/Sata 6GB/s and much better onboard graphics. Comes to $445.66 shipped.

CPU + Mobo- $182
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.553729

Case + OS- $114
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.546483.11-121-003

RAM- $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

HDD- $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

DVD- $23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118040
Click to expand...

I like it. but i waited too long and now the mem is sold out. Any other suggestions? Also I think I'll shell out a little extra or take storage cut, and get a sata 6.0 compatible HDD if i'm gonna get a mobo that supports it. Prob a caviar black or blue 500->640 gig
 
This'll be fine for the RAM. Slightly more expensive, but still cheap for 4GB of DDR3 1600.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260

edit: The $50 RAM is back in stock :good:


Sata6 is a gimmick on mechanical drives...the only drives fast enough to make use of it are solid state drives, which are much faster than mechanical ones. A Caviar Blue certainly won't make use of it.

If you're after a fast drive, I'd look a Samsung's Spinpoint F3 1TB. A bit more expensive, but it's up there with the Caviar Black line in speed.
Newegg- $70- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
Superbiiz- $59- http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...-F3-HD103SJ-1TB-SATA2-7200rpm-32MB-Hard-Drive
Don't worry about buying from Superbiiz, they're good.
 
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Drenlin said:
This'll be fine for the RAM. Slightly more expensive, but still cheap for 4GB of DDR3 1600.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260

edit: The $50 RAM is back in stock :good:


Sata6 is a gimmick on mechanical drives...the only drives fast enough to make use of it are solid state drives, which are much faster than mechanical ones. A Caviar Blue certainly won't make use of it.

If you're after a fast drive, I'd look a Samsung's Spinpoint F3 1TB. A bit more expensive, but it's up there with the Caviar Black line in speed.
Newegg- $70- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185
Superbiiz- $59- http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...-F3-HD103SJ-1TB-SATA2-7200rpm-32MB-Hard-Drive
Don't worry about buying from Superbiiz, they're good.
Click to expand...

thanks so much drenlin, i'll be sure to update how everything works out
 
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