budget build ~ £250

Amleto

Amleto

Amleto

Soldato
Joined
13 Feb 2003
Posts
6,158
wife's computer - 939-based shuttle (sn25p) has just stopped working so looking for a cheap new build.

I'm upgrading my case, which means she can have my old one. Therefore I'm just in need of

mobo
ram
psu
cpu


gfx will come from the sn25p - ati 4650 iirc

I threw this together in about 60s, but maybe i3/i5 is better?

 
i5 is unnecessary but the i3 is better than the Phenom (which is a rebranded Athlon I should add), if it is just general office, web browsing, day to day stuff.


Intel Core i3-2100 3.10GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £89.99

OCZ ModXStream Pro 500w Silent SLI Certified Modular Power Supply £53.99

MSI H61M-E33 Intel H61 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard **B3 REVISION** £46.99

Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £33.59

Total : £237.46 (includes shipping : £10.75)




If you don't need a modular PSU then the BeQuiet 530w is very good value for money.

Sandy Bridge review (linked to the conclusion but there are graphs further back to compare)

For multithreaded workloads you're better off with an Athlon II X4 645; however, for lightly threaded work or a general purpose PC the Core i3-2100 is likely faster.
Click to expand...
 
That OCZ isn't awful bad, it would certainly handle a stock i3-2100 w/o a GPU.

Overclock 3d Review

It easily completed all the tests, and passed with flying colours right up to its 500w limit. The modular cables and large fan mean that not only the PSU runs cool, but it also improves airflow within the case......Therefore, we can whole heartedly recommend this PSU, which is simply perfect for all but the most advanced gaming rigs.
Click to expand...

Hardware Secrets Review

OCZ ModXStream Pro 500 W is as good as the 600 W model we reviewed before, providing high efficiency (81%-85%), voltages very close to their nominal values (3% regulation against standard 5%), noise and ripple levels within proper range, ability to deliver its labeled power at high temperatures and protections up and running.
Click to expand...
 
olivier renault said:
brrrr... XFX 550W or Bequiet Pure L7 530W over the OCZ PSU any day of the week. They are even cheaper.

And of course Antec 620W for £50 while it's in stock.
Click to expand...

any idea which is the quietest psu? I notice the Be Quiet has the smallest fan.


Plec said:
/OT Did you get your memory problem sorted Amleto?
Click to expand...

all memory that I have recently bought is being or has been sent back:
One set of 4gb was truly faulty (full refund received)
The 4gb replacement set uncovered a mobo/dimm fault so sent back under DSR
The 8gb replacement replacement set wouldn't even POST and looks like incompatibility so sending back as well

net effect: "as you were".



edit:
bonus! the "4gb replacement set" hasn't been sent back so can just cancel the DSR return and use that. Although it will be under-clocked on those i3 boards but I doubt it will make much real-world difference in this system :)
 
Last edited:
I would tend to agree with my mate sk82jack. That i3 is on par with the phenom II 955/965 but the AM3 socket is at the end of it's life. Although I have suggested AMD builds recently for budget gaming rigs (some games want 4 cores the i3 isnt) for your needs the i3 makes sense.

I would have also suggested the Bequiet 530W psu, i know it isnt modular but it is cheaper and still a good branded PSU.
 
Just a small update to say thanks. Here is what I ordered and is now built:

  • Intel Core i3-2100 3.10GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor
  • MSI H61M-E33 Intel H61 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard **B3 REVISION**
  • Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9)
  • Antec High Current Gamer 620W Power Supply (was on offer)

Although I didn't realise that the CD RW drive from the previous system was ide not sata so need a new one of those as well :o
 
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