Low budget PC build

[Failsafe]

The PC will be located in a spare room, used for the odd email and used to browse the sites that my uncle uses to buy and sell the birds that he breeds.
When I spoke to him earlier today he admitted that he doesn't even bother turning on his little active PC speakers any more. I buiilt the old PC a decade ago. It's a P4 with a gig of ram.

This build will hopefully last another decade. No video editing, no photoshop, no games. Just a cheap and cheerful upgrade. I've even thought about transplanting my C2D e8400, mobo and ram and using the opportunity to get myself a bit of an upgrade. Then we'll both be happy.

If I did that, what about an i3 3220. Miles better than my e8400? And what about a video card to suit for occasional gaming to replace my HD4870?

Sorry to move the goal posts, it's just a thought.

 

[honosuseri]

You boys continue your bromance

PSUs are the most important part of a build and I won't compromise. See HERE for someone else who is worried after a brand new cheapo PSU went bang

 

[teppic]

Most PC desktops in the world run on these OEM PSUs and always have. Only enthusiast/high end machines will have premium ones. While people on here don't like them, that doesn't mean that they don't work for what they're suited to. A low end web/email PC drawing 50W isn't going to put any stress on a PSU.

(And I can't have a bromance with someone named after a toilet)

 

[Potty27]

teppic for bromance, hono for a wife

There are plenty of threads of people complaining their branded PSU's went pop too.

Also there are far more pople using cheap/oem PSU's than there are people using Bronze+ rated branded ones.

If the OP was building a gaming/overclocking rig, sure I'd agree with you, but he's not.

@OP What do you use yours for?

 

[teppic]

For these purposes I'd go for something very similar, and I'd stick on Linux Mint to avoid any OS costs. It'd also do as a home file server/basic media system as well.

(£235 with free shipping)

YOUR BASKET
1 x **B Grade** Samsung 120GB SSD 840 SATA 6Gb/s Basic - (MZ-7TD120BW) £60
1 x Asus F2A55-M LE AMD A55 Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £49.99
1 x AMD A6-5400K Black Edition 3.60GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Dual Core Processor (AD540KOKHJBOX) £47.99
1 x Imp MicroATX Tower Case (500w PSU) £31.99
1 x TeamGroup Elite 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (TED34GM1600HC11DC01) £29.99
1 x OcUK 20x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
Total : £246.95 (includes shipping : £10.00).

 

[Failsafe]

@OP What do you use yours for?

Built it when the e8400 was new.
Occasional gaming back then - played WoW a lot but not for a couple of years. Enjoyed racing games like NFS.
Would like to get into gaming again but held back by the HD4870, e8400 and more importantly, still using XP.

I edit video, create dvds and use photoshop.

I don't want to spend a fortune but am thinking along the lines of an i3 with a 7850 with w7.

 

[Potty27]

Built it when the e8400 was new.
Occasional gaming back then - played WoW a lot but not for a couple of years. Enjoyed racing games like NFS.
Would like to get into gaming again but held back by the HD4870, e8400 and more importantly, still using XP.

I edit video, create dvds and use photoshop.

I don't want to spend a fortune but am thinking along the lines of an i3 with a 7850 with w7.

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD Piledriver FX-6 Six Core 6300 Black Edition 3.50GHz (Socket AM3+) Processor - Retail £89.99
1 x MSI 990XA-GD55 AMD 990X Chipset (Socket AM3+) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Patriot Intel Extreme Masters 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (PVI38G160C9K) £49.99
Total : £219.97 (includes shipping : FREE).



Something like this may suit you better, depending on budget.

 

[Johnchristin]

Surprising!! I believe Intel uses the same controller & they are doing good. I dont think it is not right to discuss something personal on forums. I am a hands on guy & have good experiences with my Intel 520 & they are indeed highly reliable.