Spec. Check for Non-Gamer

foreright

foreright

foreright

Associate
Joined
19 Jan 2005
Posts
479
Location
Romford, Essex
I know this is a way OTT PC for general use but I've put up with a dog of a machine for years and am treating myself.
I already have the PSU and have yet to decide on the case. I would value your feedback and wish to know where I have totally wasted my money and could still get good performance with a small step back. Namely in the CPU and GPU I know perhaps a slower i5 may suffice and I've chosen the GPU from recommendations and the fact there is a sale this weekend on MSI GPU's. Perhaps a cheaper 7770 would suffice.
I have also chosen W7 because W8 drivers are not available for my Maudio sound card.
I know I'm a couple of hundred in overkill but it's a treat though I'm still prepared to moderate on your advice.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-4670 3.40GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £179.99
1 x MSI HD 7850 OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Cards with FREE GAMES £129.95
1 x Gigabyte Z87-D3HP Intel Z87 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £109.99
1 x Seasonic G series 650w '80 Plus Gold' Modular Power Supply £99.98
1 x Samsung 120GB SSD 840 EVO SATA 6Gb/s Basic - (MZ-7TE120BW) £86.99
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02050) £83.99
1 x Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-17000C11 2133MHz Dual CHannel Kit (PV38G213C1K) £65.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (ST500DM002) HDD £39.95
1 x LG GH24NSB0 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
Total : £825.82 (includes shipping : £10.00).

Please advise.
 
Why buy a gaming graphics card if you don't want to play games? You'd be wasting your money completely.

You also don't need anything more than a 450W PSU.
 
teppic said:
Why buy a gaming graphics card if you don't want to play games? You'd be wasting your money completely.

You also don't need anything more than a 450W PSU.
Click to expand...

I already have the PSU in my current machine. I bought it as I wanted a quiet PC to use as a media centre. As for the GPU I am fed up with a hanging machine that populates the screen in blocks and want a speedy one this time. I am looking for your advice as to the best for non gaming.
 
In that case an A8 APU will be more than quick enough, and the board and processor together will be £150. There's no need for a graphics card.
 
Get the K CPU to justify the Z series mobo for overclocking. If you are not gaming then just use the CPUs IGP, you can add a dedicated GPU later if you do want to play games. a 1TB drive wouldn't cost much more to be fair.

The Corsair 200R isn't a bad budget case, depends on what you like really.
 
Any future plans for anything which would require that kind of beef?

I just put together an AMD 5600K based pc for my mum and it does everything you require with ease.
 
teppic said:
In that case an A8 APU will be more than quick enough, and the board and processor together will be £150. There's no need for a graphics card.
Click to expand...

Iam looking for the best I can buy and not just suffice. Without being "flash" I just wanted to treat myself to something that will fly (so to speak)
I take on board your advice and know I am wasting a bit of money but I would like a PC that is quiet and has something in reserve and naivel thought Intel and dedicated GPU was the way to go.
If I'm wrong then so be it. Unfortunatel I'm 62 and not really on top of these things like you youngsters.
I don't mind spending OTT - then I wouldn't have to leave it to you young uns'
 
It's not just something that would suffice. I've got an APU system and a 4770K system, and for desktop stuff, there's nothing between them.

If you wanted to treat yourself I'd save on the CPU/GPU and instead get the best looking case you can find.
 
The A8K does make for a good all round home PC. It's integrated graphics are even capable of light gaming. If you don't play games at all then a dedicated GPU isn't needed for the intel CPUs or AMDs APUs.

Another top tip is to link your account to get free P&P. You've earned it :)

EDIT

YOUR BASKET
1 x Samsung 120GB SSD 840 EVO SATA 6Gb/s Basic - (MZ-7TE120BW) £86.99
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02050) £83.99
1 x AMD A8-5600K Black Edition 3.60GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Quad Core Processor **FREE SIMCITY PC GAME** (AD560KWOHJBOX) £71.99
1 x Gigabyte F2A85X-D3H AMD A85X Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £68.99
1 x TeamGroup Xtreem LV 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-21300C11 2666MHz Dual Channel Kit (TXD38G2666HC11CDC01) £65.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) HDD £49.99
1 x Corsair Carbide 200R Compact ATX Case - Black £47.95
1 x LG GH24NSB0 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
Total : £492.88 (includes shipping : FREE).



Mobo is out of stock at the mo but this is just to give you an idea. There is a free trial for windows 8 you can use, if you don't like it then buy 7 with your free P&P no harm done :)
 
Last edited:
OK guys you've convinced me. Please spec me the BEST on the AMD route ie. MB, CPU and Ram and don't forget I need quiet ie. stock cooler OK?
BTW thanks for your time.
Sorry didn't see your post above before posting Hono.
 
foreright said:
OK guys you've convinced me. Please spec me the BEST on the AMD route ie. MB, CPU and Ram and don't forget I need quiet ie. stock cooler OK?
BTW thanks for your time.
Sorry didn't see your post above before posting Hono.
Click to expand...

No worries bud. The A8K is roughly on par with intel i3, where it does win hands down is the integrated graphics. I did use fast RAM to help out the IGP, so if you have grand kids that might visit it has a bit of grunt for some games.

The stock heatsink isn't that bad. The 200R is a nice budget case, if you like quiet then maybe consider the 330R which has sound proofing.
 
I didn't use the stock cooler, but it didn't look like it'd be too quiet.

I'm sure the kind folk here can spec you a quiet cooler and maybe a couple of case fans: )
I would, but I'm on the phone.
 
If you really want the grunt of an i5, I can do an i5K you can overclock in a stylish quiet case. If you change your mind about gaming you can drop in a dedicated GPU later on.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £185.99
1 x Samsung 120GB SSD 840 EVO SATA 6Gb/s Basic - (MZ-7TE120BW) £86.99
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02050) £83.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £82.99
1 x Corsair Carbide 330R Silent Mid Tower Case - Black £74.95
1 x Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (PV38G160C9K) £53.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) HDD £49.99
1 x Thermalright True Spirit 120 REV A (BW) Performance CPU Cooler £24.98
1 x LG GH24NSB0 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
Total : £660.86 (includes shipping : FREE).



It's Ivybridge but it's still not to be sniffed at.
 
Idleman said:
Apart from your Psu, have you no other components you can reuse?
What OS are you currently using?
Click to expand...

PSU, Maudio sound card and a HDD with my FLAC files is all I will carry over. I am still on XP and my reason for choosing W7 was the lack of drivers for my sound card if I U/G to W8.
 
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