First Build Advice Sought

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16 Jul 2013
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So I'm building (or about to order and build) a PC for my parents, and before I place orders I just wanted peoples opinions and hopefully a quick check to make sure I haven't overlooked something silly (like chosen a component which won't work with the mobo, etc.). It's my first build so I'd appreciate the advice, especially as I don't want to mess it up when it's not my money!

Anyways the key components are (if any specific details are needed I'm happy to go find and report back with them, keeping it to just part names at the moment as I don't know what else is needed and don't want to put pages of useless facts and figures!):

Case:
Powercool T01B Slim Black Desktop Chassis

PSU:
Included with the case, 300W

Motherboard:
Asrock B75M-DGS Socket 115 mATX

CPU:
Intel Core i5 3350P 3.10GHz Socket 1155

Storage:
Seagate 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive (SSHD)

Memory:
Crucial 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 1600MHz Ballistix Sport Memory

Graphics:
At the moment I plan on putting in one of my old Radeon HD 5670s and replace/upgrade as needed after the build

Optical Drive:
Samsung 24x Sata Internal DVD(+-)RW

So those are the main parts (I think, probably forgot something!). Just as background information; the computer is unlikely (read; very) to be used for games so graphical power isn't that important. What's more important is (relatively) long term ease of use. My parents aren't that computer friendly and I'm going to get a call every time it locks up, takes forever to load, etc. so the happier I can make this PC the happier I'll be!

As mentioned, any advice or errors spotted are greatly appreciated, and any more information required, just ask :)
 
Going by what you've said, your parents sound like mine, as such this is something like I'd get for mine:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Toshiba SSD HG5D Series THNSNH 7mm 128GB Solid State Hard Drive - (THNSNH128GCST) £85.99
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 Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (PV38G160C9K) £53.99
1 x ASRock FM2A75M-DGS AMD A75 Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £52.99
1 x Imp MicroATX Tower Case (500w PSU) £31.99
1 x LG GH24NSB0 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
Total : £325.94 (includes shipping : £10.00).



Mine have a 120GB SSD and in about a year it's nowhere near half full, but if yours will need more just say.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the replies :)

Storage wise, I'd be surprised if they'd fill a TB but at the same time I want to make sure that should they need it, the space is their.

Budget wise I think around £400-£500

OS, I was planning on putting Win7 onto it as I think that would be the easiest thing for them to use. I expect I'll get an OEM version (after doing research it seems I'm allowed to buy and install it) given how I've never needed Microsoft support and should they need to change mobo (which I would be very surprised if it happened in the next few years!), it's not a massive issue to buy a new OS.

I will say the one potential issue is my brother. During the week he stays with them due to working much closer to them then his own home. When he's back he uses the home PC, but I'm not entirely sure what for. I know he's not a hardcore gamer, but there's a chance he might want to play some games from time to time.

Thanks for the help thus far :) (And oh sorry if it takes me a while to reply, I'm on summer break from Uni at the moment and have defaulted to a nocturnal sleeping pattern!)
 
Thanks again for the replies :)

I notice AMD seems to be the preference for the CPU, any reason for that? I've always tended to lean towards Intel.

I shall take a good look at each of these recommended builds :)

Out of curiosity, and I know I haven't provided links or anything to those parts (mostly because when I did my initial sourcing I used another site and a couple parts don't seem to be on OC), but what are the thoughts on my initial idea?
 
Thanks again for the replies :)

I notice AMD seems to be the preference for the CPU, any reason for that? I've always tended to lean towards Intel.

I lean to intel too but for your uses the AMD APU's are better, the ones we specced have very very good on-board graphics (simular to a £50 GPU) which will suit your borthers gaming (if he does any).

Without adding a GPU the i5 will not get anywhere near it.

Out of curiosity, and I know I haven't provided links or anything to those parts (mostly because when I did my initial sourcing I used another site and a couple parts don't seem to be on OC), but what are the thoughts on my initial idea?

I think the i5 is overpsecced for the uses. They won't see the benifit atall, they may aswell have an i3.. though the A10's have simular overall performance to the i3, just better ingrated graphics. A no brainer really.. :)
 
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