New Build. Advice Needed on spec

koolpc · 25 Jun 2012 at 11:02

I want to build a small PC that is fast and can handle Photoshop easily.

I already have an SSD so would need everything else.

Read that the i3 2020 is a good CPU? Onboard GPU will be fine as i dont really game these days on the pc.

Also, Micro ATX is biggest i need to go. Was contemplating MiniITX but not sure now. Budget is max £350. 8gig ram would be ideal.

What CPU / Mobo would you recommend? Thanks

mp260767 · 25 Jun 2012 at 11:26

might seem over spec'd for a bit of photo shop but its in budget

.

could reduce the cost to £200 swapping the cpu for the i3-2120 and motherboard for an h61 m-atx board.

1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £181.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77M-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £86.99
1 x Kingston HyperX RED Limited Edition 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3B1RK2/8GX) £43.99
Total : £324.37 (includes shipping : £9.50).

Doomedspeed · 25 Jun 2012 at 12:03

sometime soon the Ivybridge i3's are coming out and the flagship one has HD 4000 Graphics, which can actually handle some games pretty well. So getting one of them will open up many possibilities.

This set up would go well with an ivy i3.

YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI H77MA-G43 Intel H77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro-ATX Motherboard £74.98
1 x Kingston HyperX RED Limited Edition 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3B1RK2/8GX) £43.99
Total : £129.47 (includes shipping : £8.75).

I heard rumors they are either out today or some this week.

mp260767 · 25 Jun 2012 at 12:05

Doomedspeed said:
sometime soon the Ivybridge i3's are coming out and the flagship one has HD 4000 Graphics

fair enough, heard rumours of them but no release dates.

Bacon? · 25 Jun 2012 at 12:09

They were released yesterday as I saw them in PC World. Question is when OcUK gets them.

mp260767 · 25 Jun 2012 at 12:13

Bacon? said:
They were released yesterday as I saw them in PC World. Question is when OcUK gets them.

would have expected ocuk to have had some details up if thats the case :confused:

Doomedspeed · 25 Jun 2012 at 12:16

Bacon? said:
They were released yesterday as I saw them in PC World. Question is when OcUK gets them.

mp260767 said:
would have expected ocuk to have had some details up if thats the case

Same.

Not seen them on any other online shops either, not even listed.

Bacon? · 25 Jun 2012 at 12:23

Maybe the large high street shops got them before official release date ??

mp260767 · 25 Jun 2012 at 12:28

Bacon? said:
Maybe the large high street shops got them before official release date ??

maybe, just seems a bit weird, likes of pc world etc look to be more machine based than component based last time i was in one.

Bacon? · 25 Jun 2012 at 12:32

Sorry I should have been more specific. I was looking at their range of laptops and PC's. And some of the laptops but none of the PC's had the Ivy i3's in the specification.

mp260767 · 25 Jun 2012 at 12:48

Bacon? said:
Sorry I should have been more specific. I was looking at their range of laptops and PC's. And some of the laptops but none of the PC's had the Ivy i3's in the specification.

makes a bit more sense

, with the ivybridge's being less power hungry and the better onboard graphics for lappies.

koolpc · 25 Jun 2012 at 17:47

mp260767 said:
might seem over spec'd for a bit of photo shop but its in budget .

could reduce the cost to £200 swapping the cpu for the i3-2120 and motherboard for an h61 m-atx board.

1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £181.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77M-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £86.99
1 x Kingston HyperX RED Limited Edition 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3B1RK2/8GX) £43.99
Total : £324.37 (includes shipping : £9.50).

This looks good. So an i3 2020 would be fine on this board?

mp260767 · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:13

yup would be fine, but as mentioned wait on the new ivybridge i3's

koolpc · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:30

what about a quiet psu guys? needs to be almost silent and preferably modular?

Rooster212 · 25 Jun 2012 at 18:59

On deal this week (till Wednesday morning):
YOUR BASKET
1 x OCZ ZS Series 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £46.98

Rooster212 · 25 Jun 2012 at 19:00

This one is too, and is modular:
YOUR BASKET
1 x Cooler Master Silent Pro Modular 500W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £47.99

koolpc · 25 Jun 2012 at 19:23

This ok guys:

Just got to find a cheap case if all above ok. Got an SSD hard drive.

mp260767 · 25 Jun 2012 at 21:06

should do the job

.

koolpc · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:39

koolpc said:
This ok guys:

Just got to find a cheap case if all above ok. Got an SSD hard drive.

Is the above motherboard a bit of overkill? Does it matter if an SSD is not connected to the faster sata connector? Would i be better off buying a cheaper mobo? If so, which one?

stulid · 25 Jun 2012 at 22:41

koolpc said:
Is the above motherboard a bit of overkill? Does it matter if an SSD is not connected to the faster sata connector? Would i be better off buying a cheaper mobo? If so, which one?

You could try this one - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-386-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1965

• Still mATX
• Has USB3.0
• Has SATAIII (provided via a third party chip)
• DVI, VGA outputs
• Zero overcloking potential if you decided to get a "K" CPU for example.