New Spec Check - Development PC

RockLobster · 12 Mar 2011 at 11:12

I'm looking at buying a new PC this PC will not be used for games just surfing and developing (Visual Studio). Can someone recommend a motherboard which has onboard sound and graphics? The graphics would need to support 1920x1080. If onboard can't do this then what cheap graphics card.

Iiyama ProLite E2710HDS 27" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black - £249.98
OCZ Vertex 2E 120GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive - £174.98
Intel Core i5-2300 2.80GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail - £147.98
G.Skill RipJawsX 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit - £77.99
Coolermaster Elite 430 Windowed Case - Black (with 500w Elite Power PSU) - £64.99
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - £32.98
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter - £13.99

Total: £777.90

R088ieS86 · 12 Mar 2011 at 11:27

Onboard will be fine for your needs.
So any of the H67 boards will be your new friend:
Asus P8H67-M Pro Intel H67
Asus P8H67M-EVO Intel H67
Gigabyte H67A-UD3H-B3 Intel H67
Gigabyte H67M-UD2H-B3 Intel H67

I think the Asus Pro will do everything you need it to.

Delboy · 12 Mar 2011 at 11:34

As a developer myself, may I recommend spending a little on a graphics card with dual DVI output so you can plug in two screens. You can then have VS stretched across the entire width of the desktop with the code window open fullscreen on the left and if you need to open other windows (e.g Internet Browser) you can make them full screen on the right and set them to be always on top - that way you don't have to keep flicking from VS to another program. Saves me loads of time.

RockLobster · 12 Mar 2011 at 11:35

Thanks. Do you think I'm going overboard with Intel CPU for this. I was thinking I could go down the AMD route as they offer good value.

Delboy, I agree I use two monitors in work I was thinking just trying a 27inch to start with but you make a good point I should get a card which supports two monitors.

R088ieS86 · 12 Mar 2011 at 11:38

You can plug 2 monitors into a h67 board

you just might need an adapter (cheaper than a graphics card)

95thrifles · 12 Mar 2011 at 15:57

R088ieS86 said:
You can plug 2 monitors into a h67 board you just might need an adapter (cheaper than a graphics card)

Not necessairly, he doesnt need a top end gfx card, a simple HTPC card for 25-30 quid would do the job, eg, 5450, have you seen the price of adapters nowadays? lol

OP, I dont know if its within your budget or not, but have you thought of looking at the new generation of SSDs? E.g. Elmcrest? £225 for 120 gig and twice as fast again