Spec – reliability and quality is key.

Plec

Plec

Plec

Soldato
Joined
19 Apr 2003
Posts
13,529
N.B. After proof reading my below post i think i'm after guidance between the boards - mainly the H67 and Z68. But please read on as i may be missing a trick...

I should add that the monitor is a keeper and i picked the Caviar Green deliberately for its low energy consumption and reliability - speed is not issue. And i chucked the 'K' in the Z68 build as i would do a mild overclock if i went down that route.

The general gist...

I’m compiling a build for a friend who lives 400 miles away, who has plenty of funds - but still doesn’t like to spend it needlessly - and needs a build to replace the PC I built him 10+ years ago!

He uses his present system for light office work, scanning/printing and studying OS maps. However, he’s recently bought a digital camera, and is a keen wildlife/landscape photographer, and will be adding Photoshop to his software list and ‘perhaps’ skills. - plus windows 7 and latest MS Office.

Keep in mind that the build will hopefully still be running in 7+ years time and relative silence and quality are key as I want all core components to, hopefully, endure his predicted timeline. I realise it will be ancient, then, in PC terms but it should still cover his needs if his usage hasn’t changed.

Below are a few builds examples – I’m leaning more towards the H67 build at present as I feel the SB, although overkill now, will have the legs on the AMD as time plods on – plus the H67 is tried and tested and the Z68 boards are on first editions and some models have started to reveal issues (from forum banter) - this is where i would appreciate Z68 guidance...

Plus, another important factor is i wont be able to maintain/update this build (other than by post) - so stability, long/quality product guarantees and 'tried and tested' are areas to keep in mind.

Anyway, pick away as i'm unfamiliar with AMD and onboard gfx motherboards:

spech671.png


specz681.png


specamd1.png


I don't normally do spec me threads for my personal builds but a i find second opinions are always reassuring when spending someone elses money...
 
Last edited:
Jony27 said:
and i think going for 8GB of RAM would help a lot.
Click to expand...

Yes, i've 'ummed and ahhed' over the 4GB and 8GB issue - and i suspect i'll end up throwing 8gb in the basket on checkout (hard to justify with his usage/future usage).

I doubt he'll change his software in the next 7 years - but if he did he would at least be covered with the 8Gb...
 
I'd say go for 8GB since he'll be doing photo editing which iirc uses a lot of ram in some situations. Also heard the Fractals have an awful habbit of arriving damaged.
 
Jordan97 said:
An SSD?
Click to expand...

Not needed - this PC is already going to be well over specced for at least the first 3 years of its life. I think the SSD would feel insulted...

Jordan97 said:
Asus = Big No!
Click to expand...

Is this one of the boards with voltage issues - or is it all ASUS Z68s?

Jordan97 said:
This ASRock board is used by many across the forums and is rated highly in a lot of reviews.
Click to expand...

Thanks I'll have a read/search as i hold forum banter in high regard - but i was gearing more towards Gigabyte and Asus as i know their BIOS/boards (i should have mentioned this),
 
Last edited:
olivier renault said:
PC-K62?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion but the case needs to be conservative in looks - clean lines ideally.

i.e. no panel window, no L.E.D. fans (although i would have disabled these if it had fitted all the other criteria), no hard, irregular angles etc...

Basically, black with plain and simple lines, but quality.

olivier renault said:
I would select the Antec HCG 620W for £57.
Click to expand...

That's at a good price - thanks for the heads up.

I'll consider it but i've used Corsair for all my builds as their Guarantee/returns policy have served me well - old habits etc..

Although for a £55 PSU the postage to the Netherlands would start to feel the strain - so there's probably not a lot in it as they're both based there.
 
Plec said:
Thanks for the suggestion but the case needs to be conservative in looks - clean lines ideally.

i.e. no panel window, no L.E.D. fans (although i would have disabled these if it had fitted all the other criteria), no hard, irregular angles etc...

Basically, black with plain and simple lines, but quality.
Click to expand...

In that case, (LOL! :D) you could go with the Silencio RC-550.

Very basic in looks, but a high quality case for a good price.
 
Plec said:
Thanks for the suggestion but the case needs to be conservative in looks - clean lines ideally.

i.e. no panel window, no L.E.D. fans (although i would have disabled these if it had fitted all the other criteria), no hard, irregular angles etc...

Basically, black with plain and simple lines, but quality.
Click to expand...

PC-K58 :) It's a nice clean. Fractal Arc Midi looks nice imo. Not much in the way of reviews (there's one on youtube, Oc3D).

Lian-Li probably the most sober cases around. Outside your budget though. I would chance a R3 though. It looks like a nice case.
 
olivier renault said:
PC-K58 :) It's a nice clean. Fractal Arc Midi looks nice imo.
Click to expand...

Thanks, i'm looking at reviews/spec of the K58. I like the Fractal Arc Midi but the grid top/front may make it too noisy.

olivier renault said:
Lian-Li probably the most sober cases around. Outside your budget though.
Click to expand...

Yes, Lian Li were my first port of call as i've owned 3 in the past - but i can't justify the price for the one i would choose.

Although the Lian Li PC-A04B would probably work...
 
Moothead2 said:
Just re-read your OP and was wondering if you thought about the AMD Llano APUs?
Click to expand...

TBH, i haven't - purely due to lack of product knowledge on my part, other than the odd review.

The other main factor is that i will be trouble shooting this pc over the phone, if/when it develops a fault, so ideally I wanted an environment and spec I’m familiar with.

The above is why i've picked Asus and Gigabyte boards and why i've pretty much ruled out the Phenom build. Plus, i'm now leaning heavily towards the H67 board as it's on final revisions so, hopefully, less issues/conflicts. And the Z68 doesn't seem to offer him anything of real substance that he would make use of - now or in the future. This build really is going to have a sedentry existence - unless he really develops a thing for Photoshop.

As already mentioned - this build may well be over specked for the first 4 years of its life. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom