Posts by Amy Vaughn12

Regarding the drive bay and the hard drive, what kind of connection are we looking at here—is it SATA or PATA?

The motherboard supports the Phenom ii x4, so I suppose they should just hunt around on eBay for a Phenom 955 or 965. Of course, they won't be able to overclock anything on that specific board. That would probably run them about 400-$167.
Since the power supply is old and doesn't look particularly high-quality, I'd definitely suggest picking up a new one, maybe something like a Corsair cx430 or an xfx 450, which is roughly $117.
Then, for the rest of the build, you could grab a new HD 7850 2GB for about $400
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A8 x4 5500, Socket FM2, 3200 MHz clock speed
ASRock FM2A75M-HD motherboard
MS Industrial MS FSP350-60APN 85+ 80 PLUS BRONZE DESIGN power supply
Toshiba DT01ACA050 HDD (3.5", 500GB, 32MB, SATA III-600)
Zalman ZM-T4 micro tower case
Kingston 4GB 1600MHz DDR3L Non-ECC CL11 DIMM 1.35V,
LITE ON ODD IHAS122-14 DVD Super Multi, SATA, Black, Bulk

$740 including shipping
diskont24.com

I guess you end up with a quad-core processor that might be useful if you find yourself doing a bit more multitasking, plus there's a decent integrated graphics chip that could handle some light gaming if necessary, a reliable power supply, and the motherboard should support the next generation of processors too.

1 x Intel Core i3 3.80GHz 4cores
1 x Asrock FM2A88M EXTREME4+, FM2,FM2+, Intel B85 (Bolton-D4), DDR3
1 x AMD Radeon RX series 1GB GDDR5 OC, 1GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingston, 1600MHz, CL9, HyperX, KHX1600C9D3B1/
1 x EVGA Core Edition 80+ 450W PSU - EasyRail technology
1 x Zalman ZM-T4 micro tower case. 189(W) x 427,5(H) x 364(D)mm. MB
1 x Western Digital Blue HDD 1TB, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, ST1000DM003
1 x LG DVD Drive SATA Bulk Black, SATA
1 x ZALMAN CNPS 5X, socket 775/LGA 1155/1156/AM2/AM2/AM3

$1185
craigslist.com

1 x Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz (Max Turbo FQ 3.3 GHz), 6MB
1 x 500GB Seagate Barracuda HDD, 7200rpm, 16MB cache, SATA II
1 x 120GB Kingston V300 SSD, 2.5", 7mm, SATA 3 6G
1 x Sapphire R9 270 2GB + Battlefield 4, OC Boost, 2GB GDDR5 256bit
1 x XFX Core edition 80 450W PSU - EasyRail technology
1 x Zalman Z1 mid tower case, 199(W)x432(H)x457(D)mm, Standard ATX
1 x 8GB (1x8GB) Kingston HyperX Blue DDR3, 1600MHz, CL10
1 x Samsung SH-224DB sat Bulk Black DVD Burner, SATA
1 x MSI B75MA-E33, Socket: 1155, microATX, Intel ® B75, 2xDDR3

$1831

No offense intended, but Futura doesn't really offer a better selection or any significant price advantages here. Their prices are pretty much identical to what we're seeing elsewhere. I guess you could argue the processor is slightly cheaper at AMD, and the SSHD might be a bit less at Futura, so they basically cancel each other out. Besides, I don't really see the point in settling for 6GB of RAM when 8GB fits in there without any issues at all.

1 x Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1GHz (Max Turbo FQ 3.3 GHz), 6MB
1 x MSI R9 270X HAWK 2GB GDDR5 256bit
1 x MSI B75MA-E31, Socket : 1155, microATX, Intel ® B75, 2xDDR3 1066
1 x Seagate 1TB HDD, Serial ATA III, 7200 rpm, ST1000DM003
1 x XFX Core edition 80 450W PSU - EasyRail technology
1 x Zalman ZM-T4 micro tower case. 189(W) x 427,5(H) x 364(D)mm. MB
1 x 8GB DDR3 (1x8GB) Kingston, HyperX Blue, 1600MHz, CL10
1 x Samsung SH-224DB sat Bulk Black, SATA DVD burner

$1668

or you could maybe go with something cheaper on the GPU, and then grab a faster drive instead

1 x AMD FX-Series X6 6300 3.5GHz, 14MB, 95W, AM3+, FD6300WMHK
1 x DDR3 4GB (1x4GB) Kingston, 1600MHz, CL9, Hyper X, KHX1600C9D3B1/
1 x CORSAIR 430W CX Series 80+ Bronze, EPS12V v2.3, 80+
1 x Samsung SH-224DB sat Bulk Black, SATA
1 x Kingston 120 GB V300, 2.5" 7mm, SATA 3 6G, 7mm to 9.5mm
1 x Asrock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 - AMD 970, AMD SB950, ATX, Dura Caps
1 x Thermaltake Contac 16, 775, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, 1155, 1156
1 x Sapphire R7 260X 2GB GDDR5 OC, 2GB GDDR5 128bit, 28nm
1 x MS LOGIC A30 without power supply, Midi tower, ATX

$1360
Newegg

If you just toss in another 2 or 3 GB of DDR2, I guess that might do the trick.

Maybe you could look into getting some other components to go along with this.

So, looking at this Intel Core i5, it’s an LGA 1155 socket chip running at 3.10GHz with a 7MB cache, which makes it a quad-core setup. I guess it’s a pretty standard little processor for that specific generation, though whether it actually holds up for what you're trying to do today is probably more of a question than anything else. It's just a basic quad-core unit, really.
So, I was looking at this Kingston 8GB stick of PC12800 DDR3 memory—specifically that KVR16N11/8 model running at 1600MHz—and I've been thinking about it. It’s a pretty standard spec, I suppose. If you're just trying to patch together an older desktop or maybe breathing some life into a budget build, it might do the trick, though I guess whether it's actually worth the hassle depends entirely on what else you're running in the machine. It seems fine on paper, but then again, nothing is ever quite as simple as the specs suggest.
I’m looking at the specs for this ASUS Motherboard, which runs on an Intel B75 chipset. It uses DDR3 memory and comes with standard features like S-ATA, Gigabit LAN, and a PCI-E slot. For video output, you've got DVI and D-SUB options available. It's a mATX form factor designed for the LGA 1155 socket.
The LC POWER 3001B Executor is a MIDI-sized case in black that features USB 3.0 connectivity, though it doesn't come with a power supply included.
So, I was looking at this 120 GB Kingston SSDNow V300—specifically the SV300S37A/120G model with the SATA3 interface and MLC chips—which supposedly hits speeds up to 450/450 MB/s. I guess it’s an okay little drive if you just need something basic, though I suppose whether those advertised speeds actually hold up during sustained use is somewhat debatable. It might be fine for a simple boot drive or some light tasks, but I wouldn't go expecting anything groundbreaking.
So, I was looking at this Gainward GeForce GTX 650 graphics card. It’s got 1GB of DDR5 memory and comes equipped with a decent variety of outputs—DVI, miniHDMI, D-SUB, and HDTV. I guess it’s a fairly standard setup for its class, though whether that's enough for what you need really depends on how you plan to use it.
So, I was looking at this 1TB Western Digital Blue hard drive—the WD10EZEX model with the SATA3 interface, 64MB of cache, and that 7200 RPM spindle speed—which is pretty much the standard spec for a desktop drive these days. It seems like a decent enough option if you just need some basic bulk storage for a home PC, though I guess whether it's actually worth picking up depends on what you're planning to do with it. It’s probably fine for general files, but maybe not my first choice if you're looking for something more heavy-duty.
It’s a 460W unit, specifically the LC GP3 from LC POWER—the Silent Giant GREEN POWER LC6460GP3 V2.3 model—and it comes with a 140mm fan.
Samsung SH-S224DB DVD±RW drive, rated at 24x speed, finished in black, featuring a SATA interface, supports dual Layer and DVD-RAM, available in bulk.

$1690

If you're looking at GPUs, I’d suggest sticking with an Nvidia card, mostly because so many video editing programs rely on CUDA support to run smoothly. Since gaming isn't really part of the equation here, I guess an Nvidia GT 640 or maybe a GTX 650 would probably be more than enough for what you need.

I’d say go ahead and grab the AMD Radeon HD 7770 since it isn't exactly breaking the bank, though I suppose your CPU might end up being a bit of a bottleneck. If you're looking at other budget options, maybe consider an R7 250 with GDDR5 or an HD 7750 with GDDR5. Also, that power supply doesn't look particularly high-quality, so if there's any way you can swap it out for something better—ideally something with an 80+ certification—that would probably be a smart move.

1 x Intel Core i7-4930K Extreme Edition (3.4GHz, 12MB, S2011) box
1 x MSI X79-GD65-8D, s2011, D3, S3, U3, FW, SLI, Dr
1 x Samsung 250GB 840 EVO Basic SSD
1 x Corsair H90 cooling
2 x Patriot Viper3 Blue Sapphire 1866MHz, 8GB (2x4GB)
1 x Corsair AX760 PSU, 760W, Platinum AX Series

Total: $3554
Future IT

AMD FX 6300 paired with an AMD Radeon R9 270...

I think this setup makes more sense. You end up getting a beefier graphics card along with Battlefield 4, plus you're looking at a higher quality case and power supply here.

1 x Intel Core i5-3350P 3.1 GHz (Max Turbo FQ 3.3 GHz), 6MB
1 x MSI B75MA-E31, Socket: 1155, microATX, Intel B75, 2xDDR3 1066
1 x Seagate Barracuda 500 GB 7200rpm 16MB cache SATA II
1 x MSI R9 270 GAMING 2GB GDDR5 256bit + Battlefield 4, 28nm
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingston, HyperX Blue, 1600MHz, CL10
1 x XFX Core edition 80 450W PSU - EasyRail technology
1 x Zalman Z3 PLUS mid tower case. 192(W)x465(H)x430(D)mm. MB stand

$1549
admin.com

Intel Pentium G 620
Kingston SSD 120 GB V300
Zalman mid Tower case Black Zalman Z1

If you ask me, you should probably just swap out the graphics card for this one and then go ahead and install Windows 8.1 on top of everything else.

1 x XFX R9-280X-TDFD, DD Radeon R9 280X 1000M Boost 3GB DDR5
1 x Intel Core i5-4440 (3.10GHz,1MB,6MB,84 W,1150) Box
1 x DDR3 8GB (1x8GB) Kingston, HyperX Blue, 1600MHz, CL10
1 x HDD WD 1TB, Caviar Blue 10EZEX, 1000 GB, SATA3,64 MB, 3,5", 24mj
1 x Samsung SH-224DB sat Bulk Black, SATA
1 x Corsair 500 w CX Series 80 + Bronze, ATX12V v2.3
1 x Zalman ZM-T4 micro tower case. 189(W) x 427,5(H) x 364(D)mm. MB
1 x MSI H87M-P33, Socket : 1150, Intel ® H87, 2xDDR3 1333/1600

$2013

The poison one is definitely the strongest, though it’s also the most expensive—we're talking pretty close to the price of an NVIDIA GTX 760 at this point