PC Build Ideas?

Hey everyone, I’m looking to put together a PC build from scratch. I wouldn't call myself an expert by any means—definitely more of a novice here—so I was hoping some of the seasoned pros could take a look at my parts list? I want to make sure this combination actually makes sense and, more importantly, that everything is compatible before I pull the trigger. Thanks!
CPU-Intel Core i3-3240
Motherboard-Gigabyte GA-H61M-S1 2.1
Hard Drive-Seagate 500GB ST500DM002 SATA3 16MB 7200RPM
Video Card-ASUS VGA HD6570-2GD3-L AMD Radeon HD 6570 @ 650MHz 1.2GHz 128bit
Memory-Kingston 4GB DDRIII 1600MHz
Case/PSU-SPIRE D212BP 500W

I’m assuming that’s a pre-built configuration—and honestly, those are rarely worth the investment.

What kind of budget are we looking at, and what's the primary use case for this PC? Are you focusing on cash or credit transactions?

Timothy Kim60 said:I'm assuming this is some pre-built setup—those usually aren't worth the headache if you're looking for value.

So, what kind of budget are we talking about here, and what’s the actual goal for the machine? Is this for pure cash flow or more of a card-based thing?

It isn't a pre-built; I actually put the parts together myself. I'm just trying to gauge how solid this build is and figure out exactly what wattage I should look for in a power supply... I mostly need it for multimedia stuff—streaming HD video, hooking it up to the TV via HDMI, and things like that. Gaming isn't really my priority here.

Does gaming actually matter here, or is it just a minor consideration for you? If it’s not a priority, I’d suggest ditching the dedicated graphics card entirely. You already have integrated graphics on the processor, so you're better off putting that money toward a higher-quality motherboard with an HDMI output (something like a B75 chipset). As it stands, that specific motherboard might not even support that Ivy Bridge CPU right out of the box—you’d likely need to flash the BIOS first. It supposedly only supports it starting from BIOS version F7, according to this cpu support list. Just a heads-up: if you go with an H61 motherboard, it will support Ivy Bridge (3xxx series) processors natively, along with the ASROCK VG3 or MSI G3 graphics options.

Your current power supply should handle any of these upgrades since both that CPU and the GPU draw about as much power as a lighter. Honestly, Spire power supplies are junk, but it would hold up for this setup.
Furthermore, that graphics card is a total waste of money. It's terrible for actual gaming, and since you have integrated graphics for basic video output anyway, it's practically redundant. You could play some basic web games or older titles on the integrated chip regardless.

Look, just let me know if gaming is important to you and give me a rough budget to work with. For what you described—streaming, music, movies, and browsing—even a basic Celeron G1620 from $100
would be more than enough.

Timothy Kim60 said:Does gaming actually matter to you, or is it just a side thought? If you aren't planning on playing anything serious, honestly—just ditch the dedicated graphics card. You've already got integrated graphics on the processor, so you could put that money toward a better motherboard with an HDMI output (something like a B75 chipset). As I recall, that specific board might not even support that Ivy Bridge CPU right out of the box—you'd likely need to flash the BIOS first. It only starts supporting it from BIOS version F7, according to this cpu support list. On an H61 board, though, you'd get native support for that Ivy Bridge (3xxx series) stuff, along with those ASROCK or MSI video outputs.

The power supply should handle whatever you swap in—both that CPU and the GPU pull about as much juice as a lighter. Speaking of which, Spire power supplies are pretty bottom-of-the-barrel, but they'd probably hold up.
Also, that graphics card is a total waste of money. It’s terrible for gaming, and since you have integrated graphics for your display anyway, it's basically redundant. You could play some basic indie titles or older classics on the integrated chip just fine.

Look, just let me know if gaming is a priority and give me a rough budget to work with. For what you described—streaming, music, movies, and browsing—even a basic Celeron G1620 from $100

Fair point—I didn't even think about the HDMI requirement for the motherboard... assuming it also has a standard VGA port for an old monitor. I've got roughly $25-$$1000 to work with, so I really need to sit down and look at my options properly. I actually realized about an hour ago that the motherboard I was looking at isn't going to cut it.

I’m looking at picking something up from Micro Center since it’s my go-to spot and super convenient for me... I'm thinking somewhere in the $110 to $120 range. Do you think I should look into an AMD processor instead, or is it better to just stick with Intel? 😁

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/B75MA-...ml#/?div=Basic
Don't sweat the lack of a VGA port. You can just grab a DVI-to-VGA adapter, and honestly, most graphics cards come with one included anyway.

In any case, I'd recommend picking up a board with a DVI output just to have it in your toolkit for later.

On another note, if you aren't planning on buying a dedicated GPU, AMD actually offers much stronger integrated graphics on the FM2 platform—perfect for some light casual gaming. Plus, keep an eye out because a new series for the FM2+ socket is dropping in about two weeks, and those integrated graphics are supposed to be the strongest we've ever seen.

Timothy Kim60 said:http://www.msi.com/product/mb/B75MA-...ml#/?div=Basic
Don't sweat the lack of a VGA port—there’s always a DVI to VGA adapter out there (and honestly, most dedicated graphics cards come with one included anyway)

In any case, you should probably grab one with a DVI output just in case you need it down the road

http://www.newegg.com/p/example1
http://www.newegg.com/p/example2
http://www.newegg.com/p/example3

By the way, if you aren't planning on picking up a separate graphics card, AMD actually has much stronger integrated graphics on the FM2 platform—it'll handle some casual gaming just fine (plus, in about two weeks, a new series for the FM2+ socket is dropping with even beefier integrated chips—the strongest they've ever made)

I'll definitely have to look into that with AMD... but I can't really wait 15 days. 😁... These motherboards fit right into my budget, but I don't see an HDMI port anywhere, and I really, really need that.😛. Thanks a ton for everything. You're a legend

MSI GEMINI
Samsung SH-224BB/BEBE SATA Bulk Black
Thermaltake Contac 21
Toshiba 500GB DT01ACA050 SATA3 32MB 7200RPM
Thermaltake Smart SE 530W Modular SPS-530MPCBEU
Gigabyte GA-F2A55-DS3 1.0
AMD A8-5600K X4 FM2 BOX
Kingston 4GB DDRIII 1600MHz

Total price (with tax): 466 miles

This selection is honestly pretty terrible. First off, that power supply is a joke—it'll probably hit its limit at maybe 20% capacity; those cheaper units are basically junk. They've also got six FM2 motherboards, five with A55, and just one with an A85 chipset. 🤣

Maybe try looking at a different store?

AS DRW-24B5ST/BLK/B/AS (leave this out if you don't need a toaster)
Contac 21 Toshiba 500 GB DT01ACA050 SATA3 32MB 7200RPM
Thermaltake Smart SE 530W Modular SPS-530MPCBEU
Gigabyte GA-F2A55-DS3 1.0 AMD A8-5600K x4 FM2 box Kingston 4
AMD A8-5600K X4 FM2 BOX
Kingston 4GB DDRIII 1600MHz
Zalman Z1 kučište

480 miles

The selection here is poor; for instance, there isn't even an A75 chipset available for FM2, but I managed to dig up this one motherboard with HDMI (the pricing is criminal—charging over $167 for A55 boards is practically highway robbery). If the stock AMD cooler is too loud, you can always swap in something better later. Even though the processor is unlocked for overclocking, the motherboard isn't really built for that sort of thing.

You might notice the power supply seems a bit overkill, but the options are terrible—everything is either junk or, if it's decent (like a budget Cooler Master Elite or something from Gigabyte), it's limited to just a few brands. This modular Thermaltake unit is the gold standard for this tier, and its price is actually realistic. It gives you peace of mind and headroom if you decide to drop in a dedicated graphics card down the road.
Also, the Zalman Z1 case is excellent; the price is much more reasonable, and it's easily one of the best cases available alongside Thermaltake. Choosing between those two or just going for the absolute cheapest scrap metal case seems like the only logical move. Everything in between is just overpriced garbage.

Are you sure this shop isn't a bad fit? I think there’s another retailer in Canada that is more reasonable, but I can't recall the name right now.

Alternatively, you could swap the CPU and motherboard above for this Intel option:
Intel Core i3-3240
ASUS B75M-A

which would be 493 miles

You'd get a superior motherboard at a much fairer price (featuring HDMI, DVI, VGA, USB 3.0, and SATA 3.0 support) and a CPU with slightly weaker integrated graphics. However, in terms of raw processing power, they are in the same ballpark, and the Intel build actually performs better in games when paired with a dedicated GPU later on.

EDIT
crimsonstag84 feels the same way 🙂 — he just decided to go with a cheap case and add a cooler.

Thinking about it now, the i3 option might actually be the smarter play. If he's not a gamer, he won't care and will appreciate the stability; if he *is* a gamer, he'll have high-quality components (power supply, case, CPU, and motherboard) ready to go, needing only a graphics card to complete the setup. Plus, he'll have a clear upgrade path to significantly faster i5 or i7 processors later. With that A55 setup, he'd be stuck—no upgrade path and no overclocking potential—making both the extra cooling and the "K" series processor a total waste of money.

Thanks a ton for all the help... This setup with the Zalman case and the i3—plus that motherboard—really feels like my best bet. It gives me some breathing room too; if I find I actually need more muscle later, I can just grab a beefier graphics card down the road. I don't really have any use for a dedicated GPU right now. There's a chance the specs we're looking at aren't the absolute latest or most current deals out there, but if they are, it just means I might end up snagging this configuration for even less than we discussed. It all sounds pretty solid to me. Just one quick thing I'm chewing on—you mentioned using the Toshiba drive with the 32 MB buffer... does that mean it's actually performing better than that first Seagate with the 64 MB buffer I mentioned? 😁

That one is only 16MB anyway, but honestly, it won't make a lick of difference to you because you won't feel any speed boost on an HDD (just like there's no noticeable difference between SATA 2 and SATA 3).

Timothy Kim60 said:That one’s just 16MB—honestly, it doesn't even matter for you since you won't feel any difference on an HDD (just like there's no real difference between SATA 2 and SATA 3).

One more thing, Timothy Kim60—I noticed you didn't include a CPU cooler in this parts list. Should I be picking one up separately, or does it come pre-installed in the Zalman case or bundled with the processor? Also, man, I had no idea PSUs could be this pricey... I figured it was just some minor component you don't think twice about, but you've gone ahead and picked out a pretty high-end unit here.😁

brightcyclist94 said:...and I had no idea this PSU was such a big deal... I figured it didn't matter much... but you went ahead and picked a total beast here😁

You've got it all wrong😛

A decent 300-350W unit would probably do the trick, but those aren't really available at that shop; honestly, that Corsair unit is the first decent option they have.

You get a cooler bundled with the processor, and since Intel chips tend to be a bit quieter, you might not need an aftermarket one—though for some of the beefier AMD builds, I guess you should probably grab a replacement since the stock ones can be pretty noisy.

crimsonstag84 said:You're dead wrong about that. 😛

Honestly, even a decent 300 to 350W power supply would get the job done for you—it’s plenty of headroom—but that shop just doesn't carry anything in that range. If you're looking at what they actually have on the shelves, that Corsair unit is really the only halfway respectable option available.

If you go with an Intel build, you're getting a cooler right in the box—it’s quiet enough that you probably won't feel the need to shell out extra cash for a standalone unit. But if you're leaning toward one of those beefier AMD setups, I'd definitely suggest picking up a dedicated aftermarket cooler; those stock ones can be a bit of a noisy nuisance.

Man, I feel like I’ve picked up a massive amount of info in such a short window of time. It's been quite the learning curve. 😁

brightcyclist94 said:I honestly had no idea this PSU was going to be such a massive investment... I always figured it was a component you could just overlook. But you really went all out here—this thing is an absolute beast.😁

Look, I told you already:

You’ll probably notice that this power supply is a bit overkill, but the current market selection is honestly terrible. It feels like everything is either complete junk or, if you want something actually reliable—like a budget Cooler Master Elite or a Gigabyte unit—you're stuck with just a couple of brands. This Corsair modular unit is essentially the gold standard for this tier, and the price is the most realistic option out there. Buying this means you won't have to worry later if you decide to drop in a high-end dedicated graphics card down the road.

Look, since you won't have a dedicated GPU to worry about, you could easily just grab a budget option like a Spire. However, since it actually fits within your budget, I’d suggest going with Corsair. It’s modular, too—which is perfect for you because you won't be tripping over extra cables you don't need. You'll get years of peace of mind out of it, and it’ll serve you well for future builds. Honestly, it's the only one in the lineup that's actually worth the investment. And like crimsonstag84 mentioned, definitely check out that shop first.

You didn't mention if you're planning on gaming, but look—if you eventually decide to drop a high-end GPU into this build, you’ll just end up having to swap out a cheap power supply anyway. If you don't upgrade now, you're essentially paying for the same part twice. That said, if this rig is strictly for browsing and basic web tasks, then sure, go ahead and grab the budget option.

Timothy Kim60 and crimsonstag84—you guys are absolute legends. Seriously, you deserve a drink for this. If either of you has a PayPal account, please shoot me a private message; I’d love to send over a little something so you can grab a coffee on me. 😁

Don't mention it🙂