Building a budget PC for HD video and internet . Budget E500, help needed!!

ricko187

Hi!

I am going to attempt to build a PC for around 500 euro or less if possible. It will be used for watching HD video's via a 720p projector and internet as well, no gaming!

What I had in mind:

8GB ram (as seems to be quite cheap and saves me upgrading down the line): http://www3.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=38052&agid=1192
2TB Hard drive (Will settle for less if too pricey)
Not sure about processor or motherboard but want something that will last me a few years and be fairly nippy.
As for a graphics card, I had something like this in mind: http://www3.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=37473&agid=1004
I can use the sound card from my old computer.
Basic DVD drive, will not be used much and no need for Blu Ray drive
Not sure what case or fan is needed as well

I can get a version of Windows 7 so don't need that, I also have a monitor/projector and keyboard and mouse.

I know a bit about computers but not a clue about matching the parts.

Any advice welcome, thanks
Ricko

deconduo

Something like this would do you nicely:

Total build cost: €437.32 + €30 shipping
Intel Core i3-2100 Box, LGA1155 €93.27
MSI H61M-E33 (B3), Intel H61, mATX, DDR3 €53.03
8GB-Kit G.Skill PC3-10667U CL9 €30.59
Samsung SH-222AB bare schwarz SATA €16.64
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W €40.94
Club 3D HD5450 512MB, ATI Radeon HD5450, PCI-Express €24.37
Xigmatek Asgard, ATX, ohne Netzteil, schwarz €31.61
Samsung EcoGreen F4 2000GB, SATA II (HD204UI) 8,9cm (3,5") €59.73
Crucial M4 64GB SSD 6,4cm (2,5") €87.14

Everything you asked for plus a nice SSD to keep things snappy.

marco_polo

Could lose the HD5450, the Intel IGP ought be fine for this build?

Teutorix

marco_polo wrote: »

Could lose the HD5450, the Intel IGP ought be fine for this build?

With a dedicated card there is the ability to run some games should he want to, integrated graphics suck especially intels.

marco_polo

Teutorix wrote: »

With a dedicated card there is the ability to run some games should he want to, integrated graphics suck especially intels.

But the HD5450 is a HTPC card that is barely 25% better for gaming than the Intel IGP, hardly worth an extra 25 quid, all the moreso as there is no mention of gaming by the OP.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/11

Teutorix

marco_polo wrote: »

But the HD5450 is a HTPC card that is barely 25% better for gaming than the Intel IGP, hardly worth an extra 25 quid, all the moreso as there is no mention of gaming by the OP.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/the-sandy-bridge-review-intel-core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/11

Fair enough, didn't realize the small gap between them. Would a motherboard with an ATI/AMD IGP be a better choice?

marco_polo

Teutorix wrote: »

Fair enough, didn't realize the small gap between them. Would a motherboard with an ATI/AMD IGP be a better choice?

Well the on die sandybridge IGP is a fair bit ahead of ATIs best onboard motherboard solutions like the HD4250.

Obviously the AMD Fusion APUs have better on die graphics than sandybridge but the CPU component (They are Athlons essentially) is lacking relative to current i3/i5s.

ricko187

Thanks for all the help, really appreciate it. So do you think I should leave out the graphics card? I won't use the PC for gaming as I have an xbox.

I forgot to mention I need a wireless adapter, would this do: http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=39517&agid=1147
Not really sure which one would suit best. Any suggestions?

In relation the the SSD, what are the benefits to them? Is it worth an extra 90 quid for 64GB? Don't know a lot about them, what would it be used for?

Thanks again for all your help!
Ricko

Jonny7

ricko187 wrote: »

Thanks for all the help, really appreciate it. So do you think I should leave out the graphics card? I won't use the PC for gaming as I have an xbox.

I forgot to mention I need a wireless adapter, would this do: http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=39517&agid=1147
Not really sure which one would suit best. Any suggestions?

In relation the the SSD, what are the benefits to them? Is it worth an extra 90 quid for 64GB? Don't know a lot about them, what would it be used for?

Thanks again for all your help!
Ricko

They cut loading times dramatically. So Windows will boot quicker, and all the programs you have installed on the SSD will open much faster.

The onboard graphics will just about play some games (there are so many free games on the PC now like team fortress 2) - at a later stage you can always just slot in a proper graphics card anyway.

ricko187

This may be a stupid question but does the motherboard have a SPDIF out port so I can connect it to my surround sound? It says it has a SPDIF out connector but it's internal.Is this the same? http://www.msi.com/product/mb/H61M-E33--B3-.html#/?div=Detail

Thanks again

ricko187

I was thinking about leaving out the solid state hard drive and upgrading the motherboard.

I had this in mind: http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?adp=0&aid=47587&agid=1603&apop=2

Would this be compatible with the other parts? an fit the case?

Thanks for the help