Need help spec-ing a new PC

Scooter70

Scooter70

Club Member
I haven't put together a new desktop in years and don't know where to start. I don't game so I don't need a top-of-the line machine. It will mostly be for internet usage, Quicken, serving media to tvs around the house (ie Plex), and some editing of track videos. I don't need this year's best stuff but the best bang for the buck since I usually get 3-5 years out of a desktop (with incremental upgrades as necessary) before it dies and gets replaced.

I have a NAS drive that already has most of my data stored and shared to my network. Is an SSD a good the way to go for running an OS? The machine will probably be running 24/7 unless it starts using too much power.

Let's start with motherboard and processor - I've used Intel in the past and would rather stay with it vs AMD. Do I need a dedicated video card? (I want the ability to use two monitors or send HDMI out to the tv in my office.)

Thanks in advance,
-Matt
 
The AMD motherboards usually come with a decent integrated video card, so you should be good on that end. 8GB of RAM is enough, 16GB is better. SSD's have gotten cheaper over the years, you can find the Crucial M4 512GB for ~$200-ish. Get a good power supply, Corsair, Silverstone, OCZ, Seasonic, or PC Power and Cooling. The other brands out there, while cheaper, can cause all sorts of issues from static on the audio system to outright nuking your system. Check out the 8-core FX CPU's, there are some nice ones for less than $150. The extra cores will be a big help when it comes to video editing. On the motherboard end, Asus or Gigabyte put out the best ones at this point in time. Other than that, not much else I can offer.
 
If you are not using it for gaming, it is tough to beat the price of a discounted prebuilt machine. I spec'ed building one last year and couldn't even buy the components for the price of a similarly spec'ed prebuilt.

--Joe
 
soap said:
If you are not using it for gaming, it is tough to beat the price of a discounted prebuilt machine. I spec'ed building one last year and couldn't even buy the components for the price of a similarly spec'ed prebuilt.

--Joe
Click to expand...

This. Head over to Microcenter at 14 and John R and browse around. They always have something decent.
 
Thanks. I forgot about Microcenter. I'll have to run over there one of these weekends.

Intel vs AMD... is there a winner or anything specific to avoid?
 
Scooter70 said:
Intel vs AMD... is there a winner or anything specific to avoid?
Click to expand...

Not really. CPU technology has reached a plateau of sorts the last few years, ever since the "i" series Intel CPUs debuted. They have only incrementally gotten better the last 5-ish years, nothing groundbreaking like the decade prior. Truth be told, Moore's Law will be irrelevant one of these days, then we will be at the cusp of quantum computing.
 
Thanks. A co-worker suggested stepping up to the 4690K and a Z97 chipset mobo to ensure compatability with the next generation of processors (and overclocking). Looks like only a $55 upgrade.
 
Tin said:
Looks good other than the power supply. Get a beefy one with a single +12V rail on it, multiple +12V rails are old school. This is the one I use, well worth the money: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=corsair_750_modular-_-17-139-051-_-Product
Click to expand...

Thats the same one I use at home. It has made it through 3 different systems. Zero issues. over the past 3-4 years. I would definitely recommend this PS as well.

Most fail points now days happen with the power supply, memory, and video card. a Solid Mother board never hurts, but there is no guarantee that sockets will stay the same over the next 4 years.
The intel chips are great, you can get a budget i-5 up to a high end i-7 on the current boards, so you could use a moderate cpu to save a few bucks.

I also have been buying my video cards used lately. I can generally get a 1 year old model of video card for half price of current price in store. but you have to be careful buying equipment used. Some people over clock the hell out of them.
 
I was just thinking about this. My system is a Q6600 and it is just time to upgrade. I got about 7 years out of this system and it still runs fine. Microcenter has better deals for processors then newegg but you have to go there to pick them up. They will not ship.
I5-4690k 199.99
I7-4790K 279.99
 
jspec said:
I was just thinking about this. My system is a Q6600 and it is just time to upgrade. I got about 7 years out of this system and it still runs fine. Microcenter has better deals for processors then newegg but you have to go there to pick them up. They will not ship.
I5-4690k 199.99
I7-4790K 279.99
Click to expand...

They usually give a nice discount if you buy the board, CPU, and memory together, too ;)
 
i5 4690K + Asus Z97-A for $309. Better board for less than I was looking at NewEgg. Good call guys. I might have to take a ride over there tomorrow. They have everything that I want (including the kickass case) for $25 more than NewEgg when you add in tax vs shipping. The motherboards are ~$20 difference so it's pretty much a wash.
 
+1 to going with the z97 chipset vs. B85. Overclocking is one thing, but I was going to ask you about your future USB 3.0 needs. B85 is pretty limited. z97 doubles the # of 3.0 ports. Once you use a USB 3.0 thumb drive or external HDD, you will not want to go back to USB 2.0!

I much prefer Intel Core vs. AMD CPUs at the moment, so check.
K vs. non-K processor is up to you. For $10-20 I would do it, but I also O/C. K also doesn't hurt since you're planning to use the on-board video.
If you do plan to O/C the K, I would strongly suggest buying an aftermarket CPU heatsink & cooler. I would not push the OEM heatsink much beyond stock levels. For stock speed, the OEM is fine.
ASUS check.

I too would recommend upgrading the power supply - don't go cheap. I'd be looking to spend in the $80-100 range for what you're doing. Corsair is good. PCP&C is good.
8GB RAM is OK. I would check prices on 16GB and consider going that way if it's not 2x the cost.

You didn't mention anything about an optical drive. DVD burners are dirt cheap ($20). BluRay burners are also pretty inexpensive ($75). If you're planning to recycle what you have from your old PC, depending on how old it is, I would make sure it's SATA-based. IDE has gone the way of the dodo.


I love SSDs for the OS drive, but if you plan on storing any significant amount of data locally, I might suggest picking up some form of a Western Digital 3.5" internal HDD too. You mentioned a NAS, and if you're going to keep all of your media on that, OK. Personally, when I build a PC, I like to have a FAST/SMALL OS drive... and then a second large/slow/(cheaper) data disk. But YMMV.


When you're ready to buy, I would throw together a small xls that has the parts you want on the rows, and prices across the columns. Look all up at Newegg, then at Amazon... then take that to Micro Center and tell them to beat it (or use it as your own shopping/decision guide). MC will beat Newegg and Amazon on CPUs for sure, and likely CPU+MB combo. They'll probably be at par or a little more expensive on everything else... but it's a good place to start for at least the CPU & MB.
 
Last edited:
Killjoy - Thanks for the info. I do have a WD Black 1TB drive that I'll use inside this machine for data. As for an optical drive, I'm just thinking a $20 LiteOn. I can't remember the last time I burned a disc.

Zack - Shipping cost and tax is included in my analysis.

Sent from my MotoX using Tapatalk.
 
Scooter70 said:
Killjoy - Thanks for the info. I do have a WD Black 1TB drive that I'll use inside this machine for data. As for an optical drive, I'm just thinking a $20 LiteOn. I can't remember the last time I burned a disc.

Zack - Shipping cost and tax is included in my analysis.

Sent from my MotoX using Tapatalk.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't worry about having an optical drive personally. I can't even tell you the last time I burned a disc, it has probably been close to a decade :lol:
 
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