2 Builds Pick One

[Major_A]

My friend asked me to build him a new PC for his business. It doesn't need to run games or AutoCAD but it can't suck either. Right now he's using a AM2 Athlon X2 HP machine. It's slower than molasses so either one of these will work. His budget is $400 and this is what I came up with.
AMD Build: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Publi ... r=24092708
Intel Build: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Publi ... r=24092888

See which one you think is better. Thanks.

[XstollieX]

I would go with the AMD rig. The 3850 is a great chip, the graphics are golden for what they are, and it's a quad core. A little bit of future proofing, if there is such a thing right now

[Tator Tot]

Skip that Xigmatek unit; HEC built with terrible voltage regulation (Barely holds spec) and terrible ripple & noise suppression.

Corair's CX430 v2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817139026
Or Rosewill's Green Series 430w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817182202

Those are in the same price bracket and much better performers.

[Major_A]

Thanks for the info. Thought I read a review saying how good that Xigmatek supply was. Guess not.

[Tator Tot]

Thanks for the info. Thought I read a review saying how good that Xigmatek supply was. Guess not.

It's the same as this guy:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?na ... y&reid=158

[Apoptosis]

The A8-3850 will destroy the G620 in CPU performance and GPU performance.

I'd go with the AMD system you laid out anyday over the Intel system.

[Major_A]

Thanks for the input. Didn't realize how expensive the i series was until I priced that build. The dinky i3 was too rich for his/my blood.

[Apoptosis]

also I just ordered in one of those processors...

Will have a review in a week or two.

[Major_A]

Now I'm waiting on him. At the rate he moves the next generation of CPUs will have come and gone before he makes a decision.

[smack323]

if your not using it for games why not just go with a 6core AMD CPU, and get a intergrated video from the mother board?

[Major_A]

The thinking here is the onboard A8-3850 GPU is far and away the best solution right now. This way it can handle more than I think he'll use. Rather have overkill there than not enough. Same reason I listed the nVidia GPU on the Intel build.

[sbohdan]

And the RAM is also faster with the AMD build.

[Major_A]

Did that in accordance with the testing by LR. The Llano cores really benefit from faster RAM.
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1652/1/

[Major_A]

Given the recent review seen here does the AMD system still seem like the better buy? And after reading the review it seems like the onboard GPU would be more than enough for what he needs.

[smack323]

your still getting a quad core with the AMD and huge performace increase in video - who knows whats comming in the years ahead - if he is ok with the AMD price i'd still go with that.

[Major_A]

Went to go ask him a few questions earlier and he had me build the PC. This is what I came up with.

TR_PC_Build.jpg (221 KiB) Viewed 1157 times

[smack323]

looks like a really good build for sub $450.

[Major_A]

Guess we'll find out. The parts are being delivered to me. He kind of put me on the spot so the build was a little rushed. I knew what I wanted but didn't get everything I had in mind. I could've skimped more on the case and got faster RAM. Oh well.

[Apoptosis]

Guess we'll find out. The parts are being delivered to me. He kind of put me on the spot so the build was a little rushed. I knew what I wanted but didn't get everything I had in mind. I could've skimped more on the case and got faster RAM. Oh well.

I think he'll be happy

[smack323]

let me know how that case is- i'll be doing a couple builds soon and need a cheap decent case.