Looking to build a rig for 400-500 EURO

Sightaridis

My father needs a new PC and his budget is between 400 and 500 Euro. He wont be playing games, but he will be using software like Photoshop.

I've tried picking some parts, but I always fall down on the CPU and Motherboard, there's so many options and compatibilities.

All I've decided on now is a Samsung Spinpoint F3 500gb HDD

Is Hardwareversand still the best place to get your parts? It's been 2 years since I built my last PC. I take it they still don't accept credit card?

Monotype

Hardwareversand still don't accept credit cards. Does this include monitor/speakers/mouse/keyboard/OS?

Sightaridis

Should have mentioned: None of those items need to be purchased, just the rig itself.

Monotype

Samsung F3 500GB €37.20

ASRock 890GM Pro3 €82

OCZ StealthXStream 500W €46

4GB-Kit OCZ DDR3 PC3-10666 €63

AMD X3 440 €64.

That's nearly 300 and you'll need a case as well.
You could add to get a bit better for the motherboard - it's the cheapest in that line - or you could save with something a bit older.
Maybe with the spare money, get a quad core. They start at just over €20 more, but I don't have time to check now.

Sightaridis

How about the Athlon II X4 635? - €86

Is this Motherboard any better or worse? Roughly the same price as the ASRock
http://www1.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=34247&agid=1292

As for the graphics card, should I go for an affordable, capable card in case he wants to play a game? He wouldn't want to be playing Crysis on top settings or anything, but rather than rely on the onboard graphics chip.

Here's were we are so far:

http://i51.tinypic.com/az6xds.png

Monotype

The motherboard is probably much the same at the end of the day. The asus has an add in card for usb 3 as opposed to it built in and the integrated graphics would be slightly crappier (not making a difference if you're not using it).

I forgot to add a dvd drive too. Just pick any one.
How much graphic power are we talking about - a 5570 for €66.51?
You wouldn't be running crysis very well on it though
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-5570-review/13

You might have better luck with the 5670 for €71.61.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-5670-review-test-crossfire/15

Also that PSU is out of stock, so you can get the 550W superflower amazon.
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=30069
or even the 450W would do.

Sightaridis

If I were to go for the 5670, should I look for a motherboard without an onboard GPU to get the price down?

Monotype

Having integrated graphics does not really mean it's a dearer board - The top end boards don't have it. You can have a quick look, but going lower than that price, you're sacrificing thing like USB 3 and SATA 6Gbps - neither of which you'll probably use tomorrow, but it depends on how long this is to last.

Sightaridis

Ah, okay then.

How would I find out if the ASRock Mobo can boot from a USB stick?



Look ok? Could get the Antec PSU instead if availability is a problem.

Monotype

You might find a manual on their website. I haven't had any personal experience with their boards but they're owned by asus, so yout should be alright whichever one you go for.
I haven't come across any recent motherboards that can't boot from usb. Even a lot of the lowest end ones seem to support it these days.

Sightaridis

I'd be surprised if it didn't have that option, but even then it's not a deal breaker.

Thanks for your help.

tc2010

Why not just buy an acer revo and save a few euro if its really not for gaming?

Nice and stylish and energy efficient. Fits in nicely behind a TV for watching films