Hello
I'm brand new to this website and this forum.
I'm looking to replace a very old family PC which seems to be on it's last legs. If the current machine's history is anything to go by, we will be keeping the new machine for 5+ years before the next upgrade, so I want to try and 'future-proof' to some extent. At the same time, I like to keep the price as far below £1,000 as possible.
The machine will not be used for demanding applications - email, web browsing, Office, Skype, some video watching and maybe a little video editing. I want a reasonably large HDD to store lots of photographs on. No gaming.
I'm replacing a Dell machine, which has worked well all these years, but wanted to specify my own components as far as possible, so was pleased when I found the PCS website.
The configuration I have come up with is as follows, with questions in blue:
Case
STYLISH PIANO BLACK FUSION CASE inc. 2 FRONT USB
Is there a micro ATX case I can specify? If yes, will the following components fit and not overheat?
There are two Micro cases on this page http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/pc-images/#1338, but they are not shown on the drop down list when specifying required components.
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i3-550 Dual Core (3.20GHz, 4MB Cache) + HD Graphics
I'm hoping this is more than adequate for the current expected use of the machine, but would it make sense to specify an i5 processore if I'm trying to future proof?
Motherboard
ASUS® P7H55D-M EVO: MICRO ATX, USB 3.0 & SATA 3.0GB/s
Specified this because of the USB 3.0 capability (will this become the standard soon?), and if I'm hoping to find a Micro ATX case, is a Micro ATX motherboard essential
Memory (RAM)
4GB SAMSUNG DDR3 DUAL-DDR3 1333MHz (2 X 2GB)
Graphics Card
1GB ATI RADEON™ HD 5570 PCI EXPRESS - DirectX® 11
Have I a specified too advanced a card for my needs? Is there a cheaper card that still has HDMI and DVI output and is not too noisy?
2nd Graphics Card
NONE
3rd Graphics Card
NONE
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
1TB SERIAL ATA 3-Gb/s HARD DRIVE WITH 16MB CACHE (7,200rpm)
2nd Hard Disk
NONE
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
2nd DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NONE
Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (READS XD, MS, CF, SD, etc)
Power Supply & Case Cooling
350W Dual Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan
Is this adequate? It comes with a 120mm fan. Do I need a smaller fan in a Micro case?
Processor Cooling
INTEL SOCKET LGA1156 STANDARD CPU COOLER
Again, is this enough for my purposes? Would a more powerful cooler mean less noise?
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB Options
4 PORT USB 2.0 INTERNAL PCI CARD + STANDARD USB PORTS
If a Micro case is possible, not sure how many USB sockets there would be in total. I'd like at least 8, and if there would be less, I'm hoping I can fit this card in.
Modem
NONE, I WILL BE USING BROADBAND
Floppy Disk Drive
NONE
Firewire & Video Editing
NONE
TV Card
NONE
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 32 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Currently using Windows XP on the desktop being replaced, and 32bit Vista on a laptop. Have a 500GB external HDD that only works with 32bit Windows 7. So thought I'd stick with 32bit Windows 7, but from a 'future proof' aspect, would I be better off going with 64 bit Windows?
Office Software
FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)
Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Monitor
IIYAMA E2271HDS 22" LED WIDESCREEN, HDMI/DVI-D FULL HD 1920x1080 (£149)
Any comments very gratefully received.
Many thanks
Mak
I'm brand new to this website and this forum.
I'm looking to replace a very old family PC which seems to be on it's last legs. If the current machine's history is anything to go by, we will be keeping the new machine for 5+ years before the next upgrade, so I want to try and 'future-proof' to some extent. At the same time, I like to keep the price as far below £1,000 as possible.
The machine will not be used for demanding applications - email, web browsing, Office, Skype, some video watching and maybe a little video editing. I want a reasonably large HDD to store lots of photographs on. No gaming.
I'm replacing a Dell machine, which has worked well all these years, but wanted to specify my own components as far as possible, so was pleased when I found the PCS website.
The configuration I have come up with is as follows, with questions in blue:
Case
STYLISH PIANO BLACK FUSION CASE inc. 2 FRONT USB
Is there a micro ATX case I can specify? If yes, will the following components fit and not overheat?
There are two Micro cases on this page http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/pc-images/#1338, but they are not shown on the drop down list when specifying required components.
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i3-550 Dual Core (3.20GHz, 4MB Cache) + HD Graphics
I'm hoping this is more than adequate for the current expected use of the machine, but would it make sense to specify an i5 processore if I'm trying to future proof?
Motherboard
ASUS® P7H55D-M EVO: MICRO ATX, USB 3.0 & SATA 3.0GB/s
Specified this because of the USB 3.0 capability (will this become the standard soon?), and if I'm hoping to find a Micro ATX case, is a Micro ATX motherboard essential
Memory (RAM)
4GB SAMSUNG DDR3 DUAL-DDR3 1333MHz (2 X 2GB)
Graphics Card
1GB ATI RADEON™ HD 5570 PCI EXPRESS - DirectX® 11
Have I a specified too advanced a card for my needs? Is there a cheaper card that still has HDMI and DVI output and is not too noisy?
2nd Graphics Card
NONE
3rd Graphics Card
NONE
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
1TB SERIAL ATA 3-Gb/s HARD DRIVE WITH 16MB CACHE (7,200rpm)
2nd Hard Disk
NONE
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
2nd DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
NONE
Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (READS XD, MS, CF, SD, etc)
Power Supply & Case Cooling
350W Dual Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan
Is this adequate? It comes with a 120mm fan. Do I need a smaller fan in a Micro case?
Processor Cooling
INTEL SOCKET LGA1156 STANDARD CPU COOLER
Again, is this enough for my purposes? Would a more powerful cooler mean less noise?
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB Options
4 PORT USB 2.0 INTERNAL PCI CARD + STANDARD USB PORTS
If a Micro case is possible, not sure how many USB sockets there would be in total. I'd like at least 8, and if there would be less, I'm hoping I can fit this card in.
Modem
NONE, I WILL BE USING BROADBAND
Floppy Disk Drive
NONE
Firewire & Video Editing
NONE
TV Card
NONE
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 32 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Currently using Windows XP on the desktop being replaced, and 32bit Vista on a laptop. Have a 500GB external HDD that only works with 32bit Windows 7. So thought I'd stick with 32bit Windows 7, but from a 'future proof' aspect, would I be better off going with 64 bit Windows?
Office Software
FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)
Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Monitor
IIYAMA E2271HDS 22" LED WIDESCREEN, HDMI/DVI-D FULL HD 1920x1080 (£149)
Any comments very gratefully received.
Many thanks
Mak