TE PC Buying Guide - August 2011

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DarkAngel

DarkAngel

Skilled
Update: Nov1

HDD prices have sky rocketed due to the floods in Thailand. So keep that price correction in my before deciding on the components.

http://www.techenclave.com/storage-solutions/hdd-prices-may-go-up-edit-201207.html

PFB the desktop HDD pricing on November 1, 2011

Seagate 250 GB - Rs.3200

Seagate 500 GB - Rs.4200

Seagate 1 TB ( 6 GB/s) - Rs.5400

Seagate 2.0 TB ( 6 GB/s) - Rs.6600

General Purpose Office Machine + 24/7 Downloading(Budget 13.5k)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor AMD Sempron 140(2.7Ghz, 1 core) 1700

Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-S2 2450

RAM Kingston 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz 700

HDD 500GB Seagate 7200.12 1950

GPU On Board HD2100 -

Monitor Dell E1609 3900

Cabinet Zebronics Kite with SMPS 1100

PSU/SMPS NA -

Key Board Zebronics OEM SET - Optical Blk Mouse+ KB 350

Mouse NA -

ODD Samsung 22X SATA DVD 950

Speakers Creative SBS SBS A35 - 2.0 400

Total 13500

  • Go for the Gigabyte GA D425TUD board + ATOM 1.8 GHz - 3.45k if it is only for 24/7 DLs and browsing.
  • If you have ~1k-1.5k more to spare then go for a AthlonII X2 250 ~ 2.8k+Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-S2~2.4k as it will give you much better performance in multitasking.

General Purpose Home Machine(Budget 18k)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor AMD Athlon II x2 250 2800

Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-S2 2450

RAM Kingston 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz 700

HDD Seagate 500GB 7200.12 1950

GPU On Board Raedon HD3000 -

Monitor Dell 1920IN 4900

Cabinet Zebronics Bijli W/O PSU 1100

PSU FSP saga II 350W 1500

Key Board Logitech SET - Optical Blk Mouse+ MMKB 650

Mouse NA -

ODD Samsung 22X SATA DVD 950

Speakers Altec Lansing 2.1 BXR1221 950

Total 18000

  • To give it more gaming prowess add a HD4670 512MB DDRIII @ 3.3K.
  • If you are a heavy multitasker then get the AthlonII X3 445 ~ 3.4k.

General Purpose Home Machine + Casual Gamer (Budget 25k)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor AMD Athlon II x3 445 3400

Motherboard Gigabyte GA-MA78LMT-S2 2450

RAM Kingston 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz 700

HDD Seagate 500GB 7200.12 1950

GPU Sapphire ATI Raedon HD5670 512MB GDDR5 4100

Monitor Dell IN2020M 5900

Cabinet CM Elite 310 1500

PSU Gigabyte Superb 460 or FSP SAGAII 400w 1950

Key Board Logitech SET - Optical Blk Mouse+ MMKB 650

Mouse NA -

ODD Samsung 22X SATA DVD 950

Speakers Altec Lansing 2.1 BXR1221 950

Total 24600

Alternate Intel SB Rig

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor Intel PDC G620 3450

Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H61M-D2-B3 3450

Total 25650

  • I would recommend a Corsair 4GB RAM stick ~ 1.35k is you have few more bucks to spend.
  • Those who have couple more thousand to spare and doesnt want the hassles of a discrete GPU can go for the AMD Llano APUs.
  • AMD LLANO A3850 +MSI A75MA-G55 +G-SKILL RIPJAWS 4GB DDR3 1600 Mhz -F3-12800CL9S-4GBRL (4Gx1) RAM - Rs.13,990 from SMC Intl'
  • Alternate choice if 512MB GDDR5 HD5670 is unavailable is the MSI R6570-MD1GD3/LP - Rs.3740

Low End Gaming Rig (Budget 32k)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor Core i3 2100 5300

Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H61M-D2-B3 3450

RAM Corsair 4GB DDRIII 1333MHz 1350

HDD Seagate 500GB 7200.12 1950

GPU MSI R6770-MD1GD 1GB GDDR5 6500

Monitor Benq G2220HD 6900

Cabinet NZXT Gamma 2100

PSU/SMPS Corsair CX430 v2 2200

Key Board Logitech SET - Optical Blk Mouse+ MMKB 650

Mouse NA -

ODD Samsung 22X SATA DVD 950

Speakers Altec Lansing 2.1 BXR1221 950

Total 32300

  • If u have a couple more thousand to spare then you can consider a PSU upgrade to Seasonic S12II 430w/ Corsair VX450.
  • If you are want to OC and need more cores then you can go for the AMD PhenomII X4 955BE ~ 5.6k and GA-880GM-USB3L ~ 4.3k

Medium End Gaming Rig (Budget 40k)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor Core i3 2100 5300

Motherboard Intel DH67BL(B3) 5100

RAM Corsair 4GB DDRIII 1333MHz 1350

HDD Seagate 1TB 7200.12 2750

GPU MSI Cyclone OC HD6850 1GB GDDR5 PE 9350

Monitor Benq G2220HD 6900

Cabinet NZXT Gamma 2100

PSU Seasonic S12II 430w/ Corsair VX450 3300/3600

Key Board Logitech MMKB 400

Mouse Gigabyte GM6800 650

ODD Samsung 22X SATA DVD 950

Speakers Altec Lansing 2.1 VS2621 1650

Total 40100

  • If you are want to OC and need more cores then you can go for the AMD PhenomII X4 955BE ~ 5.6k and GA-880GM-USB3L ~ 4.3k

Med End Gaming Rig (Budget 51k)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor Core i5 2400 9300

Motherboard Intel DH67BL(B3) 5100

RAM Corsair 4GB DDRIII 1333MHz 1350

HDD Seagate 1 TB 7200.12 2750

GPU MSI Nvidia N560GTX-Ti Twin Frozr II/OC 1GB GDDR5 13750

Monitor Benq G2220HD 6900

Cabinet NZXT Gamma 2100

PSU Seasonic S12II 520w 4300

Key Board Logitech MMKB 400

Mouse Logitech MX 518 1200

ODD Samsung 22X SATA DVD 950

Speakers Altec Lansing 2.1 VS2621 1650

Total 49750

  • Grab a AMD Radeon 6950 2GB reference version ~ 15.5k, if you are interested in trying your luck in unlocking it to a HD 6970.

Med End Gaming Rig (Budget 65k)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor Intel Core i5 2500K 10800

Motherboard MSI P67A-GD55/Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3R-B3 9400/9600

CPU Cooler CM Hyper 212+ 1850

RAM Gskil RipJawsX F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL 1600MHz 1850

HDD Seagate 1 TB 7200.12 2750

GPU MSI R6950 Twin Frozr II/OC 2GB GDDR5 15200

Monitor Benq E2220HD 8700

Cabinet CM RC-690 4300

PSU Seasonic S12II 520w 4300

Key Board Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 1100

Mouse Logitech MX 518 1200

ODD Samsung 22X SATA DVD 950

Speakers Altec Lansing 2.1 VS2621 1650

Total 64350

  • If you are interested in SLI/XFire in the future then go for a MSI P67A-GD65 ~ 9.6k or Asus P8P67 Pro ~ 11.6k (You will have to get a better PSU too when you do XFire/SLI)

High End Gaming Rig - XFire (Budget 73.5k)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor Intel Core i5 2500K 10800

Motherboard MSI P67A-GD55 9400

CPU Cooler CM Hyper 212+ 1850

RAM Gskil RipJawsX F3-12800CL9D-4GBXL 1600MHz 1850

HDD Seagate 1 TB 7200.12 2750

GPU 2*R6850 CYCLONE 1GD5 PE/OC 18700

Monitor Samsung P2350 10800

Cabinet CM RC-690 4300

PSU Corsair TX750 V2 6000

Key Board Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 1100

Mouse Razer Death Adder 2000

Mouse pad RantoPad H3 300

ODD Samsung 22X SATA DVD 950

Speakers Altec Lancing VS4621 2900

Total 73500

  • Those who prefer single GFX can go for a HD6950 2GB/ HD6970 2GB/ GTX570 according to preference and the kind of gaming prowess needed!
  • Optional upgrade to OCZ AGILITY 3 SATA III 60GB SSD (AGT3-25SAT3-60G) ~ 7k
  • If you have a bit more to spare and are a hard core OCer then opt for CL8 RAM sticks and Noctua NH-U12P SE2 120mm SSO ~ 3.75k
  • If you are skeptical about going for a tier-2 brand MSI mobo then opt for the Asus P8P67 Pro ~ 11.6k (Though the MSI P67A-GD55 has good good ratings in newegg and couple of reviews)

High End Gaming Rig - XFire (Budget 1.03L)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor Intel Core i5 2500K 10800

Motherboard Asus P8P67 Pro 12000

RAM Corsair Vengence CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 3450

HDD 1 TB Seagate 7200.12 2750

CPU Cooler Noctua NH-U12P SE2 120mm SSO 3750

GPU 2*MSI R6950 Twin Frozr II/OC 2GB GDDR5 30400

Monitor DELL U2311H 14500

Cabinet CM HAF 922 6600

PSU/SMPS SeaSonic X 850 SS-850KM 850W 9900

Key Board Razer Arctosa 2200

Mouse Razer Death Adder 2200

Mouse pad RantoPad H3 300

ODD L.G./Samsung OEM SATA DVD-Writer 950

Speakers Altec Lansing 2.1 VS4121 2900

Total 102700

  • Those who prefer single GFX can go for a GTX580.
  • Optional upgrade to OCZ AGILITY 3 SATA III 60GB SSD (AGT3-25SAT3-60G) ~ 7k
  • A better set of speakers.

High End Gaming Rig (Budget 1.41L)

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor Intel Core i7 2600k 15900

Motherboard Asus Asus P8P67 DELUXE B3 15500

RAM G-skill F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM 1600MHz 4400

HDD Seagate 1 TB 7200.12 2700

SSD OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-120G 120GB 16800

CPU Cooler Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler 4800

Monitor Dell U2311H 14500

GPU 2*MSI R6950 Twin Frozr II/OC 2GB GDDR5 30400

Cabinet NZXT Phantom 8400

PSU/SMPS SeaSonic X 850 SS-850KM 850W 9900

Key Board Razer Arctosa 2250

Mouse Razer Death Adder 2200

Mouse pad Razer Sphex World Elite Edition Gaming Grade Desktop Skin 1000

ODD L.G./Samsung OEM SATA DVD-Writer 950

Speakers Logitech 2300 2.1 7400

Sound Card ASUS Xonar DX 4200

Total 141300

  • Optional ugrade to Dell U2711H ~ 40k.

Ultra High End Workhorse/Gaming Rig

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor 2 * Xeon X5650(6 cores, 12M Cache, 2.66 GHz)

Motherboard EVGA Classified SR-2

RAM GSkill F3-12800CL6T2-12GBPIS

HDD 2*1 TB WD Black

SDD 2*OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-240G

CPU Cooler 2*Noctua NH-U12P SE2 120mm SSO

GPU 2*ZOTAC AMP! GeForce GTX 580

Monitor DELL U2711

Cabinet LIAN LI PC-P80(modded)

PSU/SMPS Corsair AX1200

Key Board Razer Tarantula

Mouse Logitech G9 Laser

Mouse pad Razer Sphex World Elite Edition Gaming Grade Desktop Skin

ODD LITEON 4X BLURAY ROM IHOS104- 06

Sound Card Creative PCI-E Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion

Speakers Logitech Z-5500 5.1Ch

Home Theater Enthusiast

Components Description Price (INR)

Processor AMD LLANO A3850 6900

Motherboard Gigabyte GA-A75M-D2H 6600

RAM Corsair 2*2GB DDRIII 1600MHz 1900

HDD Seagate 1TB 7200.12 2750

GPU Integrated AMD HD6550D -

Monitor Any Good Full HD LCD TV(32" and upwards) 30000+

Cabinet Silverstone SG02B 4500

PSU/SMPS FSP SAGAII 350w 1500

Key Board Logitech Wireless Desktop MK320 1200

Mouse NA -

TV Tuner Hauppauge Colossus 01414 $140

ODD LITEON 4X BLURAY ROM IHOS104- 06 6500

Sound Card ASUS Xonar DX 4200

Speakers Altec Lansing 5.1 FX5051E 8000


Also please let me know of any typos in the guide.

Suggestions and comments are welcome. :)
 
DarkAngel - Any particular reason to change the H67 board to Intel from MSI from the previous guide. I am asking because I followed the previous guide and insisted on MSI even then the Intel board was more readily available. Also what about the new i3 SandyBridge chips 2105 with HD3000 and the higher clocked one?
 
^ I've been wondering the same thing why Intel DH67BL over the MSI H67MA-E35. The only advantage it has is 4 memory slots instead of 2. IMO MSI still is a better buy. Currently RAM is dirt cheap and 4gb sticks are going like candies. So the 2 slots won't really be limiting. The advantages MSI has is that it has an extra SATA port and also they are faced sideways unlike in the Intel board where they are faced upwards. It's cheaper by a few hundred bucks too. Also the black PCB looks cool. :p

EDIT: Oh yeah, the Intel board has 2 extra USB ports and an eSATA at the back. Both are good boards. Pick whatever suits your need. :p
 
I think thats because the MSI is missing esata slots while the Intel uses one sata slot for one external esata slot so that's a plus for the Intel apart from the extra 2 ram slots. I have seen some reviews and the Intel was pretty well reviewed, only down compared to MSI was MSI is using solid state capacitors.
 
As for i3 2105, it's small GPU bump hardly makes a difference and if you're getting a dedicated GPU, even that difference is nullified.

I prefer having an extra SATA Port instead of an eSATA at the back. Anyways if your cabinet, like the NZXT Gamma, has an eSATA port at the front, you can plug that in to the extra SATA port. It's much preferable having an eSATA at the front instead of the back, helps in quick plugging/disconnecting which is what eSATA was meant for.
 
There were a few complaints about the beep issue in the MSI H67. Thus preferred the Intel H67 over the MSI. Google it.
 
There were a few complaints about the beep issue in the MSI H67. Thus preferred the Intel H67 over the MSI. Google it.
 
G Skill 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz was available for 750/- with a 5 Year Warranty at PrimeABGB yesterday. :)
 
nehaladsul said:
G Skill 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz was available for 750/- with a 5 Year Warranty at PrimeABGB yesterday.

:p
Click to expand...

So? Kingston also carries 5 years warranty and is Rs.50 cheaper.
 
DarkAngel said:
So? Kingston also carries 5 years warranty and is Rs.50 cheaper.
Click to expand...

So nothing! I just thought I would post the current price I knew. What's wrong in that? :S
 
nehaladsul said:
So nothing! I just thought I would post the current price I knew. What's wrong in that? :S
Click to expand...

Still not getting your point. I haven't recommended GSkill 2GB at all. So the comment felt out of place. You can make use of the price update thread to update prices.

If i have got pricing wrong is the components that i have recommended feel free to correct me. :)
 
DarkAngel said:
Still not getting your point. I haven't recommended GSkill 2GB at all. So the comment felt out of place. You can make use of the price update thread to update prices.

If i have got pricing wrong is the components that i have recommended feel free to correct me. :)
Click to expand...

Arre, there is no doubt that you have created a great guide. And I didn't post intending to correct or modify the guide.

I just suggested G Skill as an alternative to Kingston. Agreed that it costs 50 rupees more but the prospective buyer gets a choice between 2 good brands.

When I purchased the RAM for my friend, I opted to pay the extra 50 rupees and got G Skill over Kingston. Nothing else. :)

If you think the post was inappropriate or not required, please feel free to delete the posts. Sorry if I unknowingly made a wrong indication. :)
 
nehaladsul said:
G Skill 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz was available for 750/- with a 5 Year Warranty at PrimeABGB yesterday. :)
Click to expand...

Problem with GSkill is that they dont have service centers all over India and are prevalent only in major cities. IINM they don't have a wide service n/w like Corsair or Kingston.

That's the reason i have stuck to Kingston and Corsair for the low end and went for GSkill only when they were absolute VFM and for the high end rigs.
 
DarkAngel said:
Got it now. I was confused because of the ':p' smiley. No issues.
Click to expand...

^^ That smiley was a mistake I wanted to put :) in it's place. I realized it after posting it in the afternoon but when I tried editing I got a database error!! :mad:

Later in the evening, I forgot to edit it... :(
 
Between the following processors Athlon II x3 445 and Intel PDC G620 , which is more powerful and suited to easily handle basic MS office, surfing 720p movies and some basic 3d games to work on onboard ? Need to build a basic rig for my cousin kiddo .
 
FaH33m said:
Between the following processors Athlon II x3 445 and Intel PDC G620 , which is more powerful and suited to easily handle basic MS office, surfing 720p movies and some basic 3d games to work on onboard ? Need to build a basic rig for my cousin kiddo .
Click to expand...

If you are comparing Athlon II x3 440 with G620 then 440 is powerful than G620... But if you can find Intel Pentium G840 in indian market... Then i would advice you to build a SB based rig as SB motherboards would be compatible with upcoming IvyBridge processors... So your cousin would be able to upgrade to Ivybridge processor if in the future he would like add a IB quadcore processor...
 
FaH33m said:
Between the following processors Athlon II x3 445 and Intel PDC G620 , which is more powerful and suited to easily handle basic MS office, surfing 720p movies and some basic 3d games to work on onboard ? Need to build a basic rig for my cousin kiddo .
Click to expand...

The intel HD graphics is better than 760G or 880G. So go for G620+H61 system.
 
Yes there are a lot of complaints for the MSI beeping, but I have the same board and in my case there are 3 beeps and honestly its not too loud or irritating, not too much of an issue. Of course in same cases I have read it could give upto 5 beeps plus which would be irritating.
 
1) Would a core i3 2100 bottleneck a 560 Ti (Target res 1920x1080)?
2) Any motherboard( full ATX) with all the bells and whistles for the same on the lower side of 10k?
 
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