PC configuration help needed

S

sigma.mlr

Disciple
Dear TE Gurus,

For our office, we need your advice on the PC configuration for our Civil Engineering consultancy. We plan to have two PCs with similar usage and are clueless on what configuration to go for :S. Your inputs will definitely be of great help!

Thanks in advance.

1. Q: What is your budget?
A: 25K(?) each

2. Q: What is your existing hardware configuration (component name - component brand and model)
A: None

3. Q: Which hardware will you be keeping (component name - component brand and model)
A: Not applicable

4. Q: Which hardware component are you looking to buy (component name). If you have already decided on a configuration then please mention the (component brand and model) as well, this will help us in fine tuning your requirement.
A: No decision has been taken

5. Q: Is this going to be your final configuration or you would be adding/upgrading a component in near future. If yes then please mention when and which component
A: This is a long term (3 yrs) requirement. Components that may be upgraded based on need will be RAM and HDD
6. Q: Where will you buy this hardware? (Online/City/TE Dealer)
A: Open to online purchase
7. Q: Would you consider buying a second hand hardware from the TE market
A: No

8. Q: What is your intended use for this PC/hardware
A:1. Drafting software such as AutoCAD, Revit Architectural software, 3D Max
2. Scheduling software such as Microsoft Project, Primavera
3. Structural Analysis and design software such as STAAD and STRUTS
4. Desktop processing

9. Q: Do you have any brand preference or dislike? Please name them and the reason for your preference/dislike.
A: No likes or dislikes. Key factor is availability of good after sales service in Karnataka

10. Q: If you will be playing games then which type of games will you be playing?
A: No games will be played on these PCs

11. Q: What is your preferred monitor resolution for gaming and normal usage
A: Desktop - 1440x900

12. Q: Are you looking to overclock?
A: No

13. Q: Which operating system do you intend to use with this configuration?
A: Windows 7 64 bit
 
Components Description Price (INR)

Processor AMD Athlon II X2 250/AMD Athlon II X3 440(3Ghz, 3 cores, 1.5MB Cache) 2700/3450

Motherboard Gigabyte 880GM-UD2H 4500

RAM GSkill 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz F3-10600CL9S-2GBNT 1450

HDD 500GB Seagate 7200.12 1750

GPU N/A

Monitor Dell IN2020 6600

Cabinet CM Elite 310 1500

PSU/SMPS FSP SAGAII 400w 1850

Key Board Logitech SET - Optical Blk Mouse+ MMKB 700

Mouse NA -

ODD L.G./Samung/ Sony OEM SATA DVD-Writer 950

Speakers Logitech R20 2.1 850

Total 22850-23600

This rig wud b more than enough for office usage but if u want a bit more muscle buy Athlon II x4 635 ~ 4.5K
 
Processor: AMD Athlon II X4 635 ~ 4650

Motherboard: Asus M4A78LT-M LE ~ 2750

RAM: Corsair value 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz ~1300

HDD: 500GB Seagate 7200.12 ~1750

GPU: ati hd 4650 ~3150

Monitor: Dell IN2020 ~6600

Cabinet: CM Elite 310 ~1500

PSU/SMPS: FSP SAGAII 400w/Corsair cx400 ~1850/2650

Key Board: Logitech SET - Optical Blk Mouse+ MMKB ~700

ODD: L.G./Samung/ Sony OEM SATA DVD-Writer ~950
Total : ~25200-26000

Hades config with modifications
 
sigma.mlr said:
Thank you very much Hades. If we decide to go for the Athlon II X4 635, will the motherboard suggested by you suffice?
Click to expand...
Yes... The motherboard that i suggested u can even suppurt a Hexa Core CPU (Phenom x6)...

One question: are u going to do much 3D stuff on this rig or this wud b just for office usage?
 
vip said:
GPU: ati hd 4650 ~3150

Monitor: Dell IN2020 ~6600
Click to expand...

@OP : Go with Hades' + VIP Modified configuration with the following changes-

1) Get a Dell 1720 (17" Widescreen + HD) ~5.5k instead of a Dell 2020

2) Get an ATi HD4670 ~4k instead of a HD 4650 (ASUS Currently sells the cheapest 4670 card in the market)

With the above 17"+4670 you can get very decent frames in most of the games , since the 4670 packs a bigger punch than the 4650 - and at a price difference of approximately .8k its a no brainer. Get the 1GB Card not the 512MB variant.

PSU : I'd suggest you to go with the CX 400 - Pretty big difference in terms of quality and A.S.S when compared to what is on offer at the FSP Stable.

Hope that Helps...

:cool2:
 
vip said:
Processor: AMD Athlon II X4 635 ~ 4650

Motherboard: Asus M4A78LT-M LE ~ 2750

RAM: Corsair value 2GB DDRIII 1333MHz ~1300

HDD: 500GB Seagate 7200.12 ~1750

GPU: ati hd 4650 ~3150

Monitor: Dell IN2020 ~6600

Cabinet: CM Elite 310 ~1500

PSU/SMPS: FSP SAGAII 400w/Corsair cx400 ~1850/2650

Key Board: Logitech SET - Optical Blk Mouse+ MMKB ~700

ODD: L.G./Samung/ Sony OEM SATA DVD-Writer ~950
Total : ~25200-26000

Hades config with modifications
Click to expand...
He mentioned clearly that these rigs are not meant for any gaming.Since he would be using 3d max .autocad etc i.e. proccy intensive software I would suggest go for a quad core athlon II x4 635 as suggested by vip.If u want u can downgrade to a 17" monitor to save some bucks there and buy a phenom II x4 955 BE @ 7.2k and 2x2 gb of corsair ddr3 ram which will be a boon for ur usage
 
Marcus Fenix said:
He mentioned clearly that these rigs are not meant for any gaming.Since he would be using 3d max .autocad etc i.e. proccy intensive software I would suggest go for a quad core athlon II x4 635 as suggested by vip.If u want u can downgrade to a 17" monitor to save some bucks there and buy a phenom II x4 955 BE @ 7.2k and 2x2 gb of corsair ddr3 ram which will be a boon for ur usage
Click to expand...
@marcus

Dont u think that if he will buy phenomII x4 955 for 7.2k with 4GB RAM will overshoot his budget?

@vip

He is not building a gaming PC so imo FSP Saga 400w wud suffice

@l33t

he wants a rig for office usage... not for gaming...

@sigma

for Autocad u require a workstation class graphic card or a card which supports atleast shader model 3.0... HD4250 IGP supports Shader Model 4.1... So i think this shud suffice but if it doesnt buy a graphic card...

System Requirement For Autocad: Autodesk - AutoCAD - System Requirements

And 25k for a rig for doing 3D stuff is a bit less...
 
@l33t

for 5.5k one can get acer or aoc 18.5" lcd i think 17" wide would be small.secondly in terms of quality FSP makes decent PSU and oem for many reputed brands only downside is availability.

@Marcus Fenix

A GPU always help rendering in graphical softwares

@hades

cx400 'nd fsp 400w has same wattage both can be used interchangeably.i mention cx400 for its easy availability and good A.S.S.
 
Hades. said:
@marcus

Dont u think that if he will buy phenomII x4 955 for 7.2k with 4GB RAM will overshoot his budget?

@vip

He is not building a gaming PC so imo FSP Saga 400w wud suffice

@l33t

he wants a rig for office usage... not for gaming...

@sigma

for Autocad u require a workstation class graphic card or a card which supports atleast shader model 3.0... HD4250 IGP supports Shader Model 4.1... So i think this shud suffice but if it doesnt buy a graphic card...

System Requirement For Autocad: Autodesk - AutoCAD - System Requirements

And 25k for a rig for doing 3D stuff is a bit less...
Click to expand...

I meant to say this

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955 ~ 7200

Motherboard: Asus M4A78LT-M LE ~ 2750

RAM: Corsair value 2x2GB DDRIII 1333MHz ~2600

HDD: 500GB Seagate 7200.12 ~1750

GPU: Onboard

Monitor: Dell 17" LCD 5500

Cabinet: CM Elite 310 ~1500

PSU/SMPS: FSP SAGAII 400w/Corsair cx400 ~1850/2650

Key Board: Logitech SET - Optical Blk Mouse+ MMKB ~700

ODD: L.G./Samung/ Sony OEM SATA DVD-Writer ~850

Total 24700

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---
Hades. said:
@marcus
Dont u think that if he will buy phenomII x4 955 for 7.2k with 4GB RAM will overshoot his budget?

@vip
He is not building a gaming PC so imo FSP Saga 400w wud suffice

@l33t
he wants a rig for office usage... not for gaming...

@sigma
for Autocad u require a workstation class graphic card or a card which supports atleast shader model 3.0... HD4250 IGP supports Shader Model 4.1... So i think this shud suffice but if it doesnt buy a graphic card...

System Requirement For Autocad: Autodesk - AutoCAD - System Requirements

And 25k for a rig for doing 3D stuff is a bit less...
Click to expand...
I meant to say this
Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955 ~ 7200
Motherboard: Asus M4A78LT-M LE ~ 2750
RAM: Corsair value 2x2GB DDRIII 1333MHz ~2600
HDD: 500GB Seagate 7200.12 ~1750
GPU: Onboard
Monitor: Dell 17" LCD 5500
Cabinet: CM Elite 310 ~1500
PSU/SMPS: FSP SAGAII 400w/Corsair cx400 ~1850/2650
Key Board: Logitech SET - Optical Blk Mouse+ MMKB ~700
ODD: L.G./Samung/ Sony OEM SATA DVD-Writer ~850

Total 24700
 
Marcus Fenix said:
Motherboard: Asus M4A78LT-M LE ~ 2750
Click to expand...
IMO 880GM-UD2H wud b better coz it performs very well...

Plus He wont be doing gaming so doesnt require 6MB L3 cache Athlon II x4 635 wud b great for 3D rendering... i know 955 wud perform better but see the price difference

Plus Gigabyte Has good A.S.S so in the future if anything happens to the board replacing the mobo wont b a problem...
 
OP Says : AutoCAD, 3D Max

Which requires some amount of GPU power - to get things done fast - I guess the ATi would do the job, Period.
 
l33t said:
OP Says : AutoCAD, 3D Max

Which requires some amount of GPU power - to get things done fast - I guess the ATi would do the job, Period.
Click to expand...

U r rite l33t but dont u think compromising on a good board is not a good choice...
 
Marcus Fenix said:
Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 955 ~ 7200

Motherboard: Asus M4A78LT-M LE ~ 2750
Click to expand...
Marcus - I dont really think squeezing in a Ph. X4 on a teeny weeny mobo is really going to help solve the power crunch , and the MOSFETS sure in hell cant give feed the power hungry proccy in terms as a decent board would , also you would want to take into consideration the 3D Max the OP wishes to work with , so that will be a downfall , your'e right with the 4 core part ,but the specs which you gave could give in to a terribly imbalanced rig...just my take , might work- but then wont be optimal performance.

Hades. said:
U r rite l33t but dont u think compromising on a good board is not a good choice...
Click to expand...

IMO there wont be a lot of compromise , just tweaked your config a little bit , you can squeeze in teh GPU too , considering a 17" monitor , why 20" if only office work,no space scarcity in the crucible ?

Components Description Price

CPU AMD Athlon X3 435 3400

Mobo Gigabyte 880GM-UD2H 4500

RAM Corsair Value RAM 2GB DDR3 1300

HDD WD Caviar Green 500GB.7200RPM 1700

GPU ASUS Radeon HD4670 1GB 4000

Monitor Dell IN1710 HD 5400

Cabinet Zebronics Bijili 1000

KB+Mouse Logitech MMKB Combo 700

PSU Gigabyte Superb 400W 2100

ODD LG DVD +RW OEM 850

Speakers Creative SBS A35 400

Total 25350


:cool2:
 
guys there is nothing going to happen by pushing each other configs.

now its Q about which cpu,mobo,gpu,psu,monitor? (exclude speakers)

a quad is must so options r x4 635 or phenom 955

mobo M4A78LT-M LE(CPU upto 95W) or Gigabyte 880GM-UD2H or MSI 785GM-P45(3.9k)

asus has no hdmi, fire wire and msi has no firewire.there is a no big difference in these mobos.if u add gpu they perform same.

GPU:intergrated or 4650 or 4670

PSU:superb 460 fsp sagaII 400w or cx400

Monitor:at least 18.5"

now let sigma.mlr decide which fits to his budget best.
 
Wow!! THANK YOU everyone for the overwhelming response and your valuable suggestions.

We guess the budget can be flexed a little bit, so mostly will squeeze in a graphics card also.

Once we decide on the final configuration based on your inputs, will post it here.

Thanks again for all the help :)
 
Out of the above boards only the Gigabyte is worth a dekho cause as you mention the other two boards are 95W TDP if our OP here buys these and a Phenom II 955 B.E. as someone has mentioned he is about to fry his board and the MSI build quality is under scanner at that price range for me so will not recommend :hap5:

Review of individual boards is given below

http://review.gamblis.com/2010/02/msi-785gm-p45-amd-am3-motherboard-review/

http://techwiki.hardwarecanucks.com/product/1MDcxODA/Gigabyte-880GM-UD2H/

http://www.testfreaks.com/motherboards/asus-m4a78lt-m-le/

^^

vip please mention prices of the components you put at least the estimate, makes the job easier on all
Gigabyte Superb 460W ~ 2.2K ( minimum PSU to be bought )

FSP Saga II 400W ~ 2K ( can't go wrong )

Corsair CX 400W ~ 2.7K ( best bet )

hope this helps :)
 
Yep.Checked it out and the best option for a 955 would be the GB 880GM-UD2H since it has support for 125W cpus>but with it ur budget will shoot upwards of 25k so the best option is the x4 635

BTW @vip there is no integrated 4650/4670.U hav igp such as the HD 4200 series
 
@marcus
thats y i have recommended gigabyte 880gm-ud2h over the board that u recommended...
I prefer buying something new rather than old and this the second reason for the board that i recommended i know its a bit pricey but worth the money...
 
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