[Solved] Advice for budget build

I'm about to build a system for a friend. The computer will be used predominately for audio production with a program called Fruity Loops.

Fruity Loops is a fairly heavy program to run so my dilemma is getting a system to run it at close to $500.

Here's what I'm at right now:

RAM + Case - $110

PSU + HDD - $119

CPU + Mobo -$220

Windows 7 OEM -$100

CD Burner -$17

Grand Total - $566

I would appreciate any help in shaving off any more cost.

Reply to jacob0808

MB - ASRock A75M FM1 A75 - $75
CPU - AMD A8-3870K w/ HD 6550D - $140
MEM - Corsair XMS3 4GB DDR3-1600 CL9 - $20 after MIR
HD - Seagate 500GB - $95
OPTICAL - 24x DVD-RW - $18
PSU - CORSAIR CX430 - $35 after MIR
CASE - Cooler Master Elite 430 - $40 after MIR
OS - Windows 7 Home Premium x64 - $100

$523

Reply to sadams04

Best answer

I wouldn't recommend a Llano at all for that type of build - and that case is quite a bit expensive. I'm not sure it can be done for < $600 but this would be your ideal setup. It may not meet your budget but the parts are way better and will prolong the lifespan of your system.

Try this:

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119233 - Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139027 - Corsair CX500 - $59.99
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813121508 - Intel BOXDH67CLB3 - $89.99
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115077 - 3.30GHz Intel Core i3-2120 - $129.99
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820178382 - PNY 8GB - $42.99
HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148767 - Seagate Barracuda 500GB - $84.99
Optical: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151244 - Samsung 22X DVD Burner - $17.99
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102940 - Sapphire Radeon HD 6770 - $99.99

Total: $583.92

Thank you for both quick responses. After looking at those builds I realized I left some things out making it a bit more limited.

Optical S/PDIF is required to hook up 7.1 headphones that are used while producing his music. Monitor which is already owned hooks up with DVI only. Also the mixing board and synthesizer are USB hookups so I was thinking USB 3 would be better but not a must.

g-unit- I don't know very much about the Llano myself, however I have always used AMD for myself and that CPU seemed to be the best for price as far as the numbers I was looking at

Message edited by jacob0808 on 02-14-2012 at 09:42:50 PM

Reply to jacob0808

Quote :

g-unit- I don't know very much about the Llano myself, however I have always used AMD for myself and that CPU seemed to be the best for price as far as the numbers I was looking at

What the Llano essentially is is a CPU and GPU on the same die. The GPU is equivalent to a Radeon 6650 or 6670 depending on the model of CPU you get. It's essentially not that powerful but where it works and works well is something like an HTPC where you don't need a lot of power anyways.

The i3-2120 would be a better fit for what you need it to do. It's getting harder to make a case for AMD when even a low-end Pentium G620 will run circles around mid-range and even high-end AMD CPUs right now.

The intel CPU would be better for fruity loops. Also go with the 8GB RAM. The last build left out windows so your missing $100. Any motherboard with onboard video would be fine for fruityloops, so save yourself the $100 form the video card. Some nice case and power suuplies where recommended not to expensive. Also an Asus Xonar DG soundcard for only $35 would give SPDIF optical out as well as a built in headphone amp. Can't knock that for the price.

Reply to gondo

My price seems to increasing here. I have been looking more at the i3-2120 and compatible motherboards. I do agree with gondo about the 8GB RAM

Here is where I am at now. I have gone over his budget but he begrudgingly gave the okay on ~$600 now.

Same PSU + HDD combo - $119

i3-2120 CPU - $128

Intel BOXDH67BLB3 Mobo - $90

8GB RAM - $37

Low Profile Radeon 5450 Video Card - $30

IN WIN Dragon Slayer Case - $62 (Still an expensive case but it caught my eye with the stock fans and dust filters)

LG CD Burner -$17

Windows 7 OEM - $100

Total - $583

This build keeps the 8 gig ram and switches to the i3 CPU. Also the mobo has the optical port and USB 3. Video card will provide the DVI port required.

I am ready to make this purchase tomorrow. That said, are there any other tweaks I should make to the build?

Reply to jacob0808

It's really difficult to recommend that PSU but otherwise everything else looks pretty good. The i3 is much better than the Llano for what you need it to do.

Message quoted 1 times

g-unit1111 wrote :

It's really difficult to recommend that PSU but otherwise everything else looks pretty good. The i3 is much better than the Llano for what you need it to do.

What are the issues with the PSU I listed?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to jacob0808

Best answer selected by jacob0808.

Reply to jacob0808

jacob0808 wrote :

What are the issues with the PSU I listed?

It's not certified or rated. Getting the wrong PSU has the potential to be disastrous, and I'd heavily suggest checking out these resources before buying:

- http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,3061.html
- http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2862.html
- http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2916.html

Message quoted 1 times

g-unit1111 wrote :

It's not certified or rated. Getting the wrong PSU has the potential to be disastrous, and I'd heavily suggest checking out these resources before buying:

- http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,3061.html
- http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2862.html
- http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] ,2916.html

Thanks for those threads. after reading that I went ahead and switched to the Corsair 430W suggested by adam and the HDD you posted.

Earlier I went ahead and chose your post as best answer. You have been really helpful in fine tuning this build.
Thanks for the shared knowledge.

Reply to jacob0808

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