New PC in 7 years!! :D Help needed to finalize a config.

[Vyom]

Moving on from Pen 4.. Finally!!
​

Here's the questionnaire

1. What is the purpose of the computer?
Ans: List of work I do in the order of priority (high to low)

a. Programming in Visual Studio 2010 and SQL Server 2008
b. Watching high quality (720p, 1080p) videos
c. Editing videos (using Adobe Premiere CS4 or Sony Vegas Pro)
d. Occasional games, mostly racing like NFS and types (not a gamer)


2. What is your overall budget? If you can extend a bit for a more balanced configuration, then mention this too.
Ans: Rs 20,000.
I am on an incremental budget. Which for all purpose and intents means I can’t spend in one go. I can wait to buy some components in subsequent months. But to assemble a primary PC, I can shell < Rs 20k this month.

3. Planning to overclock?
Ans: Been using Pen 4 for 7 years. So, I am accustomed to native clocks. Plus don’t think overclocking is a good idea, since it involves doing something a processor is not meant to do.

4. Which Operating System are you planning to use?
Ans: Windows 7 with two or more linux distros (like Ubuntu and Arch)

5. How much hard drive space is needed?
Ans: 500 GB is sufficient, since I don’t trust internal HDD’s anymore. (Have bad experiences).

6. Do you want to buy a monitor?
Ans: No. I have Dell 19” monitor. Native resolution is 1440x900.

7. Which components you DON'T want to buy or which components you already have and plan on reusing?
Ans: Monitor, UPS (bought recently), Keyboard and mouse (will buy a good one later) and Speakers.

8. When are you planning to buy the system?
Ans: ASAP. Possibly before Diwali. Can’t wait no more for Trinity to arrive in India. :/

9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
Ans: Never built a desktop before. But have experience in unscrewing and putting back all components together from mobo.

10. Where do you live? Are you buying locally? Are you open to buying stuff from online shops if you don't get locally?
Ans: Delhi. Can buy from Nehru Place, or online if the difference is not much.

11. Anything else which you would like to say?
Ans: I was waiting for Trinity to arrive in India since 3 months now. But as others say it could take another two months. And even if it do arrive it would be costly. Wait is killing me. And since my Pen 4 got kaput yet again two days ago, I think I have enough of it. And am finally up to purchase old but proven components like Llano.
I have worked on Pen 4 for seven years now against all kinds of mockery and abuses. So I think this jump will be quite substantial for me. And so even if I don’t get Trinity I think it still won’t matter to me much in terms of any noticeable difference.


After a lot of research and discussions I have made following list:

Component	Model	Price
CPU	AMD A8-3870K	6678​
Mobo	Gigabyte A55M-DS2	3604​
SMPS	Cooler Master CX430v2	2450​
HDD	WD Caviar Blue 500 GB HDD Internal Hard Drive (WD5000AAKX)	3386​
RAM	G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3 2 GB	880​
Cabinet	Cooler Master Elite 310 Cabinet (Red)	2016​
Optical Drive	Samsung 22x SATA DVD Writer	950​
	Total	19964

 

[gameranand]

Looks good to me. Don't buy from flipkart, their prices are sky high. Search more online sites like SMC, Primeabgb, THE ITWares, Deltapage etc. You'll get a lot cheaper.

 

[Vyom]

Actually, I consider prices from Flipkart to be upper bound. I quoted the same to keep in mind that it's the maximum I will have to spent! Of course I would first try to buy locally!

 

[sumonpathak]

wait for a few days...trinity is about to launch in India

 

[Vyom]

wait for a few days...trinity is about to launch in India

I am hearing that for 3 months now... And please read the last para of my original post.

 

[Cilus]

I don't think your suggested config is up to the mark, here are the reasons:-

1. AMD 1st gen APU or Llano has already reached their end of Life and they aren't compatible with newer APU or Trinity. So your upgrade path is actually closed.
2. 2GB Ram is very less for any kind of video editing.

Here is my suggestion:-
AMD FX 6100 (6 Core, 3.2 GHz, Turbo up to 3.9 GHz) @ 7.2K
Gigabyte 970A-DS3 @ 5.2K
Forsa GT 620 1GB DDR3 @ 3.4K (From Flipkart.com)
Corsair 4GB X 1 1333 MHz DDR3 @ 1.2K

Rest are same as you selected. Now the total price is around 22.5K and believe me, for the extra 2.5K you're spending, you will get large boost in performance. A 6 Core CPU is always advantageous over lesser core models. Also 4GB Ram is well suited for most of the applications. Suggesting you a dedicated GPU which is almost as strong as the integrated Graphics in 3870K.

 

[sumonpathak]

in that case get a cheap FX setup...with llano you are purchasing an EOL product...

 

[Vyom]

I don't think your suggested config is up to the mark, here are the reasons:-

1. AMD 1st gen APU or Llano has already reached their end of Life and they aren't compatible with newer APU or Trinity. So your upgrade path is actually closed.
2. 2GB Ram is very less for any kind of video editing.

Here is my suggestion:-
AMD FX 6100 (6 Core, 3.2 GHz, Turbo up to 3.9 GHz) @ 7.2K
Gigabyte 970A-DS3 @ 5.2K
Forsa GT 620 1GB DDR3 @ 3.4K (From Flipkart.com)
Corsair 4GB X 1 1333 MHz DDR3 @ 1.2K

Rest are same as you selected. Now the total price is around 22.5K and believe me, for the extra 2.5K you're spending, you will get large boost in performance. A 6 Core CPU is always advantageous over lesser core models. Also 4GB Ram is well suited for most of the applications. Suggesting you a dedicated GPU which is almost as strong as the integrated Graphics in 3870K.

Yes. You are absolutely right about Llano being at the end of line. I thought maybe A8-3870K is the next good thing after Trinity which is taking too much time to launch. So thanks for the suggestion.
But as far as purchasing a new GFX is concerned, as I said, I am on a budget this month. Which doesn't mean I can't spend next month. So I think I will postpone components like GFX for later.

 

[skeletor]

next AMD CPU = new socket. next AMD APU = new socket. (same socket for both CPU and APU)
next Intel CPU = new socket.

GT 520 is not strong as HD 6550D in A8-3870K though.

As far as future upgradability is concerned, pretty much every socket is a dead end at this point of time.

 

[Cilus]

^^ Ico, I was referring to GT 620 which is a rebranded GT 430, not GT 520.

Vyom, one thing, none of the AMD 9XX chipset come with Onboard Gfx. So you can't have display if you don't have a dedicated Gfx card.

And regarding Socket Type, Ico, the problem is you can't find a powerful CPU which is capable enough for taking serious Audio/Video encoding and editing staff whereas in Bulldozer Platform, FX 6100 is already a capable CPU for its price. Also 3870K is the max you can get in llano platform whereas if you are going with Am3+ Path, there are plenty of upgrade path, the exiting FX 8120 and FX 8150 plus the Piledriver CPUs which is not even launched in India. So you are safe for at least couple of years in terms of availability pf higher end CPU in the same platform.

 

[jackal_79]

WD Caviar Blue on a lesser price:
Buy Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA Hard Disk Drive [WD5000AAKS] in India at the best price. Screenshots, videos, reviews available.

 

[Krow]

Just asking, why don't you go for an Intel rig?

 

[skeletor]

^^ Ico, I was referring to GT 620 which is a rebranded GT 430, not GT 520.

Vyom, one thing, none of the AMD 9XX chipset come with Onboard Gfx. So you can't have display if you don't have a dedicated Gfx card.

And regarding Socket Type, Ico, the problem is you can't find a powerful CPU which is capable enough for taking serious Audio/Video encoding and editing staff whereas in Bulldozer Platform, FX 6100 is already a capable CPU for its price. Also 3870K is the max you can get in llano platform whereas if you are going with Am3+ Path, there are plenty of upgrade path, the exiting FX 8120 and FX 8150 plus the Piledriver CPUs which is not even launched in India. So you are safe for at least couple of years in terms of availability pf higher end CPU in the same platform.

yea. Misread the GT 620.

Knowing him, I actually don't see him upgrading his CPU anytime.

 

[Vyom]

Just asking, why don't you go for an Intel rig?

Price to performance ratio. AMD is more VFM.
At least that's what I have observed

Knowing him, I actually don't see him upgrading his CPU anytime.

You can't be more wrong buddy. At least this time.

 

[Krow]

Price to performance ratio. AMD is more VFM.
At least that's what I have observed



You can't be more wrong buddy. At least this time.

If you're upgrading in installments, better get a faster Intel rig than a VFM AMD.

 

[ssk_the_gr8]

I like clius's suggestion. Wait a little more for trinity?

 

[Vyom]

I like clius's suggestion. Wait a little more for trinity?

In case you didn't read the original post completely, I would be more clear this time. Nothing's best then Trinity at the moment, but there are reasons I think I will not be able to get it.
1. Been waiting for 3 months now, and despite the fact that it's launched in US of A, its not being launched in India.
2. Sources say AMD could take another two months to launch Trinity for desktop PC's here.
3. Even if it's launched, it would be highly priced.
4. My primary PC (pen 4) is damaged beyond repair (at least that's what I wish). So I am out of PC's and working on company's laptop which I can only do so on weekends

If you're upgrading in installments, better get a faster Intel rig than a VFM AMD.

That sounds like a decent suggestion. If I am not able to buy Trinity, I think I should go for Intel atm, and then upgrade to a GFX next month.

Now, there's more I want to share:
The reason I put the budget to just less then 20k was that I wanted to have two PC's. This <20k PC I was thinking to use as secondary PC, or for my dad. Then whenever trinity is launched, I was thinking to buy that with more budget.

What do you suggest? I have two options:
1. Buy a rig on <20 k budget and later buy Trinity PC (since I really want my Primary PC to be Trinity).
2. Make an Intel rig now, upgrade to a good GFX later and forget Trinity.

Please help. I am in a serious dilemma...

 

[Krow]

I vote for option 2. Always get the best of what is available in your budget. No point waiting for unicorns and flying horses. Since you're not much of a gamer, get a motherboard with Intel HD4000. Upgrade to a good graphics card after you get yourself a good 22" display.

 

[Neo]

I like clius's suggestion. Wait a little more for trinity?

+1

Call up that repair guy of yours and fix your P4 . XD
Still I do not get one thing, how did you convince your dad ? XD

 

[Vyom]

Still I do not get one thing, how did you convince your dad ? XD

I didn't have to convince anyone. I was waiting for Trinity.

PS: Out of confusion, created a poll.

Oops: Forget to add fourth option. Buy a laptop instead. The Trinity one.