PC for 20k (strechable by 3k) for basic home use and 2D artwork.

Santa Maria! · Dec 24, 2011

Hi. I want to get a PC for home for my parents and sister. It will be used for Internet browsing, movies AND importantly, lots of Photoshop work/ image editing and stuff. I think that modern integrated graphics cards can handle 2D stuff, right?

I want this to run the above mentioned stuff SMOOTHLY for at least uh... 5 years?

1. Q: What is your budget?
1. 20K (strechable by 3K)

2. Q: What is your existing hardware configuration (component name - component brand and model)
Nil: ancient 2004 config.

3. Q: Which hardware will you be keeping (component name - component brand and model)
1. DVD Writer, mouse, keyboard, speakers

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
Final config

6. Q: Where will you buy this hardware? (Online/City/TE Dealer)
1. Delhi/Noida
2. Open to online purchase (SMC international is okay for online stuff, right?)

7. Q: Would you consider buying a second hand hardware from the TE market
1. No

8. Q: What is your intended use for this PC/hardware
1. Photoshop
2. Browsing
3. Movies

9. Q: Do you have any brand preference or dislike? Please name them and the reason for your preference/dislike.
Is Intel i3 good at this price range?

10. Q: If you will be playing games then which type of games will you be playing?
1. It would be a nice bonus if games from the past few years can run on medium... but gaming is not primary.

11. Q: What is your preferred monitor resolution for gaming and normal usage
1. Don't really know... min 19 inch. But I wonder if Full HD is possible/recommended with a 22 inch monitor in this price range?

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

13. Q: Which operating system do you intend to use with this configuration?
1. Windows 7 32 bit

14. When are you planning to buy the system?
Ans: In the next 2-3 weeks

15. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
Ans: I have a query regarding this... do self-assembly at this price range involve stuff like getting/applying thermal paste thingies? And how much does an assembler charge? I' ve added RAM before, cleaned CPU fan, thats it. Am I qualified to assemble a PC after watching a basic how-to video?

Jaskanwar Singh · Dec 24, 2011

smc is great.
assembling is easy but requires patience. and thermal paste is pre applied on stock cooler.

clmlbx · Dec 24, 2011

just one thing I would like to add.. Get Samsung Monitor.. As you will use Photoshop and IMO Samsung shows best Colors.. also get a GPU so OpenGL can help you to show accurate and fast preview of images in Photoshop.. Photoshop uses OpenGL from cs4 version.

Santa Maria! · Dec 25, 2011

Thanks for the reply guys.

clmlbx, I want to try to live with integrated graphics first. But if really necessary, I'll add it on later.

Jaskanwar, I'm sorry... I should have mentioned that I am not looking for a UPS (or if needed, will spend extra for it later)

Someone on another site posted this config:

Processor - Intel Core i3 2100 - 6500
Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-H61M-S2P-B3 - 3000
RAM Corsair 4GB DDRIII 1333MHz - 1100
HDD Seagate 250GB 7200.12 - 3400
GPU Intel HD2000 -
Monitor Dell IN2030M (20" LED) - 5850
Cabinet Zebronic or Circle w/o SMPS - 900
PSU/SMPS Corsair CX430 v2 - 2250

Total 23000

How does this compare to Jaskanwar's config... or any improvements?

sumonpathak · Dec 25, 2011

^^the config given by singhji is much better IMHO....also the PSU wont blow under high load

Jaskanwar Singh · Dec 25, 2011

yeah get x4 840. full quad core and fast enough.

since UPS out of budget, get this -

and that DELL monitor is also good. if you can, get it.

Santa Maria! · Dec 25, 2011

Oh! I didn't even realize it was quad core...

Is it available in Delhi? It's not listed in SMC International's site.

And it has also been suggested that since HDD prices have soared, I should try to keep my current one for now.
I have this one, I think (based on Windows System Information): clicky

I'm okay with the space for now. Is that disk compatible with the provided config?

Tarun · Dec 25, 2011

CPU : Phenom II 955 BE 5.8k
Motherboard : Gigabyte 78LMT-S2P (Rev 3.1) 2.7k
RAM : G-skill F3-10600CL9S-4GBNT(4Gx1) 1.35k
HDD : Seagate 250GB 7200.12 3.4k
PSU : FSP Saga II 500W 2.3k
Case : Zebronics Bijli (w/o psu) 1.2k
Monitor : BenQ G2220HD 21.5" 1080p LCD 6.9k
Total : 23.65k

Santa Maria! · Dec 25, 2011

A wee bit of googling revealed that the Phenom II x4 840 has no L3 cache... whatever that means. Apparently it's a let down?

Lord Google says Phenom II x4 955 is better than 840... but I don't know if that depends on what you're using it for. And how do they both compare to i3 2100?

I've decided that I want to keep monitor under 6k... 20 inch seems fine. Donno how well integrated graphics can handle Full HD, so no BenQ G2220

Shed more light on mine unenlightened mind, my brethren.

Jaskanwar Singh · Dec 25, 2011

that will be even good if no HDD is needed.

get these -

ico · Dec 25, 2011

^ i5-2320 is overkill for a home PC.

You are better off getting AMD A6-3650 (Quad core) + Gigabyte GA-A55M-S2V. Rs. 6500 + 4400 = Rs. 10900. This is better than i3-2100 + H61. Processor wise it is a sidegrade and graphics wise, it's much better. I know you aren't really concerned about 3D performance, but A6-3650 has great built-in graphics which will handle light gaming too. Really balanced if you aren't adding a graphic card.

Santa Maria! · Dec 25, 2011

Yeah, I'm sorta wary on the overkill aspects too. It's only gonna be used by my parents & sister mostly. I'm too busy with my new job to play games or stuff, and my programming work is handled by the company-provided linux-laptop.

My head is seriously exploding with all the configs (I guess a good thing

)

Jaskanwar, firstly I am wondering if i5 2320 is a bit too much. So sticking to your previous suggestions, in my cross-post on the other site, someone mentioned that the i3 2100 outperforms the AMD Phenom you posted. Here's the quote:

AnandTech - Bench - CPU

Check the benchmarks.
i3 2100 has a 25% lead over the AthlonII X4 645 in 'Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Retouch Artists Speed Test'

The i3 is a much better processor and also the LGA1155 platform also has a lot of future. Next generation Intel Ivybridge processors work with these. So say couple of years down the line if an upgrade is needed then you can just put in a next gen. 'i5 3400' in your motherboard keep the rest of the setup same!

Okay, the link is to the Phenom 645, but I selected the 955 in the dropdown, and to my untrained eyes, it does appear that the i3 somewhat outperforms the AMD, no?

I know you aren't really concerned about 3D performance, but A6-3650 has great built-in graphics which will handle light gaming too. Really balanced if you aren't adding a graphic card.

ico, after reading all these and other posts, I think I would be wiser if I allowed the possibility for a graphics slot... despite what I said lol.
Also, does the i3 2100 not outperform the A6-3650 as well? I'm just going by the same AnandTech link I posted.

I really appreciate all your help, guys. Keep enlightening me.

ico · Dec 25, 2011

well, it depends.

On a head to head basis, i3-2100 is faster than A6-3650 in Photoshop CS5. Pump in two-three very intensive background processes and then run the Photoshop CS5 benchmark, the scenario would change. i3-2100 has 2 hyperthreaded cores and A6-3650/Phenom II 955 BE have 4 real cores. Which one would have more room to run background processes? Got the point?

One core to one core, yes i3-2100 is faster than AMD processors.

But then I can give you video encoding benchmarks where 4 cores of A6-3650/Phenom II 955 BE would win

There are benchmarks in which i3-2100 wins and there are benchmarks in which A6-3650/Phenom II 955 BE wins. That's why I said these are sidegrade.

Just to make things tricky for you, I'd post the light gaming benchmarks of A6-3650 (Radeon HD 6530D) vs Intel i3-2100/2120 (Intel HD 2000)

*www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/1655/re5.jpg
*www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/1655/stalker.jpg

yes, you can obviously add a discrete graphic card if you want to.

It won't matter what platform you go then. Pretty much everything is fine.

Santa Maria! · Dec 25, 2011

Those are very interesting thoughts to ponder upon, ico. I guess 'sidegrade' is the best word.

I think I'm leaning towards the i3 2100. I don't mean to downplay your suggestions, what you say does make sense and that interestingly big boost in the light-gaming performance does hold a significance to me personally. But as I won't be the primary user of this rig... so I guess I'll lean towards the i3 config with option to add gfx later.
I also think that not too many programs will be running at the same time. Just Photoshop + browser, and maybe a music player. (I hope).

I do appreciate you enlightening me, though

Here is a candidate config:

Components Description Price (INR)
Processor Intel Core i3 2100 6500
Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-H61M-S2P-B3 3000
RAM G.Skill RIPJAWS 4GB x 1 1650
GPU Intel HD2000 -
Monitor Dell IN2030M (20" LED) 5850
Cabinet Zebronic or Circle w/o SMPS 1000
PSU/SMPS FSP Saga II 500W 2600
Total 20600

What say thee?

Jaskanwar Singh · Dec 25, 2011

ico said:
^ i5-2320 is overkill for a home PC.

You are better off getting AMD A6-3650 (Quad core) + Gigabyte GA-A55M-S2V. Rs. 6500 + 4400 = Rs. 10900. This is better than i3-2100 + H61. Processor wise it is a sidegrade and graphics wise, it's much better. I know you aren't really concerned about 3D performance, but A6-3650 has great built-in graphics which will handle light gaming too. Really balanced if you aren't adding a graphic card.

well yes you are right.
i5 is overkill here. and A8 or A6 will do better.

Santa Maria! said:
Those are very interesting thoughts to ponder upon, ico. I guess 'sidegrade' is the best word.

I think I'm leaning towards the i3 2100. I don't mean to downplay your suggestions, what you say does make sense and that interestingly big boost in the light-gaming performance does hold a significance to me personally. But as I won't be the primary user of this rig... so I guess I'll lean towards the i3 config with option to add gfx later.
I also think that not too many programs will be running at the same time. Just Photoshop + browser, and maybe a music player. (I hope).

I do appreciate you enlightening me, though

Here is a candidate config:

Components Description Price (INR)
Processor Intel Core i3 2100 6500
Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-H61M-S2P-B3 3000
RAM G.Skill RIPJAWS 4GB x 1 1650
GPU Intel HD2000 -
Monitor Dell IN2030M (20" LED) 5850
Cabinet Zebronic or Circle w/o SMPS 1000
PSU/SMPS FSP Saga II 500W 2600
Total 20600

What say thee?

6 seconds faster in a bench. will you notice? NO
40 fps over 15 fps. will you feel the difference? ABSOLUTELY YES.

try to understand ;-)

ico · Dec 25, 2011

@Santa Maria!

yup, you can go for it but don't buy a puny H61 motherboard. Usually people end up suggesting those to cramp things up in a particular budget when the OP has limited funds.

Get a H67 motherboard. Intel DH67BL rather. Worth getting at around Rs. 5400. Atleast you'll be able to use Intel QuickSync which really improves H.264 video encoding. Plus, SATA3 6gbps and USB 3.0 ports too.

Telling you one more thing, many Photoshop and GIMP filter plugins are coming up which compute over OpenCL to increase filter speeds magnificently. For that, Radeon HD 6530D is again better.

Jaskanwar Singh · Dec 25, 2011

AnandTech - Bench - CPU

Check the benchmarks.
i3 2100 has a 25% lead over the AthlonII X4 645 in 'Adobe Photoshop CS4 - Retouch Artists Speed Test'

The i3 is a much better processor and also the LGA1155 platform also has a lot of future. Next generation Intel Ivybridge processors work with these. So say couple of years down the line if an upgrade is needed then you can just put in a next gen. 'i5 3400' in your motherboard keep the rest of the setup same!

that futureproofing is a myth. hardly a person buys a PC to upgrade a processor after 5-6 months. 1.5-2 years are nothing. by that time even 1155 platform will be dead. ;-)

Santa Maria! · Dec 25, 2011

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh! Head exploding!

Okay... so MD A6-3650 (Quad core) + Gigabyte GA-A55M-S2V more practical?
And what's this about A8? Since no HDD now, I can squeeze that in? Mentioned motherboard okay for A8? A8 > A6?

And if I go with this AMD config, will I still be able to add graphics card later if by VERY tiny chance it comes to that?

How does the mentioned MoBo compare to the one I posted in candidate config... are they even comparable?

Y'all better still be online!

EDIT:

I just had a quick glance through this: A8-3850 vs. Core i3-2100 CPU Review

There's no denying that the A8 is MUCH better at gaming and 3D stuff, but as that's not priority, my mind is still wondering how much will it affect regular work? Sure, as stated, some plugins use GPU, but is that a tiny minority aspect of the larger issue?

x__x

Jaskanwar Singh · Dec 25, 2011

get this -

for general home tasks and gaming without GPU this will do much better.
and yes you will be able to add GPU later if you want.

BTW here its very cheap. confirm.
PROCESSOR - ::::::::::The Ultimate IT Solutions::::::::::

Santa Maria! · Dec 25, 2011

x__x

Yes, good sir.

A8 vs A6 advice please.

And how come the case is the Gamma at 2k now? Is it necessary?

x__x

PC for 20k (strechable by 3k) for basic home use and 2D artwork.

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