Friend's Computer Build

[terminator363]

So a friend of mine is unhappy with his recent desktop purchase from Lenovo, and he's taking my advice about not purchasing from the retailer but buying all the parts individually. He's going to return the new pc and he wants me to build the new rig (which I have nothing against)[Note: he's not too tech savvy when it comes to computers and he doesn't have much of a clue about whats going on inside a case].


So he told me this: He doesn't want a gaming rig but he wants to use some programs like AutoCAD occasionally (if it all). He's going to be using this computer for internet mostly. He's likely to never overclock. And is aiming for $400-$700.

I have a semi-gaming rig so I lack the knowledge of lower/mid range processors. So what do you guys recommend. I'm urging him to go with a mid tower case; specifically an Antec Three Hundred (I have a Three Hundred Two).

Edit:

He says no GPU

Can I get some recommendations on this?

UPDATE: He now tells me he won't be doing anything GPU intensive. He also adds that he won't be using AutoCAD.

I suggest he just buys an APU and an mATX board and case. How does that sound?

 

[nick09]

Actually get a Fractal Design Core 3000. It does cost a bit more but it will have all of the fans that he will need and has much better features to justify that extra cost. I would say do a i5 and HD 6770(get a HD 6670 if money is a concern) combo. Throw in a decent 400W PSU(No need to get higher wattage PSU since he won't do much with it), 8GB of 1600 DDR3 RAM(He's using AutoCAD) and the other parts would be simple to decide on. This should easily fall into his price range.

 

[djinline]

I suggest this one as a PSU, should be good enough and it also has a good warranty. He should also get a multi-core AMD CPU with a decent IGP on it, if he doesn't want a discrete GPU.

 

[terminator363]

I've been thinking about AMD as I know they have good integrated graphics but I don't know about anything AMD (I'm an Intel guy). What mobo should he get? I know my high end boards very well but again, I don't know anything about low end boards. Should he get standard ATX if he isn't running a graphics card? I think mATX are cheaper. That leads me to thinking he should get an mATX case (again, they are cheaper - ie: Fractal Design Core 1000).

 

[nick09]

Then just grab this APU and this motherboard. Cheap and effective.

 

[terminator363]

Can he use a standard ATX PSU with a mATX case?

 

[nick09]

Yes.

 

[DQuaN]

If he wants to use AutoCAD he should have a dedicated GPU.

 

[Submerged]

This is my opinion as well, AutoCAD requires the use of a graphics card to display and render the stuff on the screen quickly and efficiently.

I think the guy got to get an Intel processor (should be able to be quicker at the calculations required for AutoCAD, but if price is an issue, AMD FX series should be ok or a lower core Intel) and a relatively high end graphics card.

Edit: Why is he using AutoCAD occasionally? Student? Just going to use internet browsing only?

 

[terminator363]

Yes, he is a student. He has a drafting class. His father won't allow him to purchase a video card because he's afraid he's going to use the card for gaming .

Could an APU be enough? (I mean he's not too likely to use AutoCAD that often).

Can I get some other cheap CPU/APU options?

 

[nick09]

The APU will be fine. It is the best currently out there and he will need semi-decent integrated graphics to run AutoCAD. If you really want to get the best APU then get this one. It makes sense if you think it over as he does not need that huge graphics performance but something that is still good against a i3. It would have similar performance in the CPU department(plus it is a quad core to allow you to run more programs at the same time) but better GPU performance with only the integrated graphics against each other.

 

[Exorcet]

Yes, he is a student. He has a drafting class. His father won't allow him to purchase a video card because he's afraid he's going to use the card for gaming .

Could an APU be enough? (I mean he's not too likely to use AutoCAD that often).

Can I get some other cheap CPU/APU options?

Show his dad youtube videos of games running just fine on integrated graphics and this:http://www.solidworks.com/sw/support/SystemRequirements.html (perhaps the AutoCAD version).

It will be a mistake to trying CAD without a GPU. I've tried running it on my machine from GPU or integrated and the difference is night and day. They're not just for video games.

 

[djinline]

It will be a mistake to trying CAD without a GPU. I've tried running it on my machine from GPU or integrated and the difference is night and day. They're not just for video games.

What kind of a integrated GPU were you using? Intel HD Graphics?

 

[Exorcet]

Yes.

 

[Submerged]

Intel HD2000 and the HD3000 doesn't really display the graphics that well, so when it comes to AutoCAD software, it would take ages to do.

You could get a motherboard with a onboard GPU in it already.... but they're not cheap.

 

[nick09]

I do see the point that he needs a dedicated GPU if he has to use AutoCAD. That can be solved by getting a HD 6770. They sell for as cheap as $80 new and the nicer ones(better cooler designs) sell for $100 new. Plus you only need a 400W PSU that has a PCI-E 6pin connector to power it.

 

[DQuaN]

You can get GPU's that are designed for CAD instead of Gaming. Such as the nVidia Quadro series.

 

[djinline]

I'm still pretty confident that he will be just alright with the HD 7660D alone, if he's not doing any heavy rendering on some huge projects. This way he could spend the budget money on a SSD (and a big HDD if he's going to need one).

EDIT: I'm not disagreeing about FirePros and Quadros being useful in designing softwares here, I'm just pointing out that they are expensive.

EDIT2: I just came up with an Intel-based workstation plan, feel free to bash and alter my selections if there is something terribly wrong. I know overclocking isn't necessary in this case but that is a combo deal and who knows if he gets interested in overclocking to gain extra performance. As you can see the setup is missing an optical drive and a hard drive(s) as I don't have much knowledge about them. I don't know if you already have some peripherals so I didn't include them. Tell me if this plan is good or not, I might learn something from this.

 

[djinline]

UPDATE: He now tells me he won't be doing anything GPU intensive. He also adds that he won't be using AutoCAD.

I suggest he just buys an APU and an mATX board and case. How does that sound?

I am truly sorry about responding so late and also doubleposting.

But anyway, here we go. Is that ok, price and everything? Aaaand... tell me why would he only need the parts you mentioned?

EDIT: Oh get this HDD instead, 500GB more for $20. Makes me wonder why I put the 1.5TB in the list.

That's about it then.