desktop suggestions @ 35k budget

[burnout.paradise]

hi everyone,

I'm planning to buy a new desktop computer purely for home use... [i.e microsoft office, movies, music and internet-based tasks for most of the time and no crysis like gaming at all].
i plan to use this with a full HD LCD TV via HDMI ocassionally.

my budget is 35k +/- 2k. ive zeroed upon the below config based on a compaq presario CQ-3258 desktop that i found for a similar price.

-Intel Core i3-530 cpu
-Intel original motherboard...H57 chipset (dunno exact model)
-2GB DDR3 memory (4 gb acceptable)
-320gb SATA hdd (or more)
-DVD RW (i dont need blu-ray)
-onboard intel graphics (intel HD graphics i think)
-onboard intel HD audio.
-23" 1080p HD WLED display (is that resolution reqd for this size?. for uses other than full-hd movies)
-microsoft/logitech WIRED high-end multimedia keyboard and laser mouse.
-Altec Lansing or Creative inspire or equivalent 2.1 speaker set [im talking about enthusiast audio requirement here.]

*this pc will be built at a local assembler.
* i already have all the software i need.

i have some queries here:
1. settle for this exact setup or go for the compaq presario CQ-3258 with 23" display with altec lansing speakers.

also is it possible to buy the compaq desktop with a hp pavilion 2309m display?? is such a customisation offered generally?

2. please suggest any other possible configurations from other brands etc. I can also go for an AMD based setup. [this setup should run without any kind of upgrades for alteast 4 years.]

i'm from visakhapatnam, andhra pradesh.

Thanks.

PS: pretty long post. i hope my queries are clear...

[Cool Buddy]

For home use, I would suggest you go for an AMD config like this one:

AMD Athlon II X4 630 - 5k
Biostar TA785G3 HD - 4.2k
Kingston 4 GB DDR3 - 5.2k
WD Blue 1TB - 3.3k
Cooler master elite 310 - 1.5k
Logitech wireless combo - 1.2k
LG DVD RW - 1k
Logitech X230 or Z323 - 3.5k (appx)
24" BenQ Full HD LCD Monitor - 10k

Total around 35k

You budget is too low to get enthusiast quality audio experience, for now the logitech's will do fine. Their audio quality is good.
This biostar motherboard has on-board HDMI and sideport memory, so Full HD Videos will run smoothly & some casual gaming is also possible.
I have suggested wireless keyboard mouse because you can use them to control the playback of a movie from a distance.
You can change the cabinet to some good looking one. If you go with this config, the bundled PSU (SMPS) will suffice, however, if you add a graphics card, you'll need to buy a PSU separately.

---------- Post added at 06:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:39 AM ----------

you can get 2GB RAM & invest the money saved on better speakers

P.S.: This is my 700th post, yipppeeee

[Sam]

nice config. OP go with it. for PSU, if you can go with a FSP Saga I 350W PSU. your PC will be safe from power problem fro 3yrs or more.

[burnout.paradise]

is cooling an issue with older amd cpus? how abt phenom x3 ? and gigabyte/asus motherboards. also what about an LG/samsung monitor. i can move up to arnd 40 k for this... also this will be a one time installation. not planning for graphic card or any other upgrades in the near future

[Sam]

Originally Posted by burnout.paradise

is cooling an issue with older amd cpus? how abt phenom x3 ? and gigabyte/asus motherboards. also what about an LG/samsung monitor. i can move up to arnd 40 k for this... also this will be a one time installation. not planning for graphic card or any other upgrades in the near future

the original Phenoms (build on 60nm) were jokes. they slow & heat up lot. about motherboard, the Biostar one is good. don't go for Asus BTW. buggy.

[Cool Buddy]

Yes, just yesterday I realised that on my Asus motherboard, only 1 port is giving full transfer rates. My external HDD is working properly with just 1 port, with all other ports transfer rates are very low.

Athlon II X4 is not an old processor, there will be no cooling issues with this CPU. more so because you are not putting in a graphics card. you can relax on that front. If you can increase your budget, better go for FSP PSU which sam suggested. It's FSP Saga II 350w.

BenQ is a good company. I would not advise samsung coz both mine & my friends samsung monitors are developing distorted white lines at times. these are just a year old. If you are not comfortable with BenQ, better go for Dell or AOC.

gigabyte motherboards are good, but is expensive as compared to biostar. the motherboard I suggested is a good one and many people here have bought it recently. It has many features like HDMI, eSATA, 4 RAM slots and a good audio quality too. it is a good bargain at that price.

---------- Post added at 07:52 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:36 AM ----------

How is the MSI 785GM-E51 motherboard, features & price wise very similar to Biostar TA785G3 HD?

[Jaskanwar Singh]

@ cool buddy
bio one has no esata support while msi one has.
bio has sideport memory while msi has not got that.
in all else they are similar.

[Sam]

yup. Athlon II X4s very cool running proccies. no worries about it. and for monitor, Benq for cheap. else Dell. AOC isn't very good one.

Originally Posted by Cool Buddy

How is the MSI 785GM-E51 motherboard, features & price wise very similar to Biostar TA785G3 HD?

its just a E53 cut down in half. the MOSFET heatsink removed (to reduce cost). no sideport, similar to E53. in front of Biostar's offering, its a dull looking board.

[Cool Buddy]

Dell will cost around 2000-2500 more than BenQ if you go for a 24" full HD. You can buy Dell 22" full HD if you can't spend that much.

@Sam, I had seen some people suggest AOC, I haven't actually seen an AOC monitor. Which brand do you consider best for LCD monitors? I personally don't like samsung, the stand is not stable and the screen is developing problems after 8 months. I am regretting having bought samsung

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Cool Buddy

@Sam, I had seen some people suggest AOC, I haven't actually seen an AOC monitor. Which brand do you consider best for LCD monitors? I personally don't like samsung, the stand is not stable and the screen is developing problems after 8 months. I am regretting having bought samsung

my favorite is Benq's E series. looks classy. but cost a lot & low in bundle. 2nd preference is Dell. 3rd LG/Samsung. available almost everywhere. so if the before 2 fails. 3rd kept as backup

about the stand, i read a lot. are you using the 20"? its the one model with stand as a major problem.

[Cool Buddy]

yes, I'm using 20" model. The slightest touch will shake the monitor easily, the screen even leans a little on the right side which is quite irritating. Someday i'll go throw a product in the samsung showroom in frustration to show them how bad they are.
A couple of years back I had bought guru 200 phone, even chinese phones have better UI than that. Even corby has some very irritating things. For example, if you type a message & it doesn't get sent due to network problem, neither are you returned to the editor nor is the message saved. You'll have to type the whole message again.
Earlier sasmung products used to be good, but now they are pathetic, local brands are better.

[burnout.paradise]

hmm.. dint knw abt the issues with samsung displays... thanks guys!!..

now i'm seriously considering the compaq presario cq3258 machine with the hp 2309m 23" full hd display... as the dealer is offering me a price of arnd 34k.. i havent yet seen the demo of the system. i would like to know if it has DVI/HDMI outputs apart from VGA??.

whats your opinion on this?

(going branded because this machine is for home, and service is easy as far as hp/compaq is concerned, here in vizag. much better compared to the local pc builders)