Help with PC build for work. (Choosing components)

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1

Hello

I need a desktop PC. I live in the UK and I would primarily use this PC for work. On a weekly basis I use Photoshop, Sublime Text, Fireworks, Quickbooks, Word, Excel and Google Chrome. In the future though I would also like to do some gaming on it as well, I have a PS4 but I would like to slowly switch over to PC gaming as the console gets out dated. 

I would like to have a PC build that would be roughly £600 but if needed then my max would be £800. I don’t have a copy of Windows or a mouse and keyboard to use so that would have to be factored into the cost. I do however have a GTX 660 Ti SC GPU so a graphics card is not needed, and I do have a spare 120GB SSD which I can use in the build if it helps and a I do also have a 24” monitor so that also isn’t needed. I don’t want a headset or speakers included, just the desktop and the keyboard and mouse. 

There are also a couple criteria that is quite important to me: 

  • Don’t want water-cooling
  • As power efficient as possible
  • I won’t be over clocking
  • ATX motherboard
  • £80 case factored into the budget. I will probably buy the Fractal Design R4 case.

Preferences I have are:

  • Intel CPU
  • Corsair M90 mouse (just because of the way it looks and feels)
  • Quite and cool
  • No flashy or tacky LED lighting
  • Mechanical Cherry MX Black keyboard

I have a MacBook Air 13” mid-2013 that I have been using as my primary computer currently but I want something that is more powerful but almost as quick in load times. I know thats a tall order as my MacBook uses completely PCI flash storage but anything which is almost as quick will do nicely. Something better but preferably cheaper than a Mac Mini is what I am looking for.  

I hope my criteria and preferences don’t make this build impossible. I really appreciate the help in advance.

Matt

2

I could not find the mouse substituted the next model ... added the other parts you own and listed them as purchased

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/YytvsY

  • Intel Core i5-4570 3.2GHz Quad-Core......£140.99
  • Asus H97-PLUS ATX LGA1150.................. £76.76
  • Crucial Ballistix  8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 £57.99
  • A-Data S510  120GB 2.5" SSD (Purchased) £0.00
  • Western Digital Caviar Blue 250GB 3.5"..  £19.97
  • Western Digital Caviar Blue 250GB 3.5"... £19.97
  • MSI GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB (Purchased) £0.00
  • Fractal Design Define R4  ATX Mid Tower. £67.34
  • XFX 450W ATX12V / EPS12V .................... .£35.09
  • Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer £10.98
  • Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)..... £70.56
  • Monitor AOC E2460SD 24.0" (Purchased) £0.00
  • Perixx PX-5000......................................... £99.90
  • Corsair Vengeance M95 Wired Laser ....£88.06

Total: ......  £687.61

Could save money by going to an

  1.  i3 CPU -- sacrificing multitasking and gaming
  2. delete 1 hard drive ----- sacrificing backup
  3. less expensive keyboard and mouse

Logitech MK200 Wired Slim Keyboard w/Optical Mouse .. £52.84+

Intel Core i3-4370 3.8GHz Dual-Core Processor ................ £111.76+

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • If you want it to game in the future need to get more expensive CPU i5 4670k .... £165.00
  • if you want serious multitasking and gaming you need i7 CPU  4770k ........ £227.94
  • With either of these upgrades you need CPU cooler CM EVO 212 .... £24.96
  • even more multitasking & productivity second monitor
AOC E2460SD 60Hz 24.0" .........  £99.99+

3

Slap in a Xeon E3-1231 V3 instead of an i7(if available for cheaper)

4

Xeon E3-1231 V3  ............ £211.17

5

Also, is 450W PSU enough for this build? Just curious as I am not sure how you calculate what size PSU is needed. Thanks.

6

To figure the power usage you can use a power supply calculator. This will estimate max wattage under full load and you should aim for a power supply that is about 20% more wattage than your system will draw. As far as the above build my only critique is the 2x 250GB HDDs. I'm assuming Ratzzz is doing that for backup purposes but 250GB is not a lot of space in todays day and age, especially if you are doing design work in Photoshop/fireworks and storing all your raw assets. I would opt for the 1TB green drive model WD10EZRX. These are only 39 pounds (so same price as 2x250, double the space) and then they are cheap enough to add another one for backup if you think you need it

7

agree ... larger drive space is cheap ... would recommend WD blue over green though

8

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/deejeta/saved/C8tLrH + cash leftover for your chosen mouse and keyboard.

+ use your existing ssd and gpu

could omit the cpu cooler, only added to make your build silent.