New PC build.

spud17

I currently have an AMD Phenom 9950, MSI K9A2 Platinum motherboard and (was) 6GB ram.
Recently I've had a couple of blue screens, and found that one of the 2GB ram modules fails memtest.
Also the Corsair psu failed. I now know it was a tier 4 psu.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

I don't game, but I do run various VMs and like to try alternative operating systems.

Not very MSE, and unusual for me I'm going to spend some cash and treat myself to something decent.

I'm looking for recommendations for an Intel processor, motherboard, ram and decent psu for a max £300.

For starters, how about a system based on an i5 6400?

I'd build it myself reusing existing 250GB ssd, case and graphics card.

Fightsback

Spud, if you're not gaming I wouldn't bother about a discrete graphics card for now as Intel IGPs have come a long way. Get a mobo that supports DDR4 as not all skylake boards do (eg some H110 boards) and get 16Gb of DDR4 if you are VMing. It's also worth investing in a second drive for the VMs.

Happy building.

gr1340

I just built a machine for under £400 as my old one was getting a bit tired and unable to cope with 1080p footage from my drone:
i3 6100 (Skylake) - £95
ASUS HM110m-a mobo (DDR4) - £50
16GB DDR4 ram (was only £10 dearer than 8GB) - £40
GTX950 - £125
500w PSU - £35
Case - £40
Few other non essential bits that added £30/£40

I already had an SSD, DVD drives and windows 7/10 key.

Just installed Win10 last night and tested out some games, F1 2015 was running 1080p at 60FPS with all the settings on max and looked better than the PS4 version I also own so I am happy enough with that.

I would have liked an I5/I7 but I don't really need anything too meaty or expensive.

Cisco001

i suggest you go for i5 6500 instead.
What GPU have you got?

Cisco001

i5 6500 £153
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-Skylake-Processor-i5-6500-Turbo/dp/B010T6CWI2?ie=UTF8&keywords=6500&qid=1451547032&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1&!!!!!viglink_thaus-21

ASUS B150M-A £55
http://www.cclonline.com/product/188616/B150M-A/Motherboards/ASUS-B150M-A-Socket-1151-MicroATX-Motherboard/MBD1761/?gclid=CO6o4ofdnc0CFTUz0wodCgoEBQ

HyperX FURY 16 GB DDR4 2400 £50
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HyperX-FURY-16-DDR4-Memory/dp/B013H7QH86?ie=UTF8&!!!!!pcp0f-21

Super Flower SF-450P14XE (HX) £52
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Flower-SF-450P14XE-HX-supply/dp/B00H2ZZKB0/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1465571713&sr=1-2&keywords=superflower+450w

probably get seasonic S12II 620W £59/ Antec HCG620M £63 if you need higher power
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/131828608114?lpid=122&chn=ps&googleloc=9045997&poi=&campaignid=207297426&device=c&adgroupid=13585920426&rlsatarget=pla-131843276466&adtype=pla&crdt=0

http://www.box.co.uk/Antec_High_Current_Gamer_620M_Power_supp_1469832.html?gclid=CIrA6vzjnc0CFeIp0wodk2ADtg

Edit: saw this XFX TS 430W. £34 good value!
http://www.cclonline.com/product/172154/P1-430S-XXB9/Power-Supplies/XFX-TS-Series-430W-Power-Supply-Unit-Full-Wired-80-Plus-Bronze-Certified-/PSU0784/

spud17

Fightsback wrote: »

Spud, if you're not gaming I wouldn't bother about a discrete graphics card for now as Intel IGPs have come a long way. Get a mobo that supports DDR4 as not all skylake boards do (eg some H110 boards) and get 16Gb of DDR4 if you are VMing. It's also worth investing in a second drive for the VMs.

Happy building.

I'm not too worried about the graphics performance, it's more that I use 2 screens and also have the tv connected.
I have a HD 5450 graphics card.
I'd miss not having 2 screens even though they are not a pair.
One screen uses DVI, the other older analogue uses VGA and the TV uses HDMI.
Definitely going for DDR4 and 8+ GB ram.
What are your thoughts on processor?
In the past I've regretted not going for the better option, so this time I'm leaning towards the i5.
For mobos, I've always got on well with ASUS or Gigabyte, currently using MSI which seems ok.

gr1340 wrote: »

I just built a machine for under £400 as my old one was getting a bit tired and unable to cope with 1080p footage from my drone:
i3 6100 (Skylake) - £95
ASUS HM110m-a mobo (DDR4) - £50
16GB DDR4 ram (was only £10 dearer than 8GB) - £40
GTX950 - £125
500w PSU - £35
Case - £40
Few other non essential bits that added £30/£40

I already had an SSD, DVD drives and windows 7/10 key.

Just installed Win10 last night and tested out some games, F1 2015 was running 1080p at 60FPS with all the settings on max and looked better than the PS4 version I also own so I am happy enough with that.

I would have liked an I5/I7 but I don't really need anything too meaty or expensive.

Which power supply are you using?
The i3 6100 is one I'm considering, also which ram is that?
I paid £40+ years ago for 2x 2GB DDR2 at 1066Mhz.:)
I don't need a case, drives, operating system or any other peripherals.

Cisco001 wrote: »

i suggest you go for i5 6500 instead.
What GPU have you got?

Why i5 6500 over i5 6400?
GPU is HD 5450, which has 3 outputs, but Windows will only let me use 2 at a time, Linux Mint lets me use 3, as long as they are duplicated screens, not extended.

spud17

Cisco001 wrote: »

i5 6500 £153
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-Skylake-Processor-i5-6500-Turbo/dp/B010T6CWI2?ie=UTF8&keywords=6500&qid=1451547032&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1&!!!!!viglink_thaus-21

ASUS B150M-A £55
http://www.cclonline.com/product/188616/B150M-A/Motherboards/ASUS-B150M-A-Socket-1151-MicroATX-Motherboard/MBD1761/?gclid=CO6o4ofdnc0CFTUz0wodCgoEBQ

HyperX FURY 16 GB DDR4 2400 £50
https://www.amazon.co.uk/HyperX-FURY-16-DDR4-Memory/dp/B013H7QH86?ie=UTF8&!!!!!pcp0f-21

Super Flower SF-450P14XE (HX) £52
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Super-Flower-SF-450P14XE-HX-supply/dp/B00H2ZZKB0/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1465571713&sr=1-2&keywords=superflower+450w

probably get seasonic S12II 620W £59 if you need higher power
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/131828608114?lpid=122&chn=ps&googleloc=9045997&poi=&campaignid=207297426&device=c&adgroupid=13585920426&rlsatarget=pla-131843276466&adtype=pla&crdt=0

That's brilliant, thanks for doing the search and the links.
I'm going to have plenty to look at over the weekend.
I'm not familiar with Superflower, but I see it's tier 2 on http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html so well impressed for that money, although I was hoping to get semi-modular for around similar money.

Cisco001

spud17 wrote: »

That's brilliant, thanks for doing the search and the links.
I'm going to have plenty to look at over the weekend.
I'm not familiar with Superflower, but I see it's tier 2 on http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html so well impressed for that money, although I was hoping to get semi-modular for around similar money.

with 5450, XFX TS 430 will do the job.

Corsair CS450M if you want it to be modular
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/450w-corsair-cs450m-80-plus-gold-hybrid-modular-single-rail-355a-plus12v-1x120mm-fan-atx-psu

Or the Antec HCG-620M I mention above when i edit.
http://www.box.co.uk/Antec_High_Current_Gamer_620M_Power_supp_1469832.html

System

Hi

Well I would go to PC manufacturer's website and take something close to your price point / spec and look at what they find compatible.

Then adjust as necessary to suit you sir.

Either buy the components from wherever, or take the bare bones assembly from them and finish it off as needed.

spud17

Cisco001
I've had a good look at the processor, motherboard and ram from your first post.
It looks like a good combination, because I'm having difficulty finding better.
I did have a look at the Gigabyte GA-B150m-DS3H as a comparison, but see it lacks a usb 3.0 type-c connection, which could be useful in the future.
I'm still considering the various power supplies.

edit, I see the i5 6500 has now jumped to £169

Cisco001

What do you need usb type c for? All you need is a cable. I don't know which motherboard have it.

MSI B150M PRO-VDH have usb 3.1, if that is what you want.
http://www.ebuyer.com/727909-msi-b150m-pro-vdh-socket-lga-1151-vga-dvi-hdmi-8-channel-hd-audio-b150m-pro-vdh

With the i5 6500, I can't really do anything. you may just grab i5 6400 if you want to.
6500 is 9% faster in single thread performance and 5% faster in multi thread performance.
http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/418/Intel_Core_i5_i5-6400_vs_Intel_Core_i5_i5-6500.html