UPDATED - MAY 6: The secret sauce for a good all-round PC is balance. Price and the performance of each component is important, but it’s critical to get good synergy.
The actual PC system on our test bench. The case we use for our Labs builds is an Antec Skeleton, which is convenient for frequent build changes and upgrades. The actual case recommended for this budget system is listed below.CORE SYSTEM
CPU: Intel Core i5 750 - $230
The Core i5 750 is a great compromise CPU. With a decent clock speed at 2.66GHz, a genuine quad core and Turbo Boost functionality, the only thing missing from this chip compared to the more expensive Core i7 800 series chips is the lack of HyperThreading. For most users, this chip is more than adequate.
COOLER: Intel stock cooler - $0
This cooler isn’t the fanciest about, but considering it comes free with the CPU, you can’t beat the price. It’s also low profile and almost silent.
MOBO: ASUS P7P55D LE - $229
The P7P55D LE is one of those components with all the bells and whistles you actually want, and not too much extra to drive up the price. This board will support the Core i5 750 nicely, allows expansion up to 16GB of RAM and has more than enough SATA and USB ports to satisfy us for this build.
GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon 5670 - $169
You can spend as much, or as little, as you please on a graphics card. This model, however, offers a good mix of price and performance. With some forward-looking features like DirectX 11 support, it will last a decent length of time for non-hardcore gaming and is a perfect all-rounder card.
RAM: Kingston ValuRAM 1333MHz 4GB Kit - $135
We could go overboard with a 2133MHz fan-cooled super duper memory kit, but frankly, unless you’re overclocking it, there’s absolutely no point. The important part here is quantity; choose a good brand with a reasonable price and install as much as your budget allows.
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB (WD1001FALS) - $129
For a little extra pick-me-up we’ve chosen the Black version of WD’sconsumer drive, which runs a bit faster and a bit hotter than the energy efficient Green and middle of the road Blue versions. It certainly won’t break the bank though.
Optical Drive: BenQ DW240S 24x DVD RW SATA - $60
Though you can definitely find this drive a bit cheaper, we’ve opted for the boxed version, which throws in Nero Express 8 Essentials, ShowTime, Vision and InCD software, all of which can come in handy.
PSU: Enermax MODU87+ 800W - $249
For a good PSU you need power and flexibility, and the Enermax MODU87+ has both in spades. This model rocks a surprising 87% efficiency at 20% load, up to 92% efficiency at 100% load. That means less wasted power, less heat and a happier, longer life PSU. This version of Enermax’s 87Plus range has the MODU name as, funnily enough, it’s modular cable design allows to you plug in an use just the cables you require, cutting down on in case clutter.
CASE: Silverstone Precision PS02 - $88
This case has just the right mix of visual appeal and engineering nous to put it on our all-rounder wish list. It’s got a good, solid design, including room for five internal 3.5in drives as well as ample coolingfor this system. Cases can be had for less, but this one does offer excellent value.
Total core system price: $1115
PC Mark Vantage Score: 8173
EXTRA
For consistency in our testing, APC has chosen BenQ as our preferred partner for monitors in Live Builds, since it's the only supplier able to provide us with a monitor for virtually every different type of PC build. We also believe BenQ monitors deliver a great mix of performance and value.
Monitor: BenQ V2400 eco - $499
Like the system above, a great all-rounder, with full HD 1080P, ultra-high dynamic contrast ratio, instant on, and HDMI 1.3. It also comes with special power-saving modes and is Windows 7 certified. Built into all BenQ monitors is the Senseye IPU (Image Processing Unit). Featuring advanced image enhancement technology, it optimizes contrast and sharpness, giving ultimate clarity and depth. Senseye separates color signals and adjusts each one individually, thus avoiding distortion and delivering an all-round richer experience.