Hey everyone, I just realized I've been lurking around this site for probably 3 years now and finally decided to register! I've searched around here for answers to my problems before and found some great help. I have recently decided to undergo the task of building my own computer! I have already done hours of research, but have decided to take it to the experts. I'm not exactly "swimming in gold" at the moment and unfortunately am looking at about a $450 budget (no more than $500 at the most). I already have a lot of the things I need and don't plan on using it for gaming so it shouldn't be too terrible. I plan on doing several upgrades throughout the next 1-2 years so it needs to be reasonably upgradable. I already have a pretty good idea on what I will be needing and am fairly knowledgeable when it comes to computers. What I have: Monitor Keyboard/Mouse External Hard Drive CD/DVD Burner Vista Ultimate/XP (I'm debating which one to use at the moment, doesn't really matter to me.) What I need: 2-4 GB of RAM (more if my budget can afford it) I'm thinking a quad core processor, here? The graphics card doesn't really matter, as long as it's decent for now. I'm not really too sure on the motherboard Maybe a 320 GB hard drive, don't really need a lot since I have an external for mass storage I'll also need a tower Anything else I'll need (power supply, cables, etc.) Almost everything I've looked at has been from newegg, but I'm fine with any other sites as long as they are fairly reputable. Before I buy the parts I'd like to know your opinions on what I should get and make sure it's compatible etc. Please keep it under $500 and keep in mind anything I said here can be lowered if it goes above the budget. Also, brands aren't a big deal to me. Right now I'm just thinking more bang for my buck. Thanks and I hope I'm not asking too much.
If you want to go with a Quad Core, i'll give you this link instead; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041 The thing is, the Q6600 is an "old" processor now, and the price hasn't dropped on it for a whole year (since it was phased out, supplies have been going down and for some reason demand has gone up). I suggest you go with one of the newer Quad Cores and the one in the link above - the Q9550 - will use a little less power than the Q6600 even though it's running at 2.83GHz (430MHz more than the Q6600) because it's made using a smaller fabrication (45nm compared to 65nm), so i think it's worth the extra $20 For RAM, go with this; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166 Great price - though remember if you have a 32 bit operating system it will only use a bit over 3GB, and you might have to manually set it to 1066MHz in the BIOS. Ooh, wait, can save you $5 if you don't mind going with 800MHz instead of 1066MHz (up to you); http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231207 For the graphics card i'm not really sure what to suggest - you don't want to game but you want something reasonably good... I'd say go with something relatively low-end if you don't want to play games, i suggest something like the 9500GT; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127419 If you want to play new games, speak up now, because that card won't cut it It will, however, run Windows Aero perfectly, along with any other 2D task, and older 3D games such as Half Life 2. Actually, if you want to go even lower, here's the 9400GT; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814500081 If the rebate works out on that then you're getting a dedicated graphics card for practically nothing For the power supply, go with the Corsair 400CX, it's their lowest range power supply, but it's still quite expensive, and that's because they make darn good power supplies and they know it; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008 If you can get the rebate, however, that's an absolute steal. And a 320GB hard-drive, just like you asked for ^.^ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136098 I'll let sammoris choose the motherboard and the case, since he knows more about these things than me He'll no doubt wonder through this thread later on. Ahh crap, i just added all the stuff up - if you go with all the most expensive stuff and we exclude rebates, then it already comes to $430 without a case or a motherboard... I'll come back later and sort it out EDIT: I suppose you could go with a Dual Core instead, such as this; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037 Would save you $60 off the bat - then with at least $130 for the case and motherboard, it's possible. EDIT 2: A solid case; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 A solid motherboard; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128372 Those together equal $155... If you go with the worse RAM and graphics card, then we get the price down to $510 without any rebates, but i think we can get it a little lower than that. Still think Sam would be able to offer more insight into the case and board though, so i'll sit and wait.
Right now I'm looking at about $555 including rebates. If I went with the dual core that would shed an additional 60 bucks and making the total about $495. Would I need any additional parts besides the main things? Like cables or anything, or should everything come with the parts?
Shokz's build CPU: 10/10 (Q9550) - I spy a $10 price cut, making this an excellent value CPU. 8/10 (E8400) - Quad cores are really the future, $168 for a dual core of any caliber is a bit much. RAM: 10/10 (8500) - $50 for 4GB of decent quality PC8500, no problem here. 7/10 (6400) - $45 for 4GB of PC6400 is pricey, and no heatspreaders is a worry. GPU: 5/10 (9500GT), 5/10 (9400GT) - pricey for very poor graphics cards. Since gaming is not on the to do list, HD video is the only thing a graphics card will be needed for, and for that, keeping within $50 (well, almost), this should be better for the job: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102838 PSU: 10/10 - The best low-end PSU. Newegg keep changing the price up and down though. I preferred it when it was $50... HDD: 7/10 - Only an 8MB cache 320GB HDD. An extra $10 buys you this instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073 Case: 10/10 - One of, if not the best low-end case. Motherboard: 9/10 - A good low-midrange board. If overclocking is not to be considered, you need not even spend this much though, this would do fine: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380
You won't find PC2 6400 for much less, though i did just see some Patriot with nice timings for $44; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220396 You could also get two $21 (therefore $42) 2 x 1GB Corsair (it's CAS6, mind); http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148163 Good call on the GPU and motherboard, though, i didn't know the 4650 was that cheap... Still, i think the 9400GT stands if you take into account the rebate It should still accomplish anything he needs it for - but of course rebates don't exactly always work out. I'd agree with the cheaper motherboard, i was just skimming through for something reasonable but that i'd heard was good - that model ($80) doesn't seem much worse than the $95 one - though i did notice the $80 one doesn't mention packaging, so i don't know if it comes with cables or not (SATA etc). I have to admit i didn't notice the cache size when choosing the hard-drive; i just looked for one of the cheapest 320GB and went with it, but you can't really say no to $10 for double the cache size and an extra 180GB of storage. ----- Just like to point out a section of one of the newegg reviews for the 320GB i linked to; Don't you love it when people pretend to know what they're talking about when actually they don't? 320GB x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 / 1024 / 1024 / 1024 = 298GB I think you'll find that's all you ever had, Mr You don't lose anything to FAT - especially considering Windows uses NTFS now -.-
The 9400GT is cheap, but not really much better than integrated graphics. That and the HD4350 is better suited to the job imo. The PC6400 memory is cheap as a whole, but without heatspreaders, it's unexemplary. As it happens, FAT did steal space. NTFS, however, doesn't.
As of right now here's what I'm looking at: cpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041 ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166 gpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102838 psu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008 hdd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073 case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 mobo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380 This brings the grand total to $512.94 (not including the $20 mail-in rebate on the psu). Is there anything I should change and do I need any additional cables or anything like that? <EDIT> I meant $572.89 not $512.94, my bad. Still a decent price, though slightly over, but I'll take it. What OS should I use to start? I'm very good with installing and partitioning. Currently I have a hackintosh laptop with Vista Ultimate (32-bit), Win7 RC1, and Mac OS X 10.5.2. For this setup should I go for 64-bit Vista or something else such as XP. I am familiar with both.
That's what i meant But also, FAT doesn't use up nearly as much space as that guy made out - it's the same as saying in a 4GB flash drive, 275MB would be for FAT allocation. After that and the 1000 to 1024 conversion, there'd be nothing left Anyway, that's going to be a very solid computer for someone who doesn't game How about Windows 7 RC 64 bit? I think i'm in love with Windows 7, i've set it up so it's got a blue theme with this great blue background - i'll screenshot it some time Anyway, you say that you want to upgrade it over the next couple of years, but with those components you really shouldn't have to - even if you decided you wanted to game at some point, all you'd need to do is swap the PSU and GPU. Solid computer for a great price, and unless your motherboard doesn't come with sata cables, you shouldn't need anything else separately.
That looks like a good build, especially for the price. Win7 RC would be my choice as well since it's free for 9 months All the cables you need will be supplied with the components.
Before I order it I'm going to leave this open to discussion another day. I want to make sure I'm getting what I need. Is there anything else I will need? From what I read in the specifications that motherboard should be fine for audio and an ethernet based internet connection, correct?
Yes. The board (like any other half-decent board out there right now) has 7.1 surround sound and gigabit ethernet.
I think I'm going to want a slightly better GPU. I'm thinking somewhere around $70 in price range. I'm using VGA. What about this one? It got amazing reviews. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161252 It looks like it has a DVI-VGA adapter.
I'd be willing to bet every graphics card comes with at least one adapter - my last card had two DVI to VGA adapters and a DVI to HDMI adapter And why the better card? Decided to game after all? That's kind of a no-mans-land kinda card - faster than you need for 2D stuff, not fast enough for good settings on modern games. EDIT: Actually, just read one of the reviews... If that's true I'll have to eat my own hat... But honestly, I don't think my 8800GT could have managed that - at max settings at 1440x900 I swear it started to lag (maybe 25 fps at lowest, but still), not that I've played it in a while. Though he does also say this; Surprised HDMI carries video and sound? My DVI to HDMI carries sound just fine with my lovely SPDIF motherboard cable (gosh, both video and sound via DVI?!). Sorry for the mocking tone and all (SPDIF also provided by the ever loving Gainward along with their copious amounts of adapters)
Can you recommend one for around 80 bucks? The only game I would be playing is Guitar Hero 3. http://www.aspyr.com/product/game_specs/85 Those are the minimum requirements. Thanks.
In that case, it'll be fine - but I'm at a loss as to why the recommended is a HD2600 and above or a 8800GT and above... even an 8600GTS easily beats the HD2600...
OK, first of all, sorry for being so damn fickle. I've decided $90 is the absolute limit on a GPU (maybe $100 it's a VERY good deal). I am definitely going to be wanting to play Guitar Hero 3 and maybe some older games not running at the highest settings. Here are the minimum and recommended requirements for the game. http://www.aspyr.com/product/game_specs/85 I was recommended a 9600 GSO by someone and decided to take a look. I don't know too much about video cards, but this one looks pretty good. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150340 I'm definitely not set on anything, but I would like one final opinion of what I should buy. <EDIT> I'm going to be doing more so video work than gaming, which would be a better choice. The E8400 or the Q6600? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017 Pretend they are both the same price, since I'm not worried about a $20 difference. Or... if I went with the newer model quad http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041 Is it really worth the extra $50 or not so much? The extra $50 being from the dual core.
Well, at the moment, there's not much benefit from going with a Quad Core rather than a Dual Core (in most things the E8400 and the Q9550 would be roughly the same performance wise), but programs that utilise all four cores (programs are now starting to make use of them all) will see the Q9550 pretty much obliterate the E8400. If you're going to get a quad core, the Q9550 is a much better buy than the Q6600, but as i've said before, it's really up to you what you want to do - $60 is still a reasonable amount of money and i don't think if you got the E8400 you'd use the computer and go "oh no look how slow it is", because it really wouldn't be If i were you, i'd go with the Q9550, simply because i think that even Dual Cores are in the decline now (despite quite a few people still on single cores) - i think programmers have started to take much more notice of the Quad Core market. Anyway, onto the graphics card - the 9600GSO is actually worse than the HD4670 in most games, interstingly enough, so don't always pay attention to your friends If you really want to go with a good graphics card, then the HD4850 is probably the best deal on newegg; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770 (Same price as the 9800GT which is nearly 20% worse - what's nVidia playing at in the US?) Interesting thing is, the budget for the graphics card has just gone up and up and up, so i think i'm going to put a cap on it here. The HD4850's certainly good for gaming - it won't make the big boys turn their heads, but it's very respectable and will play any modern game you throw at it at least reasonably well (that means Crysis at mostly high), and should last you at least a couple of years. You should, however, get the Corsair 450VX instead of the Corsair 400CX to power it as it draws more power than the lower end cards. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003&Tpk=450vx Overall that does push up the price by a fair amount, so it's up to you to decide what to do - if you don't mind passing off the gaming aspect then you can save well over $50... EDIT: Acually, no, wait, there's a GTS250 for $100 as well... I'll get back to you on that one >.< EDIT 2: Scrap it, i really don't trust rebates all too much - and the MSI one that's actually $100 off the bat is apparently not all too good...
I've actually decided to go with the 650W =P http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 Great deal! So if I didn't get this card and decided to go for a little less expensive card what would you recommend? That way I can think about it with the two in front of me. <EDIT> Basically can you put up two choices of cards so I can make a final decision. I'm 100% set with everything else I'm buying this is my final big decision, thanks for all the help!
