Hi. I just want a system that will last me a while. I don't game much, and what I have played ran fine on much older computers. I may pick up some new games once I get a new system, though that's something I'll worry about then and not now. I'm basically wanting a PC that I will be able to use for anything and everything. I'm getting the new Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2(Nov. 10th US), and I want the PC to be a media center plus machine. As I've stated I do not currently have a budget. I don't want to try to spend $10,000. I'm just wanting to keep it as cheap as I can and be completely happy with what I get. This means just going to eBay, Bing, Price Grabber, etc to find it the cheapest. I would like to be able to hook up my TV/Cable to it, all of my game system, and stereo receiver. I figure if I use something like a switch box or whatnot I would be able to hook up the composite/component/HDMI/etc to the box and hook it to the PC via HDMI/S-Vid/DVI. I also want to be able to connect the pc to the tv as I watch all of my movies from my pc. It saves me time. This means I'll probably have to read up to do a mod or something so I can have an IR port for a remote. Now what I want to know is should I wait for SATA 3 (Not sure when it's due), USB 3.0 (which is out but rare), and the new i9? I read that the i9 is 3x dual core dies. I was just wondering if it will be that much better than an i7? If not I'll just go with the high-end i7. I was looking at the Cooler Master Centurion 590 for the case. I want something that lets me have access to the case from top to bottom with 5.25" bays. I figured I'd start with 4 1-1.5 TB HDD and then move to a 5.25" to 4 2.5" bay convert and put in SSD drives. I also want to RAID everything. I'll probably use RAID 0 or 01 for all of the storage stuff I don't really care about and RAID 5 or 51 for the other stuff. Something like 2 drives in a RAID 0/01 for OS & software, and RAID 5/51 for everything else. (PS - If you don't know your RAIDs use Google. There is a difference in RAID 01 and 10, etc). I need something that will last at least 5 years. I will more than likely get another new system before then, it's just that I do hand me downs and I like to have a backup system that is always capable of doing school/office/financial stuff. If you know of any case that is the equivalent or better, please let me know. As far as the PSU it must be 80 plus, pref modular. The rest I really don't care about, it can be whatever you great people think! I am able to get whatever cash I may need, it just takes a little time and a lot of effort and hard work. This is to be a whole system too, I am looking at getting a wireless keyboard/mouse, a good size LCD. I will say that I do a TON of backups. I don't use any of my original game disc, movies, audio CD's, etc anymore. I've had too many get broken, or scratched to the point that they can't be resurfaced. Thank you very much for any and all help and or comments. This PC doesn't have an estimated build time, however, I would prefer by the end of January/February 2010 at the latest.
"I need something that will last at least 5 years." It's been discussed here many times before. IMHO, there is no such thing. Google "Moore's Law" to find out why. I can state with confidence (based on having done it that way several times over the last 30 years), that the incremental cost of building something mid-range today and upgrading over the next 5 years will be much less than what you spend today on a "bleeding edge" system.
Ok, I'll Google that tomorrow after work. So then what do you recommend I get? I've upgraded some stuff, and I thought it was quite expensive to upgrade. I do need something rather ASAP now, although for that I think I'm going with a cheap laptop. Would you say an i7 is too new then? And any computer will last 5 yrs. I said they are used for other things and that I would build a new one before 5 yrs. I'd go for a quick $500 build, but I don't think I'd get much of anything out of a system that cheap. I'll get back with a slapped together parts list tomorrow and you may tell me what you think. PS - Thx 4 the quick reply.
If you want to tune HD cable, then you will have to build a system around a crummy OEM system. Only OEM's are allowed cablecard support (the DMCA strikes again). ...But there is a little problem with that. Very few people were buying these OEM systems, so most of the OEMs have stopped making them. In short, the OEMs are the only ones who can make the tuners, and they don't do so because only home-builders want these tuners. The only other way to get HD-TV input from cable/satelite is to get a fireware cable/sat box. The only problem there is finding a DVR program that will work with it. I recomend doing a bit of research on the subject...you might be able to find a decent OEM that still makes a cablecard tuner...or you could try to find a DVR software that works with a firewire input & IR transmitter. The rest of the system will be very easy...but getting it to work with cable/satelite in HD will be a huge pain.
