I'd really appreciate some blunt advice on buying a new PC. If the answer is I'm clueless, go consult a computer shop, so be it. here goes....... I've got a reasonable budget and I'm resonably literate (I've put PC's toegheter before) but I'm just lost in the vast options that exist. It's also been quite a while since I contructed a PC (last one was a P3) and I seem to have fallen way behind the curve - the posts I read a way above my understanding: I'm thinking of a custom build as 1) I consider myself literate enough to put it all toegher (and will enjoy it very much) 2) there are some options I'm looking for that aren't common in off the shelf packages and 3)I want maximum upgradeability. Budget: US$1,500 to US$2,500 including monitor (19" flat screen) Purpose of PC: 1) I use my home PC a lot for business - huge spreadsheets with complex macro's and calculations, Vbasic programming, MS access databases and Lotus Notes programming. I usually have a lot of programs running at once. 2) I also use the pC for personal stuff - pictures, graphics editing, music, email, web site maintenance, DVD backups but [bold]not[/bold] watching video (or video editing) and [bold]not[/bold] gaming. So I don't think I care so much about the graphics capability (onboard mobo graphics will be fine) and don;t want a TV tuner. 3) I want it to be quick. Not cutting edge, but fast enough to keep me happy for 3-4 years. Just want to get the most bang for my buck. I can deal with the monitor & case myself (I have a good handle on what I want and need). Where I need advice is: PSU CPU MOBO memory Hard drive configuration cooling 1) PSU - I' see lots of confusing posts on what 'features' power supplies have. I understand the need for sufficient wattage to run the various components inside the case - 400w-500w would seem to do the trick for me; I also understand the cooling issues and fan. But other that that, it seems to me to be a simple choice - I need a power supply. Are there any feature choices that I really need to care about. Does it need to supply power to anything other than the mobo & drives ?. Recommendations here would be greatly appreciated. 2) I don't want to spark up the AMD/Intel debate here. I just don't know what direction to go in. I've laid out my objective above, I beleive most signfciant of which is that I don't need a gaming/high end graphics machine. So can anyone recomend which direction I go in. 3) Mobo - I'm lost on the different socket types but not sure this really matters to me. I think I get the basics that certain socket types work with certain CPU's, so my decision will probably be somewhat dictated by the choice of CPU, but can any one make any recomendations based on my needs: i) sufficient number of PCI slots (at least 3) ii) to run run 3 optical drives and one removeable IDE hard drive (used to switch out/burn progs from my DVR) iii) Will run 4 hard drives (1x 120gb for my main HD and 3x 360gb for my music (selected over 500gb models for value for money) the later being needed to house my 900gb [+ growing] music collection that is currently spread over 10 ide drives) iv) will house sufficient memory for me to upgrade to VISTA in the near future (I read I could need 4GB ?) [bold]Q'n[/bold] - how do I check that the mobo headers will be compartible with the sound/usb/power/fire wire connections on the case I select? 4) Memory - 1GB/2GB/3GB ? I just don;t have a handle on how much I might need. recomendation would be much appreciated 5) Hard drive configuration: I see connections for 4 x SATA drives on mobo's but when people start talking about RAID, I'm lost. Can I just plug in 4 SATA drives and use each drives full capacity ? 6) Cooling: I know my config is goign to genreat a resonable amount of heat. Plus I live in the tropics and, even with AC, my computer loft can get warm at times (80-85F would be a consistent range). I see posts talking about multiple fans. The requirement is obvisouly predecated on reducing the heat to a tollerable level, but can anyone give me a ball park guide on what I might need. (where do all of the fans go and where do they connect to - do current mobo's have multiple fan power outlets?
Motherboard is really your choice after you buy the CPU. Meaning you can buy the right motherboard for your personal requirments such as hard drives memory ect. For the CPU go AMD since they seem to be cheaper and better then intel. Since you want to make the computer last a couple of years go for around 2GB of memory and then upgrade later on. Sorry for not being so detailed in terms of exact specs and all. Honestly, just find a part on newegg or something. Research it in google and see if it is what you are looking for.
for that budget i'd definately go conroe. Getting a board with onbard video limits your choice severely. i'd get a cheap PCI-E card. MoBo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025 - $269.99 Gfx http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814141030 - $46.99 CPU (if you plan to overclock) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003 - $369.99 (if you Don't) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115001 - $1149.99 PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104014 - $124.99 RAM (2 of these to make 4GB) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145034 - $512.00 Cooling unless you plan to overclock the stock cooling should be just fine. also, making sure the case has good airflow would be good. TOTAL 1 (no OCing) $2102.97 TOTAL 2 (OCing) $1323.96 the mobo has 3 PCI, support for 6 internal SATA2 and enough fan headers. 4GB of RAM for vista + multitasking. also the mobo supports 8GB of RAM Intel's conroe processors currently offer the best performance, however, AMD's new socket type - AM2 - is compatible with future AM3 processors, which will beat the living cr@p out of what intel will have to offer. so TBH, intel or AMD is down to what you think will happen NOTE: Italics = pure fanboyism, there is no factual evidence to support this claim. yet.
I gotta second the conroe build, for sure. Here's what i'd get: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131028 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145015 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817171005 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136003 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130026 Air cooling will be fine. [edit] typos, lol
with that sort of money i start look at these http://www.alienware.com/configurat...syscode=PC-AREA51-7500-R3&subcode=SKU-DEFAULT
Alienware is overpriced imo. You could build it using the same parts for probably 30-40% cheaper AND have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself. I like to build PCs though, so I'll always go with that option.
i must ad mit i do like build them them my self as i have just bought a new mobo cpu ram and gcard but i thought it might be easyer for him
