I have a friend that works at a comp recycling place (very cool) that built me a machine a few months ago. I haven't even started it up yet because he always tells me to wait for better parts to come in. I am too impatient for this and I know that only recycled parts come in so nothing from there will ever be all that current. My Sony Vaio is about to croak so i want to get my new rack mount machine up and running soon. I do not even know what it has in it now other than a AMD chip that is way slower than the P4 I've been using for 2 years. I want to swap out the mobo, processor, ram, and sound card to start (basically just keep the case and PS). Maybe add a SATA HD for the system stuff and apps. I keep my raw data on a 250 gb IDE. I make music (Acid, Sound Forge, Reason) and the rest is burning and surfing. I do want to be able to mix in 5.1 but I'm pretty sure that has more to do with the sound card than the mobo. I don't game on the PC or do video editing. I want PCI-Ex16 slots for future network HD capability. For now I just want a good mobo and decent pc to expand upon. I do not have 2 grand to spend by any means but would like to get something that will last for awhile for around 150-250 bucks. Does anyone have some recommendations for a mobo and processor? I can find the rest but I'm having trouble finding out what I need as far as the mobo/processor goes. I have been told that AMD is the way to go, is that necessarily true? Also, is there anything I should look out for when it comes to a sound card? I don't want a studio card but a couple of XLR inputs would be cool. Discrete 5.1 is my main concern. Please forgive me if this has been addressed on another thread. I tried to find this info before posting. Thanks very much in advance for all of your help.
sorry. I'll call it about 500-600 bucks total. RAM, mobo, CPU, sound card, cheap video card for now, and small SATA hard drive (if its worth it). My monitor is only 1600x1200 so a cheap card should do for now. Everything else I already have. thanks
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 123usd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012 core 2 duo e6300 183usd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005 x*fi extreme gamer 145usd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102005 CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 79usd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145539 EVGA 256-P2-N445-LX GeForce 7300GT 256MB 69usd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130025 total:599 usd and its a VERY good machine for 599 if u NEED a new hd Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST380811AS 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148148
actually, right now the best way to go is dual core with the e6300 from intel for budget systems. CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail AS for Mobo, GIGABYTE GA-945GZM-S2 LGA 775 Intel 945GZ Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail -OR- ASUS P5L-VM 1394 LGA 775 Intel 945G Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail SOUND CARD Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series - Retail RAM G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail GRAPHICS JetWay X16PR-ED-128L Radeon X1600PRO 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Nissan101 if u cant read or have eye problems let me poin it out read the second comment by demasiado which says "I'll call it about 500-600 bucks total. RAM, mobo, CPU, sound card, cheap video card for now, and small SATA hard drive (if its worth it)."
im sorry man i had already started replyin before he posted the second comment thats why i went back and edited it sorry
I can't tell you guys how much I appreciate your very helpful responses. You guys are awesome! Both of you are saying about the same thing which makes me very confident about these parts. The only thing I am wary of is that sound card because it only has line outs and no real way for 7.1 sound to get out of the machine. Is there some special computer trick that will send 7.1 over a 1/8" jack? I work at an A/V company and I thought the only true 7.1 connections were coaxial and optical digital (and HDMI which sucks for audio). I thought that maybe there was some I/O box that connected to the card that would give you more connections. That thing is a little confusing. My machine already has like 7 digital optical connections on the back right now (5 in 2 out) but I don't think the existing card actually does 5.1. Does anyone have this card and if so how does it connect to an A/V receiver? Thanks again all.
I should also specify that I use a A/V receiver to power bookshelf speakers, no computer speaker setups at my house. M-Audio cards, are they considered craptastic?