Hi,
My current pc (1st build, 6 yrs old) is fine for what i use it for.. except that it resets a lot and has trouble starting up (i tried a new power supply and different wall socket, switching ram). So i'm building a new one as sort of an upgrade that will hold me off until windows 7 or even further depending on how good it is.
Budget: -I'm going into this looking to spend less than $800, but i can spend more if recommended.. towards $1300, even, if you think it will last a long time (future-proof)
I need: -Mobo, CPU, Ram, video card.
-New PSU and case if needed -Might also like to try a solid state drive for my OS if recommended
I have: -antec psu 400w atx12v(i think), 2 SATA hdd's 1TB, dvd rom/writer, pci tv tuner card
-case: plusview 1000 amg antec[/url](will replace if recommended) plusview 1000 amg antec
Using it for: -watching, recording videos, ripping dvd's to hdd for viewing
-illustration
-2d animation, 3d animation
-music listening, editing
-2 displays: 1)monitor DVI 2)sony bravia 32inch (hdmi or vga input)
-gaming.. looking forward to diablo 3, starcraft 2 (i mostly game on my consoles, so i don't really need top stuff in this area)
Most Important: -Stability and ease of use. I'd just like to avoid products with known problems.
-I'd like a 'good'future-proof pc.
-spending wisely. I'm not looking for luxury and don't want to spend a lot now when i might upgrade in the near future.
-I'm not overclocking
-Waiting for Windows 7, skipping Vista.
-I guess I'm going for at least an Intel core 2 duo CPU.
-I don't think i need a power hungry video card
I appreciate any guidance, thanks.
My current pc - built in January 2003 mobo- Intel D845PEBT2
cpu- P4 2.53GHz, 533MHz FSB
gpu- Radeon 9800 pro
ram- 2x Crucial 512MB DDR333 PC2700
psu- 400w atx 12v
I see no reason of going to use a LGA775 setup. Why, unless you're strapped on money, the 1366's clock to clock performance is higher, and more futureproof too! If you are going to spend $1000 on a new computer, why not get a new one, rather than an old one.
What I'd get if I were you?
Search in Newegg or TD (assuming in USA) - You should be delighted to be able to use stores like Newegg. Last year, I built my first PC, and my parents didn't let me use Newegg because its online, and I wasn't sure if they had any in Canada =S.
I guess you'd get better performance if you installed you OS partition on this HD, and everything else elsewhere?
(Someone help me here ?)
Since you've got a 1TB, use that as your 'Other's HD, like Music, movies, gaming, etc). You're not going to be using it on ur other PC anyways, if you get what I post here =D)
Why not SSD? They decrease in performance, like Flash Drives (are they, i'm not sure =D). While the WDR less, if not doesnt.
Ehhh, 160GB should do enough as you have a 1TB HD on other hand. I'm running Vista x64 with loads of music, ISOs etc, on 160 GB SG, with only 120GB enabled on 5 partitions. 40GB maybve for Linux use later on =D.
GenesisX - Newegg now operate in Canada as http://www.newegg.ca , but this is a recent development.
You have recommended an i7 for a gaming system. Go do some more reading :) Gaming is the one thing i7 has absolutely no benefit for.
Also, throw a few of these in? If there is any reason to use crossfire at all with 4870s, at least use the 1GB version of the card.
The PSU is OK-ish, but GameXStream units are far from ideal for running large amounts of power. If you are going for a crossfire gaming system, use something like a Corsair TX 750W or Zalman ZM850-HP.
Lol, Sorry Sammoris. Haha... I was always looking @ 3DMark Scores... Yes, they get us all =D.
But for all sense, I don't really see much in getting a quad core, just right now, as some games just don't get all the performance out of them. Instead go for 2 really strong cores, rather than the 4 weaker ones. Just a thought.
As a really stereotypical setup, E8400 + 4870 + 22" monitor =DD
If you've got the money, use the GTX295 =DDDD
EDIT: To clarify, for many of you.
Q6600 @ 2.4 ghz = 4 cores, each core running @ 600 mhz (600 x 4 = 2400) rather than 4 cores each running @ 2.4 ghz = 9.6 ghz.
Lol? No, it's four cores operating at 2.4Ghz. They do not stack to 9.6Ghz, but they don't run at 600mhz either.
You are right though, for most games, as long as you use a single graphics card, a dual core suffices. However, a lot of people do things other than gaming, such as DVD rips and so on, and if they do, a Quad core is pretty much mandatory, as even the Q6600 beats the E8600 at that.
TYhe HD4870 is meant to run hot, that's just how it works. It's not a problem, just people who write newegg reviews don't seem to be able to understand that.
I recommend you do buy a new case, one that came with a prebuilt PC 7 years ago will not be up to the job of cooling stuff like this.
