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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 not watching video (or video editing) and not 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 ?)
Q'n - 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?
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