Hi
I'm planning on buying a new computer but I haven't been following the hardware market for quite some time, and I'm not an expert on hardware anyway. So I need some assistance with the components I'm buying: compatibility issues, performance etc.
I was thinking of spending around 900 euros (~1140 USD) on it but I'm not getting every component since I will be using some of my current parts (monitor, keyboard, mouse...). The computer will be used for playing games too so it has to be quite efficient, but I don't want to spend my money on the latest hardware because it's expensive, so I need parts with a good price/performance ratio. Also, I'm not planning to overclock it.
So, I'm going to buy the following components: motherboard, graphics card, memory modules, processor, case, hard drive, DVD drive. I'll go through the list component by component, I'd appreciate if you'd tell me if you have any thoughts on the parts, suggestions for better ones or anything.
Processor:
I still haven't decided whether I should get an AMD or an Intel. A friend told me that Intel has better price/performance ratio at the moment, despite of AMD dropping their prices.
Anyway, I should probably go for a 64-bit processor, but do you think it should be a dual core? Intel's Core 2 Duo E6300 and E6400 (Socket 775's?) seem quite good, but not very cheap. Some of AMD's Athlon 64's are a bit cheaper, 3800+ and 4200+ seem reasonable. Also, if I get an AMD I should probably go for Socket AM2 since there's really no point getting a 939, right?
A friend of mine told me that the boxed AMD processors contain a fan for the processor but he said that it's not very good and that I should buy one separately, is this so?
Oh, and does the model (Venice, Clawhammer, Orleans etc.) make a lot of difference?
Graphics card:
A friend recommended Radeon X1900 GT, and another one told me GeForce 7800 GT was better, but it seems quite a lot more expensive.
Memory:
I was thinking of DDR2 and dual channel. DDR isn't much cheaper anymore so I probably shouldn't buy that, right? I'm still not sure if I want to get 2 * 512MB or 2 * 1GB modules, what do you think?
What about the frequencies, is 667MHz good? It seems a bit cheaper than the others. Also, EEC is probably unnecessary, isn't it?
Motherboard:
Naturally, I have to decide on other components before I know which mobo to get, but I thought it should at least support dual channel memory and have an integrated sound card (because I'm not putting one in the new computer yet). An integrated network adapter wouldn't hurt but it doesn't cost much to get one separately, so that's not a must-have. The motherboard should also support NMI (non-masking interrupt) because SBLive's SB16 emulation requires that to work, I think.
Also, what's the deal with ATX and MicroATX? Any thoughts on which motherboards are good and which are not?
Hard drive:
I'd like to have a reliable hard drive, naturally. Any recommendations? Should it be SATA or SATA2? I'm under the impression that IDE is getting old.
DVD drive:
I don't have many requirements for this, I just want to be able to write DVD's. Which are good DVD drive makes?
Case:
Any recommendations? I understand the power source comes with the case. How do I know how much power I need?
Phew, a long post, I hope it doesn't scare people away. Any help will be appreciated.
I'm planning on buying a new computer but I haven't been following the hardware market for quite some time, and I'm not an expert on hardware anyway. So I need some assistance with the components I'm buying: compatibility issues, performance etc.
I was thinking of spending around 900 euros (~1140 USD) on it but I'm not getting every component since I will be using some of my current parts (monitor, keyboard, mouse...). The computer will be used for playing games too so it has to be quite efficient, but I don't want to spend my money on the latest hardware because it's expensive, so I need parts with a good price/performance ratio. Also, I'm not planning to overclock it.
So, I'm going to buy the following components: motherboard, graphics card, memory modules, processor, case, hard drive, DVD drive. I'll go through the list component by component, I'd appreciate if you'd tell me if you have any thoughts on the parts, suggestions for better ones or anything.
Processor:
I still haven't decided whether I should get an AMD or an Intel. A friend told me that Intel has better price/performance ratio at the moment, despite of AMD dropping their prices.
Anyway, I should probably go for a 64-bit processor, but do you think it should be a dual core? Intel's Core 2 Duo E6300 and E6400 (Socket 775's?) seem quite good, but not very cheap. Some of AMD's Athlon 64's are a bit cheaper, 3800+ and 4200+ seem reasonable. Also, if I get an AMD I should probably go for Socket AM2 since there's really no point getting a 939, right?
A friend of mine told me that the boxed AMD processors contain a fan for the processor but he said that it's not very good and that I should buy one separately, is this so?
Oh, and does the model (Venice, Clawhammer, Orleans etc.) make a lot of difference?
Graphics card:
A friend recommended Radeon X1900 GT, and another one told me GeForce 7800 GT was better, but it seems quite a lot more expensive.
Memory:
I was thinking of DDR2 and dual channel. DDR isn't much cheaper anymore so I probably shouldn't buy that, right? I'm still not sure if I want to get 2 * 512MB or 2 * 1GB modules, what do you think?
What about the frequencies, is 667MHz good? It seems a bit cheaper than the others. Also, EEC is probably unnecessary, isn't it?
Motherboard:
Naturally, I have to decide on other components before I know which mobo to get, but I thought it should at least support dual channel memory and have an integrated sound card (because I'm not putting one in the new computer yet). An integrated network adapter wouldn't hurt but it doesn't cost much to get one separately, so that's not a must-have. The motherboard should also support NMI (non-masking interrupt) because SBLive's SB16 emulation requires that to work, I think.
Also, what's the deal with ATX and MicroATX? Any thoughts on which motherboards are good and which are not?
Hard drive:
I'd like to have a reliable hard drive, naturally. Any recommendations? Should it be SATA or SATA2? I'm under the impression that IDE is getting old.
DVD drive:
I don't have many requirements for this, I just want to be able to write DVD's. Which are good DVD drive makes?
Case:
Any recommendations? I understand the power source comes with the case. How do I know how much power I need?
Phew, a long post, I hope it doesn't scare people away. Any help will be appreciated.