First Time Build

[vulture1162]

Hey everyone i'm relativity new to this site and i'm trying to build my first system. I want a system that will last me a while and be able to be upgraded for the future. I will be mostly using the system for a home media center abilities. I have some nice logitech Z5500 and a 32" LCD which i will be hooking up to this computer along with a TV Tuner to record TV. I don't do any high end gaming really, and i do minimal video editing. But i am a super nerd and would like something fast even if just to know its fast . I would also like to include a blu-ray player because i think it would look brilliant on my 32" LCD with a nice surround sound.

one of my main questions is what CPU to buy... for my purposes is it better to get a decent quad core or a good dual core. On newegg for the same price you can get a quad Q6600 at 2.4 or a core 2 E8500 at 3.16... which is the better option?

this is my build idea's so far, any idea's or suggestions?

SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire $94.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102719

LG Black LG Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM $139.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136154

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower 49.95 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $69.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145215

Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 ATSC/ClearQAM/NTSC TV Tuner PCI $74.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815116007

Antec EA650 650W ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC $59.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor $187.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard $114.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) $24.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

I'm trying to keep it under $1000 because if i wanted to go over i would just get a core i7 which would be SWEET but i'm in college and can't afford that really

 

[ilovebarny]

I strongly Strongly suggest getting a different sound card. my friend has that card and he like the onboard (off of the mobo) sound better. I have this card and i absolutly LOVE it. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102005

also i have seen good reviews on the asus xonor's: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010290057%2050001315&name=ASUS

also i would suggest a different psu. i dont trust raidmax psu's. this is a decent psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

 

[chuccck]

defintely go with the Antec EA650, its well recommended and is on sale for $60!

Also, go with the Antec Three Hundred, better airflow and more reliable.

consider these two mobos as well: Gigabyte ud3p or Asus P5q pro. folks round here seem to like the gigabyte one a bit better. The asus has coaxial audio out, and the gigabyte has optical and coaxial out. I WOULD DEFINITELY try those out before I spent money on a sound card some of the audiofiles can be happy with the onboard audio.

A better graphics card would do your system more good them you realize. Check out Th's Decmeber best card for the money

You should AT LEAST jump up to the 3870, list at newegg.

...and you could save a few bucks coming down to the e8400 if needed to find the room. You would see better performance overall if you took the down the processor and spent the extra dough on the graphics card. Look at the blu ray chart for cpu's HERE. No real benefit from Quads.

 

[vulture1162]

Yea i've done some more investigation and have learned alot even just browsing around this website.

i guess i'll go with the antec 300, it doesn't look to pretty but i want something that is reliable and wont cause to many problems, because so far i think my laptop has a airflow problem and it is slowly frying alot of the hardware.

i'll look into getting a better graphics card, the only thing with the mobo is i didn't know if i wanted to crossfire or just get one nicer graphics card. i'm still learning the benifits of both and having the optical out on the mobo would be very helpful. Thanks for the input!!

i'll update the graphics card when i know a little more, i plan on buying this coming month so thanks for all of the help