New build; all around computer

[Larry141]

I am building a new computer using a Intel Mobo and Processor. I can't figure out which mobo and processor would be best for me. I need an all around computer. I do light gaming, not much. I multi task, do photo's, use the Internet, a Punch Home Architectural 3000 software program, and want to do DVD's. I would like to stay with Win XP Home, but will consider XP Pro if it will work better with the newer mobo and processor. I have heard to many bad stories to go with Vista, but am interested in the new Win 7 and may want to upgrade in the future. I do some business using Windows Office. Any advice and opinions will be appreciated. So far the two main mobo's recommended are the Intel DP35DP and the DP43TF, using the E8400 or Q8200 Intel processors. I am going to us a WD HD 750 Gb, Corsair 750W PSU, and Kingston Memory. Which mobo and processor would be best for me? Or is there a better choice than the two recommended so far? My budget for the mobo, processor, and memory is under $300 (I know, not feasible with the mobos and processors recommended so far, but $350 is). Thanks

 

[fullmetall]

Gigabyte UD3R and the Q8200. under $300.00

ram, if you want reliable, get pi black g.skills at ddr2 800.

hdd, wd black 640gb.

you wont need the 750w corsair psu, more than enough power,

650tx or 520w depending on your video card.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Here's my suggestions:

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380&Tpk=ga-ep43-ud3l $79.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115055 $164.99

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209&Tpk=pi black 800 $44.99

Total - $289.97

I would really think about going with 64-bit Vista so you can fully use all 4GB of RAM. Try not to avoid Vista just because you "heard" it sucks. www.mohaveexperiment.com - There are still a lot of uninformed Vista bashers out there. I personally use Vista on two machines and haven't had any problems with it at all. It's a very stable OS. The only BSOD I've ever seen was caused by pushing an overclock a little too far. I also haven't had any software or hardware compatibility issues. Even my 4+ year old printer works fine.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99

Edit - Fullmetall beat me to it.

 

[fullmetall]

, but, why not the UD3R P45 shortstuff?


+1 on vista, the people that chose to pick xp pro over vista were mainly the people that didnt try it and go by what others say, that "others" could have been a person that chose vista 64bit on a system that wasnt worth running that os on. Vista is a very simple os and for what type of computer usage your using, vista would be your best bet.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

, but, why not the UD3R P45 shortstuff?


+1 on vista, the people that chose to pick xp pro over vista were mainly the people that didnt try it and go by what others say, that "others" could have been a person that chose vista 64bit on a system that wasnt worth running that os on. Vista is a very simple os and for what type of computer usage your using, vista would be your best bet.

I picked the motherboard I did because it fell within the <$300 budget and will work fine for the OP's intended use. The UD3R is nice, but put the build above budget for no good reason.

+1 on your Vista observations. I recently built a computer for my parents using 64-bit Vista which says a lot for it's ease of use!

 

[bmuell]

, but, why not the UD3R P45 shortstuff?

Well it's 50% more expensive than the P43 board.

 

[xthekidx]

Another +1 for vista. Most people who have those bad stories is from before SP1 came out for it, now that it had the service pack it is very stable, and very smooth. I use it and I have absolutely no complaints. I even like it better than OSX (my fiance is a mac person).

I say the UD3L as well, the UD3R isn't necessary for him. If you can do it, I would spend more on the processor though.

 

[Larry141]

Thank you all for your input! So, I am still looking at two motherboards, and that's okay.

If I could spend another $100 for a total of $400 for MOBO, CPU, and MEMORY, what which would you choose the UD3R, EP43, DP35DP, or the DP43TF?

And why?

I will go to Gigabyte and look both boards up and do some reading.

I also will need a video card and prefer ATI, what would be your choice?

Acutally I have been thinking of going with Vista 64 bit for builders. Recently I over heard someone say, "Vista was impregnated with issues to make things happen so that the user would have to keep paying for updating." Sounds pretty ridiculous to me, but hey, stranger things have happened.

Sounds to me like you are all having no problems with Vista, so I am thinking I will go that way. It also seems to me that it is a must to be able to have a good functional computer and be able to use all of the most up to date hardware, etc. that's out there.

Thanks again

 

[bmuell]

Then go up to the Q9550, but stay with the Gigabyte P43 board and G.Skill ram.

 

[Larry141]

bmuell said, Then go up to the Q9550, but stay with the same board and ram.

Thanks bmuell, I am a little confused, which board? And why the Q9550? Just curious, and I am trying to learn something while getting good advice. Thanks

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Then go up to the Q9550, but stay with the same board and ram.

+1, if you can get an extra $100 I would spend all of it on the CPU. The motherboard has little impact on the system as long as it's a quality unit. The GA-EP43-UD3L is a very high quality motherboard. There's no reason to spend more on it for your intended use. I'd also avoid the Intel brand boards.

What resolution does your monitor run at? Since you said you do "light gaming", I would suggest either the HD4830 or HD4850.

POWERCOLOR AX4830 512MD3-H Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131129 $94.99 - $15 MIR

or

POWERCOLOR AX4850 512MD3-DH Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131125 $149.99 - $15 MIR

I'd wait a week or two on the GPU. There are price cuts coming to the 4870 and 4850. I'd wait for those cuts and see what it does to the whole line of ATI cards.

 

[jpdykes]

^ +1, you are almost certainly never going to want to run two graphics cards if you are just gaming lightly at fairly low resolutions.

A faster processor will help generally, but there is no point going about the E8500 - prices go wild.

To choose a graphics card you are going to need to define what games you play, how fussed you are about quality and how big (resolution wise) your screen is.

After that you can debate the extra $100 on the processor or graphics card or somewhere else.

I would also note that Vista, although a little different at first, was definately a good upgrade for me. And I'm about to put a 64-bit edition onto a raid array.

Jeremy

 

[xthekidx]

Stay with the GA-EP43-UD3L and get the Q9550. The other boards are better for overclocking or for going with mutliple GPU setups, but neither of those seem like you need them, you just are interested in a basic motherboard so that is the right one for you. I think they also have RAID on them, but you didn't express an interest in that either. You will see a large performance increase going for the Q9550 instead of the Q8300.