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Help me build a fast, quiet, reliable machine

Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Help me build a fast, quiet, reliable machine

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Next week or so. Around $700.00 budget

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Home, , surfing the internet, watching movies, gaming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (.: newegg.com Micro center and I live in the Red White and Blue.

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel, Mid tower, cooler master Scout or Antec 300

OVERCLOCKING: No, and single video card

MONITOR RESOLUTION: N/A

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I would like a quiet PC and I was thinking that an I5 is a good CPU to go with because I can get one at Micro for $159.00

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The monitor resolution is *never* NA, need to know it in order to choose a video card.

This is about the best you can do with an i5 750, so its probably outside your budget range:

CPU: Intel Core i5-750 $159
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115215

Motherboard: Gigabyte P55M-UD2 $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128405

Only $10 more than the least expensive mobo, this major name brand offering has all the connectors you would need. It also overclocks and can handle two video cards well. A no-brainer for your configuration.

Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2GB DDR3 1333 Latency 7 $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231276

Fast and inexpensive. No need to spend more on memory; could spend maybe $10 less. While you shouldn't need more memory, a second kit could be added for 8GB.

SeaSonic SS-500ES Bronze 500W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM $69
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151079

One of just a few brand names (Corsair, PC Power & Cooling also come to mind; also many but not all Antecs) that can be recommended with qualification. This will power *any* single video card.

HD: Western Digital Black 640GB $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319
There's now a Seagate out there that specs better, and may be better (no 3rd party reviews yet), but this one is proven fast and reliable.

Sony Optiarc DVD/CD Read/Write $33
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118030
Does everything but eat . . . and fast.

OS: Vista 64-bit with Free upgrade to Windows 7 $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116677
If you'll never go beyond 4GB memory, 32-bit is fine. If you don't have any really old applicatons or hardware on your PC, and if you want to leave open the possibility to go to 8GB, you'll want the 64-bit version. Both cost the same.

This totals $646 in parts without looking for combo deals (will save $10-$20). We need a case and video card, so the total will be over budget.. You need to know this configuration is much more than you need and costs maybe $200 more than a PC to surf the web and run most apps you mention well. OTOH, depending on the vid card, there's *nothing* it won't run well . . . for quite some time to come.

Message edited by Twoboxer on 10-15-2009 at 09:36:14 AM

Reply to Twoboxer

I would consider a different mobo, just because that one is micro-atx, and doesn't really work too well with dual graphics cards (x4), it is a great board though. Also, I would definitely get a Spinpoint F3 500gb HDD for the fastest performance. If you decide on a ATX board, I would just go with an Antec 300. For a GPU, yeah, we do need to know your res, but check out the 5770 or 5850...

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by jbakerlent on 10-15-2009 at 09:46:48 AM

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Reply to jbakerlent

the price of amd quads is coming down and might help give a better value. and also help staying in budget. should have no problem staying in budget if your willing to compromise a bit on parts. "latest and greatest" and "budget" aren't usually used in the same sentence.

Reply to fatkid35

I would definitely suggest the Phenom II x2 or x3. This would definitely cut costs while still giving you great performance for what you plan on doing. By going this route you can put up a little more cash for the GPU. If you're dead set on using an Intel CPU you might have to increase your budget a little since you'll have to stick with the i5 or i7 (socket 775 is basically dead).

Reply to mavanhel

jbakerlent wrote :

I would consider a different mobo, just because that one is micro-atx, and doesn't really work too well with dual graphics cards (x4), it is a great board though.

The GA-P55M-UD2 would be perfect for the OP's needs. He said he wasn't interested in SLI or crossfire. His budget also doesn't allow for a more expensive motherboard. The OP said he doesn't need an OS, so that adds $110 to the GPU budget. By the way, what OS are you planning on using?

Reply to shortstuff_mt

To clarify, I was responding to Twoboxer's comment about the MOBO handling two cards well...

Message quoted 1 times

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Reply to jbakerlent

jbakerlent wrote :

To clarify, I was responding to Twoboxer's comment about the MOBO handling two cards well...

Oh I see, sorry. It's true that you would not want to use that motherboard for SLI or crossfire due to the 4x link speed of the second PCI-E slot.

Reply to shortstuff_mt

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Forum Homebuilt Systems : New System Build - Help me build a fast, quiet, reliable machine