I've read the Guide to Choosing Parts and the Recommended Builds by Usage, but I still need your opinion on my situation.
My desktop (Gigabyte, 400MHz FSB, P4 1.6A, 512MB RAM, 32MB video) is getting way too slow and I need an upgrade badly. I have some old (but unused, still NIB) parts that I'm wondering if I should use. Should I try to purchase parts that will work with these that I already own, at the risk of possibly getting less bang for the buck because I was trying to save a few dollars by salvaging parts? Or do I just say forget the old parts, spend a little more now, and buy everything with newer technology so that the system has better longevity and potential for upgrade? In other words, which is better... spending a little now and then spending more to upgrade (possible new build) again in 2-3 years? Or just spending more now on a better build to last significantly longer? It has been 8 years since my last build and it's hard to make a decision without knowing a lot about the recent technology. As I said, I read the "Guide," but it's hard to judge which route is more cost-effective. That's where you experienced pros come in.
The primary goal is value. Straight up bang for the buck.
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: anytime between now and 3 months from now (Feb 2010?) Basically whenever the best deals are around in the next 3 months.
BUDGET RANGE: Prefer to keep it at < $500 After Rebates/Discounts for a complete build. Obviously less if I'm not buying everything by using the parts I already have.
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Windows 7 Pro, Basic stuff like e-mail/browsing/MS Office/playing music/watching dvds, some basic photo editing (Adobe Photoshop/Elements/Lightroom, Picasa), basic video editing (trimming and combining clips, maybe adding music track, transitions, slow-mo, possible "HD" vids from helmet-cam type camcorders), playing MS Flight Simulator w/ joystick to keep skills current, MAYBE some webcam use via Skype or similar program
PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
(all new, still in box)
1.) Ultra "UV-Wizard Clear Steel Series" ATX mid-tower case
2.) Ultra Xfinity 600W PSU - "Dual-Rail Technology," "SLi ready," 20/24 pin mobo connector, 4 pin +12V mobo connector, (2) PCI-E and (4) SATA connectors, 8 pin EPS connector
3.) OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 "SLi Ready" RAM (PC2 8500)
4.) XFX Nvidia "SLi Ready" GeForce 7600 GS - PCI-E, 256MB DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150170
(Currently using)
5.) Dell 1905FP w/ DVI - willing to upgrade (but probably prefer not spend on it since this works fine now) for a steal of a deal on something like a 22" or 24" widescreen
6.) Keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS (more willing to upgrade these, but not necessary)
7.) Various HDDs (WD 1TB Raptor for automated backups, various PATA drives - 160GB, 200GB, 250GB). some being switched in and out of enclosures.
8.) DVD burner
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: I'll admit I was thinking something along the lines of a C2D CPU, but I've always been partial to Intel and Gigabyte/Asus/Abit based on my now-obsolete research. I am open to any ideas now though.
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe. Wasn't planning on it, but Proximon's "Guide" said it's worth it. If it squeezes out significant performance from the system while remaining stable for very little cost, I'm open to it. Basically, if the benefit-to-cost/effort ratio is good, I'm in.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe. Same as above regarding benefit-to-cost/effort ratio. I want to stay open to ideas at this point.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
So here are my questions. Again, as I said above, the summary of these questions is this - Which is better in the long run, spending less now and then having to spend again later to upgrade, or spending more now to last significantly longer:
1.) Is it worth putting these parts together with a slick deal (say, on a Dell bare bones system or any CPU/mobo combo deal) or should I just purchase a completely new system? I was thinking that I could buy a "pretty good" cpu/mobo to go with these now, and when the RAM & video card get too slow for me, I can just upgrade those in a couple of years while keeping the same cpu/mobo. Do you think I should get a CPU/mobo that works w/ the DDR2 and GeForce 7600GS now but can still handle DDR3 in the future? How many RAM slots do most mobos have now?
2.) If "yes," what are your suggestions on parts & specs? something like a Fry's deal on CPU/mobo combo? Dell bare bones? Which CPU? Is Intel really that much better than AMD for what I intend to do with this computer (remember, possible OCing if it's worth it)? Is it worth going to DDR3 RAM, or should I just go with larger quantity of DDR2?
3.) If "no," what are your suggestions for a complete system based on my intended uses?
4.) Best time to buy? Between Black Friday & Christmas? After Christmas?
5.) Any good ideas on what to do w/ my current, SLOW system? Torrent box? Anyone have any complaints using Ubuntu (or major software/driver compatibility issues)?
My desktop (Gigabyte, 400MHz FSB, P4 1.6A, 512MB RAM, 32MB video) is getting way too slow and I need an upgrade badly. I have some old (but unused, still NIB) parts that I'm wondering if I should use. Should I try to purchase parts that will work with these that I already own, at the risk of possibly getting less bang for the buck because I was trying to save a few dollars by salvaging parts? Or do I just say forget the old parts, spend a little more now, and buy everything with newer technology so that the system has better longevity and potential for upgrade? In other words, which is better... spending a little now and then spending more to upgrade (possible new build) again in 2-3 years? Or just spending more now on a better build to last significantly longer? It has been 8 years since my last build and it's hard to make a decision without knowing a lot about the recent technology. As I said, I read the "Guide," but it's hard to judge which route is more cost-effective. That's where you experienced pros come in.
The primary goal is value. Straight up bang for the buck.
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: anytime between now and 3 months from now (Feb 2010?) Basically whenever the best deals are around in the next 3 months.
BUDGET RANGE: Prefer to keep it at < $500 After Rebates/Discounts for a complete build. Obviously less if I'm not buying everything by using the parts I already have.
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Windows 7 Pro, Basic stuff like e-mail/browsing/MS Office/playing music/watching dvds, some basic photo editing (Adobe Photoshop/Elements/Lightroom, Picasa), basic video editing (trimming and combining clips, maybe adding music track, transitions, slow-mo, possible "HD" vids from helmet-cam type camcorders), playing MS Flight Simulator w/ joystick to keep skills current, MAYBE some webcam use via Skype or similar program
PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
(all new, still in box)
1.) Ultra "UV-Wizard Clear Steel Series" ATX mid-tower case
2.) Ultra Xfinity 600W PSU - "Dual-Rail Technology," "SLi ready," 20/24 pin mobo connector, 4 pin +12V mobo connector, (2) PCI-E and (4) SATA connectors, 8 pin EPS connector
3.) OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 "SLi Ready" RAM (PC2 8500)
4.) XFX Nvidia "SLi Ready" GeForce 7600 GS - PCI-E, 256MB DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150170
(Currently using)
5.) Dell 1905FP w/ DVI - willing to upgrade (but probably prefer not spend on it since this works fine now) for a steal of a deal on something like a 22" or 24" widescreen
6.) Keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS (more willing to upgrade these, but not necessary)
7.) Various HDDs (WD 1TB Raptor for automated backups, various PATA drives - 160GB, 200GB, 250GB). some being switched in and out of enclosures.
8.) DVD burner
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: I'll admit I was thinking something along the lines of a C2D CPU, but I've always been partial to Intel and Gigabyte/Asus/Abit based on my now-obsolete research. I am open to any ideas now though.
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe. Wasn't planning on it, but Proximon's "Guide" said it's worth it. If it squeezes out significant performance from the system while remaining stable for very little cost, I'm open to it. Basically, if the benefit-to-cost/effort ratio is good, I'm in.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe. Same as above regarding benefit-to-cost/effort ratio. I want to stay open to ideas at this point.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
So here are my questions. Again, as I said above, the summary of these questions is this - Which is better in the long run, spending less now and then having to spend again later to upgrade, or spending more now to last significantly longer:
1.) Is it worth putting these parts together with a slick deal (say, on a Dell bare bones system or any CPU/mobo combo deal) or should I just purchase a completely new system? I was thinking that I could buy a "pretty good" cpu/mobo to go with these now, and when the RAM & video card get too slow for me, I can just upgrade those in a couple of years while keeping the same cpu/mobo. Do you think I should get a CPU/mobo that works w/ the DDR2 and GeForce 7600GS now but can still handle DDR3 in the future? How many RAM slots do most mobos have now?
2.) If "yes," what are your suggestions on parts & specs? something like a Fry's deal on CPU/mobo combo? Dell bare bones? Which CPU? Is Intel really that much better than AMD for what I intend to do with this computer (remember, possible OCing if it's worth it)? Is it worth going to DDR3 RAM, or should I just go with larger quantity of DDR2?
3.) If "no," what are your suggestions for a complete system based on my intended uses?
4.) Best time to buy? Between Black Friday & Christmas? After Christmas?
5.) Any good ideas on what to do w/ my current, SLOW system? Torrent box? Anyone have any complaints using Ubuntu (or major software/driver compatibility issues)?
(I'm just against the Ubuntu hype).
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