APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP, within a month at latest
BUDGET RANGE: ~$400-$500 after rebates for the parts needed
SYSTEM USAGE: Primarily email, internet, productivity apps (Office, Money); HOWEVER, occasionally used for software development and virtual machines. Also, see “additional comments” below.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, optical drives
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, tigerdirect.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: No manufacturer preference, but see “additional comments” for case limitations.
OVERCLOCKING: Unlikely
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Doesn’t matter
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
My case dimension requirements are a little tight. I would like a quiet machine, but the case needs to fit in an area 9.5” wide by 19” high (the depth is irrelevant). Those are the absolute max dimensions—if the case has fans on the top, for example, that would need to be factored in. I will have zero airflow on the right side of the case, and if the case is wide, restricted airflow from the left side near the bottom. For you visual types, I found an image of the desk I am using on this site:
http://homeparents.about.com/od/furnitureandsupplies/gr/mystic.htm
I would like to get a computer that performs very well for my normal system usage (as above). But I would also like to position myself for smooth upgrade paths should I need it down the road. For example, if I had to add a dedicated video card for “medium” gaming, the power supply is already adequate. Or as software gets more bloated and the processor needs upgraded, I only need the processor and not a new motherboard.
I will be running Windows 7 Professional x64.
Based on the advice in the “sticky forum threads,” here are some of my initial ideas. This is my first build, so yeah, I’m clueless. I appreciate your help!
MOTHERBOARD
GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128398
Thought AMD would be the way to go because of my budget, but using latest AM3 socket so that future upgrade might be easier. The AMD 790GX chipset is said to have good onboard graphics, so I hope to avoid a dedicated video card.
CPU
AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688
Nothing fancy. 64-bit support and decent performance for normal tasks is all I need.
RAM
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253
Hard drive
Western Digital Caviar Green WD6400AACS 640GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136298
PSU
SeaSonic SS-500ES Bronze 500W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151079
Case
???
Anything else I am missing? Do the necessary cables come with the parts (motherboard, PSU, hard drives) or do those need to be purchased separately?
BUDGET RANGE: ~$400-$500 after rebates for the parts needed
SYSTEM USAGE: Primarily email, internet, productivity apps (Office, Money); HOWEVER, occasionally used for software development and virtual machines. Also, see “additional comments” below.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, optical drives
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, tigerdirect.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: No manufacturer preference, but see “additional comments” for case limitations.
OVERCLOCKING: Unlikely
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Doesn’t matter
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
My case dimension requirements are a little tight. I would like a quiet machine, but the case needs to fit in an area 9.5” wide by 19” high (the depth is irrelevant). Those are the absolute max dimensions—if the case has fans on the top, for example, that would need to be factored in. I will have zero airflow on the right side of the case, and if the case is wide, restricted airflow from the left side near the bottom. For you visual types, I found an image of the desk I am using on this site:
http://homeparents.about.com/od/furnitureandsupplies/gr/mystic.htm
I would like to get a computer that performs very well for my normal system usage (as above). But I would also like to position myself for smooth upgrade paths should I need it down the road. For example, if I had to add a dedicated video card for “medium” gaming, the power supply is already adequate. Or as software gets more bloated and the processor needs upgraded, I only need the processor and not a new motherboard.
I will be running Windows 7 Professional x64.
Based on the advice in the “sticky forum threads,” here are some of my initial ideas. This is my first build, so yeah, I’m clueless. I appreciate your help!
MOTHERBOARD
GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128398
Thought AMD would be the way to go because of my budget, but using latest AM3 socket so that future upgrade might be easier. The AMD 790GX chipset is said to have good onboard graphics, so I hope to avoid a dedicated video card.
CPU
AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103688
Nothing fancy. 64-bit support and decent performance for normal tasks is all I need.
RAM
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253
Hard drive
Western Digital Caviar Green WD6400AACS 640GB 7200 RPM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136298
PSU
SeaSonic SS-500ES Bronze 500W ATX12V v2.31 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151079
Case
???
Anything else I am missing? Do the necessary cables come with the parts (motherboard, PSU, hard drives) or do those need to be purchased separately?
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