Out of touch - planning a new build

[bkraz]

Hi Guys,

Definitely need some help, here. I'm still running a home build from 2003, running an AMD Athlon 3000+ and 1GB of RAM. Viewsonic CRT monitor still... yikes. The most up to date piece of my system is the XP pro OS.

85% or 90% of the time this machine is used for website production (Adobe suites and editors) light video and audio production, light home theater/DVR, business apps and office. 10% - 15% of the time this machine will be for gaming. As such, don't I really want to get as much processor as I can, plus RAM, plus storage, and try to save some coin on the graphics front? In which case, doesn't that point me towards the intel i7? Or am I looking at this backwards and I really should be aiming lower on the CPU? What would you guys do in the same position?

 

[Lmeow]

I suggest you go to the 'Systems' section and copy the form and fill it out here. (You're meant to do it there, but I'll answer this thread.)

That form provides all the info we need to know before we compile a build for you.

 

[enzo matrix]

^Indeed. But I'm going to take a crack at it anyway by making assumptions for the things you left out.

Assumptions:
-You will be using your current case because you love it and it is awesome
-You power supply is old and dying so you will be getting a new one
-Your budget is $600
-You will be playing games like COD4 and Far Cry 2 on occasion and don't mind lowering the settings
-You want a new monitor
-You live in the USA, will be building yourself and wish to buy from newegg.com
-You don't need a new operating system or you already have a new one
-You need only a single 500GB hard drive
-You will be using video production programs that make use of multiple CPU cores but not CUDA.

Here are the parts I recommend:
CPU: Athlon IIx3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103724

Motherboard: Asus 760G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131608

Memory: 4GB Gskill
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253

Hard drive: samsung spinpoint 500GB F3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

Graphics: XFX 5670 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150466

Power supply: corsair 400W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008

Monitor: Asus VH series 1366x768
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236070

Total cost: $517 after MIR and before shipping

The CPU should be able to handle anything you throw at it. The three cores will handle audio and video production well. The graphics are more powerful than a radeon 3870 and Especially at that monitor resolution will be able to handle most games. The hard drive is fast and quiet, so I have been told (they aren't available to me here in Canada), and I've liked my Asus VH series monitor so far.

 

[bkraz]

Thanks for pointing out the location of this form. Here's where I'm at:


APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Fall or Christmas time.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (85% or 90% of the time this machine is used for website production (Adobe suites and editors) light video and audio production, light home theater/DVR, business apps and office. 10% - 15% of the time this machine will be for gaming.)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, Amazon.com

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type (This is the question. Thought I wanted an intel i7... now, not sure.)

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe, but likely no. - SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (would like to run 1920x1080, not married to any resolution for gaming, could scale back.)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (Budget... $650 is a nice dream of mine . $900 is my current max. )

 

[Lmeow]

This is a quick build:

Intel Core i5 750 2.66 GHz - $199.99

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3R - $119.99 after $10 rebate

G.SKILL Ripjaws 2x2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz CL7 - $105.99

ASUS CuCore Radeon HD 5770 - $144.99 after $20 rebate

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB - $79.99

Corsair CX400W - $49.99 after rebate

Antec Three Hundred Illusion - $59.99, $9.99 shipping

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM - $99.99

Total = $870.91, rebates and shipping included. This is all off newegg. Replace the i5 750 with an i7 860 if you live near a Micro Center, you can pick one up from MC for $199.99.

 

[Wisecracker]

...

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Fall or Christmas time....


(Budget... $650 is a nice dream of mine . $900 is my current max. )

BD Zambezi and Sandy Bridge may be out by Christmas.

Before then, eyeball the Egg 'combos' and get on the email 'eBlast' list of hardware specials to get an idea how prices are running.

Here's an example: Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3 /// PhII 925 for $189 --- toss in an OCZ Agility Gen2 60Gb solid state hard drive for your OS/Apps for $110 after rebate and off yah go

 

[bkraz]

If I swap the i5 750 with an i7 860... I would likely need to upgrade the power supply, too... yes/no?

This is a quick build:

Intel Core i5 750 2.66 GHz - $199.99

GIGABYTE GA-P55A-UD3R - $119.99 after $10 rebate

G.SKILL Ripjaws 2x2 GB DDR3 1600 MHz CL7 - $105.99

ASUS CuCore Radeon HD 5770 - $144.99 after $20 rebate

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 1TB - $79.99

Corsair CX400W - $49.99 after rebate

Antec Three Hundred Illusion - $59.99, $9.99 shipping

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM - $99.99

Total = $870.91, rebates and shipping included. This is all off newegg. Replace the i5 750 with an i7 860 if you live near a Micro Center, you can pick one up from MC for $199.99.

 

[enzo matrix]

If I swap the i5 750 with an i7 860... I would likely need to upgrade the power supply, too... yes/no?

No.