- Jan 7, 2011
- 11
- 0
- 18,510
Approximate Purchase Date: Any day now - depends on availability of parts (i.e., waiting on Sandy Bridge if that is the direction I go). I could order today if it makes sense.
Budget Range: $1,000 US, but obviously lower is better. No reason to throw money away.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Games, word processing, some video transcoding, general home computer stuff.
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg is my standard, but I am open.
Country of Origin: USA
Parts Preferences: Full tower works for me.
Overclocking: Unlikely (unless it is automatic).
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe
Monitor Resolution: probably 1920x1200 or whatever works well on a 24 inch monitor (no multiple monitors).
Overview: My wife has green lit me getting a new computer. I built my last one (with the help of a friend) and I think that I am up to doing it again. I don’t need the bleeding edge - I am more looking for something that makes sense. As noted, I like to play games, but I also do some transcoding of video for my phone or son’s PSP, plus it is a general purpose machine. Oh, and I doubt that it matters for these specs, but I also will work on this computer - I don’t do anything CPU intense when I work because it is all Word and Outlook and stuff - however I do tend to open lots of documents at once - like 15+ documents, pdfs, spreadsheets, outlook messages is pretty normal for me. As for games - I don’t like the idea of being limited as to what I can play, but I don’t need the detail and effects cranked through the roof either. I am going to get a 24 inch monitor (not included in the build budget). I have a Cat 6 network in my house and am hooked into my Windows Home Server with a couple of terabytes, so storage is not so much an issue. This computer will stay on pretty much 24/7 since it will be the main one in the house and everyone in my family is addicted to computers. So, I guess it is on to the discussion!
CPU: My research has come up with two conflicting responses: 1. go AMD Phenom quad or six core, and spend the money you save on a better video card or 2. Intel rules gaming (especially for Civ 5, which I got for Christmas and can’t play on our laptop), so go with Intel.
Then this whole Sandy Bridge thing makes things even more complicated. Again, research indicates that it has onboard GPU, but that it isn’t good enough for most gaming. So, does it add anything if I am going to have to get a video card anyway?
What is the general consensus? If Intel, I-5 or I-7? Apparently, there is going to be a pretty good sale on Sandy Core CPUs in a couple of days - http://dealnews.com/Upcoming-Micro-Center-circular-released-Sandy-Bridge-CPUs-from-150/423008.html.
Motherboard: Obviously, this will depend in part on the CPU decision. Beyond that I figure that I want USB 3.0 and SATA 6.0 (or whatever it is called), but I am open to guidance as to whether that is true.
Case: I don’t want a case with lots of bling - neon lights, windows, built in espresso machines. I am a middle aged white guy and this computer will be sitting in plain sight under my desk. However, I do like the idea of having some expandability for hard drives etc. so that this machine could eventually replace my WHS. What can I say, I like options. Bottom line - function over form.
Graphics card: Well, my research seems to indicate that I am better off getting one more powerful card rather than 2 medium or lower end cards. And I don’t have a preference between manufacturers or anything. But, I guess the real question is, what do I need? Like I said, I don’t want to be limited as to what I can play (that is the problem now), but I don’t need to crank every graphical bell and whistle up through the roof either. But I did see something (but I cannot vouch for it) that said I may need a higher-end card because of the size of my monitor. And I don’t know how the card will play out with the whole Sandy Bridge on-board GPU thing.
Memory: I am planning on 4 Gigs and am focused on 133. However, as always, I am open to guidance
Hard Drive: Since I have the WHS, I figure I can drop in a 1 TB drive in and call it a day - that seems like the best price point. However, what about Solid State Drives. What would that get me? How will that work with this machine being on all of the time?
Power Supply: I have read that 600 - 750w is the way to go, so I guess that is the way I will go. Oh, and to avoid CoolerMaster PSUs. So I guess depending on the CPU, Motherboard, and GPU decisions I will need a suggestion here as well.
OS: Just windows 7. My young son and I like playing some older games (e.g. Star Trek Armada - and, yes, I know that for some of us "older" games means Pac Man and Tron, but that is why I have my Mame arcade), so I am wondering: do I need to get Win 7 Professional so that I get the vitual XP machine? Or do you think those games will run fine on Win 7 itself?
Is there anything else that I am missing?
Thanks for the suggestions.
- Miles
Budget Range: $1,000 US, but obviously lower is better. No reason to throw money away.
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Games, word processing, some video transcoding, general home computer stuff.
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, speakers.
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg is my standard, but I am open.
Country of Origin: USA
Parts Preferences: Full tower works for me.
Overclocking: Unlikely (unless it is automatic).
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe
Monitor Resolution: probably 1920x1200 or whatever works well on a 24 inch monitor (no multiple monitors).
Overview: My wife has green lit me getting a new computer. I built my last one (with the help of a friend) and I think that I am up to doing it again. I don’t need the bleeding edge - I am more looking for something that makes sense. As noted, I like to play games, but I also do some transcoding of video for my phone or son’s PSP, plus it is a general purpose machine. Oh, and I doubt that it matters for these specs, but I also will work on this computer - I don’t do anything CPU intense when I work because it is all Word and Outlook and stuff - however I do tend to open lots of documents at once - like 15+ documents, pdfs, spreadsheets, outlook messages is pretty normal for me. As for games - I don’t like the idea of being limited as to what I can play, but I don’t need the detail and effects cranked through the roof either. I am going to get a 24 inch monitor (not included in the build budget). I have a Cat 6 network in my house and am hooked into my Windows Home Server with a couple of terabytes, so storage is not so much an issue. This computer will stay on pretty much 24/7 since it will be the main one in the house and everyone in my family is addicted to computers. So, I guess it is on to the discussion!
CPU: My research has come up with two conflicting responses: 1. go AMD Phenom quad or six core, and spend the money you save on a better video card or 2. Intel rules gaming (especially for Civ 5, which I got for Christmas and can’t play on our laptop), so go with Intel.
Then this whole Sandy Bridge thing makes things even more complicated. Again, research indicates that it has onboard GPU, but that it isn’t good enough for most gaming. So, does it add anything if I am going to have to get a video card anyway?
What is the general consensus? If Intel, I-5 or I-7? Apparently, there is going to be a pretty good sale on Sandy Core CPUs in a couple of days - http://dealnews.com/Upcoming-Micro-Center-circular-released-Sandy-Bridge-CPUs-from-150/423008.html.
Motherboard: Obviously, this will depend in part on the CPU decision. Beyond that I figure that I want USB 3.0 and SATA 6.0 (or whatever it is called), but I am open to guidance as to whether that is true.
Case: I don’t want a case with lots of bling - neon lights, windows, built in espresso machines. I am a middle aged white guy and this computer will be sitting in plain sight under my desk. However, I do like the idea of having some expandability for hard drives etc. so that this machine could eventually replace my WHS. What can I say, I like options. Bottom line - function over form.
Graphics card: Well, my research seems to indicate that I am better off getting one more powerful card rather than 2 medium or lower end cards. And I don’t have a preference between manufacturers or anything. But, I guess the real question is, what do I need? Like I said, I don’t want to be limited as to what I can play (that is the problem now), but I don’t need to crank every graphical bell and whistle up through the roof either. But I did see something (but I cannot vouch for it) that said I may need a higher-end card because of the size of my monitor. And I don’t know how the card will play out with the whole Sandy Bridge on-board GPU thing.
Memory: I am planning on 4 Gigs and am focused on 133. However, as always, I am open to guidance
Hard Drive: Since I have the WHS, I figure I can drop in a 1 TB drive in and call it a day - that seems like the best price point. However, what about Solid State Drives. What would that get me? How will that work with this machine being on all of the time?
Power Supply: I have read that 600 - 750w is the way to go, so I guess that is the way I will go. Oh, and to avoid CoolerMaster PSUs. So I guess depending on the CPU, Motherboard, and GPU decisions I will need a suggestion here as well.
OS: Just windows 7. My young son and I like playing some older games (e.g. Star Trek Armada - and, yes, I know that for some of us "older" games means Pac Man and Tron, but that is why I have my Mame arcade), so I am wondering: do I need to get Win 7 Professional so that I get the vitual XP machine? Or do you think those games will run fine on Win 7 itself?
Is there anything else that I am missing?
Thanks for the suggestions.
- Miles
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram