I am going to install XP on my current PC and give it to my grandparents. I am going to build myself a new PC. Mostly for heavy web browsing, video server and Office applications. Every once it a while I play a game but I like PS3 better. Here is what I have spec'ed out so far - mostly from info on this forum.
Approximate Purchase Date: this week
Budget Range: within reason - fast without paying a premium
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Internet, serving movies to my Boxee Box, constantly streaming Pandora, Office.
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, Windows 7 32bit. maybe reuse my CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX or replace. Not sure if it matters
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg is my fav but we can see other vendors
Country of Origin: Oklahoma, USA
Parts Preferences: by brand or type: Intel seems to be the leader right now on CPUs. I like Asus and Gigabyte but I am open.
Overclocking: I will eventually try it due to the OC reputation of the Sand Bridge processors.
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution: 1680 x 1050 HP w2207h
Additional Comments: standby charging is neat, but not a priority...Any other cool features? wake on lan is a given on all MBs right?
I can't find the updated builds in the Recommended builds thread...
Current build:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ940XCGIBOX
Motherboard: BIOSTAR TA790GX XE AM2+/AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1100 (PC2 8800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8800CL5D-4GBPI
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
Proposed Build.
CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
Motherboard: Undecided.
mATX. No add on cards right now. I would like USB 3 and Sata 6.0, but not if they are a huge premium. It seems that no boards for Intel CPUs lack onboard graphics. Am I missing something in my searching? I have a GTS450 but it was from my HTPC I recently fired and replaced with a Boxee Box. I'd rather sell it for $75ish and just use onboard video.
Anyone have any recommendations?
Boot Drive: On my current PC, the Windows + Prog Files folders = 40gb without doing any housekeeping. I could get away with 64gb SSD but I don't want to have it mostly full and lose performance... So the next step up is 80gb. (I have seen that some SSDs advertize their formatted capacity and some advertize their raw capacity... Not sure what the 80GB on the drive below represents but I assume 80GB is formatted since I don't see any complaining comments...)
Based on this THW article, I think this drive makes sense. Sata II, MLC, SandForce 1222 Controller. It supports TRIM but doesn't mention Background Garbage Collection... I am just learning about this type of stuff. Any other technologies I should make sure my future SSD supports?
OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTX80G 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227685
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275
PSU: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034
Case: I will use my Silverstone Grandia GD04 or sell it with the GTS450...
Storage Drive: 3TB something - trying to get information on this decision here.
Thanks for your help in advance!
John
Approximate Purchase Date: this week
Budget Range: within reason - fast without paying a premium
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Internet, serving movies to my Boxee Box, constantly streaming Pandora, Office.
Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, Windows 7 32bit. maybe reuse my CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX or replace. Not sure if it matters
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg is my fav but we can see other vendors
Country of Origin: Oklahoma, USA
Parts Preferences: by brand or type: Intel seems to be the leader right now on CPUs. I like Asus and Gigabyte but I am open.
Overclocking: I will eventually try it due to the OC reputation of the Sand Bridge processors.
SLI or Crossfire: No
Monitor Resolution: 1680 x 1050 HP w2207h
Additional Comments: standby charging is neat, but not a priority...Any other cool features? wake on lan is a given on all MBs right?
I can't find the updated builds in the Recommended builds thread...
Current build:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ940XCGIBOX
Motherboard: BIOSTAR TA790GX XE AM2+/AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1100 (PC2 8800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8800CL5D-4GBPI
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
Proposed Build.
CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
Motherboard: Undecided.
mATX. No add on cards right now. I would like USB 3 and Sata 6.0, but not if they are a huge premium. It seems that no boards for Intel CPUs lack onboard graphics. Am I missing something in my searching? I have a GTS450 but it was from my HTPC I recently fired and replaced with a Boxee Box. I'd rather sell it for $75ish and just use onboard video.
Anyone have any recommendations?
Boot Drive: On my current PC, the Windows + Prog Files folders = 40gb without doing any housekeeping. I could get away with 64gb SSD but I don't want to have it mostly full and lose performance... So the next step up is 80gb. (I have seen that some SSDs advertize their formatted capacity and some advertize their raw capacity... Not sure what the 80GB on the drive below represents but I assume 80GB is formatted since I don't see any complaining comments...)
Based on this THW article, I think this drive makes sense. Sata II, MLC, SandForce 1222 Controller. It supports TRIM but doesn't mention Background Garbage Collection... I am just learning about this type of stuff. Any other technologies I should make sure my future SSD supports?
OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTX80G 2.5" 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227685
RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275
PSU: Antec EarthWatts Green EA-430D Green 430W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS 12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034
Case: I will use my Silverstone Grandia GD04 or sell it with the GTS450...
Storage Drive: 3TB something - trying to get information on this decision here.
Thanks for your help in advance!
John
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