Hi all!
I am considering building a new system as my current laptop is nearing its useful end. I am pretty broke but I need a dependable system around that I can count on. I built a computer back in the late 90's but am not up to date on this stuff anymore. The $400 budget is really a kind of functional starting point. I want to buy a motherboard that has up to date ports and architectures that can last me through the next 5-7 years, and a PSU with the same longevity, and a quality but inexpensive case. Ease of assembly is important to me since I haven't done this in a while. I will initially run Ubuntu Linux, since it is free, and will probably set up a dual-boot configuration with windows 7 (or 8) later, once my laptop really kicks the bucket. I would be happy starting with onboard graphics IF the savings are significant enough to offset compromise in flexibility and performance of the chipset/cpu selection it requires. But I would most certainly be adding a GPU in the next year or 2 anyway.
Approximate Purchase Date: March 2012 or later (I'm posting in advance so I can get plenty of ideas, please include upcoming hardware in your suggestions if you think its worth noting. I will keep an eye on this thread and let everyone know once I have made up my mind.)
Budget Range: <$400 (Does not include monitor or peripherals)
Country: U.S.
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (much later)
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Additional Comments: Quiet and stable are more important to me than raw performance. Most of my needs are simple, but the number one concern is flexibility of future upgrades and additions. I intend to keep the case/PSU/Mobo for as long as possible, possibly switching out the CPU and/or GPU once or twice in the next 6+ years.
One final note: I am not a big spender or performance freak, so while I will expand this system in the coming years, I will likely never buy super cutting-edge components. I do like to play games on occasion, but am happy playing GOTY editions from the past, or running newer games at low settings. I am not picky about game performance.
Thanks for the help!
I am considering building a new system as my current laptop is nearing its useful end. I am pretty broke but I need a dependable system around that I can count on. I built a computer back in the late 90's but am not up to date on this stuff anymore. The $400 budget is really a kind of functional starting point. I want to buy a motherboard that has up to date ports and architectures that can last me through the next 5-7 years, and a PSU with the same longevity, and a quality but inexpensive case. Ease of assembly is important to me since I haven't done this in a while. I will initially run Ubuntu Linux, since it is free, and will probably set up a dual-boot configuration with windows 7 (or 8) later, once my laptop really kicks the bucket. I would be happy starting with onboard graphics IF the savings are significant enough to offset compromise in flexibility and performance of the chipset/cpu selection it requires. But I would most certainly be adding a GPU in the next year or 2 anyway.
Approximate Purchase Date: March 2012 or later (I'm posting in advance so I can get plenty of ideas, please include upcoming hardware in your suggestions if you think its worth noting. I will keep an eye on this thread and let everyone know once I have made up my mind.)
Budget Range: <$400 (Does not include monitor or peripherals)
Country: U.S.
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe (much later)
Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080
Additional Comments: Quiet and stable are more important to me than raw performance. Most of my needs are simple, but the number one concern is flexibility of future upgrades and additions. I intend to keep the case/PSU/Mobo for as long as possible, possibly switching out the CPU and/or GPU once or twice in the next 6+ years.
One final note: I am not a big spender or performance freak, so while I will expand this system in the coming years, I will likely never buy super cutting-edge components. I do like to play games on occasion, but am happy playing GOTY editions from the past, or running newer games at low settings. I am not picky about game performance.
Thanks for the help!
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