New $500 dollar build for multitasking!

rmthompson

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Mar 5, 2006
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18,780
OK I know I have asked a similar question before, but the old thread includes some prices that have gone up, and I am looking to buy this week.

My BIGGEST confusion lies in pairing a MOBO with CPU, so when I get onto these websites to build my own I get very lost LOL

Approximate Purchase Date: This week

Budget Range: $500 after rebates

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Multitasking with Photoshop CS5 being the most intensive program I use and dual monitor setup. I also need a LOT of space (1TB minimum) as I am a photographer and use loads of LARGE files. If I could play a game or two on it from time to time that would be great. Is Diablo 3 out of the question at this price?

Parts Not Required: Don't need software, DVDRW, keyboard, mouse, monitor.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Prefer one that someone can buy a giftcard for and have me spend it.

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: I could REALLY use a memory card reader built in?

Overclocking: No /

SLI or Crossfire: No /

Monitor Resolution: My MAIN monitor is 1600x900 my secondary is 1440x900)

Additional Comments: I keep leaning towards these barebones with the AMD 6 core 1045t processors, but I am told I will get better results from even an i3 or an i5 than I will from this?

ALSO, here is the computer I am upgrading from... so perhaps you can give me an idea of how MUCH of a jump I am making in processing power AND see if I can reuse any parts? (DVDRW?)

Phenom X4 9150e on a MXP61PM-HM (nettle3) microATX MOBO
4GB ram
Nvidia GeForce 9400 GT
500GB HD
DVD+/-R/RW 16X 12X +/-DL LS 12x RAM SuperMulti SATA drive
15 in 1 Multimedia card reader (can I REuse this?)
300W Power supply... I think I actually upgraded this when I upgraded my Graphics card but I really can't remember :(

Thanks in advance for the help!
 

rmthompson

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Mar 5, 2006
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Wondering about perhaps reusing the case and HDD as my MAIN HardDrive and then using another HD for storage? Can anyone help me on that?

Here is my current system (plus a graphics card I added)
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c01612549#N847

Here is a look inside my system:

EDIT: The picture is sideways, sorry!

computer.JPG


http://rmtphotography.com/computer.JPG
 

rmthompson

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Mar 5, 2006
321
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18,780
Sooooooo I guess I am the only one answering myself lol... but here is what I have priced at the local CompUSA:

ASUS M5a97 MOBO - $99
AMD FX-6100 Six-Core - $129
Cooler Master Case and 450W PSU - $70
Seagate Barracuda 1TB- $99
HD 6750 Graphics card - $60
8GB ram Corsair - $57

Thoughts?
 

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