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New PC Build suggestions?

K

k4wedi

n00b
Joined
Sep 17, 2011
Messages
3
My father suggested that he get me a new machine and then he could have my old one as this would be cheaper than us both getting new machines. My father mainly uses a PC for web browsing so this sounded like a good idea to me.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
General purpose home machine. Will be gaming, consuming multimedia and programming mainly.

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
My father is financing this and he gave me "no limit". However I'd like to get the most bang for buck and hope to stay under $1500 all included (though could go for more if the bang is really worth it!).

3) Which country do you live in? If the U.S, please tell us the state and city if possible.
Canada

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
This will be a completely new PC... but everything is not a valid answer so I'll list what I think is needed (maybe I missed something important?)
- CPU and cooler
- Motherboard
- RAM
- Case, (case fans if it will noticeably help the air flow)
- Power supply
- SSD for windows, regular HD for storage
- video card
- sound card
- standard optical drive, so DVD (is getting BR a good idea for the future?)
- wireless card
- wired mouse and keyboard

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
- 19in Samsung LCD and 22in LG W2242
- 2x 500gb SATA2 3GB/S 7200RPM 16MB Cache NCQ Hard Drive
- Creative SB X-FI
- EVGA E-GEFORCE GTX 260 Superclocked 602MHZ 896MB 2.052GHZ GDDR3 Dual DVI-I HDCP HDTV Out V

6) Will you be overclocking?
No.

7) What is the max resolution of your monitor? What size is it?
22in LG W2242 - 1680x1050

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Anytime within the next 3-4 months.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.
I'd like USB 3.0 and whatever is needed for a good gaming/programming rig (ex: leaving SLI as an open option if the graphics card requires it.)

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
I can get Windows 7 64bit from MSDN and I plan to dual boot with Ubuntu.

Any help would be appreciated!
 
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You list you need a video card but are reusing a gtx 260?

Are you going to use the gtx 260 for physicsx or what ever it is?
 
I'm not at all caught up with whats new in graphics card but I've been able to run all the current games on it with high settings so I'm not sure if I need a new card. That's why I listed it as re-usable as well.
 
Which Canadian stores will you buy your parts from?

For reference, what are the specs of your current system (that your dad will inherit)?

If we came up with a completed build list, say, tomorrow, would you be ready to buy things immediately?
 
Unless you plan to buy this week, bump this topic when you are ready the week of. We don't need 3 - 4 months to research what's the best the day you plan to buy.
 
I save the list of parts each time I get a new computer. My current computer that my dad will inherit is as follows:

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q ATX LGA775 P45 DDR2 PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 3PCI SATA2 Sound GBLAN 1394 Motherboard
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Dual Core Processor LGA775 3.0GHZ Wolfdale 1333FSB 6MB Retail
Graphics Card: EVGA E-GEFORCE GTX 260 Superclocked 602MHZ 896MB 2.052GHZ GDDR3 Dual DVI-I HDCP HDTV Out V
Power Supply: OCZ SteathXStream OCZ500SZS 500W ATX12V 24PIN Active PFC ATX Power Supply 120MM Fan Black
Extra Fans: Cooler Master Neon Blue LED 120MM Case Fan 3PIN 22DBA 1220PRM 42.734CFM 3PINS (two)
Heatsink: Scythe Katana 2 CPU Cooler Heatpipe Heatsink LGA775 AM2 S478 S754 S939 S940 W/ 100MM 1500 RPM Fan
RAM: OCZ Gold XTC PC2-6400 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-800 CL5-5-18 DDR2 240PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit
Hard Drive: 500GB SATA2 3GB/S 7200RPM 16MB Cache NCQ Hard Drive OEM (two)
Tower Case: Antec Three Hundred Mini Tower Gaming Case 300 ATX 3X5.25 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Audio
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-FI
Wireless Card: Linksys Wireless-G PCI

I can buy from Newegg, tigerdirect+. Any well respected online store that ships to Canada will do really.

I'm ready to buy the things immediately. The 3-4 months was to leave in the possibility that there is something new coming out within that time period that is worth waiting. I'm not caught up with whats coming soon and I can wait that long if it's worth it.

I suppose I should have been more clear.
 
Well if you are ready to order this week, then here is a build for you. The only thing coming out before the end of the year is the new AMD processors code named Bulldozer. We do not know how well these chips will perform, how much they will cost or anything of that matter. So if you wanna take the chance and see what happens, then I suggest waiting until they come out. Otherwise, here is a build for you.

$219.99 - Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz
$114.99 - GIGABYTE GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 LGA 1155
$54.99 - G.SKILL Sniper 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
$69.99 - Antec EarthWatts EA-650 GREEN 650W
$209.99 - Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD2 2.5" 128GB
$49.99 - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB
$20.99 - ASUS 24X DVD Burner
$39.99 - ASUS PCE-N15 Wireless Adapter

Subtotal: $780.92 plus shipping

If you plan to reuse your current video card, then that's fine however if you want to upgrade then I recommend this card:
$239.99 - XFX HD-695X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6950 1GB

Choose your own case (Please note that is a list for U.S. suppliers, so cross reference CA sites with the prices (I wouldn't pay more than what's listed). List is compliments of Danny Bui.
$60 - NZXT Source 210 Elite ATX Case
$60 - Cooler Master HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 ATX Case
$60 - NZXT Source 210 Elite ATX Case
$70 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K58W ATX Case
$70 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K56 ATX Case
$90 - Cooler Master CM690 II Advance ATX Case
$90 - Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B ATX Case
$100 - Lian Li PC-7B Plus II ATX Case
$100 - Cooler Master HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$110 - NZXT Whisper WHI - 001BK ATX Full Tower Case
$100 - Lian Li PC-7FN ATX Case
$110 - Lian Li PC-60FN ATX Case
$113 - Velocity Micro GX2-W Silver Classic Aluminum Case with Side Window
$110 - Fractal Design Arc Mini Tower
$120 - Corsair Carbide Series 400R ATX Case
$130 - Fractal Design Define R3 Black ATX Case
$140 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Full Tower ATX Case
$140 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Full Tower ATX Case
$140 - Lian Li PC-9F ATX Case
$140 - Cooler Master HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP ATX Case
$140 - Antec Performance One Series P183 V3 ATX Case
$143 - NZXT Phantom PHAN-002OR Black Finish w/Orange Trim Full Tower ATX Case
$150 - Corsair Graphite Series 600T ATX Case
$160 - Silverstone RV02B-W ATX case
$178 - Silverstone RV02B-EW ATX case
$190 - Corsair Obsidian Series 650D ATX Case

I would not worry about Bluray right now as nothing you are doing will need it. Should you need Bluray in the future, you'll save money buying it then instead of now as prices are surely to keep dropping on them.

The on board sound card will be adequate for your needs, so no need to spend the extra money on a card that you wont notice a difference with.

I did not list a mouse and keyboard as those are IMO, personal preference. So get one that you like.
 
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