• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

new setup advice.

S

SticKx911

2[H]4U
2FA
Joined
Mar 14, 2004
Messages
3,121
I'm looking to build a PC for my wife. This won't be built for a couple weeks, but this is the first 100% build I've done in some time, so I'm more looking at finding a strategy at this point. (where to get what type of parts, what to get now vs later...etc)

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Mostly web. but multi-taking like crazy. light photoshop, dozens of chrome tabs, office, music. No real gaming though (thats what the other pc is for)

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
I'd like to get the best ideas for the lowest cost. (not spending more than $1000 including displays, but if I can get the job done for 500, I'm happy)

3) Where do you live?
just south of atlanta GA. (micro center and frys near me)

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.
tower/psu, monitor, keyboard, wired mouse, cpu, ram, mobo, multi drive (no bluray needed)

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
nothing that I can think of. but I can reluctantly pull 4gb of ddr 3 1600 from mine if needed.

6) Will you be overclocking?
as needed

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
would like to go with either on large monitor (25"+) or 2 decent sized ones (~20"). (I can throw in a 3450 that I have in a closet to power 2 displays if needed)

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
over the next month

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
on board video will save me $$, miccro atx setup prefered for $$ as well. Most storage will be external, so large internal drive not required.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
yes, win 7 64bit.
 
Last edited:
Next month as in January or next month as in between December 15th to January 15th?

Oh and now would probably be the best time to buy DDR3 RAM. They're at the lowest they're gonna be for awhile. And there's a possibility that they will rise in price next year depending on circumstances.

So RAM wise, I recommend getting these sticks of RAM if you want to buy something:
$50 - G.Skill Ripjaw Series F3-10666CL9S-4GBRL 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM
$60 - G.Skill Ripjaw Series F3-12800CL9S-4GBRL 4GB DDR3 1600 RAM
 
probably between today and the mid-end of next month. there's no real rush on assembly, but it needs to be done and I do not have all the cash to piece it together at the moment.

will do on the ram. thats good to know, thanks!
 
Ok then.Then I recommend just getting the RAM and PSU now since those parts will probably fluctuate in price and availability in mid-January. Besides that, you're better off just waiting until mid-January to ask what parts to buy. The combo deals and regular deals for this month will not be the same deals and combo deals next month.

I recommend this PSU:
$59 - Antec NEO ECO 520C 520W PSU

Though out of curiosity, how much money do you have right now for the PC? How much money will you have in about 2 weeks from now?
 
I can probably spend about $200 now maybe $300 by the new year. Most of it will have to wait until after the holiday season. (current expenses are a little high as is)
 
SticKx911 said:
would you recommend that psu over say a case w/ simple psu deal?
Click to expand...
It depends on which case/PSU setup you're talking about. And depends on what parts you'll be getting.

The vast majority of PSUs that comes with a case are pretty shitty. The only halfway decent PSU + case combos are the ones from Antec.
 
Danny Bui said:
The vast majority of PSUs that comes with a case are pretty shitty. The only halfway decent PSU + case combos are the ones from Antec.
Click to expand...

... And I wouldn't even recommend those as 1) they use the older generation Earthwatts PSUs, which aren't as good as Antec's more recent PSU models, 2) many of Antec's older cases (the Sonata and the NSK series in particular) don't have much space for some of today's high end (and even some mid-range) video cards, and 3) in many cases, you'd spend more on an Antec case/PSU bundle that you would by buying a decent case and power supply separately.
 
tiraides said:
... And I wouldn't even recommend those as 1) they use the older generation Earthwatts PSUs, which aren't as good as Antec's more recent PSU models, 2) many of Antec's older cases (the Sonata and the NSK series in particular) don't have much space for some of today's high end (and even some mid-range) video cards, and 3) in many cases, you'd spend more on an Antec case/PSU bundle that you would by buying a decent case and power supply separately.
Click to expand...

Very true.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top