Need so much advice ... its sad

[acemasta]

hey guys. i am a noob here. i read a little bit of the guides on the cite and was checking out the forums a little here. but im still confused. i want to replace my old 2000 ME Dell computer with something good. my budget is $850 or less. i watch a lot of movies and tv and music. i am a lite to moderate gamers ... like 10-15 hours a week maybe. i want it to be vista capable and i dont have to worry about the parts for a while ... like maybe 4 or 5 years. i read that the C2D are top right now so maybe i will go with that. any ideas to help out a sad noob with no idea of what he is doing

[bd1886]

Hi.
Check the thread after you. Some real good info there that would be a good fit for you too.
Enjoy the build!

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by acemasta i want to replace my old 2000 ME Dell computer with something good.

Will you be re-using anything out of the DELL?

Originally Posted by acemasta my budget is $850 or less.

What does the $850 have to include? Just the box or does it have to cover the OS, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc...?

Originally Posted by acemasta i watch a lot of movies and tv and music. i am a lite to moderate gamers ... like 10-15 hours a week maybe.

So using on-board video is out. Is on-board sound okay to use?

Originally Posted by acemasta i want it to be vista capable

Read this

Originally Posted by acemasta and i dont have to worry about the parts for a while ... like maybe 4 or 5 years.

Then be sure to stick with only good quality components. Going cheap on the components is a good way to shorten the lifespan of a computer. Of course a video card won't hold out for 4 or 5 years as far as gaming is concerned. And you just never know how long a hard drive will hold out. Have realistic expectations.

Originally Posted by acemasta i read that the C2D are top right now so maybe i will go with that.

That's fine, but with a budget of $850 just don't expect to end up with a screaming rig. It'll basically be a little better than a very basic computer so don't put your expectations too high.

Cricket

[acemasta]

Originally Posted by Cricket Will you be re-using anything out of the DELL?

I guess the only thing that I will keep is the CD-RW i have with it. I might also keep the 19GB HDD for the OS and storage. I will also keep the floppy but i also have a external floppy if there is no room on the case so it really doesnt matter.

Originally Posted by Cricket What does the $850 have to include? Just the box or does it have to cover the OS, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc...?

I just need the box. I will reuse the monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and everything. I am getting the OS from a friend so i dont need to buy it.

Originally Posted by Cricket So using on-board video is out. Is on-board sound okay to use?

Yea i guess i can reuse the on-board sound... its not a big deal.

Originally Posted by Cricket Of course a video card won't hold out for 4 or 5 years as far as gaming is concerned.

thats no problem.

[blue60007]

I would just keep the old system together for a spare. You can pick up a DVD-RW for $30...

Keep the hard drive in there. 19 gigs will fill up VERY quick, especially once you put a couple games on. Besides that, it's speed is probably sub-par to today's standards.

[acemasta]

Originally Posted by blue60007 Keep the hard drive in there. 19 gigs will fill up VERY quick, especially once you put a couple games on.

Yea i figured that. i was just planing to keep the 19 GB HDD for the boot programs and the OS. i was planning on getting another 250GB for everything else

[blue60007]

Just put the OS and programs on the 250GB. That 19GB drive is probably pretty slow compared to a new 250GB drive (ie, 5400rpm and/or small cache vs 7200rpm and large cache) and'll hold the whole system back.

[acemasta]

ok so what about the other parts. i figured that I might get a P5B since many people suggested that for others on this site. but I am not sure which version to get. PSU and casing ... i have no idea where to start. I also have no idea where to start for the video card and the ram. I guess that i am going with the C2D but i am not sure which one to get. sooo .... help

[acemasta]

hey guys. this is what i got so far...

CPU - i cant decide between the e6400 or the e6300

Mobo - i read that the P5B is good so i will go with that ... but i dont know which version to go with.

Case + PSU - no idea but i want a case and PSU that is good and not that expensive

Video Card - Geforce ... Radeon .... help

Memory - im looking for at least 1gig of RAM. and since the mobo can go up to DDR2 800 I will go with one of those.

well as you can see i need a ton of help. so any ideas to help out a guy?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by acemasta CPU - i cant decide between the e6400 or the e6300

The difference in performance between the two is really close...just get the E6300 and put the money you saved into a better video card.

Originally Posted by acemasta Mobo - i read that the P5B is good so i will go with that ... but i dont know which version to go with.

If you don't need the extra features of the more upscale P5Bs, just get the plain P5B...it's still a very good motherboard.

Originally Posted by acemasta Case + PSU - no idea but i want a case and PSU that is good and not that expensive

How much are you willing to spend on the two? Remember, most cases come with pretty bad power supplies. If you stick to brands like Antec, Enlight, AOpen and maybe Thermaltake you will get a decent case with a good power supply.

Or you can buy a case that doesn't come with a power supply and get a good one separately.

Originally Posted by acemasta Video Card - Geforce ... Radeon .... help

Building a gaming rig? Go with a GeForce video card. Want a computer that can do lots of other stuff too...get a Radeon video card.

Originally Posted by acemasta Memory - im looking for at least 1gig of RAM. and since the mobo can go up to DDR2 800 I will go with one of those.

A lot of people have been using Corsair XMS RAM with good results for the ASUS P5B motherboards.

Cricket

[acemasta]

Originally Posted by Cricket The difference in performance between the two is really close...just get the E6300 and put the money you saved into a better video card.

I read in some of the reviews that while the e6400 has a decent heatsink, the e6300 has a really bad heatsink and is advisible to upgrade and get a new one.

Originally Posted by Cricket How much are you willing to spend on the two? Remember, most cases come with pretty bad power supplies. If you stick to brands like Antec, Enlight, AOpen and maybe Thermaltake you will get a decent case with a good power supply. Or you can buy a case that doesn't come with a power supply and get a good one separately.

seriously i dont care if its separate or together but i want something that that together it wont cost a lot and will last a long time

Originally Posted by Cricket Building a gaming rig? Go with a GeForce video card. Want a computer that can do lots of other stuff too...get a Radeon video card.

Which one would you suggest if i was making a video editing and watching and internet use first and then make the gaming second priority


thanks a lot for your advise Cricket

[blue60007]

All of the Core 2 Duo's contain the same heatsink. As long as you install it properly (it can be tricky to get it to snap in all the way) it'll work fine.

Here's the PSU I've been recommending:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954

Look for a case you like the looks of. A good place to start would be the brands Cricket mentioned. Try to get one without a power supply (usually you'll find the same case with and without a PSU) to save a few bucks.

I'd suggest an ATI card in your situation. They tend to have higher 2d image quality (good for photo and video editing). I was just looking at an X1650Pro that should fit the bill for you. Looks like a halfway decent gamer and is a good price.

[acemasta]

Originally Posted by blue60007 All of the Core 2 Duo's contain the same heatsink. As long as you install it properly (it can be tricky to get it to snap in all the way) it'll work fine.

if the C2D are so alike whats the $40 difference between the two?

Originally Posted by blue600007 I'd suggest an ATI card in your situation. They tend to have higher 2d image quality (good for photo and video editing). I was just looking at an X1650Pro that should fit the bill for you. Looks like a halfway decent gamer and is a good price.

i read the X1650XT is coming out soon. is that going to be any good? i was looking for a X1650Pro right now and i think this one might be good ... maybe.
SAPPHIRE 100164L Radeon X1650PRO 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Video Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102050
or
POWERCOLOR X1650Pro 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131024

Your PSU advise is real good. I think i might go with that one. now to pick out the case. if only the Antec rebate isn't expiring so soon

Thanks a lot for your advice big blue

[Alaron]

Blue was saying that all the heatsinks are the same. The reason the e6400 is more expensive then the e6300 is the slightly faster clock speed. But I would save the money and go with the e6300.

As for the video card, Sapphire and Powercolor are both good brands, so either one of those are fine.

[whubbard]

How much do you have left for the case?...lets say you get the FSP power supply, and the 6300

[acemasta]

well without the videocard and the case it comes out to $615. a well $235 below my expected $850 budget. but i made that budget when i was thinking i was going with the e6400 because of its higher GHz but i dont know what I am talking about .

[whubbard]

Here is a good video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150186 $150
Here is a good case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119077 $45 (After $10 rebate)

Total: $195

[acemasta]

how about this one instead of the case you suggest ... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068
i think the only difference between the two is that this one has a side vent and the one you suggested has a side panel.

as for the video card ... i dont know much but i heard that the XFX has a lot of bugs on them. but it also has good reviews so i dont know. and how about this one - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143049 - how does that compare to the XFX one?
and then i heard that the eVGA one was another good one - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130017 -

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by acemasta how about this one instead of the case you suggest ... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068 i think the only difference between the two is that this one has a side vent and the one you suggested has a side panel.

It's going to be your computer so you should decide which case you want to get, not us. Cooler Master cases are fine...get the one that appeals to you.

Originally Posted by acemasta as for the video card ... i dont know much but i heard that the XFX has a lot of bugs on them. but it also has good reviews so i dont know. and how about this one - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814143049 - how does that compare to the XFX one? and then i heard that the eVGA one was another good one - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130017 -

Of those choices I'd get the eVGA.

Cricket