First Time Suggestions Non-gaming

[aaawall91]

I'm aiming to build a computer that can handle a lot of apps and stuff at once (aim, downloading music, listening to music, surfing the web, video/picture editing) and is reliable. No gaming, just daily use.

Budget: $600 max, but I want to keep it as cheap as possible because I'm going to be getting a higher end laptop in about a year for graduation.

I have: speakers from my old dell (that should work correct?), brand new logitech wave keyboard and mouse, and an external hard-drive where I keep almost all of my files that need to be saved. And I will use this dell monitor I have for awhile.

What I know:
- least 4 USB ports.*
- Would like to have 2 Disc Drives (both dvd compatible preferably) if possible?
- video ports (the red, white, yellow and S video)*
- Windows Vista (not sure what edition or type)
- don't want to spend much on a graphics card
- lots of memory
- smaller harddrive (since I'm going to use an external as well)
- Higher end sound card so when I upgrade my speakers in the future my music sounds good
- Higher end wireless card/wi-fi
- Intel or AMD, doesn't matter, whatever works best with what I want.

*- if possible I've seen recently those 15-1 in one media readers, that would work.

Suggestions?

Also I will probably end up buying this stuff over a period of a couple months, trying to find good deals and what not, can I just get an idea of what to look for as I'm pretty unfamiliar (although have been looking at threads here).

[Masaki 7-11]

Here's a build with what you're looking for:
-S-Video, Composite, Audio (Red&White cable used through 3.5mm to RCA Audio adapter)
-High End Soundcard (Creative Labs X-Fi Extreme Audio)
-High End Wifi (Linksys wireless-g)
-6 USB ports, 4 in back, 2 in front
-Vista Home 32-Bit
-2GB Memory
-2 Disc Drives, One DVD Burner, and One DVD Reader
- All-in-one media card reader

Here's the build list:

SYSONIC 12 FT 3.5mm Stereo to 2RCA Stereo Audio Cable Model RC12352 GWT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812337012
$2.99

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DH-20A4P-08
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106226
$26.99

COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119115
$34.99

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136075
$49.99

GIGABYTE GA-MA69VM-S2 AM2 AMD 690V Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128043
$59.99

LINKSYS WMP54G 32bit PCI2.2 Wireless-G Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124115
$34.99

SAPPHIRE 100203L Radeon HD 2400PRO 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102100
$39.99

LITE-ON Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DH-16D2S-04
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106095
$17.99

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio VARPAK 7.1 Channels PCI Express Interface Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102016
$49.99

COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-460-PMSR-A3 ATX12V V2.3 460W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171028
$34.99

Rosewill RCR-102 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Black Card Reader
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223073
$11.99

mushkin 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996527
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146118
$48.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO4000DDBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103774
$59.99

Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Basic for System Builders Single Pack DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116196
$89.99

Subtotal: $563.86

[David M]

Get rid of the sound card. For a budget computer your onboard sound will be fine.

[Katreat]

I agree with David on the sound card. First off they are easy to add so down the road when you get better speakers if you dont like on-board sound you can just plug one in. Second on-board sound has really gotten pretty good with newer MB so you might just find out its "good enough".

There really is not need for both a burenr and a reader unless you are doing a lot of disk to disk copying. One works just fine .

Kat

[aaawall91]

Thanks for the help guys (and gals?). If I have any more questions I'll report back.

If anyone has any suggestions for anything else let me know.

[alex530]

You might to re think your budget. For what you're using your computer for, you might find it beneficial to just bite the bullet and get some quality parts or else you will just end up upgrading later down the road. For example, an Intel core 2 duo, NVIDIA based video card, SATA optical drives, etc.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by alex530 You might to re think your budget. For what you're using your computer for, you might find it beneficial to just bite the bullet and get some quality parts or else you will just end up upgrading later down the road. For example, an Intel core 2 duo, NVIDIA based video card, SATA optical drives, etc.

For the uses listed above, a core 2 duo and an Nvidia video card is unnecessary, $600 is more than enough for such a system, also note that it was mentioned that a higher end laptop would be bought later.

[Katreat]

Originally Posted by Masaki 7-11 For the uses listed above, a core 2 duo and an Nvidia video card is unnecessary, $600 is more than enough for such a system, also note that it was mentioned that a higher end laptop would be bought later.

I have to agree with Masaki. Spending big dollars for something that you do not need is just a waste of money. When you take gaming out of the equation you will see very little performance difference between a $600 computer and a $1200 computer. What is important is to use quality parts and keep relatively current with technology. The build Masaki recommend meets both of those requirements and will perform almost as well for the uses listed as a high end machine for half the price.

Kat

[aaawall91]

Thanks for the responses. I would agree, if I were using this machine longer than 2 years I would throw down for some more upgrades, but I don't see that happening as I will for sure get a laptop when I start college.

Also, I'm most likely going to order these one at a time over a period of a couple months, any advice on how to order them? (all at once in a bit, or one at a time starting soon, or what?)

[Katreat]

It is best to oder parts at the same time. If you see the case you want you could pick it up early, or even a PSU, but for the main components it is best to wait tell you have the money and buy all at once so you are sure everyting is avaliable and campatable.

Kat

[shadowpr]

Plus while you're waiting, technology changes, and prices drop. And by waiting to get it all at once, if something doesn't work, you can still exchange it.

[aaawall91]

Thats what I figured. Alright, thanks. I'll be back once I get enough money.