"im new, i dont know what to do" - Joe Dirt

[super wonky wookie]

hello

im wanting to construct my first pc rig and i was searching for some helpful input.

keep in mind im "fresh meat" in this department and am not curently looking to overclock or do anything fancy.

my basic needs for a computer is something that can run multiple applications with ease,

running multiple tabs of mozilla while running a video, that kind of thing.

i would also like something that can do a decent job in the gaming department.

the most current games im looking to run as smoothly as possible are spore and mass effect for pc. im also looking forward to the new starcraft and diablo incarnations coming out.

the only thing im set on:

the best intel dual core i can find.

im not sure between vista and xp. ive heard so many compliants from vista im a little nervous on that front and ive heard things like xp doesnt handle hi ram or something. also the only access i have to the internet is thrue my blackberry and ive heard that BB and vista dont mix well.

im not looking for a work of art as far as towers go, just something stable, lots of room, and isnt hard to work with.

my budget is fairly open and i dont wont to skimp out on quality power supplies and such.

i do want something i can easily upgrade in the future, should i choose to keep this pc long term.

im also wondering witch is better for security and anti-virus, mcfee or norton.

thx

[shadowpr]

Welcome to Pcmech.

We can help you spec out a computer based on what you asked for.

Few questions though first.

What is your budget?

Do you need a monitor to be included in that budget?

What country are you in?

As for antivirus, most here would recommend staying away from both mcfee and norton. Rather go with something like avg free, or avast free, or avira free.

[vtfanmv5]

Quick loose list:

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q (any variety: -E, Pro, Deluxe...whatever to fit your needs)
CPU: Intel 2 Duo 8400 (or 8500, or higher if you so please)
RAM: DDR2 2x2GB 800 CL5 - G.SKILL or Corsair
PSU: Corsair 650W or similar
Video Card: Radeon 4850
Case: Very much up to personal preference, but I like the Antec 900

I would go for Vista, personally, although I have no experience using a blackberry with it.

[super wonky wookie]

i live in the U.S.

my budget is between 1,000 and 1,500 right now

budget doesnt include speakers or moniter

[shadowpr]

With that budget, you might be able to up the video card to a 4870.

Also, the corsair 750 psu has a good deal right now.

We suggest www.newegg.com

I'm not sure about the bb and vista. I don't sync my bb, just connect it like a usb flash drive.

Are you going to need a bluetooth adapter for your computer so you can use the bb to connect to the internet?

[super wonky wookie]

na, i just install VZAccess Manager and i cord that connects to one of the usb ports is what i use.

by the way i just saw that sometime this augest there relesing the new e8600 dual core, i think im gonna hold out for that.

[super wonky wookie]

i just kinda copied from what other people are sayin make good builds but im lookin at this setup right now:

ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184 x2

cpu: lookin at that new e8600 intel thats supposed to come out soon, guessin around 250.00

psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

mbo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131296

video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814129113

dvd: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106265

op: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116488

case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

hard drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148295

heard some problems about asus boards not wanting to accept certian ram types or to only boot it up with 1 gig, install operating system, and then update the bios before installing the rest of the ram... any truth to this? couldnt get onto the asus boards, kept saying the site is taking to long to respond.

im so squirly about the motherboard... on newegg.com it looks like no part gets more complaints the the motherboard.

also ive seen frequent reports of items comming in dead, i dont have any spare components to test things, so how do i determine if anythings busted?

one more question, whats the difference between the OS im lookin at and the more expensive versions of vista?

just a shot in the dark here.... anybody live in indiana? there so much crap that could go rong with all this equipment, id like a pro on sight to help with this. id pay 50 bucks plus gas money plus a large pizza of choice and a case of brew..... and a new best bud? j/k

[shadowpr]

You shouldn't have any problems with that mb, except for the fact that you want to use a cpu that isn't out yet. The bios might not recognize it, and then you would have to upgrade the bios. The easiest and safest choice is to go with the e8500 or 8400.

There's not really a need for 8gb of ram unless you do a lot of memory intensive things at the same time.

Also, for the hard drive, look at the 7200.11 series. The es series is more for servers.

[super wonky wookie]

Originally Posted by shadowpr You shouldn't have any problems with that mb, except for the fact that you want to use a cpu that isn't out yet. The bios might not recognize it, and then you would have to upgrade the bios. The easiest and safest choice is to go with the e8500 or 8400. There's not really a need for 8gb of ram unless you do a lot of memory intensive things at the same time. Also, for the hard drive, look at the 7200.11 series. The es series is more for servers.

hmmm, i'll go with the e8500 then. thx.

could u link me to the 7200, i tried to find on newegg.com but couldnt seem locate it.

[shadowpr]

500gb: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288

750gb: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148298

[super wonky wookie]

Originally Posted by shadowpr 500gb: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288 750gb: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148298

what makes the 30 buck difference between the two?

[super wonky wookie]

Originally Posted by shadowpr 500gb: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288 750gb: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148298

what makes the 30 buck difference between the two? the one i picked and these

[super wonky wookie]

i was also wondering if any one had any ideas for a good sound card and a speaker system that would really let me enjoy it?

[shadowpr]

The one you picked is more for servers. The one I picked is more for average users and enthusiasts.

As for sound, I would try the onboard sound. It has been getting better, and most people now will tell you that it sounds good and there's no need for a sound card.

[super wonky wookie]

i was reading review on the seagate and how it can fail after a few months and it got me thinking about getting two hard drives, having one for backup. whould it be easier to have an external hard drive and what kind of back up software would you recommend.

[shadowpr]

Any hard dive can fail.

Having an external backup is always a good idea.

[super wonky wookie]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Any hard dive can fail. Having an external backup is always a good idea.

kewl, thx

[super wonky wookie]

does it make a difference if a use a visiontek radeon video card as opposed to a asus radeon. i ask becouse i couldnt find a 4870 in asus only the 4850, and they didnt even have the 1 gig of that.

[Alaron]

Buying the same card from a different brand doesn't matter. The performance will be the same. The only difference is that some brands might overclock the cards slightly or include different accessories/games.

As a side note, please use the Edit button to add to a post instead of posting multiple times in a row. Thanks. _Moderator_

[vtfanmv5]

Originally Posted by super wonky wookie does it make a difference if a use a visiontek radeon video card as opposed to a asus radeon. i ask becouse i couldnt find a 4870 in asus only the 4850, and they didnt even have the 1 gig of that.

The ASUS 4870 is sold out right now. It will probably reappear sometime on Monday but then sell out again quickly.

You won't see any difference in a 1GB version of a 4850 or 4870 unless you have a 24"+ monitor.