PC Building Virgin

[markdk86@hotmail.com]

Never built a PC before, always gone for HP since I was a kid, now I'm older, smarter, and have a decent job for a full time student where I can build a PC to my liking. The luxury of still being at home .

I would mainly be using this computer for gaming, as I have my 15" MacBook for my school work. My desk can't fit a monitor AND my 32" Samsung HDTV, so I would like to use the TV as a monitor(has a extra HDMI and unused DVI port). I would be playing things like WoW(going back to it once I build this PC), might try out WarHammer, and also TF2 since it is God awful on XBox.

Few questions:

1. Would you recommend Intel Duo or Quad? I don't believe I'd be doing too much multi-tasking... of course I will be going with the all-popular P5q pro motherboard.

2. I have a copy of XP Home around from when I partitioned my MacBook, or should I switch to Vista 64bit ? I do believe both OS's support 4GB of RAM?

3. For the sake of cleanliness and less clutter, I would like to get a sound card with audio ports to be connected to the TV.

I'd like to set a budget of 800-1000 dollars. Only the tower, keyboard, and mouse are necessary. Thank you.

[Alaron]

Welcome to PCMech Mark. Here is our 'starter' list for you:

Asus P5Q Pro (Great start).
Intel E8500 CPU. The dual core machines give a better bang for the buck compared to quads when you aren't super heavily multi-tasking.
4GB DDR2-800 Corsair RAM.
500GB Seagate SATA 7200.11 Hard Drive.
Corsair 650w PSU.
Radeon HD4850 Video Card.
LiteOn Retail DVD Burner.
Case you like.

Only a 64bit OS will show all 4GB of RAM. If your XP copy is 32bit, it wil report around 3GB. But we still recommend going with 4 because RAM is inexpensive right now. If you have already installed Windows once though, you'd have to uninstall it from the Mac before using it on the PC. Legally it can only be on machine at a time.

[markdk86@hotmail.com]

I might as well buy Vista than. And my god, I just realized my login name is my email, moron :P

[markdk86]

Ok, so far the list I have: (most of what you listed)

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S - Retail

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire
***Should I upgrade to the 1GB for 30 dollars more?

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX - Retail

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Going to pick up Windows Vista 64 at bestbuy, cheaper there. Along with a DVI to HDMI cable and keyboard.

[shadowpr]

Get oem vista 64. It's cheaper then the stores.

And change the ahrd drive to seagate 7200.11 500gb sata.

[minsonngo]

Originally Posted by markdk86 Ok, so far the list I have: (most of what you listed) LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S - Retail Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire ***Should I upgrade to the 1GB for 30 dollars more? CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX - Retail ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Going to pick up Windows Vista 64 at bestbuy, cheaper there. Along with a DVI to HDMI cable and keyboard.

Go with this hdd. 750GB for the same price.

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

[markdk86]

Okay, thanks.

What is your opinion on going from the 512MB to 1GB videocard?

[shadowpr]

For $30 more, you might want to see what the difference is between the 4850 and the 4870 then.

But having 1gb over 512mb won't hurt.

[markdk86]

Well they are both the 4850, ones 512MB and one is 1GB.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102770

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102759

[shadowpr]

I would get the 512 cause of the rebate. The rebate plus the actual price difference would influence my decision.

[markdk86]

Yeah, but an extra 60 dollars doesn't break my bank account. Would I be better off with 1GB than 512MB?

[Alaron]

If you don't mind the price jump, may as well go for it. The extra memory comes in handy when you play at high resolutions. The games you mentioned playing are not very intense, but its nice to crank up the settings.

[markdk86]

Thats what I thought. It would be nice to play something with everything turned up for once.

[The Village Idiot]

Unless you're playing at high resolutions I wouldn't actually bother personally, the extra memory is near useless at non-extreme resolutions. My 320MB 8800GTS performs exactly the same as a 640MB in most circumstances. However, it is your money and if you want that safeguard then why not.

Edit: Scratch that, if you're using a 32" HDTV, then I'd probably say go for the 1GB as resolutions on that thing will be huge.

[markdk86]

I did not think of that. Good idea.
My only concern now is burn-in on the TV from the task bar. Shouldn't be a problem if I don't let it idle constantly.

[The Village Idiot]

I don't think you can get burn-in's with HDTVs. Only CRTs have that problem because they develop memory. Even still, you'd have to have it on for a very long time, perhaps a day of the same image to get it burnt in. Just turn off the TV when you're not using it and it will be fine.

[markdk86]

I wasn't aware of that. I guess the only thing I am missing now is a decent sound card.

[shadowpr]

Try onboard audio first.

[markdk86]

I was thinking about that while looking at some old topics on the forum. Worse thing that can happen is I don't like it and order a card later on. I guess I will be placing the order sometime tomorrow. I'm hoping my girlfriends computer friend can get me a free copy of Vista 64.