I apologize if this thread is loaded:
1. What YOUR PC will be used for: Gaming, storing my movies/games/MP3s, room HTPC (TV hookup may not be possible as our provider is DirecTV from my limited research - additional thoughts on this are very much wanted)
2. What YOUR budget is: I want to stay between $750-$800
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from: US - additionally, would LIKE to have parts from outside CA (to save on sales tax)
4. Brand preference: Nominal preference for nVidia and Seagate - no prefs as to AMD or Intel. I also want to use a SFF cube - i'm looking mainly at Shuttle cases but i'm open to others as long as it's affordable.
5. Current parts: Logitech KB/Mouse, 5.1 Speakers (old Logitech ones but they all work), legal copies of XP and XP Media Center
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads: No thread research but have put together a spec budget (all newegg products/prices) and want to know where I can cut:
Spec Budget:
Monitor - <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824112011"> SCEPTRE X24WG-1080P
</a> - $339.99
Looking for a solid 24" monitor - liked that this one was generally attractive plus a high native res.
Case/Mobo - Shuttle SN68SG2 AMD Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 2 x 240Pin GeForce 7 Series glamor small form factor Black XPC Barebone - $199.99
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - $87
GPU - ASUS EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $134.99 AR
<<<(really need advice as too if this GPU will fit in the case - I've heard they are big)
RAM - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $48
Tuner Card - Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 1101WB NSTC/ATSC/QAM/FM Tuner (White Box) PCI Interface - $79.99
HD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - 64.99
Grand Total (after tax/shipping) - $1101.91 ($300 over budget)
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds: Depends on temperatures.
8. WHEN do you plan to build it: ASAP - in the month of June
Thanks for your help!
EDIT: Added links and formatting.
1. What YOUR PC will be used for: Gaming, storing my movies/games/MP3s, room HTPC (TV hookup may not be possible as our provider is DirecTV from my limited research - additional thoughts on this are very much wanted)
2. What YOUR budget is: I want to stay between $750-$800
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from: US - additionally, would LIKE to have parts from outside CA (to save on sales tax)
4. Brand preference: Nominal preference for nVidia and Seagate - no prefs as to AMD or Intel. I also want to use a SFF cube - i'm looking mainly at Shuttle cases but i'm open to others as long as it's affordable.
5. Current parts: Logitech KB/Mouse, 5.1 Speakers (old Logitech ones but they all work), legal copies of XP and XP Media Center
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads: No thread research but have put together a spec budget (all newegg products/prices) and want to know where I can cut:
Spec Budget:
Monitor - <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824112011"> SCEPTRE X24WG-1080P
</a> - $339.99
Looking for a solid 24" monitor - liked that this one was generally attractive plus a high native res.
Case/Mobo - Shuttle SN68SG2 AMD Socket AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 2 x 240Pin GeForce 7 Series glamor small form factor Black XPC Barebone - $199.99
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - $87
GPU - ASUS EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $134.99 AR
<<<(really need advice as too if this GPU will fit in the case - I've heard they are big)
RAM - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $48
Tuner Card - Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 1101WB NSTC/ATSC/QAM/FM Tuner (White Box) PCI Interface - $79.99
HD - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - 64.99
Grand Total (after tax/shipping) - $1101.91 ($300 over budget)
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds: Depends on temperatures.
8. WHEN do you plan to build it: ASAP - in the month of June
Thanks for your help!
EDIT: Added links and formatting.