i am looking for some input on a current build. i've only done one build before and that was about 4 years ago. background info:
1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
i am looking for kind of a general purpose/versatile pc. some media center type stuff, dvd watching and burning, some video processing (converting dvds to formats that work on my cell phone, creating some dvds from home movies), and occasional gaming. i haven't done any gaming in the past but i would like something that will allow me to play some games like halo, halo 2, tom clancy ghost recon advanced warfighter 2, etc. i am definitely not a hard core gamer and if i had to cut corners it would probably be in gaming abilities. i would also like to be able to output to a 42 inch hdtv tv. i tend to use the system with minor upgrades (like adding a dvd burner or additional hard drive) until it is obsolete rather than upgrading major components (like swapping cpus) at regular intervals.
2. What YOUR budget is.
i'd like to keep it around $600. i can go as high as $700.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA. i mostly purchase from newegg.
4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
no preference.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
120 gb pata hard drive
500 gb usb 2.0 hard drive
pata dvd burner
acer 22 inch widescreen lcd
logitech wireless keyboard and mouse
atx case
i have two case fans
if possible, antec SL450 ATX 450W power supply
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
i've read a few and read many product reviews.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
run at default speeds.
my main questions are whether or not i require a new power supply and which mother board to get.
possible parts
cpu Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 - $194.99
i dont really have a preference as to AMD or intel but this seemed like the best processor in my price range.
mother board MSI P6N SLI-FI - $106.99
i am definitely open to suggestions here. i think this one supports 1333mhz fsb which is a requirement of the e6750. it has 2 ide/pata connectors, which is nice since i have some old hard drives and optical drives i want to reuse although i could always get a pci ide card if i needed more connections. how good are onboard sound cards? this has an optical s/pdif out. i'd like something with an optical or digital coax out. using the onboard sound helps keep the cost down and i'm not a real big audio-phile. i don't plan on using SLI or crossfire features.
video card POWERCOLOR Radeon HD 2600XT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 - $107.99
my main monitor is an acer 22 inch widescreen lcd. i am getting a 42 inch hdtv later this year. i would like to get a video card that can output to the hdtv. the radeon 2600xt can output video and audio via hdmi so that is why i was interested in it. some of the other video cards have dvi to hdmi adapters that just output video. from what i've read this card should handle my gaming needs.
operating system Vista 32-Bit Home Premium - OEM - $111.99
i would like to set it up as a vista/xp pro dual boot. xp is already on the hard drive i plan on re-using.
Memory A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 Dual Channel Kit - $60.99
i am open to suggestions. this seemed like a reasonably priced and well rated product.
Power Supply
i probably need a new one but i am not sure. my old one is an antec 450 watt. i have no idea if this is enough power or if it has all of the proper connections for my new mother board.
other odds and ends
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - $5.99
do i need this stuff?
i will probably get some round IDE cables for my hard drive and dvd burner.
that should be at around $600 after shipping.
thanks for the comments.
1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
i am looking for kind of a general purpose/versatile pc. some media center type stuff, dvd watching and burning, some video processing (converting dvds to formats that work on my cell phone, creating some dvds from home movies), and occasional gaming. i haven't done any gaming in the past but i would like something that will allow me to play some games like halo, halo 2, tom clancy ghost recon advanced warfighter 2, etc. i am definitely not a hard core gamer and if i had to cut corners it would probably be in gaming abilities. i would also like to be able to output to a 42 inch hdtv tv. i tend to use the system with minor upgrades (like adding a dvd burner or additional hard drive) until it is obsolete rather than upgrading major components (like swapping cpus) at regular intervals.
2. What YOUR budget is.
i'd like to keep it around $600. i can go as high as $700.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA. i mostly purchase from newegg.
4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
no preference.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
120 gb pata hard drive
500 gb usb 2.0 hard drive
pata dvd burner
acer 22 inch widescreen lcd
logitech wireless keyboard and mouse
atx case
i have two case fans
if possible, antec SL450 ATX 450W power supply
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
i've read a few and read many product reviews.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
run at default speeds.
my main questions are whether or not i require a new power supply and which mother board to get.
possible parts
cpu Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 - $194.99
i dont really have a preference as to AMD or intel but this seemed like the best processor in my price range.
mother board MSI P6N SLI-FI - $106.99
i am definitely open to suggestions here. i think this one supports 1333mhz fsb which is a requirement of the e6750. it has 2 ide/pata connectors, which is nice since i have some old hard drives and optical drives i want to reuse although i could always get a pci ide card if i needed more connections. how good are onboard sound cards? this has an optical s/pdif out. i'd like something with an optical or digital coax out. using the onboard sound helps keep the cost down and i'm not a real big audio-phile. i don't plan on using SLI or crossfire features.
video card POWERCOLOR Radeon HD 2600XT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 - $107.99
my main monitor is an acer 22 inch widescreen lcd. i am getting a 42 inch hdtv later this year. i would like to get a video card that can output to the hdtv. the radeon 2600xt can output video and audio via hdmi so that is why i was interested in it. some of the other video cards have dvi to hdmi adapters that just output video. from what i've read this card should handle my gaming needs.
operating system Vista 32-Bit Home Premium - OEM - $111.99
i would like to set it up as a vista/xp pro dual boot. xp is already on the hard drive i plan on re-using.
Memory A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 Dual Channel Kit - $60.99
i am open to suggestions. this seemed like a reasonably priced and well rated product.
Power Supply
i probably need a new one but i am not sure. my old one is an antec 450 watt. i have no idea if this is enough power or if it has all of the proper connections for my new mother board.
other odds and ends
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - $5.99
do i need this stuff?
i will probably get some round IDE cables for my hard drive and dvd burner.
that should be at around $600 after shipping.
thanks for the comments.