Tips For New Build

[xXx Duffy xXx]

Hey, Im begining my new build and I need some tips. It'll be running Vista Home Premium for it's Media Center abilities. My tv will run on HDMI .... so I'd like for the system to have that option for Video out.

Any tips?

[Maryms]

Heres some tips:

Tip One:

Use google for all hardware lookup.

Tip Two:

Look at online places for the best deals on the hardware you want.

Tip Three:

When all else fails run what you have now.

[Maryms]

By the way look for a video card that has a HDMI output.

No one call tell you what you want as it is your money, so you have to research hardware yourself.

[xXx Duffy xXx]

I know what was good and bad from last year, but this year, let everythign slip by me. Here's what Ive done up so far .... Im goin to go with a Media Center.

Intel Core 2 Duo E4500
ASUS P5KPL-VM LGA775 mATX
Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X2048-5400C4
Western Digital Caviar 250GB
Samsung SH-S203B Black SATA DVD+RW
Diamond Viper Radeon HD 3850 256MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDCP HDMI HDTV Out Video Card *IR-$10*

plus a case .... an HTPC case. Nothin fancy but ... yeah. $797.01
CAD

[Maryms]

Well you could wait a little longer until Jan next year and pickup a Quad-Core Yorkfeild QX9450 for around $300-$325.00, making a video PC even better.

As for the video card, well we all know that Nvidia may have something out very soon or in Jan 2008 that will be better then the ATI cards, but ATI has a better choice for HDMI right now.

[xXx Duffy xXx]

Quad core isnt something Im looking into. Too expensive. Im trying to keep the system under 1000 shipped. I decided to bypass the monitor, and stick with my 37'' LG instead.

[AmdWolfman]

depends if you want to stay with amd or intel. depends if you want to stay with 939.jmo

[AmdWolfman]

try not to too low on vcard http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/diamond_viper_hd3850_crossfire/

[Maryms]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tormented Soul</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Quad core isnt something Im looking into. Too expensive. Im trying to keep the system under 1000 shipped. I decided to bypass the monitor, and stick with my 37'' LG instead. </div></div>

Well you could stay less then $1000.00 or just above $1000.00 and run a Intel Quad-Core, depends on what Mobo and Video card you want. You can get a mobo for $104.00 to run that Quad-Core and (4GB 2 x 2GB) of memory for $229.00 and a QX9450 when released will be around 300-$325.00... so add that up and them through in a kick-butt card.

229.00
104.00
325.00
--------
658.00 plus tax and shipping unless you get free shipping deal.

Now add a video card to it and if you have a good PSU your all set to go.

[AmdWolfman]

Man am I outta the scene with Intel. I have no dea what the componets are,,,,,lmao

[AmdWolfman]

see you still need a vcard as you said, in average i think we all mostly 3-4 hundred dollars in vcard, so brings your total more, and also a newer psu also, there;s another 100 or more

[Maryms]

Tormented Soul

What PSU do you have now?

Also depends on what card you go with, will be the factor in price.

If your PSU sucks now, that is a purchase you will need no matter what Good CPU or Card you buy.

Look at quad-core in Jan-Feb next year is all i can tell you.

Also wolfman did you read my post .... i stated with a good card it will put him just over $1000.00 maybe $1200.00-$1500.00 with tax ... oh well he needs to save a little more for a better system..

[AmdWolfman]

but for them ney he wants to spend as said is just over $1000.00 maybe $1200.00-$1500.00
If I was him i'ld wait just till january febuary. by then they may even have a integrated card on the mobo

[Maryms]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AmdWolfMan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">but for them ney he wants to spend as said is just over $1000.00 maybe $1200.00-$1500.00
If I was him i'ld wait just till january febuary. by then they may even have a integrated card on the mobo </div></div>

Or prices maybe lower on the Quads that are out now.

[xXx Duffy xXx]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: NuGcAt-SiSyRc</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tormented Soul</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Quad core isnt something Im looking into. Too expensive. Im trying to keep the system under 1000 shipped. I decided to bypass the monitor, and stick with my 37'' LG instead. </div></div>

Well you could stay less then $1000.00 or just above $1000.00 and run a Intel Quad-Core, depends on what Mobo and Video card you want. You can get a mobo for $104.00 to run that Quad-Core and (4GB 2 x 2GB) of memory for $229.00 and a QX9450 when released will be around 300-$325.00... so add that up and them through in a kick-butt card.

229.00
104.00
325.00
--------
658.00 plus tax and shipping unless you get free shipping deal.

Now add a video card to it and if you have a good PSU your all set to go.
</div></div>

Wow .... that's pretty damn reasonable ..... I should have all the parts / cash and have it complete by Late January or early february. Im pretty much done the christmas shopping so I can take the money I was saving and use it for that. I suppose I can kepe the processor for last .... so that if the quad cores come on sale, I can get it. Understand though ... I still need a MINIMUM of 250GB og hard drive space, a memory card reason, wireless card + wireless router, and an MCE remote setup. That's going to have to be included.

[xXx Duffy xXx]

To clarify .... I have nothing anymore. I sold everything, and I am starting from scratch. all I have now are a Logitech G5, Logitech G15, and a Logitech Fusion camera lol. I sold everything from my speakers to my network card.

This will be a 100% new system

[AmdWolfman]

early christmas for you eh

[xXx Duffy xXx]

yeah pretty much. I only had to buy a few things this year around, and they were a lot less expensive than I anticipated, so it all worked out for the better /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

[Maryms]

Well save up dude and wait for deals as they come around.

[xXx Duffy xXx]

Shall do. Thanks. First order of business .... buying the things that will never go on an extreme sale ... case, optical drive, and other such things

[Stickler]

One tip would be wait for Boxing Week specials. You'd probably save yourself a chunk of change or even upgrade for what you though you were gonna spend.

Another suggestion is to get alot of HD storage.....maybe 2 x 500 GB should do it. If you do alot of downloading than I am sure you will fill that in no time.

[xXx Duffy xXx]

I already have well over 1000 cd's now. Pushing 1300. Movies .... jeeze ... im almost at 1500. Oh the joys of having friends who both manage and OWN video stores /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Im looking for ATLEAST 1000 gigs .. preferably 2TB of space. And then a smaller hard drive for an OS

[Stickler]

I would get maybe an 80 GB for the OS (40 if you plan on running XP instead of Vista) and maybe get a case that will support more than 2 HD's as a 1 TB drive will cost you your first born.

[xXx Duffy xXx]

Im oing to be getting 2 or 4 500GB Drive. Probably just 2 for now. They're almost 200 each so ... yeh. In due time

[xXx Duffy xXx]

For case choices ... I have this in mind for a desktop ....
http://www.mgepconline.com/image.asp?w=250&h=250&name=CSP-RMX-RX9.jpg

Raidmax RX9 GT

Or for a home theatre case ) extra hard drives will be all removable ...they;ll have to be )

http://images.tigerdirect.com/skuimages/large/T925-1176-main.jpg



Both are in the 200$ Range ... but that'll be fine since Im going to wait until after the new year or boxing day to get them I'll also probably go American rather than Canadian to save some coin.

My personal opinion ... the Mozart is a DAMN sexy case and even coems with the Remote ... but the Raidmax has had my eye for well over a year now