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 Post subject: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Wed 01-13-2010 9:06PM 
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Never built a system before, so I'm looking for advice and suggestions.

I need a system to be used for a home media center and casual gaming. And I need to build it CHEAP. The 2 most graphics intensive games I play are L4D and the Burnout series and I have a Steam account. I have Windows 7 Ultimate for an OS, and Ubuntu 9.10 (currently run several virtual machines on my Macbook)

So, ok, big-awesome graphics card, 2-4gb ram, 160gb hd...what else? I've had good luck with Intel and not so good luck with AMD cpu's over the years, but which Intel? What's the diffs b/w all of the new i5, i3 stuff?

I'd like to be able to store several hd's in the case, but if that's not the greatest idea I'll probably splurge for an external multiple hd case later on.

Thanks in advance!


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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Wed 01-13-2010 9:15PM 
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Just buy something, a middle of the road computer cannot be built cheaper than bought. Its sad, but true

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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Wed 01-13-2010 9:59PM 
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LostBoyz wrote:
Just buy something, a middle of the road computer cannot be built cheaper than bought. Its sad, but true


http://bit.ly/4Rofz0

show me any computer you can buy for that much money. sure, it sucks, but its better than every single $700 dell optiplex on campus.

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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Wed 01-13-2010 10:22PM 
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Thanks for that link, zero, that's more what I'm after.

And yeah, I've looked at the low-end Dells...integrated graphics cards? Uh, no fucking thank you. Barebones is a much better approach, thanks!


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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Wed 01-13-2010 11:20PM 
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HiTechRedneck wrote:
Thanks for that link, zero, that's more what I'm after.

And yeah, I've looked at the low-end Dells...integrated graphics cards? Uh, no fucking thank you. Barebones is a much better approach, thanks!



well that barebones has integrated video, but it's nvidia, so its decent, and when you upgrade to discrete video, you can use them as 3rd and 4th monitor outputs (which I do, and am now thankful for the onboard 8200 series video card onboard)

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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Thu 01-14-2010 5:30AM 
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Watch deal sites, there are always some ~2.3ghz c2d, 4gb ram, middle of the road gfx, 500gb hd for $300-400

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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Fri 01-15-2010 9:27PM 
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I guess first I would decide which processor I would like.
I know little about AMD. As for intel, if you want to save money, look at core 2 duo, core 2 quad, or core 2 extreme.
If you can afford a core i3, i5, i7 then go for it.
Depending on which one you choose, you must obviously get a motherboard with the correct socket.
The core i# processor boards are more expensive.
The core 2 processors use LGA775, while core i# processors use LGA1156.
If you think you may want to upgrade later on, then you might want to go with LGA1156.

As for personal experience: I have a 3.6 GHz P4 processor. My BIOS will not support any further processor upgrades.
It still runs Ubuntu Karmic Koala and Windows 7 Ultimate flawlessly, with an outdated graphics card.

My roommate built a core 2 quad with an asus board, and it is the fastest computer I have gotten to use.
Handles all games, but he uses windows 7 64bit and it locks up/blue screens a lot.

Sorry for the long post.

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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Fri 01-15-2010 10:45PM 
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swsvy3 wrote:
he uses windows 7 64bit and it locks up/blue screens a lot.

I wouldn't consider that a normal result... I've been using ultimate x64 on two different pc's without so much as a hiccup


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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Fri 01-15-2010 10:48PM 
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swsvy3 wrote:
The core 2 processors use LGA775, while core i# processors use LGA1156.
If you think you may want to upgrade later on, then you might want to go with LGA1156.


Core i# can also use LGA1366.

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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Sat 01-16-2010 1:25AM 
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So....explain to me what LGA#### means?

I'm seriously eyeballing this BB set up and adding an Nvidia GeForce 9500 GT:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... &CatId=333


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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Sat 01-16-2010 9:52AM 
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LGA#### is the socket type for intel processors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CPU_socket ... _and_slots

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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Sat 01-16-2010 7:15PM 
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@Cylord: We figured out that the blue screens are because of flash.
Apparently he installed the 32bit version.

Anyway, the barebone deal seems pretty good.
However, I haven't heard much about intel boards. I can't even find which type of BIOS they use.
There also aren't heatsinks on the voltage regulators, which probably aren't a big deal.
I also don't know if that board will support overclocking, if you want to get into that.
However, you should be able to slap any core processor in there later if you want, if the BIOS supports it.

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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Sat 01-16-2010 10:30PM 
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swsvy3 wrote:
@Cylord: We figured out that the blue screens are because of flash.
Apparently he installed the 32bit version.

well I would hope so.. Seeing as how there isn't a 64 bit version of it..


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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Sun 01-17-2010 12:06AM 
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The new core i5's combined with a particular intel chipset on the motherboard have supposedly good integrated graphics (integrated with the processor). You might look into that - could save a bit on a graphics card that way, and not have to settle for the usual integrated crap.

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 Post subject: Re: Build help/suggestions
PostPosted: Mon 01-18-2010 4:01PM 
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If you need more help, answer this and I will give you a complete parts list.


1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
3) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
4) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
5) Will you be overclocking?
6) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.


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