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Computer Advice
#193209 01/21/08 12:26 AM
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Jordan Offline OP
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Motherboard ASUS P5K-V (G33) $142.00
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=11&l3=542&l4=0&model=1652&modelmenu=1

CPU Core2Duo E8200 2.66 6M/1333 ($190) $190.00
http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAPP

Video Card ASUS HD 3870 (209) $209.00
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1967&l1=2&l2=8&l3=603&l4=0

Sound Card Integrated

RAM Crucial 2x1gig @ 800 $59

Hard Disk 1 SG 250 SATA 7200 16mb (HD-ST3250620A) $83.00
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?lo...D&reqPage=Model

DVD Burner Pioneer 212D Black (SATA) $39.00
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/P...riters/DVR-212D

Case Antec Sonatta III w/ PSU $120.00

PSU Antec Earthwatts 500 w/case
Case Fan $20.00

Bluetooth Mouse/keyboard $106.99

Monitor LG 19 wide (L196WTY-BF) $187.00

Total with Tax $1,429.43

Budget:
~$1400 Canadian (taxes in) (2 CAN$ to a Pound, thus ~ 700 pounds).
This computer store serves as a good basis for pricing here: http://pccyber.com/).

Demanding tasks:
High-Quality video conferencing, Blu-Ray playback (down the line), music server, and some gaming – however, I don’t expect to have the best gaming rig around on this budget. If I can get around 30-40 FPS at Medium settings in Crysis I would be happy.

Thoughts:
- I do not plan to overclock, or at least not aggressively.

- I am open to the odd upgrade over time but not too frequently. I may upgrade to a Quad CPU in 12-18 months when they come down in price and maybe a new video card. RAM and a sound card are possibilities in the future as well.

- Motherboard: I don’t want to have to upgrade this component as it would require a new OS purchase and would like to stick with Intel or Asus as I want stability and as few headaches as possible.

Questions:
- How important is the new PCIe standard for me?
- Guess I should go with 800 ram since it’s not that much extra?

I really appreciate your feedback.

Jordan

Re: Computer Advice
Jordan #193244 01/21/08 01:57 PM
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Looks like a pretty nice system.

The boards 775 socket will handle going quad core down the road. Although for the uses you describe, you may not have to. The core 2 Duo's are no slouches and only some specific apps and games benefit from going quad enough to make it worthwhile. New apps come out all the time though so it's nice to have the option.

Regarding "the new PCIe standard", if you are referring to PCI-Express 3.0, then I wouldn't worry about it at all yet. I don't believe they are actually manufacturing anything that uses it yet.

Buy the fastest RAM you can afford. It's the least known, important factor, that most people don't even think about.

Nice case. Should keep things cool until you get the upgraditis and play with overclocking. Unless you are in a really dusty environment, I'd probably trash the 'washable air filter'. If you are like me and likely to forget to ever check on it, they seem to grime up faster than the inside ever gets dusty. Logic = that only a tiny fraction of dust that blows into your dust actually stays there, the rest blows back out again. However a filter traps 95plus percent of it so buildup is way faster.

My neighbor (same on who got his paypal acount stolen because he won't put in a firewall & antivirus) recently cooked a 5 month old motherboard by ignoring his filter.


With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.
Re: Computer Advice
Murph #193290 01/21/08 06:49 PM
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Actually, I like my washable filter. When I upgraded my case to one that has it I noticed a marked decrease in internal dust. Mind you, I'm rather conscientious about computer maintenance.


M80s/VP160/QS8s/EP350; M22s; M3s.
Re: Computer Advice
doormat #193317 01/22/08 01:46 AM
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Jordan Offline OP
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Thanks for the feedback guys. Funny how these system builds can get away from you. A few bucks here, a few there, but I figure that I"m not on the bleeding edge on anything and hope that this system will hold me over for a good few years. If I'm lucky, prices will come down a touch before I pull the trigger.

Hadn't thought about the dust filter clogging up like that. I'm pretty good about maintenance so I'm not too worried there but good to know about this nonetheless. I have a long-hair cat - really long hair - who I am in constant battle with in trying to keep things tidy.

Appreciate the feedback guys.


Jordan

Re: Computer Advice
Jordan #193320 01/22/08 02:55 AM
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I would say you are at the top end of most consumer products, The only things higher are true quad core and they have just made it mainstream last year. You should be good for a very long time.

I hope so because I just built a system with the Intel E6750 in a microATX/HTPC case and I don't have room for much more. I went with the Antec Phantom 500 P/S, the only time the fan comes on is when the sensor reaches one of 3 preset temps you get to choose from. I have mine at the low noise(highest temp) setting and the fan has yet to come on. If the CPU( Zalman CNPS 8700 NT ) and case fans were just a touch quieter I wouldn't know the computer was on.

Talk about system builds getting away from you, I originally went AMD 6400+ on a GigaByte board but changed my mind and decided I wanted to go Intel this time. I went with a Corsair HX520 Power supply in this build. The case was a cheapie So I now have 2 pretty good systems. Both systems have 2 gig of Corsair 6400c4 ram and I am still deciding on the video cards to get.



Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: Computer Advice
jakewash #193325 01/22/08 03:28 AM
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Man, you guys are on a different level. My 5 year old emachines computer just blew the pwr supply and motherboard, so I'm just thinking of hitting the Dell site for an Inspiron 531 with the Athlon x64 dual core processor.

As much as the 19" LCD monitor looks nice, I think I might save the $200 and reuse my 5 yr old monitor. That way I can still justify buying a pair of M3's this month.

would you guys get the MS office installed from Dell, or just buy it retail? I'm not sure if they preload it and dont give you any literature or discs with it?

Re: Computer Advice
ctown #193328 01/22/08 03:45 AM
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Jordan Offline OP
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I'm agonizing over the GPU decision now. Been reading on the 8800gt. It seems to outperform the 3870 by a fair margin so I'm seriously considering it. However, I'm slightly concerned by the heat from the 8800GT being vented into the case whereas the 3870 vents outside. The power consumption is lower on the 3870 as well.

Any thoughts fellas?

I was going to run Open Office for the time being and see if I can live with that. Otherwise, I guess its OEM for me.

Re: Computer Advice
Jordan #193333 01/22/08 04:23 AM
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AL, I prefer buying retail/oem software rather than preloaded, that way I can load it up onto my next bigger hardrive nice and fresh.

I wouldn't give Dell the $200 and get a 21" for $259 at Future Shop right now. Bigger is better. You can wait another month for the M3's.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: Computer Advice
jakewash #193336 01/22/08 04:34 AM
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 Originally Posted By: jakewash
AL, I prefer buying retail/oem software rather than preloaded, that way I can load it up onto my next bigger hardrive nice and fresh.

I wouldn't give Dell the $200 and get a 21" for $259 at Future Shop right now. Bigger is better. You can wait another month for the M3's.


The price goes up next week on the M3's and I want the HGC finish though.

Better yet, I can either stick with my old monitor or get a 19" HP Pavillion or a 19" LG monitor with airmiles, save the two-hund and still get my M3's.

Re: Computer Advice
jakewash #193337 01/22/08 04:40 AM
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Most of the reviews I have seen have the stock 8800GT slightly better than the 3870 but the OC versions of the 8800GT are the best as far as gaming goes. I think most cases these days extract the heat quite well.

If you are just looking at the stock 8800Gt I think I might go with the 3870, it's cheaper to replace down the road if you start gaming more or you could crossfire it as I think it is Crossfire capable now. Is that board crossfire capable?


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
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