Please help me choose components

dphu2 · Feb 15, 2007, 01:40 PM

Hello to all. I haven't built a computer for about 3 years, so, as you can imagine, I'm out of the loop a bit. I've got a friend who is shopping for a new computer. He wants an Intel Core 2 Duo. He's looking at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. He found an eMachine Core2Duo for around $600. I told him the components wouldn't be great quality at that price. I offered to build it for him. Anyway, I've started researching all the latest/greatest components, reading reviews, etc. I would really appreciate your help in choosing the components based on my friend's budget. He's looking to spend $800 - $1000. Here are some helpful points:

What will the computer be used for? No overclocking will be done. He's not a computer geek, so he won't need bleeding edge. He will, however be doing video editing, so I imagine I'll need to find a fairly decent video card (PCI-Express seems to be the way to go?). He's not a gamer, so keep that in mind.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86Ghz

Motherboard: This has proven to be the most difficult decision. I've read a bunch of reviews on different boards. Overclocking seems to be a big point in people's reviews. But as my friend won't be overclocking, I'm hoping to find a cheaper board that gets the job done. Video card will be PCI-Express. I'll be using a SATA hard drive but he may want to hook up an old IDE drive as well. I have a difficult time understanding all the different chipset choices. I'm hoping you experts out there can give me some specific advice on the motherboard.

Video Card: As mentioned above, my friend isn't a big gamer, but he will be doing some video editing with his digital camcorder. So I don't want to skimp too much here. I've read that PCI-Express is the way to go(?)

Hard Drive: I've always used Seagate and have been happy with them. I'll probably shoot for a 320gb SATA (but may go smaller to keep the overall price down).

RAM: I've always found this a confusing topic. I'm afraid I don't understand all the different types of RAM. I think 1Gb will be sufficient. I've heard that cheap RAM is to be avoided. Can anyone suggest a "middle of the road" RAM. Also, is is best to get 1x1GB or 2x512Kb?

Power Supply: I've heard good things about Antec. I would think a 450watt would be sufficient for this setup. Any other advice?

Case: Again, Antec seems to have a good reputation. I'd be looking for a mid-sized tower with front-side USB and firewire ports. I don't need anything fancy or flashy.

DVD/CD Drive/Burner: I would think this would be an component that I can get on the cheap. My friend will want to burn DVDs but nothing fancy.

I thank you all in advance for any advice you can give me in choosing these components. I would ask that you be specific when recommending components (model numers are really helpful).

***temeteus82*** · Feb 15, 2007, 02:34 PM

mobo: MSI P965 Platinum! (has FireWire on board needed to move video from DV cam to HD)

HD: 2x seagate barracuda 7900.10 320 Gb One for os one for videos

RAM : 2x 1Gb low latency ram DDR2-800

Video card : Ati x1600 or better nVidia 7800 GS or better

PSU: Seasonic M12 600W or 500W

Case: Antec P180 or Nine Hundred

CD/DVD burner Lite-on LH-20A1S

H3X4D3C1M4L · Feb 15, 2007, 02:40 PM

With new mobos you're gonna get stuck buying the lowest end PCI-e video card you can find (nothing wrong with them they're hella powerful!), but I say that because if you want a powerful mobo for a system that's going to be doing heavy duty stuff the integrated video jobbies will not likely suffice

dphu2 · Feb 15, 2007, 04:05 PM

Thanks for the two replies so far. Couple comments/questions:

Quote:

Originally Posted by temeteus82

Video card : Ati x1600 or better nVidia 7800 GS or better

- I looked these two vid cards up on Newegg. As far as I can tell, they only come in AGP. Can you confirm this? From what I've read, PCI-Express is replacing AGP. Does that sound right to you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by H3X4D3C1M4L

With new mobos you're gonna get stuck buying the lowest end PCI-e video card you can find (nothing wrong with them they're hella powerful!), but I say that because if you want a powerful mobo for a system that's going to be doing heavy duty stuff the integrated video jobbies will not likely suffice

- Sorry, I don't understand what you're saying here. Why would I get stuck with lowest end PCI-e video card on a new mobo? Are you talking about it I buy a pre-fab like eMachine?

Thanks again.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Feb 21, 2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dphu2

Thanks for the two replies so far. Couple comments/questions:

- I looked these two vid cards up on Newegg. As far as I can tell, they only come in AGP. Can you confirm this? From what I've read, PCI-Express is replacing AGP. Does that sound right to you?

- Sorry, I don't understand what you're saying here. Why would I get stuck with lowest end PCI-e video card on a new mobo? Are you talking about it I buy a pre-fab like eMachine?

Thanks again.

Sorry I wasn't as clear as I could have been, but you've got the idea: If you bought a prefab eMachines you'd likely get integrated graphics or a crappy pci-e card unless you got some ultra gaming model (I don't know eMachine's lineup so such a thing may not exist). But what I meant is that if you want a good enthusiast mobo and you're not a gamer but want everything else that comes with a good mobo, you'll be stuck with buying a graphics card and if you don't want to spend alot of cash on a gamer card you'll be stuck getting the lowest end PCI-e GFX card you can get in order to save the cash and still be able to see things

90% of enthusiast level mobos if not 100% come sans graphics

Matth · Feb 21, 2007, 12:31 PM

Even the most lightweight of PCI-E video cards should monster any current onboard, though Vista Premium may well drive the next generation onboards forward to the beginnings of adequacy.

The main evil of onboards is that every memory access made by the graphics, is one that can't be used by the processor - even on non-graphics benchmarks, a performance increase is often gained by switching from onboard graphics to a card - hopefully the mistake of onboard graphics and no proper graphics slot will never be repeated!

H3X4D3C1M4L · Feb 25, 2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matth

Even the most lightweight of PCI-E video cards should monster any current onboard, though Vista Premium may well drive the next generation onboards forward to the beginnings of adequacy.

The main evil of onboards is that every memory access made by the graphics, is one that can't be used by the processor - even on non-graphics benchmarks, a performance increase is often gained by switching from onboard graphics to a card - hopefully the mistake of onboard graphics and no proper graphics slot will never be repeated!

As long as there is eMachines or those sub $200 Walmart PC's don't hold your breath

**kris23** · Feb 25, 2007, 03:59 PM

facts:

PCI-Express IS better than AGP remember that! an ATi X1300PRO is a good card to get if you're not ging to game that much otherwise get a higher model

E6300 and E4300 core 2s are the best lightweight processors that dont dent the wallet

the Gigabyte-965P DS3 is one of the best low end to mid-range boards out very overclockable, cheap, though your friend will not be using it......it could be something useful in the future if needed.

go with 2 Gigs of DDR2 in this machine G.Skill seems to be a pretty good brand thats cheap and poweful Corsair are good options as well.

Kingston memory is known to be very compatible with most motherboards though expensive somewhat for what you get

Seagate drives are great, i use them and my SATA 400Gb is working great! get the 7200.10 hard drives......the 250GB or higher sizes would be very good

be sure to get the best power supply you can afford since its the component that tends to go out first 600w is a good standard

Newegg is a good online store but i recommend buying stuff local if you know a cheap place to get them just incase you need to return something