Help Please - New system, choices, etc.

[Macattak1]

Greetings,

First, please let me say this. I appreciate any help, suggestions, advice, etc. I need to build a new system and would like a good one. I also just lost my 7 year old daughter 8 weeks ago. She was killed by a car in front of the whole family. I dont have a lot of energy or time or desire to spend a month investigating everying and learning what is up and what is new as I have done with past builds. I need some help on this please.

I stay home since moving to MN and I am trying to start a small business. My wife works, but I dont know when she will ever be able to go back to work. She is a social worker/child abuse worker. She is just destroyed by the loss of our daughter. I also play BF2. About the only game I play, but I enjoy it a lot. The business I can do on my current system. I wont be doing much video/audio for it. I dont need the system for my business, but I want to have a new one for it. My son can play BF2 on my current system. I will play some on the new one.

I am sorry if I dont sound coherant all the time. I am not.

Have built many machines so no issue there. Looking to spend ~$900 to $1200 w/o LCD. I will adjust that price as needed. But that is what I am aiming for.

What I will run is:
WinXP Pro (do not expect to upgrade for a year or more)
Core 2 Duo
2 or 4 gigs ram
Nvidia PCIe
Decent off CPU 5.1 sound
x2 BenQ/Acer or other good/quick 19" LCD in 2 to 4 ms range

Like/Need/Want:
Core 2 Duo (best bang for good $, not cheep, but not Extreame)
2x1 gig or 4x1 gig ram (2.5 CAS, Kingston)
Video card with x2 DVI output? (for LCDs)
10+ USB ports
2x 160gb sata (Seagate)
2x 19" LCD (better for gaming than 20"? 20" too much $. I dont watch movies)
Sound card off loads from CPU, Fire Wire and other hook ups to do limited Hi8 Digital family video tapes to DVD.

Overclocking is cool, but nothing extreame or too much work.
My mind is very blank, I know there is more info you need.

Peace and Blessings and Thanks
www.timlist.net
http://www.timlist.net/arianna/arianna.htm

 

[dBTelos]

You could start off of a base of something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227139
OCZ Plat. 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150144
XFX 7900GT 256MB

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003
XClio 450W

Add in a C2D cpu (I don't know much about them, get someone else to tell you what model) and a MSI or Gigabyte Mobo.
400GB WD Caviar SE off of newegg (SATA I)

If you want to OC then you need a good HSF and fans:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185006
Scythe S-Flex 120mm

http://www.frozencpu.com/fan-207.html
AC 80mm

HSF:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185001
Scythe Ninja w/ Fan

I have an ultra wizard case and it isn't the greatest but it works good, and can be found on tigerdirect dirt cheap.

For LCDs, I personaly am getting a 19" LG off of newegg sometime soon, here it is:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824005076
LG L1917S-BN Black 19" 8ms LCD Monitor - Retail at Newegg.com

You don't really need a 4ms or less LCD for gaming, 8ms should work really well (i work on 16MS gaming and I don't get any ghosting or anything).

dual monitors don't really work that great for gaming (so I hear), you may be happier with one larger one, but that is also more expensive. It is your choice.

 

[Macattak1]

Thanks for all the word on the links. Very nice of you and I appreciate it. That is what I need and I will check out all links people provide.

FYI, I have bought $8k+ at NewEgg and they are great. But I also recently purchased at Nerds.com and they have been great and significantly beat NewEgg prices 50% of the time.

I have bought 4 6600gt XFX cards and they were great. Reviews on the higher end cards at NewEgg are cause for 'some' concern. And not just for XFX cards.

The PWS's look good.
Fans too. (thanks. These are things I just dont have the ooomph to investigate)

I like LG. Too many Samsung things in my house are broken. But no DVI.

NOTE: I am doing dual monitors, but not for gaming. One for gaming and one for other.

 

[dBTelos]

By no means am I telling you to buy the above products from the respective links. Purchase where ever you think is right, those were just for reference. Tigerdirect usually has realllly good deals on LCDs, but I would make sure that if you do find one, that you can buy two (sometimes they will limit you to one per customer). Don't work about the reviews on newegg too much, they are usually something like people that don't know the first thing about PCs but try to install a giant 7800GTX or something similar.

 

[Macattak1]

I in no way was taking those as absolute must buys or the vendor either. Just happy to have something to work with.

Thanks

 

[dBTelos]

If you need anymore help, just ask. Glad I can/could help.