Help with new system please

[Kitsunebi]

Okay. First of all, I'd like to say that I'm not a complete noob when it comes to computer techno-stuff, but you could say I was pretty close. Which is why I'm here, asking for help

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

I do a lot of graphics work with programs like Corel Painter and Photoshop. The main thing I use my computer for, however, is gaming; things like Oblivion and World of Warcraft. The rest of it is music playing, DVD-ripping and Microsoft Word Stuff. I'm not sure if its possible to have a gaming/graphics pc, but I'm hoping its possible. ALSO- I want it to be able to run dual monitors. I love having two screens, it makes my work heaps easier and I want the new rig to allow this.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread.

I read somewhere earlier that it's best to not look until about a fortnight before you want the computer (because of upgrades, new developments etc) but I thought if I could get an idea of the recommended cards and cpu's and stuff, I might be able to figure it out when I have the money. Currently though, I'm looking at having around $2000 by April.

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

Australia. I'd prefer to be able to go to a computer shop and buy everything there, but I can buy online if it's better (and cheaper.) I'm also looking to have someone else install the whole thing... I'm sure I could manage it, but I don't want to risk breaking anything like that, and I know that placing the parts in certain positions optimise's performance. Hence the whole 'buy from the shop' thing

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.

Brand preference? Not really. Only insofar as ones that have been recommended and ones most people on the net seem to use- Intel and N-vdia. But if it will all work together without conflicts I could care less.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

I'm looking at keeping my keyboard, mouse, speakers and both monitors- a DVI HP and a VGA Samsung monitor. I don't want to use any of my current interior parts because their oooooolllllllllddddd, I want to build a completely new computer. I might use my old case but I have no idea what its specs are, so it will probably just be easier to get a case that will fit the new parts better.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

I've been on the 'net ALL DAY looking stuff up, and I'm fairly confused. I looked up reviews and comparisons, and the whole 'if your motherboard/cpu is a 939 other things have to be the same number and you can't use this with that...' Which is why I figured I'd ask everyone here, because from what I've read you all know what you're doing and don't mind helping noobs

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Umm... yeah over-clocking is a bit too technical for me, even if you guys have really good topics in said forum about it. I'll just run the system at default, that way it'll be easier to fix if I mess up.


And on a side note...

This is what I'm running at the moment, I just used Everest to copy stuff from, because I wasn't exactly sure what was/not important

Windows XP SP2
Direct X 9.0c
CPU: Intel Pentium 4, 3057 MHz (23 x 133)
Motherboard Name: Unknown
Motherboard Chipset: VIA P4M800 Pro
System Memory: 1024 MB
BIOS Type: AMI (11/24/05)
Display:
Video Adapter: RADEON 9600 SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation) (256 MB)
Video Adapter: RADEON 9600 SERIES (256 MB)
3D Accelerator: ATI Radeon 9600 XT (RV360)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (CNC7010XW3) <I'm guessing that this is the Samsung, using a VGA plug)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (HMEP310059) <this is probablu the HP vp17, with a DVI plug>
Storage:
IDE Controller: Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
IDE Controller : VIA Bus Master IDE Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller: A347SCSI SCSI Controller
Floppy Drive: Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive: HDS722516VLAT80 (160 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100)
Optical Drive: AXV CD/DVD-ROM SCSI CdRom Device (Virtual DVD-ROM)
Optical Drive: PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-109 (DVD+R9:6x, DVD-R9:6x, DVD+RW:16x/8x, DVD-RW:16x/6x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:40x/24x/40x DVD+RW/DVD-RW)
Optical Drive: SONY DVD-ROM DDU1612 (16x/40x DVD-ROM)
SMART Hard Disks Status: OK

Anyway, any help would be muchly appreciated

 

[letired]

Hi Kitsunebi - I'm getting back into system building right now, I used to be well versed in all the current fastest hardware, but that was two years ago... I haven't been up to date on the new technology for quite a while, but I can give you some tips as to what I've learned in the past few days of research. Also, I have no idea where you can get parts in Australia - i.e. what e-tailers will ship there, but I'm sure if you copy/paste stuff into Google you can figure it out.

For $2000, I think this is around $1800 US if I'm not mistaken, you can really build a banging system. You may want to consider replacing your old VGA with something new and cool as you will probably have $$$ left over. RAM is REALLY cheap right now, I was completely shocked at the way prices have come down for it in just the past 2 years. You can build a computer with 8GB of RAM for under $400 US! Stunning!

Anyways...

Intel has a new batch of 45nm chips which have just hit the market in the past few months(this is the manufacturing process by which the chips are made...don't worry about it, just remember in general 45nm = new and cool!). The most popular of these processors is the Intel e8400 Core 2 Duo which has scored very well on all the benchmark tests done lately, the only problem is - nobody has them in stock.

As far as the rest of the system goes, a good graphics card is what is going to matter most for you. The GeForce 8800gt is a really great buy price/performance wise and should certainly be able to run a dual monitor setup no problem.

If you could point me in the direction of an online retailer for australia or a price guide to how much components cost in your local stores, I could help you pick out components better suited to you.

A solid build though is:

Processor:Intel e8400
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L
RAM: 4gb GSkill (Generally regarded as inexpensive and yet reliable)
HDD: 500gb SATA Seagate/Samsung/Western Digital (I've heard all sorts of things about all the Hard Drive manufacturers...but these are generally reliable)
DVD: Samsung SATA burners are cheap and good.
Video Card: GeForce 8800gt or GeForce 9600gt (both are great value, 9600gt is a little less powerful)
Case: Antec p182 (great design. pretty. lots of room)
Power Supply: Corsair has some great deals going on, 550w will be more than enough power for your system. ps - modular just is a fancy way of saying you can pick and choose which cables you want to put in the power supply :]


Also - make sure you're looking at the latest stuff when spending all day on the net - Socket 939's are where I left off :]. Just read some recent articles on AnandTech in the CPU and the Graphics/Video sections. Should help bring you up to speed!

 

[chinaman1472]

If you're going to buy an April, you might want to repost then, because the market is constantly changing and I believe later this month and next month will have new products released from nVidia (9800 series) and Intel (new Quad Cores). Currently, here is what I would suggest, but because I don't know what the prices are in Australia, I apologize if I go over on your budget. This system from US vendors would cost roughly $1200 USD, which does not include optical drives or a monitor.

CPU: Intel E8400 or Q6600. Either will suit your needs, the E8400 will be slightly faster for gaming, and the Q6600 will be slightly better for editing. Supply for the E8400 is a bit low while the demand is still high; it runs a bit faster and cooler than the Q6600, but the Q6600 is a quad core vs. the E8400's dual cores. Intel is supposed to be releasing the new Quad Core chips in about a month which will use 45nm chips over the Q6600's 65nm chips, reducing the heat. They are also clocked higher.

Motherboard: Gigabyte P35-DS3L or Abit IP35-E. A great budget board that generally supports most of the basic functionality and are quality boards. Step up to the -DS3R or -DS3P if you need extra features. Unfortunately, we can't tell you what you're going to be needing. For instance, the P35-DS3L only has 1 IDE port, allowing you to use only 2 IDE drives.

Memory: Get 4GB (2x2GB) kit. At least in America, the prices are so cheap, it's almost a crime not to get 4GB. G.Skill, OCZ, Corsair, Patriot, Crucial are all good brands.

GPU: MSI 8800GT. This one offers an aftermarket cooler, running quieter and cooler than nearly every other version, and is slightly cheaper than most of the other manufacturers like BFG and eVGA. The only downside is you'll only get a 3 year warranty, opposed to eVGA or BFG's lifetime warranty, or XFX's double lifetime warranty. Most of the new video cards now also offer dual display. Assuming you don't play on ultra high resolutions, the 8800GT should be suffice for your needs.

Hard Drive: Currently, 500GB SATA hard drives typically offer the most space for the price. Seagate, Samsung, and Western Digital make fairly good drives across the board now.

Power Supply: Corsair 450/550VX or the Corsair 520/620HX. The HX versions will cost a bit more since they have modular cables. The 450 watt unit should give you ample power, but if you're uneasy about it, step up to the 500+ versions. If you opt for another manufacturer, make sure you get a quality brand, you don't want to fry your new system! Antec and Seasonic are good alternatives.

Case: Anything that really suits your needs, whether it's aesthetics, air flow, or size. Antec P180/P182, Antec 900, Antec Sonota III, and Cooler Master cases are common recommendations around here.

OS: Windows Vista 64-bit. To get the most out of your 4GB memory, and virtually no reason to not get it really. There aren't that many issues with drivers or software unless you have extremely old hardware/software you plan on reusing.

 

[Roguestar]

Speaking of the G.Skill, thought I'd link it for you for ease:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231122

 

[letired]

Originally posted by: Roguestar
Speaking of the G.Skill, thought I'd link it for you for ease:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231122

Yeah, I would have linked everything but the problem is Newegg doesn't ship overseas...so it's kinda pointless for him to look at their prices.

 

[Kitsunebi]

Thank you so much for the suggestions ^_^ I might ask again for clarification closer to when I have the money, if there are going to be new products released. So right now, I should be thinking of getting-

Processor= Intel e8400 for gaming or Q6600 for graphics. (So maybe I should get the quad core 45nm version instead, if it runs cooler and better?)
Motherboard= Gigabyte P35-DS3L (umm I get that -Ds3R and -DS3P are higher up, but what difference does the IDE port drive thingy make? Is that for plugging in dvd- stuff, or is that the connections it can make to other equipment?)
RAM: 4gb gskill/corsair/patriot/crucial
HDD= 500gb SATA/seagate
GPU= MSI 8800GT (is this it ? ) <and.. thats the video card, right?>
Power= Corsair 520/620HX
Case= Antec 900 (my current computer tends to overheat a bit in warm weather; it's in an enclosed space, like a [_] kind of shape, and I'm worried about airflow. Would dust be a problem with the Antec 900, and if so, any suggestions for how to keep the dust to a minimum or get rid of it? I usually get the vacuum out and let it hover about an inch above everything when I clean my current computer, and I give the fans a good onc e over. Also- should I get extra fans/cooling systems for this? This site did a really good review- here and it recommends the Thermalright IFX-14 and the MSI/Watercool Hydrogen. Should I buy one these for the extra cooling power?)
OS: Vista 64-bit. I'm a bit worried about this; I've heard a lot of bad reviews from people both online and in real-life, and apparently there aren't many programs compatible with it yet. Would I still be able to use everything that runs on XP on Vista? This issue has me a bit confused; everyone says Vista is supposed to be good, but then other people say it messes everything up, games don't work on it... o_0

Anyway Letired and Chinaman, thank you heaps for your help ^_^ I'll save a copy of this page so I can refer back to it when I buy the new system. I'll go look around on the CPU and Graphics sections of AnandTech like you suggested, Letired, which should bring me up to speed. Again, thanks for the help

 

[letired]

Processor: If you're waiting for a few months, just watch prices on the processors and see what's in your budget. The 45nm Quad Cores will be great, but they may be at too high of a price point for you.
Motherboard: The IDE/PATA ports are for older Hard Drives and DVD/CD Drives. Newer drives use a format called SATA.
GPU = Video Card (Graphics Processing Unit. Yes that link is correct.)
Case: Antec 900 does tend to get dusty but it is EXTREMELY good at keeping the interior cool. However no air cooling system can keep temperatures inside a case below the ambient temperature level in the room, so if it gets 30C° in your computer room during the summer, the inside of your computer can never be cooler than 30C°. Vacuuming is okay, but you can get compressed air cans that really help to blow dust out of the computer. I find it helps to hold the vacuum hose just in the general area and blow the dust out with one of those cans. Check at your local computer store.
Extra Cooling (eg. CPU): If you are not overclocking there is generally no reason to buy extra cooling. Those coolers are large and expensive and can be quite difficult to install - they're mostly for enthusiast use. Tom's Hardware however is a great site to read up on for reviews.
OS: I'm gonna start an install of Vista x64-bit in about 20 minutes. I'll let you know how it goes for me! Haha. Most of the stuff on XP will run on Vista with absolutely no problems. The bad stuff you have heard is issues with driver compatibility (basically the stuff that tells your OS how the hardware is supposed to work) which for the parts you will be ordering will generally not be a problem. If you are not generally tech-inclined however, you might want to just stick with a 32-bit OS.