I need to build a new computer....

[JEDIYoda]

I need a solid mobo and ram and a CPU.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I am not looking to build a budget PC.
I am not looking to spend $1,000.
I do a litle gaming mainly QuakeLive.
As far as the CPU AMD or Intel doesn`t matter. It might be nice to be able to upgrade the CPU without needing to purchase a new mobo.

I have always used ASUS mobo`s but I would not be adverse to using a different brand. YES I might want to experiment with Over clocking!

I believe my biggest expenditure will be on the video card.

My current system is built on a P4 3.2 extreme edition.

Thanks

 

[Lunyone]

So you need to answer some questions first, so we can help you fit all into your budget.

What is your budget?
Do you care if it's Intel or AMD?
What ports do you most need on your mobo? (USB, Firewire, eSATA, etc)
What resolution will you be using this computer at?
Are you wanting to game well on this system? If so, which games do you have in mind?(MMORPG, Flash, RTS, etc.)
Are you bringing any parts from any of your previous systems? (Case, PSU, DVD drives, HD's, etc.)
Do you have an OS already, or do you need to buy one for this build?
Any additional requests??

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Lunyone
So you need to answer some questions first, so we can help you fit all into your budget.

What is your budget?
Do you care if it's Intel or AMD?
What ports do you most need on your mobo? (USB, Firewire, eSATA, etc)
What resolution will you be using this computer at?
Are you wanting to game well on this system? If so, which games do you have in mind?(MMORPG, Flash, RTS, etc.)
Are you bringing any parts from any of your previous systems? (Case, PSU, DVD drives, HD's, etc.)
Do you have an OS already, or do you need to buy one for this build?
Any additional requests??

I am not looking at a cheapo system nor do I want to spend $1000.
Somewhere between $300 -- maybe $800-$900
Somewhere in between will do just fine.
I already said AMD or Intel doesn`t matter.
The only game I play is QuakeLive.
The only parts I need to purchase are a mobo and a CPU and memory and a vid card.
I have an OS.
USB ports.....no firewire or eSata, etc

Thanks

 

[krnmastersgt]

What psu do you have? High chance you'll need to replace it as well, and the fact that you listed USB ports as an additional request makes me wonder how long it's been since you last shopped Another thing to consider is upgrade path, do you want to be able to steadily upgrade or is this more like your previous system, where you just use it until you need a total overhaul?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: krnmastersgt
What psu do you have? High chance you'll need to replace it as well, and the fact that you listed USB ports as an additional request makes me wonder how long it's been since you last shopped Another thing to consider is upgrade path, do you want to be able to steadily upgrade or is this more like your previous system, where you just use it until you need a total overhaul?

I will not need to purchase a new PSU....In 3 of my riggs I have PC Power & Cooling PSU`s.
I have a Turbo Cool 510 and I have a Silencer 750 and I have a Turbo Cool 860....
So I will just swap out one of them for this new rigg.

Yes it has been quite a while since I have built a new computer.
I would like to be able to upgrade the CPU as needed.

 

[alyarb]

i would do a triple-core phenom ii with an AM3 motherboard and dual channel DDR3. presumably that motherboard should last you through one or two CPU upgrades spanning 18 to maybe 30 months. do a little overclocking and see if you have an unlockable fourth core. excellent value. 1394 and esata are just.. they're just there. you don't a la carte those interfaces these days. and if you ever need to use an external hard drive, you'll enjoy esata. 1366 will also be a long-lived socket, but it cannot be justified with the given budgetary constraints.

 

[TheStu]

If you are looking for a longer upgrade path then yes, AM3 maybe your best route, the Core i7 chips and mobos are still just a little too expensive, Core i5 isn't coming out until later this year, and finally LGA775 is just about at the end of its run I would suppose. I mean, even after LGA775 came out you could still find Socket 478 motherboards and chips, but they got increasingly rare.

About how long do you usually like to go between upgrades? It is fairly hard to leave an upgrade path open for too long, especially with regards to motherboards and processors.

DDR3 should be around for a while, as will SATA, ATX, PCIe, all of that jazz.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Originally posted by: TheStu
If you are looking for a longer upgrade path then yes, AM3 maybe your best route, the Core i7 chips and mobos are still just a little too expensive, Core i5 isn't coming out until later this year, and finally LGA775 is just about at the end of its run I would suppose. I mean, even after LGA775 came out you could still find Socket 478 motherboards and chips, but they got increasingly rare.

About how long do you usually like to go between upgrades? It is fairly hard to leave an upgrade path open for too long, especially with regards to motherboards and processors.

DDR3 should be around for a while, as will SATA, ATX, PCIe, all of that jazz.

Well there is a difference between having an upgrade path, and the actual need of an upgrade. Uses for the system also change what type of CPU that would be recommended, so.

OP: What is the main use(s) for this system?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Possibly 10% gaming the other 90% as a home work station...

 

[Lunyone]

If you want to have an extended gaming machine and not break the bank too much, here is one option:

$292 Mobo/RAM combo price!
AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

~$148 shipped!
ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 DDR3 AMD 790GX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

$240 shipped!! You can alot less of a GPU if you like, just thought I'd throw out this one!
HIS Hightech H489F1GP Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

Total = ~$680!!! Now you can also change the PhII to a Black Edition for about $20 or so more, and have an unlocked multiplier at your beckon!! This would make OC'ing much easier and is well worth the $20 more IMHO. You can also build an i7 setup, but it'll cost you about $500 just for the CPU/Mobo, which I think is just too much for your needs, IMHO.