New build or keep current build

[note235]

My current build is
i7 920 at stock
Radeon 4850
12GB DDR3 OCZ Platinum at stock
Intel 40GB SSD as my primary
2 x 1TB Caviar Black
1 x 640 Caviar Blue
Corsair HX520

I rarely game but i do like editing videos and such and am heading to college in a few weeksit's close by but im not sure if i should, its pretty close to home: around 30 minutes of driving and i have an apartment
A: keep my current build and use my iphone for other class related stuff along with my audio recorder, but i dont know how much energy it would use, i don't want to be paying a high bill price
B: buy a laptop to use
C: Create a new cheap build for around $500 and possibly use some parts of my current build and have it be more efficient
so it'd be like a $150 build
i'd take 4gb from my system
my caviar blue
buy a mobo and the i3 540 and call it good
what do you guys think?
Edit/Delete Message

 

[mfenn]

???????????????????

Can you explain what you're trying to accomplish a little more clearly?

Why do you need an upgrade at all? Just take your rig to your apartment and get a $500-600 laptop if you feel the need to take something to class or home.

 

[badboyeee]

are you trying to downgrade? sell your parts then by cheaper stuff?

 

[MisterDonut]

If you don't game or use editing programs often enough, you're probably better off with a laptop. Nix the desktop altogether, and use the money on a laptop with a quad if you want.

 

[BlueSilver]

Are you saying you're worried that your desktop will use too much electricity? You will spend more money on a new build than you will ever save on electricity. Say you decrease your average energy consumption by 100W (I think that's pretty optimistic?). Then if you use your computer 10 hours a day and electricity is $.10/kWhr, you save .1kW*10hr/day*30days/month*.1$/kWhr = $3/month. That doesn't reach $150 very quickly.

In any case, I think laptops tend to be pretty useful in college, since you can use them on campus, between classes.

 

[note235]

But i think this would suffice
* Inspiron 14R
* Processor: Intel Core i3-350M Processor (2.26GHz, 3M cache)
* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium
* 320 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
* 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz (2 DIMMs)
* 8X DVD +/- RW Drive
* Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD
for about $380

no i meant i dont game often but i edit very
im thinking thats a good combo?
or would this be better?
Toshiba Satellite T115D-S1120
* 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo MV-40 Processor
* 2GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM Memory
* 250GB Serial ATA Hard Disk Drive (5400RPM); 802.11b/g wireless LAN
* 11.6" LED (16:9) 1366x768 Display; ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics
* Window 7 Home Premium 64-bit

no matter what im probably going to add in a kingston 64gb ssd

 

[mfenn]

The i3 is better.

 

[note235]

ill get it lol

 

[oliharan92]

if you edit videos and stuff why not keep your desktop for that and maby consider a netbook? they seem like a pretty good deal to me!

 

[Davidh373]

I'm kind of confused... you want energy efficiency? Buying an entirely new system would cost more than the energy bill. I'd recommend a $300-$500 laptop to do office work and the desktop to do the heavier things like game and edit movies, but all and all I think you'll be spending more than you're saving.