I've been around a while, read more than I post. But I really need help/advise with building a new PC.
I have $2,000 (1,700 US) to put together a PC. If I don't spend it on a PC, my wife will find something else to put it on, so now is the time for it.
I know kinda what I want,
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM - 2 gigs (lost with all the different kinds now)
Video - must be nVidia (linux drivers) I usually aim for 2nd best, if I can afford it. (also, we Cdn's don't have every name brand going) with all the models now, GTX, GTS, I'm lost here. list maybe the top 1-4 in order of performance/price
M/B - I bought last system planning to OverClock, never did. Stability is more important to me. Asus has been good to me over the years.
Chipset - nVidia, Intel, Sis, out of the loop, please advise.
Sound Card - I've read enough to know, O/B sound is still Sh!t, my SB Live has been fine. I only use Headphones for everything, good sound in games / mp3's is all I care about. My current speakers are from 1996, they don't work as far as sound quality is concerned, but only serve as to power my headphones.
Two Hard Drives - one Linux, One WindowsXP. As large as possible. Sata is the norm now ?
DVD-R - I love Plextor, my CDR burner from like 8 years ago still works, my current Plextor DVD-R still works great. but from what I read, plextor no longer makes there own drives. Most new PC's have Dual-layer burining, I do not.
Never, not one coaster, Windows or Linux with Plextor. Main backups are digital photographs, good burns are more important to me than speed.
oh, Power Supply - whats overboard, whats minimum ? please suggest what I need.
Network Card - do I need one ? or is on board good enough
No Moniter, No Speakers,
What I do is, pick all the parts I want, have a local PC shop build it. I get warrenty, and piece of mind, should it phuk up, I can take it to them for fixing it. So, I pick the parts, but don't actually build it myself.
I once knew the hardware side of things very well, I do not today. Any help you can provide getting me started would be of great help.
thank you for any advice,
I have $2,000 (1,700 US) to put together a PC. If I don't spend it on a PC, my wife will find something else to put it on, so now is the time for it.
I know kinda what I want,
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM - 2 gigs (lost with all the different kinds now)
Video - must be nVidia (linux drivers) I usually aim for 2nd best, if I can afford it. (also, we Cdn's don't have every name brand going) with all the models now, GTX, GTS, I'm lost here. list maybe the top 1-4 in order of performance/price
M/B - I bought last system planning to OverClock, never did. Stability is more important to me. Asus has been good to me over the years.
Chipset - nVidia, Intel, Sis, out of the loop, please advise.
Sound Card - I've read enough to know, O/B sound is still Sh!t, my SB Live has been fine. I only use Headphones for everything, good sound in games / mp3's is all I care about. My current speakers are from 1996, they don't work as far as sound quality is concerned, but only serve as to power my headphones.
Two Hard Drives - one Linux, One WindowsXP. As large as possible. Sata is the norm now ?
DVD-R - I love Plextor, my CDR burner from like 8 years ago still works, my current Plextor DVD-R still works great. but from what I read, plextor no longer makes there own drives. Most new PC's have Dual-layer burining, I do not.
Never, not one coaster, Windows or Linux with Plextor. Main backups are digital photographs, good burns are more important to me than speed.
oh, Power Supply - whats overboard, whats minimum ? please suggest what I need.
Network Card - do I need one ? or is on board good enough
No Moniter, No Speakers,
What I do is, pick all the parts I want, have a local PC shop build it. I get warrenty, and piece of mind, should it phuk up, I can take it to them for fixing it. So, I pick the parts, but don't actually build it myself.
I once knew the hardware side of things very well, I do not today. Any help you can provide getting me started would be of great help.
thank you for any advice,
