System Recommendation

[alexit3]

I need some suggestions for fast stuff in my 'utility' machine.

Budget is $300-350. I have drives and a case, but need:
-CPU (either intel or amd)
-1GB RAM
-MicroATX mobo w/pci express
-Any video with a DVI port - no gaming, so as cheap as can be - onboard is a plus cause its one less component to buy.

I'm fine with OC'ing but I can't afford a big aftermarket cooler, and everything will be going in a shoebox, so nothing major.

Currently looking at an asus P5L w/ E6300.

 

[DaveSimmons]

What will you be using it for? A single-core 754, 939, or AM2 would be cheaper.

 

[alexit3]

Various uses, definitely going to do some dual-core supported audio editing, but nothing that absolutely needed.

I'd like the system to last - how long is AM2 going to last compared to LGA 775?

 

[Cerb]

Since it's easy to find onboard DVI, here's some AMD options.

Some mobos to look at:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131072
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130065 ***
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131014
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136016

*** The MSI w/ onboard Quadro (whatever that really entails--anything other than marketing?) I have ordered for a customer. Looks to me a like a nice feature set and decent board layout.

I don't know the meaningful differences between the nVidia chipsets, TBH.

1GB RAM for $80:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145568
DDR and DDR2 are basically at price parity now.

Just choose a board and fit in the best Athlon 64 X2 in your budget. Core 2 gets more expensive because of adding a video card for DVI, even though the performance will be better (in fact, it may be worth the cost of a cheap PCI-e card to go Intel!). I can't say there aren't DVI-out Intel-based boards, but I can't seem to find any.

In general, if you really want the system to last, get a board with 4 DIMM slots, so you can add RAM w/o replacing what you get in it right off. For pretty much any desktop uses, 1GB of RAM is going to be a serious bottleneck well before even the slowest DC CPUs will be.

Lasting socket: IMO, don't trust that either socket is going to last. Get what you think can hold you over and offer reasonable upgrade potential now.