The Arcadio Project

[Arcadio]

The Arcadio Project

So my old P4 3.2 GHZ 1GB RAM is about to be retired. I built that PC in 2003, and back then it was top-of-the-line.

So now I'm planning to build my next PC. Please recommend me the best parts and the best ideas to make this an awesome PC.



1. My PC will be used mostly for programming, encoding, and audio/video editing. Lots of multitasking and cpu-intensive tasks. Gaming is not a priority, but I want a nice video card just in case. The new PC should be very quiet. I don't like noisy systems.

2. My budget is about $1,000-$1200

3. I will be buying everything from The United States of America.

4. I'm an Intel fanboy. I also like Antec cases and power supplies.

5. I won't be using any of my current parts, except my Logitech z-5500 speakers. I need a new keyboard and mouse as well. Oh, and a new monitor. I will be using both XP and Vista.

6. I don't know if anyone is planning a similar build as mine. I will search.

7. I might overclock my system as long as it doesn't increase noise too much.

8. I'm planning to build my PC on January 31, 2009. If there is a new breakthrough part or technology that's coming out later than that, then I'm willing to wait.

 

[MarcVenice]

Way to early. By then, new videocards will probably be out or we know when the new videocards ARE coming out. By then mainstream nehalem might be close as well, as well as Deneb from AMD. It's a waste of time to start piecing together a new PC if you're not buying for more then a month, let alone 2.5 months.

Only advice I've got, pick up a case during black friday, and a PSU as well, look for a p182 from antec, and a antec tpq 850w ($150 right now). You COULD gamble on a new LCD monitor, like a 24 incher, but last I heard prices will be dropping of LCD monitors, so in februari they could be cheaper as well. But, you could use your new monitor the day you buy it, so that's a plus ...

 

[Arcadio]

Thanks for the quick reply. I understand that it is kind of early, and in 3 months, a lot of things could change, but the thing is, when the time comes to build my new PC, I want to be able to say that I did my research. For example, you just said that the mainstream Nehalem might be coming out soon. I didn't know that. I'm going to look into its benefits and its features. I built my last pc in 2003 and I also did a lot of research for a few months before buying, and I ended up being 100% satisfied with the final product. Right now, I don't know much about the new technologies coming out, so that's why I want to make sure I know everything I need to know before buying.

 

[JackMDS]

Since you have a budget (as oppose to indefinite amount of money), prices and availability during the actual act of buying are important.

Mean time you can use as a frame of reference the lists in the Attention System Builders Sticky Posted at the top, and see what falls currently within your budget.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: Arcadio
Thanks for the quick reply. I understand that it is kind of early, and in 3 months, a lot of things could change, but the thing is, when the time comes to build my new PC, I want to be able to say that I did my research. For example, you just said that the mainstream Nehalem might be coming out soon. I didn't know that. I'm going to look into its benefits and its features. I built my last pc in 2003 and I also did a lot of research for a few months before buying, and I ended up being 100% satisfied with the final product. Right now, I don't know much about the new technologies coming out, so that's why I want to make sure I know everything I need to know before buying.

But the point is that the answers you get in this thread today could be outdated come January. Continue to follow the threads here and read tech articles on the web, then start a new thread like this when you're actually ready to order your components.

 

[Arcadio]

Ok, I guess it's time now to make my list of components. I want to build this computer in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Denithor]

PhII 940 + Biostar TA790GX combo $295 - $10MIR
G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-1100 CAS5 1.8V $80 x 2 = $160
WD6401AALS Caviar Black $80
EVGA 9800GTX+ SC $165 - $20MIR
LG 6x Blu-ray/HD DVD/DVDRW combo drive $120 - $10IR (coupon code on page)
Corsair 650TX $100 - $20MIR

Total: $910 - $50MIR = $860

Pick out a case you like and put it together. If you don't want to watch HD movies on your computer ditch the LG BR player for a standard DVDRW and knock $100 off the cost.

EDIT: And this leaves enough room for a really nice LCD, keyboard/mouse, etc.

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: Denithor
PhII 940 + Biostar TA790GX combo $295 - $10MIR
G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-1100 CAS5 1.8V $80 x 2 = $160
WD6401AALS Caviar Black $80
EVGA 9800GTX+ SC $165 - $20MIR
LG 6x Blu-ray/HD DVD/DVDRW combo drive $120 - $10IR (coupon code on page)
Corsair 650TX $100 - $20MIR

Total: $910 - $50MIR = $860

Pick out a case you like and put it together. If you don't want to watch HD movies on your computer ditch the LG BR player for a standard DVDRW and knock $100 off the cost.

EDIT: And this leaves enough room for a really nice LCD, keyboard/mouse, etc.

Thanks. I'll check those out. Only thing is that I'm going for the Intel Core i7 940 processor.

 

[Denithor]

Use the i7 920 instead, they OC to the same point and the 920 is considerably cheaper.

Core i7 920 + EVGA X58 combo $565
G.Skill 3x2GB DDR3-1333 CAS7 1.5V $145

Swap the first two items in my previous recommendation for these. Cost goes up $265 (to $1125) so you're still within your limits.

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: Denithor
Use the i7 920 instead, they OC to the same point and the 920 is considerably cheaper.

Core i7 920 + EVGA X58 combo $565
G.Skill 3x2GB DDR3-1333 CAS7 1.5V $145

Swap the first two items in my previous recommendation for these. Cost goes up $265 (to $1125) so you're still within your limits.

Excellent. I've never overclocked a PC, and this might be the first try. What about video cards? I want a decent one, but I'm not a gamer.

 

[JMapleton]

Can you build a 940 i8 system for under $1500?

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: Arcadio
Excellent. I've never overclocked a PC, and this might be the first try. What about video cards? I want a decent one, but I'm not a gamer.

Overclocking
Read this article before trying to OC your system. If you have any questions after that, ask over in the CPU & Overclocking forum. Lots of experience with overclocking in there and people are always happy to help.

Video Card
When you say you're not a gamer - do you mean none at all whatsoever or just a little sometimes? If a little, what games and what resolution is your screen? If none at all, you seriously don't need to spend the money on a gaming card, it won't help anything else you do. Just go for a 4670 - which is actually a mid-level card with HD decoding capability and nice low power draw. That would work for mild gaming as well.

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Can you build a 940 i8 system for under $1500?

Depends on whether you need a high end video card or not. If not, probably, but why? The i7 920 overclocks just as well and costs half as much.

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: JMapleton
Can you build a 940 i8 system for under $1500?

If you skimp on the GPU, yes.

 

[Denithor]

From the Hot Deals forum:

SuperTalent 3x2GB DDR3-1333 $110 shipped

Jump on it, this kind of deal doesn't last long.

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: Denithor

Originally posted by: Arcadio
Excellent. I've never overclocked a PC, and this might be the first try. What about video cards? I want a decent one, but I'm not a gamer.

Video Card
When you say you're not a gamer - do you mean none at all whatsoever or just a little sometimes? If a little, what games and what resolution is your screen? If none at all, you seriously don't need to spend the money on a gaming card, it won't help anything else you do. Just go for a 4670 - which is actually a mid-level card with HD decoding capability and nice low

I might play a game once in a while. I plan on getting a 24' LCD as well.

 

[Infohawk]

How much did you spend in 2003? What made you decide it was time to upgrade?

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
How much did you spend in 2003? What made you decide it was time to upgrade?

I spent about $1,500. Pentium 4 3.2 ghz. 1 GB RAM, 120 GB drive, seasonic power supply, antec case, 17' Dell monitor ($500), audigy 2 sound card...

I built that computer because that was the time I moved out to live on my own, and I needed my own computer. I was recently graduated from College.

 

[Arcadio]

Originally posted by: Denithor
Use the i7 920 instead, they OC to the same point and the 920 is considerably cheaper.

Core i7 920 + EVGA X58 combo $565

Is that motherboard easy to overclock. I plan on overclocking my core i7, but since I've never done that, I would like something that's newbie-friendly, but powerful and stable.

Also, is the Raptor still the fastest drive out there?

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Arcadio

Originally posted by: Denithor
Use the i7 920 instead, they OC to the same point and the 920 is considerably cheaper.

Core i7 920 + EVGA X58 combo $565

Is that motherboard easy to overclock. I plan on overclocking my core i7, but since I've never done that, I would like something that's newbie-friendly, but powerful and stable.

Also, is the Raptor still the fastest drive out there?

Well yes and no. I would just get a WD 640GB Black drive. Almost just as fast as a Raptor in most situations with much more room cheaper as well.