Finally given the OK by the wife to start a-buying. Wife will be going into labor in the middle of December, and I'll have two weeks off after that, so I get two additions to the family this month.
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
I do a lot of affiliate marketing and that's what this computer will be used for most often. When I'm working, I'll be running several programs at once - outlook, word, IM client, Firefox (with multiple tabs and windows open) and a few other programs. This is all stuff I don't really want to minimize, and so I want to go with a two 24 inch monitor setup so that when I work, I can spread it all out and see everything at once.
Sometimes, however, I want to play some games. I want to run whatever game I want at the native 1920 x 1200 (or higher) with as much AA as I can get on one 24 inch monitor. I want to do this while running 3 programs on the other monitor - outlook, firefox and one other script program.
I used to be a hard-core gamer. Now, with a wife and kids and a business, it all has to be a little less gamey and a little more tax-deducty.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$2500. Much like a government office manager, I want to go right up to that limit, although if it's less I'll just buy a new desk with what's left over.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
United States. Newegg or Amazon.com are my preferred retailers, but I'm flexible as long as they're a reputable source. Don't like mail-in rebates.
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Prefer Dell monitors.
nVidia. I especially like eVGA. I would like to stick with eVGA video cards.
I've enjoyed my current WD raptor (74) and would like another 10k drive.
OCZ has been good to me, but I'm flexible.
I will be picking up either a logitech g5 mouse or a g9. I was also thinking about a g15 keyboard.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I already have a Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP. I wouldn't mind another one, but if it doesn't fit the budget, that's ok - there was another 24inch Dell monitor that was like $299 that I guess would work just fine unless someone told me different.
I also already have a Black Cooler Master ATCS 840 Aluminum Full Tower Case which I picked up from performance-pcs.com (http://www.performance-pcs.com...125&products_id=24707). Had the interior wires sleeved. Should be arriving on the 3rd of December. This is not part of the budget, because I already had it.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, even started a few. Had no definitive budget then, however. Now, I do.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I do not want to sit there for days trying to get another 5% out of my system, but as long as the overclocking is fairly simple, I'm up for it. I'd need a list of BIOS options to engage, so a mobo manufacturer with a fairly robust support forum would be great. I like DFI - current build is on a LanParty and it's been solid.
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Now, unless you know of some kind of deal that'll be happening in the next month.
I want some kind of environmental sound, too. I've been running the last 3 years with on-board audio and I was kind of blown away by how good games sound with positional audio. Hearing people trying to sneak up on you rocks.
Update: Narrowed down choices
EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - (not in stock) $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813188039
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - (not in stock) $304
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145224
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $229
Combo deal for the two below: $719 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...mbo.140331.19-115-201)
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVD for System Builders - OEM
Intel Core i7 940 Nehalem 2.93GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601940 - Retail
Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser Mouse - Retail $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826104076
Total - $1601.98
1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
I do a lot of affiliate marketing and that's what this computer will be used for most often. When I'm working, I'll be running several programs at once - outlook, word, IM client, Firefox (with multiple tabs and windows open) and a few other programs. This is all stuff I don't really want to minimize, and so I want to go with a two 24 inch monitor setup so that when I work, I can spread it all out and see everything at once.
Sometimes, however, I want to play some games. I want to run whatever game I want at the native 1920 x 1200 (or higher) with as much AA as I can get on one 24 inch monitor. I want to do this while running 3 programs on the other monitor - outlook, firefox and one other script program.
I used to be a hard-core gamer. Now, with a wife and kids and a business, it all has to be a little less gamey and a little more tax-deducty.
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$2500. Much like a government office manager, I want to go right up to that limit, although if it's less I'll just buy a new desk with what's left over.
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
United States. Newegg or Amazon.com are my preferred retailers, but I'm flexible as long as they're a reputable source. Don't like mail-in rebates.
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Prefer Dell monitors.
nVidia. I especially like eVGA. I would like to stick with eVGA video cards.
I've enjoyed my current WD raptor (74) and would like another 10k drive.
OCZ has been good to me, but I'm flexible.
I will be picking up either a logitech g5 mouse or a g9. I was also thinking about a g15 keyboard.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I already have a Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP. I wouldn't mind another one, but if it doesn't fit the budget, that's ok - there was another 24inch Dell monitor that was like $299 that I guess would work just fine unless someone told me different.
I also already have a Black Cooler Master ATCS 840 Aluminum Full Tower Case which I picked up from performance-pcs.com (http://www.performance-pcs.com...125&products_id=24707). Had the interior wires sleeved. Should be arriving on the 3rd of December. This is not part of the budget, because I already had it.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, even started a few. Had no definitive budget then, however. Now, I do.
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I do not want to sit there for days trying to get another 5% out of my system, but as long as the overclocking is fairly simple, I'm up for it. I'd need a list of BIOS options to engage, so a mobo manufacturer with a fairly robust support forum would be great. I like DFI - current build is on a LanParty and it's been solid.
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Now, unless you know of some kind of deal that'll be happening in the next month.
I want some kind of environmental sound, too. I've been running the last 3 years with on-board audio and I was kind of blown away by how good games sound with positional audio. Hearing people trying to sneak up on you rocks.
Update: Narrowed down choices
EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - (not in stock) $299.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813188039
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - (not in stock) $304
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145224
Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $229
Combo deal for the two below: $719 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/...mbo.140331.19-115-201)
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVD for System Builders - OEM
Intel Core i7 940 Nehalem 2.93GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601940 - Retail
Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser Mouse - Retail $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16826104076
Total - $1601.98
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