build me a system....

[rfsurfer]

I am finally getting to building my new computer, upgrading from my 1.5GBz PIV from a few years ago. I need help picking a mobo and video card. I plan on using the PIV 540 (3.2) Socket 775 CPU, and I would like to use the 915p chipset. This computer is only going to be used for games occasionally, but alot of process oriented work stuff and then the basic photo and music editing stuff as well. I realize i dont need much to do that well, but I like to get as good as I can so I dont have to do it twice. I plan on a full system w/o monitor ~$900 +/- a few, so that should be a decent guidline. I was looking at the Intel D915PCY board, but i was curious as what everyone thought was the best for the $. I havent really gotten to research video cards much, so any direction in that area would be appreciated too. Thanks in advance.

 

[tweebel]

If you want to build an Intel system it is really important to spend much money on a decent case, power supply and additional cooling (even more money if you also like your system quiet). Newest P4's get very hot and use lots of power.
Intel mainboards usually are very solid but stripped down. Other brands deliver much more for less money but usually not with same reliability/quality.
So:
-Case with really good ventilation possibilities
-400W+ A-brand PSU
-1 GB of RAM
-Most of the $200 videocards will do a decent job

 

[Crashman]

You can get 915P boards in Socket 478 too. The reason I mention this is because the Prescotts are such terrible processors! Socket 478 would allow you to use a Northwood 3.2GHz, with lower heat and greater overall performance.

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