OK, one more try.
I read everything people recommended I read (reviews, specifications, how to articles, ....).
And so I am trying to build a computer that "does it all". I have a small one person business and do a lot of web surfing, spread sheets, a little autocad, a little gaming, my banking, and now want to do a little video editing (old vhs tapes to dvd and maybe use it as a pvr once in a while). When I'm at work, my wife (disabled, electric wheelchair, limited mobility ... can't even use a mouse, I put on a glidepoint pad she uses) uses the computer for surfing, e-mailing, ... She can't even get to the switches to reboot or put in a DVD so it has to be a fairly stable machine.
Budget .... was hoping to $1000 - $1500 but willing to go to $2000 to get a "good" machine.
I'm an technician so I love to play! I have no reason to overclock a cpu but I know I will (oc'd since my first pc back in the 80's). I have never (20 + years) bought a pc, always put one together myself.
So, I've decided on a E6400 dual core 2 processor. I will put 2 gig of DDR2 800 ram with it.
I was going for one Raptor drive but you (other writers to my first posts) told me instead to go with raid 0 for speed (said it would be faster than a Raptor).
I will got with two seagate 250 gig sata drives in the machine and one 250 external (usb 2 or esata) to back up information automatically (of coarse still I will back up important data onto DVD). I am told (haven't looked yet) there is programs out there (maybe even xp) that will back-up the computer each night for me.
Video, still trying to decided between nvida or ati. Looking at on the low end a 7600 gt for $135 ($100 after rebate), 7600gs, 7900 gt or gs, 7950 gt ($219), ATI 1900 gt ($149) or 1950 pro ($191 to $219). The cards seem so identical it is hard to choose. From what I read, the ATI looks like better hardware and the nvida better drivers. I'm open for suggestions here. A lot of it looks like personal preference!
Monitors, wife wants WS (say 1680 x 1050), I want dual monitors (so I may pick up a 17 or 19" to put beside the WS.
I will run XP pro for now and VISA when it comes out.
I must have a tv tuner in the computer (only time I get to watch tv is when I am on the computer ... have had lots of versions of all-in-wonder card).
Now the motherboard.
I was all set to get the EVGA 680i. Looked like the new "hot" board to "play" with. Now I am reading all the problems people are having. Some reports are saying there may even be a recall!
I looked at the intel bad axe 2 board with 975 chipset. Ratings on Newegg seem to rate this board very well.
"others" have written to me and said to look at the Gigabyte DS3 or DQ6 boards. I like the idea of the 3 pci slots on the DS3 but the DQ6 has firewire (don't have firewire devices but may have in the future) as well as a "lot" of SATA ports (I will most likely buy SATA dvd drives .. I know people say the drive is the limit but all the reviews say SATA dvd drives are still faster than IDE drives). These too boards both have 965 chipsets in them. Neither of these boards go high ratings on newegg.
OK, so which board do I choose? I need to order one ASAP (want to get it on this years taxes so I must have it shipped and be charged for it by December 31 ... don't care when it arrives).
Looking at the review on Toms, they all look like they are almost identical as far as speed. ( I want to oc the E6400 to about 3 ghz). I want a stable board (don't need it to be going down all the time .... the old PIII I am using now is on 24/7 and has been since new ... 6 years ago). Is there one feature that makes any of these boards stand out? Is it worth taking a chance on the 680i problems being solved? 975 chipset is most mature. (65 seems to be best for speed ... looks better than 680i or 975 in review).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!!
Mike
I read everything people recommended I read (reviews, specifications, how to articles, ....).
And so I am trying to build a computer that "does it all". I have a small one person business and do a lot of web surfing, spread sheets, a little autocad, a little gaming, my banking, and now want to do a little video editing (old vhs tapes to dvd and maybe use it as a pvr once in a while). When I'm at work, my wife (disabled, electric wheelchair, limited mobility ... can't even use a mouse, I put on a glidepoint pad she uses) uses the computer for surfing, e-mailing, ... She can't even get to the switches to reboot or put in a DVD so it has to be a fairly stable machine.
Budget .... was hoping to $1000 - $1500 but willing to go to $2000 to get a "good" machine.
I'm an technician so I love to play! I have no reason to overclock a cpu but I know I will (oc'd since my first pc back in the 80's). I have never (20 + years) bought a pc, always put one together myself.
So, I've decided on a E6400 dual core 2 processor. I will put 2 gig of DDR2 800 ram with it.
I was going for one Raptor drive but you (other writers to my first posts) told me instead to go with raid 0 for speed (said it would be faster than a Raptor).
I will got with two seagate 250 gig sata drives in the machine and one 250 external (usb 2 or esata) to back up information automatically (of coarse still I will back up important data onto DVD). I am told (haven't looked yet) there is programs out there (maybe even xp) that will back-up the computer each night for me.
Video, still trying to decided between nvida or ati. Looking at on the low end a 7600 gt for $135 ($100 after rebate), 7600gs, 7900 gt or gs, 7950 gt ($219), ATI 1900 gt ($149) or 1950 pro ($191 to $219). The cards seem so identical it is hard to choose. From what I read, the ATI looks like better hardware and the nvida better drivers. I'm open for suggestions here. A lot of it looks like personal preference!
Monitors, wife wants WS (say 1680 x 1050), I want dual monitors (so I may pick up a 17 or 19" to put beside the WS.
I will run XP pro for now and VISA when it comes out.
I must have a tv tuner in the computer (only time I get to watch tv is when I am on the computer ... have had lots of versions of all-in-wonder card).
Now the motherboard.
I was all set to get the EVGA 680i. Looked like the new "hot" board to "play" with. Now I am reading all the problems people are having. Some reports are saying there may even be a recall!
I looked at the intel bad axe 2 board with 975 chipset. Ratings on Newegg seem to rate this board very well.
"others" have written to me and said to look at the Gigabyte DS3 or DQ6 boards. I like the idea of the 3 pci slots on the DS3 but the DQ6 has firewire (don't have firewire devices but may have in the future) as well as a "lot" of SATA ports (I will most likely buy SATA dvd drives .. I know people say the drive is the limit but all the reviews say SATA dvd drives are still faster than IDE drives). These too boards both have 965 chipsets in them. Neither of these boards go high ratings on newegg.
OK, so which board do I choose? I need to order one ASAP (want to get it on this years taxes so I must have it shipped and be charged for it by December 31 ... don't care when it arrives).
Looking at the review on Toms, they all look like they are almost identical as far as speed. ( I want to oc the E6400 to about 3 ghz). I want a stable board (don't need it to be going down all the time .... the old PIII I am using now is on 24/7 and has been since new ... 6 years ago). Is there one feature that makes any of these boards stand out? Is it worth taking a chance on the 680i problems being solved? 975 chipset is most mature. (65 seems to be best for speed ... looks better than 680i or 975 in review).
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!!
Mike
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