My budget = $1500
Build type = not planning on upgrading, need a build that will last for 2+ years without upgrades
What will the machine be used for? = primarily, a gaming rig. should be able to flawlessly run spore and world of warcraft on high settings as well as (some) of the more graphically intensive games out there on medium to high settings. rig should double as a graphic design workstation. This means photoshop work mostly... no CPU-intensive video compositing or anything like that. However, monitor needs to be very accurate with color and also rig should (obviously) include a higher end graphics card.
Features the build should include:
1. Processor
3+ ghz or equivalent
pretty much every processor is dual core now, so it must be dual or better (quad would be nice)
2. GRAPHICS CARD
Higher end card
512 MB+ memory???
DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 2.0 compatible???
3. RAM
??? I'm assuming 2 GB DDR2 ram as a bare minimum but am hoping for better
4. SOUND CARD
no idea. I want a sound card, not integrated sound.
5. HARD DRIVE
I don't need a huge drive. 100 GB is more than enough for me.
6. MEDIA
7200+ rpm CD and DVD player.
(I do NOT need the ability to burn CDs or DVDs since I have a second computer, so this feature would just be a "nice to have" budget permitting).
7. CASE
??? no freaking idea
8. POWER SUPPLY
??? no freaking idea. How many watts is enough?
9. MONITOR
Large monitor
good refresh rate
10. SPEAKERS
(No speaker system needed! I will re-use my existing 5.1 surround sound speaker system!)
11. MOUSE
(No mouse needed! I will re-use my existing ones which are still good)
12. KEYBOARD
A keyboard will be required. Something ergodynamic, perhaps with some advanced functionality. Must be comfortable as I will be spending a LOT of time using the machine. Prefer corded rather than cordless!
13. OS
Windows XP or Vista??? If Vista, what version of Vista???
WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR:
One of you technically savvy people to suggest the parts for me to buy so my dad can assemble it. I am SUPER concerned about all of the parts being fully compatible with one another.
Thank you in advance for your advice...
Build type = not planning on upgrading, need a build that will last for 2+ years without upgrades
What will the machine be used for? = primarily, a gaming rig. should be able to flawlessly run spore and world of warcraft on high settings as well as (some) of the more graphically intensive games out there on medium to high settings. rig should double as a graphic design workstation. This means photoshop work mostly... no CPU-intensive video compositing or anything like that. However, monitor needs to be very accurate with color and also rig should (obviously) include a higher end graphics card.
Features the build should include:
1. Processor
3+ ghz or equivalent
pretty much every processor is dual core now, so it must be dual or better (quad would be nice)
2. GRAPHICS CARD
Higher end card
512 MB+ memory???
DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 2.0 compatible???
3. RAM
??? I'm assuming 2 GB DDR2 ram as a bare minimum but am hoping for better
4. SOUND CARD
no idea. I want a sound card, not integrated sound.
5. HARD DRIVE
I don't need a huge drive. 100 GB is more than enough for me.
6. MEDIA
7200+ rpm CD and DVD player.
(I do NOT need the ability to burn CDs or DVDs since I have a second computer, so this feature would just be a "nice to have" budget permitting).
7. CASE
??? no freaking idea
8. POWER SUPPLY
??? no freaking idea. How many watts is enough?
9. MONITOR
Large monitor
good refresh rate
10. SPEAKERS
(No speaker system needed! I will re-use my existing 5.1 surround sound speaker system!)
11. MOUSE
(No mouse needed! I will re-use my existing ones which are still good)
12. KEYBOARD
A keyboard will be required. Something ergodynamic, perhaps with some advanced functionality. Must be comfortable as I will be spending a LOT of time using the machine. Prefer corded rather than cordless!
13. OS
Windows XP or Vista??? If Vista, what version of Vista???
WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR:
One of you technically savvy people to suggest the parts for me to buy so my dad can assemble it. I am SUPER concerned about all of the parts being fully compatible with one another.
Thank you in advance for your advice...