ninjoe8

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Mar 17, 2010
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My laptop is currently hooked up to a desktop dock running two 24" monitors and 3 external hard drives. It's been on 24/7 for the past two years. I want to replace it with a normal desktop.

I’ve come up with a relatively cheap setup and need advice. I’m trying to keep this under 450 dollars, maybe 500. So far, minus the case and psu, the total comes out to 325 without tax, shipping, etc.

The reason I haven’t picked a case yet is because I don’t know what my PSU requirements are going to be. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Approximate Purchase Date: this weekend

Budget Range: <450

System Usage from Most to Least Important: 1080p vids, gaming

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg

Country of Origin: California, US of A

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU, dual monitor support

Overclocking: Heck Yes

SLI or Crossfire: Dunno

Monitor Resolution: 2 x 1920x1080

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Parts List:
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=5#scrollFullInfo

CPU: Intel Dual Core E6500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116093&cm_re=e6500-_-19-116-093-_-Product

Video: Sapphire 100253HDMI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102829&Tpk=100253

Memory: G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

Heatsink: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...4&cm_re=arctic_freezer-_-35-186-134-_-Product

DVD Drive: Asus Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204&Tpk=drw-24b1st/blk/b/as

Media Card Reader: Rosewill
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223103&cm_re=rcr-ic-_-20-223-103-_-Product

Hard Drive: WD Caviar Blue 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

PSU: Recommendation needed
Case: Recommendation needed
 
CPU/Mobo: Don't go socket 775--it's old and dead. Go AM3 if you need cheep, 1155 since you can afford $450 because it's MUCH better and upgradable to awesomeness. AM3 allows overclocking, 1155 only does with a $230 CPU.

Skip the media card reader.

Get a Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive.

Cheapest DVD Burner and cheapest 4GB (2x2GB) 1600MHz CL9 DDR3 you can find.

Video: Get a newer generation Radeon 5670 1GB for $65 instead. It'll do everything including play games (on medium settings).

I can post a full build later.
 
I was saying socket 1155 is MUCH better than AM3.

What I meant was, if you go AM3, you should build a $250 computer. That means only spending $65 on your motherboard. There are other motherboard choices that should do dual video. If you go LGA 1155, which is MUCH better (in most ways, not all), you should spend $450.

Do you have a Microcenter nearby? That will save you $50 on any computer.

You probably want to fill this form out: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261222-31-build-advice