Ok, I am having some hardware issues with my current PC so its time to build a new one. Of course I want to save as much as possible, but I want high quality components that are stable and reliable
-Stability is very important
-Quite PC
-Will not be overclocking
Motherboard
-leaning towards Core2Duo CPU
-need very good quality MB
-do not need crossfire/sli support
-STABLE
-ddr2
-ideally <$100
CPU
-Can I use a Txxxx core2duo (laptop chip) on a desktop MB?
-Tempted to get a quad core, but really don't need it
-probably would get the best bang for the buck in <$100 range
RAM
-DDR2
-STABLE
-want 4gb
-ideally in 2 dims so if I change to a 64 bit OS later I can up to 8GB ram
Video Card
-looking at the 8600GT and 9600GT cards
-QUITE
-STABLE
-dual DVI
-~ or < $100
HD
-reliable
-quite
-fast
-low power usage
-SATA
HDTV Tuner / DVR
-good software support for easy DVR
-good encoding quality
-nice remote
-will be using the system as primary PC as well as entertainment center next year
Case
-would like a Lian-Li but $$$
-nice case
-screwless would be nice
-aluminum would be nice
Power Supply
-quite
-efficient
-reliable
-how much do I need 500, 750,...?
Full Version: Building a new PC
Motherboard, Intel is usually considered the most stable. Followed by Gigabyte and Asus.
Core 2 Duo is the way to go. Quad core draws more power and thus need a better quieter heatsink.
You CANNOT use a Txxx series proc in that motherboard so don't even try.
RAM, get whatever. Higher end stuff gives you better benchmark numbers, but if you don't benchmark your system, you probably won't notice.
Video card: I can't help you here. Get something with a passive heatsink. Probably a Gigabyte card, but there are others as well.
HD: Western Digital or Samsung. They're the most notably quiet. If you want REALLY quiet go with either a notebook drive or an SSD from DVNation.
Video Tuner: You've got me. This will depend largely on what country you live in.
Case: Lian Li's though pretty are generally made aluminum which tend to rattle more and amplify noise better. Get an Antec P180 if you can afford it.
PSU: You'll need a PSU. 300-400W at most. Anyone telling you that you need more is lying to you. Seasonic tends to make very good power supplies. Corsair's another good brand too (they're made by Seasonic)
Core 2 Duo is the way to go. Quad core draws more power and thus need a better quieter heatsink.
You CANNOT use a Txxx series proc in that motherboard so don't even try.
RAM, get whatever. Higher end stuff gives you better benchmark numbers, but if you don't benchmark your system, you probably won't notice.
Video card: I can't help you here. Get something with a passive heatsink. Probably a Gigabyte card, but there are others as well.
HD: Western Digital or Samsung. They're the most notably quiet. If you want REALLY quiet go with either a notebook drive or an SSD from DVNation.
Video Tuner: You've got me. This will depend largely on what country you live in.
Case: Lian Li's though pretty are generally made aluminum which tend to rattle more and amplify noise better. Get an Antec P180 if you can afford it.
PSU: You'll need a PSU. 300-400W at most. Anyone telling you that you need more is lying to you. Seasonic tends to make very good power supplies. Corsair's another good brand too (they're made by Seasonic)
Agree with all of the above 100%, especially the reference to the PSU rating. My current home-brewed rig runs an E4300 C2D CPU overclocked from 1.8GHz to 2.83GHz and a heavily overclocked ATI X1950Pro graphics card and only consumes 180Watts with the CPU and GPU being spanked mercilessly!
Don't be afraid to overclock if it's being afraid that's stopping you. All C2D CPUs are perfectly happy to run at up to 3GHz regardless of what's stamped on the lid, although some may need a slight rise in Vcore to get you there. My rig gets used as an all-singing-all-dancing media centre and games machine. With Intel SpeedStep enabled, it runs at 2.83GHz when needed but cruises along silently at 1.9GHz when carrying out mundane media centre tasks. Believe me, even 1.9GHz from a C2D is still plenty of horsepower compared to previous generations of CPUs.
Cheers, Slipstreem.
Don't be afraid to overclock if it's being afraid that's stopping you. All C2D CPUs are perfectly happy to run at up to 3GHz regardless of what's stamped on the lid, although some may need a slight rise in Vcore to get you there. My rig gets used as an all-singing-all-dancing media centre and games machine. With Intel SpeedStep enabled, it runs at 2.83GHz when needed but cruises along silently at 1.9GHz when carrying out mundane media centre tasks. Believe me, even 1.9GHz from a C2D is still plenty of horsepower compared to previous generations of CPUs.
Cheers, Slipstreem.
Agree with sthayashi on all but the motherboard.
Gigabyte is not very good nowadays.
ASUS is.
Gigabyte is not very good nowadays.
ASUS is.
QUOTE(kwanbis @ May 4 2008, 07:21) 
Gigabyte is not very good nowadays.
ASUS is.
I disagree and claim the opposite, to a degree.
Currently running a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS4.
I am also very happy with my Gigabye P35-DS3.
About stability on your pc is more a software problem (O.S. and programs you have installed) than a hardware problem.
If you have very important data i reccomend you to buy a motherboard with RAID 1 support, and buy 2 hard disk for that purpouse. As they said you can choose between asus or gigabayte both are good in my opinion.
Buying a 64bits hardware and the run a 32bits OS and software is not the best, think if u can jump to the 64 bits OS or not (if u will do a lot cpu computing you will notice the diference).
Good hard drives, Seagate & Samsung, if u will edit video could be usefull configure raid v instead of raid 1 (but you wont have every data mirrored, so you have to choose between spped or mirror).
About the ram Kingston!!
About the power supply one good is levicom, 400w or 500w should be enough and have very low noise models -20db.
About the case I don't spend too much money on it, same on the video card, i cant help here
About the TV turner i have no idea :S
Hope it can be usefull
If you have very important data i reccomend you to buy a motherboard with RAID 1 support, and buy 2 hard disk for that purpouse. As they said you can choose between asus or gigabayte both are good in my opinion.
Buying a 64bits hardware and the run a 32bits OS and software is not the best, think if u can jump to the 64 bits OS or not (if u will do a lot cpu computing you will notice the diference).
Good hard drives, Seagate & Samsung, if u will edit video could be usefull configure raid v instead of raid 1 (but you wont have every data mirrored, so you have to choose between spped or mirror).
About the ram Kingston!!
About the power supply one good is levicom, 400w or 500w should be enough and have very low noise models -20db.
About the case I don't spend too much money on it, same on the video card, i cant help here
About the TV turner i have no idea :S
Hope it can be usefull
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