Build me a computer (please?)
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Domesticated |
Okay, so I'm looking at replacing my infamous and trusty 800mHz beast at home. It ran XP fine for about six or seven years (only formatted once) until I got a new resource-hungry anti-virus program.
- I am only looking for the box itself. I have all the peripherals.
- Dual core, not quad.
- Video card doesn't need to be good. I don't play games much, and all the ones I do want to play are old, like Doom 3. In fact, an onboard card will probably suffice.
So basically I am looking for your recommendations on a good processor, fan, power supply, motherboard, RAM and a nice big hard drive (1TB please). Links would be helpful, I am going to purchase all the parts myself and build it.
Thank you in advance. |
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DimaShibby |
quote: | Originally posted by Domesticated
until I got a new resource-hungry anti-virus program.
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dump Norton/Mcafee |
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Domesticated |
I would never buy them in the first place, they are awful.
I am using Bit Defender. |
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DimaShibby |
quote: | Originally posted by Domesticated
I am using Bit Defender. |
hmm never heard of it, i use kaspersky lol |
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pkcRAISTLIN |
quote: | Originally posted by Domesticated
In fact, an onboard card will probably suffice. |
ewwwwww! |
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Turbonium |
Given your needs, your selection doesn't matter in the least (today's low end is more than enough for an XP system). Just get the cheapest dual-core system you can find, with onboard sound and video, and since you're using XP, provide it with a juicy 2GB of RAM (1GB if you want to cheap out). You don't game, so nothing else matters. Spend the money on some big HDDs.
btw: ignoring their horrible driver support, Intel's GMA offerings aren't bad for a non-gamer. |
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yukii |
call krypton up!
:gsmile: |
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Domesticated |
quote: | Originally posted by Turbonium
Given your needs, your selection doesn't matter in the least (today's low end is more than enough for an XP system). Just get the cheapest dual-core system you can find, with onboard sound and video, and since you're using XP, provide it with a juicy 2GB of RAM (1GB if you want to cheap out). You don't game, so nothing else matters. Spend the money on some big HDDs.
btw: ignoring their horrible driver support, Intel's GMA offerings aren't bad for a non-gamer. |
Is 2GB of RAM respectable these days?
The computer I am on at the moment has 2GB and it is 18 months old now. I thought the standard would be 4GB by now?
Also, it's annoying, I want to upgrade to Windows 7 but I'm reluctant to do that when I know there will be 3 service packs before they get it right. |
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Lews |
2gb isn't enough. I'm running 6 and often wish I had more.
4 is the minimum.
Don't go for an onboard graphics card. I'll ask up my tech friends for a really good low end system recommendations for parts.
What's your price cap for all of this? |
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Turbonium |
quote: | Originally posted by Lews
2gb isn't enough.
4 is the minimum. |
I lol'd.
quote: | Originally posted by Domesticated
Is 2GB of RAM respectable these days?
The computer I am on at the moment has 2GB and it is 18 months old now. I thought the standard would be 4GB by now?
Also, it's annoying, I want to upgrade to Windows 7 but I'm reluctant to do that when I know there will be 3 service packs before they get it right. |
Who cares what's respectable? Don't be a consumerist sheep. The only thing that matters is what you're doing with your system. If you're running XP and surfing the Net, then...
I didn't see that you said you play Doom 3, in which case you should get a dedicated GPU, but honestly, any midrange CPU should do for older games. I used to play Doom 3 on a 2.4GHz P4 and 9600 Pro at around 30-35FPS I believe, and that is old hardware.
If you're going Windows 7 though, that changes everything altogether. And Windows 7 is good from what I hear - it's no Vista. It works fine out of the box, and by SP1, it should be golden. |
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pkcRAISTLIN |
quote: | Originally posted by Domesticated
Is 2GB of RAM respectable these days?
The computer I am on at the moment has 2GB and it is 18 months old now. I thought the standard would be 4GB by now?
Also, it's annoying, I want to upgrade to Windows 7 but I'm reluctant to do that when I know there will be 3 service packs before they get it right. |
its rather pointless having more than 2Gb if you're only using XP, and not playing games.
quote: | Originally posted by Lews
2gb isn't enough. |
bollocks. |
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Domesticated |
quote: | Originally posted by Lews
2gb isn't enough. I'm running 6 and often wish I had more.
4 is the minimum.
Don't go for an onboard graphics card. I'll ask up my tech friends for a really good low end system recommendations for parts.
What's your price cap for all of this? |
Don't judge my needs by your own standards. I won't be doing video editing, music production or anything that requires near that amount of RAM, however I just want to stay current. I've been running Ableton 6 on the 800mhZ computer for 2 years and it works fine, if a little slow.
I never asked for a 'low end' system either. I am just looking for something that's new and up to date but not top-end. On-board graphics card is fine, every computer I've ever owned has had one. Again, you are judging my requirements by your own standards.
I have no real price budget. |
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