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So, does anyone have any suggestions on what I should use as a good platform for building a computer that'll mostly see use online and with multimedia. I aim to my entertainment center through it, so that's the focus. What should I go with for tower, motherboard, processor, et cetera? Upgradeability is also quite key. Thanks!
When you say entertainment center - you mean you want to output to a TV and stereo, or that this will be in lieu of a TV and stereo?
Totally speculating - I'm guessing your on a budget and can't totally deck it out, so you can probably save money omitting high end gaming cards, huge ram, mega-fast processors, 64bit architecture, SATA mb and drives, DVD-burners, exotic sound and exotic cooling.
Further Speculation
- Either a DVI ready TV or a Nice monitor if possible (if TV, get a cheap monitor anyway - TV should always be secondary display)
- Cordless (non-blue-tooth) Keyboard and Mouse combo
- Case - any Mid tower ATX that you fancy - get at least 350 watt power
- Processor - Socket 775 - 800FSB Intel dual core processor (don't worry about its speed, even something as low as a 2.0 would be fine, this doesn't make as much of a speed difference as FSB, RAM, HD type, and (for gaming, graphics card)
- Motherboard - ATX with socket 775 - 800mhz fsb capable - USB 2.0 - 10/100 or gigabyte ethernet. you don't need onboard video or sound (in fact they might be a pain to disable) Gigabyte and Asus are brands I've used and have worked out well. I wouldn't trust anything under 75$
- Socket 775 Cooling fan - this is a good place to spend - not save - heat is a big deal.
- OS - Windows XP Pro service pack 2 (you need it for USB 2.0 and big drive support) - unless you are brave and want linux
- HD's - you want big - they fill up much more quickly than you think if you download a lot. Its also good to seperate OS from storage drives. SATA is great and fast and more expensive, so if you want it - fair enough - make sure the motherboard supports it - but IDE is just fine. Make sure its at least ATA133, and at least 7,200 RPM - go as big as you can for the storage one and as fast you can for the OS one.
- RAM - get at least 512 - you could probably do w/ just that - but a gig is nice - of DDR 3200 (or higher) I would stay away from EEC-Ram, and dual channel ram - just remeber you need to buy in pairs.
- Sound card - If your motherboard doesn't include one - buy a 5.1 channel PCI sound card. You really don't need to spend a lot here -seriously - the sound difference is minor - but if you want to - get a sound blaster audigy - I wouldn't spend more than 45$
- Disc Drive - CDRW / DVD combo drive - cheap - burn CD's, play DVD's - unless you are REALLY up on the idea of DVD burner. I have one - I've never used it once.
- Video card - get AGP or PCI Xpress - depending on what your MB has (AGP is more common) If you are outputing to a TV (not using comp in lieu of TV) get one with VGA AND DVI AND TV-OUT (S-video). That way all bases are covered. An 8x AGP, 128mb GeForce FX card for 30$ would be everything you'd need for your stated purpose (I'd be weary of paying less) - but if you want to be serious about gaming you can move up a long way from there.
- Sound system - if you don't have one - this is a place to spend . They have tons of 5 speaker + sub combos for 60$+ - Usually these last and spending big on them you won't regret. You wouldn't be bad off spending a couple hundred here. Going up to the level where you have a reciever is BIG coin - but very sweet. If you sprang for a sound card with a digital out (fiber optic) you need a reciever with one to get TRUE 5.1 dolby.
Hope I was of service.
Check www.tigerdirect.com
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