Computer help
I've been getting some advice for a new computer from SA, but thought I would ask if anyone here has any recommendations as well. I'll just cut/paste my posts for you to check out:
mathaeis posted:
I'm getting closer to purchasing an upgrade from my current BSOD-ing machine, and figured I would ask a few general questions before getting down to the exact list. Money isn't very tight, so I don't mind spending a little more for upgrades (especially with Newegg's 12-month no interest deal).
At its best, the ideal computer for me would be used for gaming, as well as programs like Photoshop, 3DS Max, Premiere, After Effects, various music software like Fruity Loops/Reason. I'm going to be getting a copy of Win7 Ultimate, and will need to take advantage of being able to run XP inside of 7 for some software I use for work on a daily basis (not sure how much power that will need, as I have not used 7 yet). I have 2 24" Dell monitors that run at 1920 x 1200. The second monitor won't be in use 100% of the time, but I would like to know if any parts I might ask about below would adversely affect the second one, should I happen to be using it.
Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128405 (Has IEEE1394, and the problem with the PCI-E port placement mentioned in the reviews most likely will never be an issue, since I don't think I would be putting anything in the PCI slots to begin with. Also has a combo deal with the processor.)
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260 Would 4 sticks be overkill? I saw a few people mentioning having 8GB, and I've seen systems on sale with 9GB, so I guess that's not a completely outlandish number? Also, Corsair had another model that was a little bit more, and I think the only difference was the timing (8-8-8-24 vs. 9-9-9-24). For $25 (well, $50 for 8GB, although I probably can't get two rebates on the same item, so $65 then?) more after rebate is that worth it?
Heat sink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
DVD Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187
Hard Drives: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185 x 2 assuming they do come back in stock (otherwise is the F1 the exact same, just $5 more?)
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161298 The MSI one actually only had 1 DVI port, and the other one is out of stock. The reviews say these are loud, but I'm guessing that's this card series overall, and not, say, the particular brand? I've never heard of HIS, but the reviews seem good here. I picked the turbo one, which is the middle of 3 it seems. Any compelling reason to step up/down (~$10 either way)?
As for PSU and case, I'll wait for any feedback here, or if you could suggest one with the above in mind, that would be great. I definitely don't want to skimp on the PSU, since I've had a few go bad before, and with the potential of overclocking in the future, I imagine that would be a more risky situation as well. Thanks again for all the feedback!
Edit: For the HDD, would getting a 1TB for the main drive be worth it in terms of speed? The ones in the OP were recommended for basically nothing more than your installed apps, with everything else being on a second drive, right? How much of a difference would getting something like the F3 for a main drive make, while actually using at least a decent amount of its space so as not to waste it? Right now I have a 500GB Seagate 7200 (it might be the same one from the OP, actually), and it's essentially full, and I can certainly feel that slowness, but if I had a 100GB+ of space open, I imagine it would be at least somewhat faster, correct?
---
I went ahead and looked at some PSUs, and was surprised to find some this time around that actually had consistently good reviews. So my choice is between
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004 normal, and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001 modular.
As for the case, I like the external connections being anywhere but the very bottom, so that is between
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
I'm leaning towards the Cooler master case, since it seems to be less gimmicky by not having the huge fan that breaks on a lot of people, but I wanted to ask if anyone here had personal experience with either of the two. A lot of the reviews are direct contradictions of one another, both are listed as really loud/quite, etc. My case now is decently loud, and I can deal with it, but I'd like to have some idea of what I'm getting into. Given the size of the cases, and the parts I picked above, would there be any express benefit for the modular PSU, or would I be fine with the normal one taking up some extra space with potential extra cables?
Also, blue LEDs can eff off, so if I was going with the Antec, are there any 120mm fans that are noticeably quieter than others? Or is there some way to just take off the LEDs in the ones they come stocked with?
I guess this is my final list at the moment. The only thing I would add is that I'm not 100% planning on purchasing it the moment you all give me feedback, so are there any potential new products that are coming out any time relatively soon that might replace one of my components, or am I good for a few weeks or so?
mathaeis posted:
I'm getting closer to purchasing an upgrade from my current BSOD-ing machine, and figured I would ask a few general questions before getting down to the exact list. Money isn't very tight, so I don't mind spending a little more for upgrades (especially with Newegg's 12-month no interest deal).
At its best, the ideal computer for me would be used for gaming, as well as programs like Photoshop, 3DS Max, Premiere, After Effects, various music software like Fruity Loops/Reason. I'm going to be getting a copy of Win7 Ultimate, and will need to take advantage of being able to run XP inside of 7 for some software I use for work on a daily basis (not sure how much power that will need, as I have not used 7 yet). I have 2 24" Dell monitors that run at 1920 x 1200. The second monitor won't be in use 100% of the time, but I would like to know if any parts I might ask about below would adversely affect the second one, should I happen to be using it.
Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128405 (Has IEEE1394, and the problem with the PCI-E port placement mentioned in the reviews most likely will never be an issue, since I don't think I would be putting anything in the PCI slots to begin with. Also has a combo deal with the processor.)
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145260 Would 4 sticks be overkill? I saw a few people mentioning having 8GB, and I've seen systems on sale with 9GB, so I guess that's not a completely outlandish number? Also, Corsair had another model that was a little bit more, and I think the only difference was the timing (8-8-8-24 vs. 9-9-9-24). For $25 (well, $50 for 8GB, although I probably can't get two rebates on the same item, so $65 then?) more after rebate is that worth it?
Heat sink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065
DVD Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151187
Hard Drives: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185 x 2 assuming they do come back in stock (otherwise is the F1 the exact same, just $5 more?)
Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161298 The MSI one actually only had 1 DVI port, and the other one is out of stock. The reviews say these are loud, but I'm guessing that's this card series overall, and not, say, the particular brand? I've never heard of HIS, but the reviews seem good here. I picked the turbo one, which is the middle of 3 it seems. Any compelling reason to step up/down (~$10 either way)?
As for PSU and case, I'll wait for any feedback here, or if you could suggest one with the above in mind, that would be great. I definitely don't want to skimp on the PSU, since I've had a few go bad before, and with the potential of overclocking in the future, I imagine that would be a more risky situation as well. Thanks again for all the feedback!
Edit: For the HDD, would getting a 1TB for the main drive be worth it in terms of speed? The ones in the OP were recommended for basically nothing more than your installed apps, with everything else being on a second drive, right? How much of a difference would getting something like the F3 for a main drive make, while actually using at least a decent amount of its space so as not to waste it? Right now I have a 500GB Seagate 7200 (it might be the same one from the OP, actually), and it's essentially full, and I can certainly feel that slowness, but if I had a 100GB+ of space open, I imagine it would be at least somewhat faster, correct?
---
I went ahead and looked at some PSUs, and was surprised to find some this time around that actually had consistently good reviews. So my choice is between
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004 normal, and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001 modular.
As for the case, I like the external connections being anywhere but the very bottom, so that is between
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
I'm leaning towards the Cooler master case, since it seems to be less gimmicky by not having the huge fan that breaks on a lot of people, but I wanted to ask if anyone here had personal experience with either of the two. A lot of the reviews are direct contradictions of one another, both are listed as really loud/quite, etc. My case now is decently loud, and I can deal with it, but I'd like to have some idea of what I'm getting into. Given the size of the cases, and the parts I picked above, would there be any express benefit for the modular PSU, or would I be fine with the normal one taking up some extra space with potential extra cables?
Also, blue LEDs can eff off, so if I was going with the Antec, are there any 120mm fans that are noticeably quieter than others? Or is there some way to just take off the LEDs in the ones they come stocked with?
I guess this is my final list at the moment. The only thing I would add is that I'm not 100% planning on purchasing it the moment you all give me feedback, so are there any potential new products that are coming out any time relatively soon that might replace one of my components, or am I good for a few weeks or so?