Tek-Sum
So I'm building a MediaTek to play HD content as well as MP3's, YouTube videos, and maybe the occasional video game.
I've ended up with this configuration:
Athlon 64 X2 BE 2400 <> Low power usage (hence low operating temp), decent processing power, and allows me to run an AM2 chip motherboard....
780G MicroATX Motherboard <> Again, low power usage, but more importantly this board has an excellent integrated graphics processor that is capable of running 1080p content smoothly on less-than-excellent CPU systems. The chipset also allows for a Hybrid-Crossfire configuration, which will allow you to use both the IGP AND a discreet graphics card TOGETHER to boost graphics performance. Oh yeah, did I mention it has HDMI and Optical Audio onboard?
ATI 4350 or 4550 Graphics Card <> This won't be an immediate buy (partly because they aren't released yet), but I will be getting a graphics card DESPITE having ample video power for this simple fact: both AMD/ATI and NVidia have and HD platform that is intended to enhance image quality for video content. Basically, if you run a high-end graphics chip, you will get cool hardware utilities that apply anti-aliasing, noise reduction, and other visual crap from the picture. Pretty cool, huh? The cards I'm looking at should be sub $70. They are based on the high-end core of the 4xxx series, but with severe limitations on 3D power. I figure with the Hybrid SLI, I should be able to play crappy 5 year old car games on superhigh detail with no problem!
Memory: Got some Crucial Ballistix on the cheap!
HD: Samsung SpinPoint...whatever I can get on the cheap. I think Samsung is on the rise right now, and their spinpoint drives are said to be relatively quiet.
Alternates:
790g(x) Motherboard. Slightly improved chipset; built-in overclocking for Phenom Black Edition processors.
I've ended up with this configuration:
Athlon 64 X2 BE 2400 <> Low power usage (hence low operating temp), decent processing power, and allows me to run an AM2 chip motherboard....
780G MicroATX Motherboard <> Again, low power usage, but more importantly this board has an excellent integrated graphics processor that is capable of running 1080p content smoothly on less-than-excellent CPU systems. The chipset also allows for a Hybrid-Crossfire configuration, which will allow you to use both the IGP AND a discreet graphics card TOGETHER to boost graphics performance. Oh yeah, did I mention it has HDMI and Optical Audio onboard?
ATI 4350 or 4550 Graphics Card <> This won't be an immediate buy (partly because they aren't released yet), but I will be getting a graphics card DESPITE having ample video power for this simple fact: both AMD/ATI and NVidia have and HD platform that is intended to enhance image quality for video content. Basically, if you run a high-end graphics chip, you will get cool hardware utilities that apply anti-aliasing, noise reduction, and other visual crap from the picture. Pretty cool, huh? The cards I'm looking at should be sub $70. They are based on the high-end core of the 4xxx series, but with severe limitations on 3D power. I figure with the Hybrid SLI, I should be able to play crappy 5 year old car games on superhigh detail with no problem!
Memory: Got some Crucial Ballistix on the cheap!
HD: Samsung SpinPoint...whatever I can get on the cheap. I think Samsung is on the rise right now, and their spinpoint drives are said to be relatively quiet.
Alternates:
790g(x) Motherboard. Slightly improved chipset; built-in overclocking for Phenom Black Edition processors.