looking for parts recommendations for DIY desktop

  • Thread starter Thread starter jb
  • Start date Start date
J

jb

I want to build my next computer.
What I'm looking for are recommendations for a good configuration that
meets these criteria:

-- Reasonably fast, but not super speed; this computer will be used
mostly for word processing, Internet. No numeric operations, no
graphics-intensive applications

--reliable. If speed is not the priority, high reliability is,
especially for key components like the motherboard and power supply.

-- Lots of memory (2 G, I assume)

--Modest video. Don't play games, don't do Photoshop, I don't need
anything super, but also don't want anything that's going to slow Web
browsing

--OK audio. Just enough to listen to Internet radio.

-- Win XP, not Vista.

And did I mention reliability?

I'm looking for some groupings of components that meet these needs,
and will work well together.

THanks in advance
 
jb said:
I want to build my next computer.
What I'm looking for are recommendations for a good configuration that
meets these criteria:

-- Reasonably fast, but not super speed; this computer will be used
mostly for word processing, Internet. No numeric operations, no
graphics-intensive applications

--reliable. If speed is not the priority, high reliability is,
especially for key components like the motherboard and power supply.

-- Lots of memory (2 G, I assume)

--Modest video. Don't play games, don't do Photoshop, I don't need
anything super, but also don't want anything that's going to slow Web
browsing

--OK audio. Just enough to listen to Internet radio.

-- Win XP, not Vista.

And did I mention reliability?

I'm looking for some groupings of components that meet these needs,
and will work well together.

THanks in advance
Click to expand...

See, e. g., <http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=2973> and

<http://computershopper.com/feature/diy-desktops-for-any-budget-200706>


HTH - Roy
 
jb said:
I want to build my next computer.
What I'm looking for are recommendations for a good configuration that
meets these criteria:

-- Reasonably fast, but not super speed; this computer will be used
mostly for word processing, Internet. No numeric operations, no
graphics-intensive applications

--reliable. If speed is not the priority, high reliability is,
especially for key components like the motherboard and power supply.

-- Lots of memory (2 G, I assume)

--Modest video. Don't play games, don't do Photoshop, I don't need
anything super, but also don't want anything that's going to slow Web
browsing

--OK audio. Just enough to listen to Internet radio.

-- Win XP, not Vista.

And did I mention reliability?

I'm looking for some groupings of components that meet these needs,
and will work well together.

THanks in advance
Click to expand...

For your use a Dell might be the cheaper route than building one yourself.
If you must build one I would suggest something like an E6600 processor for
just over $200 US and a relatively newer chipset like the NV680i or a
similiar Intel 35 series chipset and onboard sound. Those chipsets will give
you at least one processor upgrade to a quad core if you want to do that in
the future. Something that supports DDR2 rather than a DDR3 only board would
save a few dollars too since prices on DDR2 memory are reasonable right now.
There are a lot of PCI-E video cards out there now that will do what you
need to do for well under $100. You will probably find that building your
own will be a few hundred bucks more expensive than a prebuilt, but you can
get the components you want. The only way you can save money on building
your own is in the extremely high-end systems. I spent about $3700 on my
present NV680i, GTX 8800 SLI system with a 24" monitor/HDTV and the closest
thing that Dell had was in the $5000 range. A system like you need from Dell
will be $1000 or so depending on monitor size and other things. I think Dell
is still offering XP as an option to Vista for the near future. If you go
with Vista 2gigs of memory is a must as far as I am concerned. 1gig will do
you just fine with XP and your needs. Onboard sound is much better today
than it was just a couple of years ago. My Asus board I use now has Soundmax
OB 5.1 Dolby and it works great with my Logitech THX speaker system and
subwoofer. Good luck whichever way you go.......

Ed
 
For your use a Dell might be the cheaper route than building one yourself.
If you must build one I would suggest something like an E6600 processor for
just over $200 US and a relatively newer chipset like the NV680i or a
similiar Intel 35 series chipset and onboard sound. Those chipsets will give
you at least one processor upgrade to a quad core if you want to do that in
the future. Something that supports DDR2 rather than a DDR3 only board would
save a few dollars too since prices on DDR2 memory are reasonable right now.
There are a lot of PCI-E video cards out there now that will do what you
need to do for well under $100. You will probably find that building your
own will be a few hundred bucks more expensive than a prebuilt, but you can
get the components you want. The only way you can save money on building
your own is in the extremely high-end systems. I spent about $3700 on my
present NV680i, GTX 8800 SLI system with a 24" monitor/HDTV and the closest
thing that Dell had was in the $5000 range. A system like you need from Dell
will be $1000 or so depending on monitor size and other things. I think Dell
is still offering XP as an option to Vista for the near future. If you go
with Vista 2gigs of memory is a must as far as I am concerned. 1gig will do
you just fine with XP and your needs. Onboard sound is much better today
than it was just a couple of years ago. My Asus board I use now has Soundmax
OB 5.1 Dolby and it works great with my Logitech THX speaker system and
subwoofer. Good luck whichever way you go.......
Click to expand...

I'd say that was way OTT for what the OP wants. Why not just buy a
second hand PC? If it was made in the last 5 years it should be fine
for your needs.

M
 
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