Advice for a computer

K

Kilauea

banned
Hello, I have been looking at computers built here for a bit of time and I am trying to understand as much as possible, but I feel like its time for to post and ask some questions.

Eventually I would like to get a new computer, I should say I don't feel quite comfortable about building one even tho I know you would surely guide me very well in the process. Anyway, I live in Canada and I have been looking at a website where you can build your own computer and it seems quite interesting. Unfortunatly I lack knowledge to really know what is best for me and even how to take advantage of everything.

So, here is what I am probably looking for...feel free to make other suggestions and please explain them.

C2 Duo E6300
2gb ram, I don't know the difference between DDR1, 2 and 667, 800 or 400, etc.
Probably a 512mb video card, but nothing too fancy as I'm not so much of a gamer... even then I don't know if I really need that, but I might like a video card with 2 "slots" for monitors. I might also be interested to watch tv on my computer, not really sure how it works.
250gb HD
If you have any suggestions for monitor, it would be cool, but I don't really mind at that point.

Also, I want a stable system, I don't want to OC it, so I don't care about that. I am somewhat on budget, but for now I am seeing how much I have to earn for a decent computer to my tastes.
I was looking at this website for building http://www.cipc.com/particulier/systemes/Configurateur/Systeme+Intel/ I realize its in french, but for the most part, I think when it comes to "Intel Core Duo E6300..." its pretty universal.
 
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well, I can start you off by saying that DDR, and DDR2 Are different types, to put it simple. DDR is older technology and take more power to run, DDR2 is newer and take less energy = less heat, in other words, its more efficient. As for the three digit numbers you put after that, that is a speed. The speed of RAM is measured in units called "Megahertz" or "MHz" for short.
 
ok, so for ram, it is always better to go for DDR2 800 instead of DDR2 667, right ? or are there cases where one should not bother ?

And is there any difference between brands ?
 
Well, faster is better, and there more of an "Interface" rather than a brand, but if your not doing gaming then DDR2-677 will do fine. What really determine this is the CPU. There is something call the "Frontside Buss" AKA FSB. What that is, is the speed the CPU talks to the RAM, But if the CPU has a FSB of 800Mhz, and the RAM is 677Mhz, the CPU will talk too fast and the RAM can't understand what the CPU is saying because it cant think as fast, so the CPU is "Bottle necked" in other words, the CPU must slow down the talking in order for the RAM to hear what the CPU is saying clearly. The RAm can't talk fast so once again the CPU most slow down and wait for all the info to be given to it. So having RAm that is slower then the FSB will limit the potential of the total system performance.
 
To be honnest I'm not quite sure... I'd like it to stay near 1000 CAD, but I realize that it could easily go up to 1500 or more. So basicly I'm leaning towards the cheap side, but still willing to loosen up my wallet for any justified material.
 
Well with CAD, I believe Memory is more important than speed. You can get a card that has a lower end GPU with high amounts of memory for a decent price. Like the Quatro I think it is, is one of the best (cost a lot, but its just an example) has 1 Gigabyte (1024 Megabytes) but only has a FX5200 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) which is really not that good for gaming. It cost $1000 for it but can barley play games at all. So judging from that all you need is hi memory, not hi speed.
 
Not quite sure I get what you are saying...

You can buy a 1gb stick of RAM for 1000$, but its not really good for gaming because of something the stick has... That's confusing me.

So, let's say I were to choose between 1 or 2gb(its not really important for the example) of either DDR2 667, 800 or 1066mhz of Corsair brand RAM, which should I choose.

If I understood well what you said in the first place, that would depend on my processor, I should choose a memory which has the same speed as the FSB of my processor.
Then, u added that considering my budget, the speed wasn't such a big issue and that I'd be better off going with DDR2 667 since it is cheaper and that having more memory would be more beneficial.

Did I understood what you said correctly ?
 
ADE said:
Well with CAD, I believe Memory is more important than speed. You can get a card that has a lower end GPU with high amounts of memory for a decent price. Like the Quatro I think it is, is one of the best (cost a lot, but its just an example) has 1 Gigabyte (1024 Megabytes) but only has a FX5200 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) which is really not that good for gaming. It cost $1000 for it but can barley play games at all. So judging from that all you need is hi memory, not hi speed.
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I'm sorry, all that was about a Graphics card. RAM was all about the 1st post I made in here. And yes you understand correctly, although in the long run, having the same speed RAM as the FSB is recommended. Don't have to, but I'm sure it wont hurt. Lower speeds cost less per amount of memory.
 
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Then what did u meant about me needing hi memory, not speed... I should go for a 512mb video card rather than 256 ? Once I am there, which card I choose isn't really dramatic since I'm no hardcore gamer, correct ?
 
Kilauea said:
Then what did u meant about me needing hi memory, not speed... I should go for a 512mb video card rather than 256 ? Once I am there, which card I choose isn't really dramatic since I'm no hardcore gamer, correct ?
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For RAM, speed is not what your looking for when using CAD. Since CAD uses much more memory, that is what you need. A, 1 Gigabyte, 677MHz stick of RAM cost less than a, 1 Gigabyte, 800MHz of RAM. Since you dont use speed intensive applications, you can go with the lower speed RAM because it cost less and there for you can get more memory RAM for your computer. And as for the Graphics card, you wont be doing any gaming, so just look for one with a lot of MB on the card itself.
 
Ok, thanks ADE... Also, I might do some gaming, but it won't be my main activity and I don't think the games I would play are the hardest in terms of requirements.

For the ram, as long as the processor is able to handle it, what sort of difference should I expect from a 667mhz stick compared to a 800 or 1066 ?

As for the mobo, which one(s) should I look for, same for the psu ?
 
ADE said:
Well with CAD, I believe Memory is more important than speed. You can get a card that has a lower end GPU with high amounts of memory for a decent price. Like the Quatro I think it is, is one of the best (cost a lot, but its just an example) has 1 Gigabyte (1024 Megabytes) but only has a FX5200 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) which is really not that good for gaming. It cost $1000 for it but can barley play games at all. So judging from that all you need is hi memory, not hi speed.
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ADE, CAD in this case represent canadian money.

Kilauea, just quickly going through newegg, I was able to come up with something just above 1100CAD.

case
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119094

mobo
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

GPU
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130062

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817189003

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115005

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231102

HDD
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148144

keyboard & mouse
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16823109132

monitor
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824254001

OS
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16832116056

DVD-R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106043
 
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Thanks for the info bldg, that seems like a fine computer ;)

I am still wondering what sort of difference it would make to have some ram which is 800mhz instead of 1066mhz... or 667...

And sorry ADE, I should have made it clearer that CAD stood for Canadian Dollars:o
 
LOL! Money? Who knew! LOL! That changes a lot! but anyway, the speed doesn't really matter too much. The only thing you have to look out for is that the Core 2 duo has a minimum recommended speed of RAM is 800Mz. If you use a slower RAM you will lose some performance. Like what I said before how that works a few responses back. but it also says that it can have a max of 1066MHz FSB, which is faster then the 800MHz option. If you get 1066MHz RAM Then the CPU can say, "Hay, why not go a little faster when we talk rather than stay at 800Mhz?" Now the CPU and RAM aren't just talking fast, (Like when using 800Mhz) now they are talking like auctioneers! that means more data is passed between them, ultimatly making the computer a little bit faster. Kinda get what i mean?
 
ADE said:
Well with CAD, I believe Memory is more important than speed. You can get a card that has a lower end GPU with high amounts of memory for a decent price. Like the Quatro I think it is, is one of the best (cost a lot, but its just an example) has 1 Gigabyte (1024 Megabytes) but only has a FX5200 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) which is really not that good for gaming. It cost $1000 for it but can barley play games at all. So judging from that all you need is hi memory, not hi speed.
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He meant Canadian Dollars, not Computer assisted design. And also, I have no idea what you're talking about in terms of the Nvidia Quadro using FX5200 GPU's. The Quadro FX5500 is based off of the G71 core, which is used in 7900gt/x's.

edit: nvm mind about the CAD part, i didn't read his last post.

ADE said:
Since you dont use speed intensive applications, you can go with the lower speed RAM because it cost less and there for you can get more memory RAM for your computer. And as for the Graphics card, you wont be doing any gaming, so just look for one with a lot of MB on the card itself.
Click to expand...

If he doesn't game, then why does he need a card with lots of memory? A card with lots of memory but a weak core is just a waste of money. The memory on a video card only shows through if you play games with high resolution.
 
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diduknowthat said:
If he doesn't game, then why does he need a card with lots of memory? A card with lots of memory but a weak core is just a waste of money. The memory on a video card only shows through if you play games with high resolution.
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CAD= Computer aided Design. That take a lot of memory from a card to shoes all the details of the thing in which you you designing. Like a building. and the one card I talked about before is HORRIBLE FOR GAMING! But is really good for CAD. The GPU on that card is equivalent in gaming wise to an FX5500 GPU, but is still one of the best CAD cards out there. So from that I think that CAD must not be a very GPU intensive application, but a memory intensive application. I thought he meant Computer Aided Design, which is why I recommended a card that has a lot of memory and a GPU that will not break the bank on it that will not break the bank. I live in the USA, so i didn't know that CAD was Canadian money.
 
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