Build me a computer

T

tszpara

New Member
Build me a computer.

Well I plan on upgrading my computer in the next 3 months or so once I get my last credit card paid off and my income tax refund.

Budget is $1500 or less but probably won't need to spend that much.

Prefer AMD versus Intel based chip.
Mostly will be converting videos to DVD. Tv shows, pron, old vhs tapes etc.
That and burning DVD's.

pick or suggest
1. Motherboard--pick your top 3-5 if you like.
I like upgrade-ability. So I may pick a cheaper CPU and upgrade to a faster CPU later on.
It's what I've always done in the past.
1a. CPU and fan.
2. Power Supply. Is 1000W enough? I've used Antec in the past. Are they still a quality brand?(I've got 4 internal and 2 external hard drives and I'm sure I'll add more)
2a Should I replace my case fans? Do I need a hard drive cooler/fan or anything else?
3. Video card. I usually get a $79-$100 one and just upgrade to another $79 one as the price drops.
4. Need an economical sound card. No need to go crazy.
5. Modem. (I have a circa 1989 ISA USRobotics)

I've got 2 IDE drives and 2 Sata hard drives along with a usb/firewire external.
I just purchased a IDE DVD burner so I really don't want to replace it right now.
One of the Sata drives is in an external ide/sata usb/esata case so esata would be nice.

I plan on putting either 4 or 8 gig of ram. I'd like to leave slots open for future upgrades.
Running XP but I'm sure I'll be forced to use Vista someday.

I've got a printer,scanner, monitor,case,keyboard,mouse,speakers(5pc surround sound).
 
Before I start, do you plan on overclocking at all?

Edit: And what case do you have?

Either way, heres a build, its pretty high performance and probably more than what you need..

You could tone down the RAM and GPU, but otherwise, I'd keep everything else.

Toned down RAM
Toned down GPU
 
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I hadn't thought about overclocking so I'll say no.

I've got a full tower case (no name) I bought 10 years ago.
 
I've got 3 fans in it.

One at bottom front blowing air in.
2 in back top blowing air out.
I believe they are 80mm.

Couldn't I just get some new fans?
 
tszpara said:
I've got 3 fans in it.

One at bottom front blowing air in.
2 in back top blowing air out.
I believe they are 80mm.

Couldn't I just get some new fans?
Click to expand...

Technically yes, but the only way you are going to get efficient 80mm fans is if they are high rpm, which will be loud, its your call.
 
I always keep my PCs in air conditioned rooms. A good copper passive cooler for the cpu and a nice rear fan always kept my pc running cool. Even under load. Doesn't make that much noise either.

FYI: You don't want to skimp out on the cpu when your talking about video/photo editing.
 
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