Recommendations for new build

[William J. Lunsford]

I am just starting to gather information. It's been six years since I built
my last computer, and I have not really kept up with the latest
developments. I'm planning to build a new system for Windows 7, and would
like some recommendations regarding components. My new system will be used
primarily for Internet, e-mail, and home theater. I'm not really into
gaming. My budget is not tight, but I don't wish to waste money on
capabilities I will not use. I am not saving anything from my old system
because I will be passing it on to a relative's child. Any guidance or help
you can provide will be appreciated.

Bill

 

[JR Weiss]

I am just starting to gather information. It's been six years since I built my
last computer, and I have not really kept up with the latest developments. I'm
planning to build a new system for Windows 7, and would like some
recommendations regarding components. My new system will be used primarily for
Internet, e-mail, and home theater. I'm not really into gaming. My budget is
not tight, but I don't wish to waste money on capabilities I will not use. I
am not saving anything from my old system because I will be passing it on to a
relative's child. Any guidance or help you can provide will be appreciated.

If you're looking for best performance, an Intel i7 system may be the best
choice. However, for your use, an AMD Phenom system may be almost as good, and
cheaper. Gigabyte has a good range of Motherboard choices.

With a new system, no re-use, and a reasonable budget, spend a few extra $$ to
take advantage of new technology to make the system resistant to short-term
obsolescence. Since DDR3 RAM is getting cheaper, and you will get the 64-bit
version of Win7 with most versions (e.g., Pro, which may be your best bet), get
a system that will take advantage of DDR3 capability and install 6 GB RAM (3 x 2
GB sticks). Also check out 64-bit compatibility for drivers for all your
peripherals.

Hard Drive choices are a bit broader now, with some good high-speed SSDs
available. However, they are still expensive, so a 300 GB WD Velociraptor is a
good choice for OS and apps, and one of the perpendicular media HDs (750 GB and
up) for data.

Your choice on graphics, since nVidia and ATI are going head-to-head. An ATI
4670 will be a good low-power, medium capability card, and I like the HIS line
with Ice-Q active cooling (quiet and efficient).

 

[William J. Lunsford]

Thank you so much for all of this good information. This is the kind of
reply I was hoping for.

 

[Z]

I am just starting to gather information. It's been six years since I built
my last computer, and I have not really kept up with the latest
developments. I'm planning to build a new system for Windows 7, and would
like some recommendations regarding components. My new system will be used
primarily for Internet, e-mail, and home theater. I'm not really into
gaming. My budget is not tight, but I don't wish to waste money on
capabilities I will not use. I am not saving anything from my old system
because I will be passing it on to a relative's child. Any guidance or help
you can provide will be appreciated.

Bill

once again, "Home theater PC" ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_theater_PC

 

[Z]

I am just starting to gather information. It's been six years since I built
my last computer, and I have not really kept up with the latest
developments. I'm planning to build a new system for Windows 7, and would
like some recommendations regarding components. My new system will be used
primarily for Internet, e-mail, and home theater. I'm not really into
gaming. My budget is not tight, but I don't wish to waste money on
capabilities I will not use. I am not saving anything from my old system
because I will be passing it on to a relative's child. Any guidance or help
you can provide will be appreciated.

Bill

I hope this could help

"home theatre pc site:newegg.com - Google Product Search"
http://www.google.com/products?hl=e...a=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4

"htpc site:newegg.com - Google Search"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=htpc+site:newegg.com&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

anything better?

 

[Rob Morley]

I hope this could help

I'm afraid your hopes may be unfounded.

"home theatre pc site:newegg.com - Google Product Search"
http://www.google.com/products?hl=e...a=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4

"htpc site:newegg.com - Google Search"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=htpc+site:newegg.com&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

anything better?

Just about anything /would/ be better - he asked for hardware
recommendations and you posted a fairly pointless list of stuff from a
supplier who doesn't ship outside the USA.

 

[Ken]

JR Weiss said the following on 7/14/2009 12:16 PM:

If you're looking for best performance, an Intel i7 system may be the best
choice. However, for your use, an AMD Phenom system may be almost as good, and
cheaper. Gigabyte has a good range of Motherboard choices.

With a new system, no re-use, and a reasonable budget, spend a few extra $$ to
take advantage of new technology to make the system resistant to short-term
obsolescence. Since DDR3 RAM is getting cheaper, and you will get the 64-bit
version of Win7 with most versions (e.g., Pro, which may be your best bet), get
a system that will take advantage of DDR3 capability and install 6 GB RAM (3 x 2
GB sticks). Also check out 64-bit compatibility for drivers for all your
peripherals.

Hard Drive choices are a bit broader now, with some good high-speed SSDs
available. However, they are still expensive, so a 300 GB WD Velociraptor is a
good choice for OS and apps, and one of the perpendicular media HDs (750 GB and
up) for data.

Your choice on graphics, since nVidia and ATI are going head-to-head. An ATI
4670 will be a good low-power, medium capability card, and I like the HIS line
with Ice-Q active cooling (quiet and efficient).

Any recos for a reliable DVD R/W unit?

 

[William J. Lunsford]

Thanks for the information! Your help is appreciated.

I am just starting to gather information. It's been six years since I
built
my last computer, and I have not really kept up with the latest
developments. I'm planning to build a new system for Windows 7, and would
like some recommendations regarding components. My new system will be
used
primarily for Internet, e-mail, and home theater. I'm not really into
gaming. My budget is not tight, but I don't wish to waste money on
capabilities I will not use. I am not saving anything from my old system
because I will be passing it on to a relative's child. Any guidance or
help
you can provide will be appreciated.

Bill

I hope this could help

"home theatre pc site:newegg.com - Google Product Search"
http://www.google.com/products?hl=e...a=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4

"htpc site:newegg.com - Google Search"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=htpc+site:newegg.com&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

anything better?

 

[JR Weiss]

Any recos for a reliable DVD R/W unit?

Samsung S223 gets good reviews.

 

[John Doe]

"William J. Lunsford" <nobody nowhere.com> wrote:

I am just starting to gather information. It's been six years
since I built my last computer, and I have not really kept up
with the latest developments. I'm planning to build a new
system for Windows 7, and would like some recommendations
regarding components. My new system will be used primarily for
Internet, e-mail, and home theater. I'm not really into
gaming. My budget is not tight, but I don't wish to waste
money on capabilities I will not use. I am not saving anything
from my old system because I will be passing it on to a
relative's child. Any guidance or help you can provide will be
appreciated.

If you're not interested in playing the latest games then why
not consider Linux as your OS?
BWAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!


















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From: Mark <i dontgetlotsofspamanymore.invalid>
Newsgroups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt,uk.comp.homebuilt
Subject: Re: Recommendations for new build
Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:26:59 +0100
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[William J. Lunsford]

It's taken me many years to learn how to work with Windows and I don't wish
to start over with another OS. Thanks, though, for the suggestion.

 

[John Doe]

It's taken me many years to learn how to work with Windows and I
don't wish to start over with another OS.

The stuff I do in Windows they cannot even do in Linux, mainly
speech activated systemwide scripting and dictation.

 

[John Doe]

I probably should have added a disclaimer before posting... some free
software like Firefox is a great, my opinion is not from positive
feelings for Microsoft, just the facts.

Pushing the envelope of computing is like trying to escape from
captivity. Setbacks are frustrating and Linux is full of them.

 

[Z]

It's taken me many years to learn how to work with Windows and I don't wish
to start over with another OS. Thanks, though, for the suggestion.

If you're not interested in playing the latest games then why not
consider Linux as your OS?

--
(\__/) M.
(='.'=) Due to the amount of spam posted via googlegroups and
(")_(") their inaction to the problem. I am blocking most articles
posted from there. If you wish your postings to be seen by
everyone you will need use a different method of posting.
[Reply-to address valid until it is spammed.]

an advertisement for Linux distros:
you could try out the 'Linux Live CD' edition of various distros. It
is stored on an optical disc and boots from optical drive. If you find
it's not that hard for you to experience it, you could install a small
one to your huge HDD. Then your machine a couple of OSes. I thought
Linux distros could not be very difficult for native English speakers
anyhow... Although Linux is not like to be a good choice for
entertainment, it must give you a shorter booting time.

 

[Z]

I am just starting to gather information. It's been six years since I built
my last computer, and I have not really kept up with the latest
developments. I'm planning to build a new system for Windows 7, and would
like some recommendations regarding components. My new system will be used
primarily for Internet, e-mail, and home theater. I'm not really into
gaming. My budget is not tight, but I don't wish to waste money on
capabilities I will not use. I am not saving anything from my old system
because I will be passing it on to a relative's child. Any guidance or help
you can provide will be appreciated.

Bill

what's more, you may want a headphone. I'd like those big 32-ohm ones
without a mike.

Newegg.com - Headphone, Gaming Headphones, Wireless Headphones,
Circumaural Headphone, PC Gaming Headphones:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=70&name=Headphones-Accessories

as well as a good sound card you must need.

 

[John Doe]

Z <sdrkyj gmail.com> wrote:

....

Newegg.com - Headphone, Gaming Headphones, Wireless Headphones,
Circumaural Headphone, PC Gaming Headphones:
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=70&name=Headphones-Accessories

as well as a good sound card you must need.

Are you advertising for Newegg, Spambot? A high percentage of your
recent posts have included their links. Personally, I like your
technique, and of course there is nothing wrong with Newegg or any
other commercial entity (unless you are persistently pointing to
them).

 

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

Z <sdrkyj gmail.com> wrote:

...


Are you advertising for Newegg, Spambot? A high percentage of your
recent posts have included their links. Personally, I like your
technique, and of course there is nothing wrong with Newegg or any
other commercial entity (unless you are persistently pointing to
them).

There is over in the UK group that it's being crossposted to - NewEgg
don't ship internationally (except to PR).

Z, please trim us out if you're only posting newegg links.

Cheers - Jaimie

 

[mindwave]

not sure why that illicited the response it did, unless linux is just too frightening of a concept for that individuual.

My primary interest is sound and video editing so when i built my last "primary PC" I loaded it with Linux ONLY

AMD Quad Core 4GB ram NVIDIA PCI-E VID CARD

and it does the work in less than 1/2 the time my intel dual core did.

I admit, I dont play games, but I have run Quake 3, Super Karts and a few otehrs just for distractions, and they run great!

j

 

[Fishface]

If you pick an user friendly Linux such as Ubuntu it's really easy to
use and very like windows.

Yeah, easy to use, but not so easy to install if it doesn't recognize all your hardware.
When the installation finished, there was not support for the sound card. It told me I
could recompile the kernel and include a driver for the sound card. At that point, I
was done. I just wanted to use the older Compaq to play MP3s at work.

 

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

Yeah, easy to use, but not so easy to install if it doesn't recognize all your hardware.
When the installation finished, there was not support for the sound card. It told me I
could recompile the kernel and include a driver for the sound card.

When was that? Drivers are all pluggable these days, you don't need to
recompile kernels for them. Have been for ages.

Cheers - Jaimie