Anyone build their own computers?

[ErikLS2]

Hey guys, I've built my last few computers myself and am getting ready to do it again.
Looking for some feedback from anyone that's up on the latest components. I've been
researching it a little but I'm a bit confused.

I'll be using the thing for Quickbooks/Quicken, email, web and Photoshop and home movie
making and storing. Probably won't play any games on it but maybe one driving or flying game
at some point. I don't like to do this often so when I do I try to get the almost latest hardware
so the thing will keep up for a few years.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Gigabyte motherboard (heard and read good things) not sure if I should get H55 or P55 chipset
socket 1156
4 GB Ram
Intel i5-760 processor (any future benefit to a i-7 socket 1356 combo?)
decent 1 GB video card (won't ever have dual cards or anything like that)

Was going to just buy a new Dell/HP/ ZT systems from Costco but it looks like I can buy top quality parts and do it myself again for the same or less money.

Any thoughts or input is appreciated. I'm not up on the latest stuff to make heads or tails
of the computer geek forums. Thanks.

[Mkelcy]

I've assembled all my computers since my original IBM PC/XT got too slow to stand in the late 80's. Each time I've done it, I've researched then current component ratings with an emphasis on speed and reliability (sacrificing, if necessary, speed for reliability) and got the latest CPU socket design, fastest and most RAM the MB would support, a processor and graphics card that were a few steps below the top of the line but well above average and the best backup system I could find. That approach has worked well for me to maximize my bang for the buck as a non-gamer.

Also I avoid bench marking programs - they just make you spend money you probably don't need to spend.

[Mathius]

I haven't kept up lately on what's specifically the latest and greatest, but I have always built my own pc's as well, and Mike has good advice above. Build the best system you can afford because it's going to become obsolete quicker than you can imagine. Building as close to the top of the line as possible I have managed to have long lasting PC's that have served me well. I think I got 7 years or more out of one and never less than 5. My current system I built 2 years ago and I haven't even come near to using it to the full advantage since all I mostly do is cruise the net these days, but I can watch streaming television shows and movies (if the site is fast enough) and often have anywhere from 15-30 tabs open at one time, along with windows media player and sometimes a video game going on my tv card.

Mathius

[robu]

I use www.anandtech.com check out there guides they do one about every 6 months or so and are a pretty good place to start.

[DartorDemon]

JMO, but isnt that overkill for your needs??

I have a homebuilt desktop for similar uses and i went with a cheaper setup because i knew i wouldnt spend that much time on it.

[ErikLS2]

It probably is overkill for what I need to do with it but then my daily driver
has 400 hp too if that says anything. :)

I don't like to do this any more often than I have to and the latest equip.
usually ensures the machine lasts as long as possible.

[ArtosDracon]

Since you're looking at the quad core i5, you may as well get the P55, the H55 has no read advantages over the P55 except onbaord video, and a few small disadvantages. 4GB of ram is the bare minimum IMHO. For video card, the new Radeon 6850 is a great piece, but i doubt you would need anything more than the slightly older Radeon 5670. Gigabyte makes great boards, best balance of features, speed and reliability on the market right now IMHO.

If you're not an Intel loyalist, an Athlon II x4 will get you very similar bang for notably less buck. On their side the 870 chipset should be all you need. The rest can remain the same.

[ErikLS2]

Robert I'm not an Intel loyalist so much, it's just what I've always bought in the past and have never had a
problem (knock on wood). Maybe I should go up to 8 GB on the ram now and not have to worry about it.

One other thing I thought of, what am I going to run into converting over to Win7 with my current programs?
Roxio Media Creator, Photoshop, Quickbooks, Quicken, etc.

Thanks for all the beedback!

[ArtosDracon]

Windows 7 has been great about compatibility. Worst case scenario I've been in was I had one program that required a new version from the maker that took forever, and I have two programs I have to run in XP compatibility mode, which is a sinche to set-up on pro and ultimate.

I've use AMD and Intel depending on who best met what I needed within my budget and that includes some heavy overclocking with a custom below 0 chilled liquid cooling system, and have had very even death rates, all well past what I would have expected them to handle. Both are safe bets IMHO.

[fordsbyjay]

I always build my own computers but it has been a couple years. The one thing about over building is they last longer before needing replaced. The last one I built I used EVGA mobo and video card. The best thing you can do is decide what mobo you want and go to their site. See if they have a forum and offer trouble shooting help. EVGA has excellent customer service, trade up program, and excellent help on their forums so I would use them again. There is usually a few bugs at first and help from the EVGA forum was irreplaceable. I also thought I had a video card problem about two years later and they replaced it on warranty which meant a free upgrade for me. There is also plenty of help on the forum as well as real feedback as to which components like ram, hardware etc are compatible. Intel mobos suck for help other then basic bios updates etc. The intel processors kicked ass last time I bought one but haven't looked lately.

For your needs you don't need a killer machine but I totally understand where you are coming from. When I built my last unit I basically told people I wanted it to be so fast that it would do what I want before I even touch the keyboard. LOL. I like to buy a lesser processor (if $$ is a consideration) but with fast clock speeds and use a mobo with fast bus speeds and fast ram. You can have all the processor in the world but if it is slow communicating with every other part in the computer then you are just wasting money. This is the difference when you see those $299 computers. They sound fast by reading the basic specs on the box yet they are slow as crap when you try using it. The other thing I am not a big fan of is onboard video. I have a couple of those computers and for a basic childs computer they are all right but you can get rockin' video cards now for so cheap why bother with onboard stuff.

[ErikLS2]

Thanks for all the input. I think my needs are going up though. Anyone heard of www.iracing.com? Rodger from Ironworks was talking it up over on lat-g.net and it looks like a ton of fun. I'm thinking now of doing the same thing with the computer but adding an Eyefinity video card and a triple monitor setup. Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbkXmSRyo9g&feature=related

[DJW32]

That setup is one of the coolest things I have ever seen! I need one...now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbkXm...eature=related

[ArtosDracon]

Well, I don't know exactly what software they're running, but by the sound of it most of the physics and computing happens on the server end, and the graphics and I\O are all that is handled by your computer. Your CPU should have no problem running just about anything around right now, software is well behind the hardware, which is unfortunate because it's been leading to software bloating for far too long now. For graphics, I would recommend one of the new Radeon 6850 or 6870s. They are actually teh successor to the 5750\5770, and are good speed for the price and have all the latest features. They're not the fastest things out, but they will definitely cover what you need and have headroom.