New PC, Recommend Changes...

**the_ancient** · 11-30-2006, 01:56 AM

I am putting together a New PC, I want to stay under the $2,000 mark.

My Goals: Robust Multi-tasking Capablies, I use Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Notepad++, Eclipse, and several other Development app concurently, as well as Media Players (winamp, winmediaplayer, sirius player widget, etc)

I dont do a Whole lot of gameing but I play a few.

I also want to replace all 3 of my CRT montiors with LCD's (included in my price goal)

here is my list so far
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...mber=3733 831

any thing I should change, modify, or suggestions

Thanks

**Vin DSL** · 11-30-2006, 02:04 AM

You came to the right place... I'm a fixture on AnandTech, too!

I know all the tricks, and then some!

The thing is, are you willing to listen?

I think not... and if I'm gonna waste my breath, it'll be in that community, not here.

BTW, here's my current config: http://anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=32886, if you care to look.

Hardly state-of-the-art, but it'll run circles around most ppl's computers that I know -- kinda like a '57 Chevy of the New Millenium...

Anyway, I know what works, and what doesn't. I don't mind sharing that knowledge here, but I'm not gonna argue with you!

**the_ancient** · 11-30-2006, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by Vin DSL

You came to the right place... I'm a fixture on AnandTech, too!

I know all the tricks, and then some!

The thing is, are you willing to listen?

I think not... and if I'm gonna waste my breath, it'll be in that community, not here.

I will always listen, I may not follow

**Vin DSL** · 11-30-2006, 02:44 AM

Okay, let's start with the case...

I assume you're looking for something that moves some air, right?

Are you sold on the idea of having a 200/250mm blow hole fan in the side cover?

**JPC-Greg** · 11-30-2006, 07:46 AM

I would drop the 5200x2 down to a 4800x2 . I assumke your going for the 1mb cache. you wont see a noticeable enough difference in these two.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103754

up the ram from 2gb to 4gb

drop the 17 lcd's, go with two of these 19's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009091

and this one for your center ,I assume thats what your plan was.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009094

or worst case just get 3x of them matching 19's .

With graphics (or gaming) your gonna thank me for the extra realestate, you wont beleive the difference and how it really increases productivity.

for best images you really want monitors and video cards that can use dvi instead of that old school vga crap.

I agree with Vin ont eh case (go figure, we agree on something). Ditch the no fan having case, get something with at least one good rear 120mm fan. I recommend one of these to get one with power in that price range.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811208004
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156175
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811166008

theres other options if yiou dont mind your case looking like some cheap dumb toys'r'us pc .

as for harddrive if you insist on a 250gb, then go with this raid edition drive for $5 more. Trust me, its much better.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136055

I would opt for the 320 personally though.

for cards , get matching http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127210

heres a link to the best next closest things , since the 4800x2 and the acer 22" isnt in stock right now.

$1850

public list for this setup
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...mber=4729 907

**Gwaihir** · 11-30-2006, 08:26 AM

Hmm.. how "wide" can you get? I'd prefer to take at least one (and possibly both) of the side screens in the opposite direction: pivot them sideways. Traditional 1024x1280 works very well with that. Jag's probably right that you might as well take 19" ones though. 17 vs 19" price difference is very small and most people find 19" more comfortable.

I just don't get that wide-screen craze for computer monitors anyway, not for workstations that is, and certainly not for multi-screen setups. IMHO it's only an advantage when gaming and watching movies, not for any serious work. Sure, the manufacturers are happy to oblidge, they don't need to provide as much monitor per diagonal this way. (A 19" wide screen monitor has a smaller surface area and less pixels than a 19" traditional 5:4, etc.)

**the_ancient** · 11-30-2006, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by Vin DSL

Okay, let's start with the case...

I assume you're looking for something that moves some air, right?

Are you sold on the idea of having a 200/250mm blow hole fan in the side cover?

I am not sold on anything, The case was actually an after thought...

**JPC-Greg** · 11-30-2006, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by Gwaihir

Hmm.. how "wide" can you get? I'd prefer to take at least one (and possibly both) of the side screens in the opposite direction: pivot them sideways. Traditional 1024x1280 works very well with that. Jag's probably right that you might as well take 19" ones though. 17 vs 19" price difference is very small and most people find 19" more comfortable.

I just don't get that wide-screen craze for computer monitors anyway, not for workstations that is, and certainly not for multi-screen setups. IMHO it's only an advantage when gaming and watching movies, not for any serious work. Sure, the manufacturers are happy to oblidge, they don't need to provide as much monitor per diagonal this way. (A 19" wide screen monitor has a smaller surface area and less pixels than a 19" traditional 5:4, etc.)

Actually monitors and tvs have always been widescreen, always. There is no sqaure tv or monitor. Hence the resolutions, 800x600, 1024x768, etc etc on "standard" monitors.

so if your already working on a 1024x768 or 1280x1024 , why not just get something with more horizontal space and the same vertical space? It helps me with putting more windows in my same space, theres only so wide i need a web browser to be, the rest is free space for other things, chats, monitoring things, etc.

**the_ancient** · 11-30-2006, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by Jag

public list for this setup
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...mber=4729 907

Thanks!!!

I may go with a 320, I had planned on added another drive later anyway. I have 2 Descktops networked right now, when i build the new one, I will be Stripping out my Oldest PC removing all but the basics and giving it to my Father, the 3 Harddrives that are in it will move over to my Current main Desktop, which will become my New HTPC

and file server...

so storage is not the issuse, I use the network for that

Aslo, will the 450w powersupply support everthing and still have enough juice to add on things? I always heard these Dual Core X2 where power hungery

**the_ancient** · 11-30-2006, 09:37 AM

ohh, and I probally will not buy everything at once. I will probally by the Monitors this Month, because I am sick and tired of my CRT's

and then build the computer over the next couple of months,

**JPC-Greg** · 11-30-2006, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by the_ancient

Thanks!!!

I may go with a 320, I had planned on added another drive later anyway. I have 2 Descktops networked right now, when i build the new one, I will be Stripping out my Oldest PC removing all but the basics and giving it to my Father, the 3 Harddrives that are in it will move over to my Current main Desktop, which will become my New HTPC

and file server...

so storage is not the issuse, I use the network for that

Aslo, will the 450w powersupply support everthing and still have enough juice to add on things? I always heard these Dual Core X2 where power hungery

It should not be a problem. The only real draw on power is the cpu, and video cards. You dont have a ton of fans, just one drive. everything else like monitors have their own power cords. If its a concern though just do it right the first time around. Get a case without a power supply then reserch what power supply will work best with ample power since I dont know what your adding later.

That case you picked with a 600w had no fans, fans are cheap but trust me when I say that power supply wont make it 6 months. A reliable 600w powersupply should cost you more than that case alone.

**Frank Broughton** · 12-01-2006, 08:41 AM

Jag is right on the power supply. Get a very good power supply. In my systems over the years here at home the power supply has been the cause of most of my system failures.

I would love to build the system you are looking at... but I have 5 systems I need to keep up to date here as I home school my kids and they all have their own system - so mine lags behind to what I would want ;(

I have had my best luck with ASUS mother boards and worst with Gigabyte - for what its worth.

I second matching the video cards as Jag mentioned - less possible driver problems. Personal preference being Nvidia over ATI.

Western Digital hard drives have always lasted the longest here (have purchased and installed over 100 hard drives here for the home network over the years (anyone remember rll drives?).

Question: what capture card (unit) are you using on your HTPC?