07-06-2006, 06:14 AM
If you've played with computers before and have an idea on how to build one or know someone that does, i suggest building one. You can get half the parts for like 300 just by buying a barebone kit and those usually only need memory card and a harddrive and you can use your old cd/dvd rom and diskdrive with it. I'm also building another computer so i kinda know the situation as well. From what i can tell, you're not too big on other multiplayer so a standard 2.4GHz and up should suffice for you with allaround use. Just get memory to cover it. I suggest ddr since you dont seem to be a heavy multitasker to me..just a feeling. If you are, then go for the ddr2. Diablo 2 uses low video so you can go as low as a simple 128 if you liked but i'd use between 256 up to 1gig video cause the new windows coming out uses heavy video and sucks up memory like crazy. Chances are your going to be doing media things with video and music so you might want to get an accelerator of some sort. If you do build one, get a good powersource. We're talkin 500 and up and pick a good motherboard that has alot of space. when choosing a case, i'd suggest a full sized one, midtowers dont seem to have much space and heat easy, there is one around that comes with its own liquid cooling system too. that might be good. the new windows is supposively its biggest build so you might need a big drive. something with a big cache. I think the biggest available is a 16mb hd cache but i havent checked in 3 months so i dont know. as for windows, not a big fan of it. but if i had to choose i'd probably go for a media one since they seem more open source and are easily changeable.
If you do build one and decide to go all out, heres some parts ideas:
+FoxConn 975x9aa-8ekrs2h motherboard that can hold the intel 2 duo with solo ht. (3.5-4.8ghz)
+dd42 667mhz using up to 8 gigs; crucial balistic ddr2 type 1000mhz (balistic is overclock type of memory)
+thermaltake tr2 fan
+thermaltake tai chi case with built in liquid cooling kit
+coolmax 1000 watt power supply with dual fan
+danger den cooling kit (getting rid of liquid cooling kit)
+ge force 7950 1gig video card
+kworld magician tv tuner kit
+creative labs xfi platinum sound station
what i listed is around 1800 but not all of what i'm going to use. As for harddrives, i'm getting 3. 2 external (1 smaller than the other) and 1 external (for movies/downloads). making the one that holds the wants (not needs) like games and whatever the C: drive and making the windows harddrive the smaller one. i'm using a 74-80 gig harddrive for windows, microsoft office, codecs etc. for it and a 400 gig for the rest. using westerd digital caviar se2 for it. its not out till july 11th but it has a 24mb cache and 15k rpm spin speed for faster access.
hope this gives you an idea on what you'd like to do for yours
If you do build one and decide to go all out, heres some parts ideas:
+FoxConn 975x9aa-8ekrs2h motherboard that can hold the intel 2 duo with solo ht. (3.5-4.8ghz)
+dd42 667mhz using up to 8 gigs; crucial balistic ddr2 type 1000mhz (balistic is overclock type of memory)
+thermaltake tr2 fan
+thermaltake tai chi case with built in liquid cooling kit
+coolmax 1000 watt power supply with dual fan
+danger den cooling kit (getting rid of liquid cooling kit)
+ge force 7950 1gig video card
+kworld magician tv tuner kit
+creative labs xfi platinum sound station
what i listed is around 1800 but not all of what i'm going to use. As for harddrives, i'm getting 3. 2 external (1 smaller than the other) and 1 external (for movies/downloads). making the one that holds the wants (not needs) like games and whatever the C: drive and making the windows harddrive the smaller one. i'm using a 74-80 gig harddrive for windows, microsoft office, codecs etc. for it and a 400 gig for the rest. using westerd digital caviar se2 for it. its not out till july 11th but it has a 24mb cache and 15k rpm spin speed for faster access.
hope this gives you an idea on what you'd like to do for yours