System Longevity

[Monkey]

I am working on a build that will be effective for about 2 years and I cant decide on some components, so if you wonderful tech gurus would be so helpful and help me decide that would be aamzing.

Should I go Quad or dual? I gut reaction is Quad.
But, then should I go Intel or AMD? I am on a budget of about 600 US.
This computer will be used mainly for music, movies and some light gaming like HL2 and some portal.. maybe some COD.

GPU:
I a was thinking that this card would be good?
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

I do not plan to OC either.

thanks for your help!

 

[Evolv]

If you're just doing standard stuff like that, then a dual core would suit you. But if you want the build to last for 2 years then a quad would be more future proof. Do you need a monitor, operating system, keyboard/mouse, speakers, along with the build?

 

[Monkey]

yes I do.
the whole budget is 940.
but I was leaving out 200 for a monitor and possibly a keybaord.
I am still workin gon the operating system.

 

[Luke]

This is under the impression that you have an os, keyboard, mouse, and optical drive(s)

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX 450W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Power Supplies
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
Newegg.com - ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

that comes to about(i did not do the exact math) 583.96 + shipping, without a case, if you could extend your budget a bit, then it would be a kick *** system for the price that would last you quite a while. That is after all MIR

For the os, you could possible use ubuntu, or windows 7 beta. You could find a case for probably $30 that looks decent...the cooling might not be too great but it would work.

EDIT: bugger, i forgot an hdd...do you possibly have one that you could use? As my build would have to downgrade on the cpu if i had to include an hdd in your budget.

EDIT2: hmm, now you need speakers as well...looks like downgrading it is.
although a little extension on your budget would be great...here is another option if you can't do that.
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

 

[Evolv]

CPU & Case combo:
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!
That's a good case, I've used it before for someone else.

Mobo:
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

GPU:
Newegg.com - ASUS EAH4830/HTDP/512MD3 Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

RAM:
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

PSU:
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS500 500W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

HDD:
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

Optical:
Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners

Speakers:
Newegg.com - Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - Speakers
I have used these before and they are really nice if you're on a budget.

Total comes to $610.91, not counting the $50 worth of mail in rebates. Shipping depends on where you live so could be like $30 for shipping. Overall it's a pretty solid build.

Oh and the PC Power & Cooling comes with a free 4gb flash drive, Awww Yea!

 

[Luke]

^gpu?

 

[Evolv]

Nooooo. Freakin a
Edit: Fixed it, had to downgrade a Q9400 to E7400 though.

 

[Luke]

^the hdd was my problem lol

 

[Monkey]

Ok, here is what I got so far.
MOBO Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
CPU Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
GPU Newegg.com - ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
RAM Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
HDD Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
OPTI Newegg.com - LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners
CASE Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
PSU Newegg.com - OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies
Monitor Newegg.com - Acer X233Hbid Black 23" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 40000:1 (ACM) - LCD Monitors
Speakers Newegg.com - Logitech S-220 17 Watts 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System - Speakers
Mouse + Keyboard Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 4000 | Staples®

ok, so I have obiviously gone over the budget I started with.
So, what would you guys cut from this?
Could I go down to a core 2 duo and I know I can go down to a 22" mointor for $150.
Also is that PSU too much can I get by with something cheaper?
What is the possibility of making this an AMD build an dusing the new phenom processors?

Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Luke]

switch the psu to a 450vx or 550vx and your golden...