The time has come, im sick of the rubbish that is my current desktop... it is sitting in another room collecting dust, monitor less and restraining me from playing PR.

 

Im looking at getting a new desktop computer that will last me a solid 3-5 years before the programs and technology runs it into the ground. I will be looking at running Windows 7 on it when its is properly released.

 

 

What I need is for all you tec gurus out there to help me get the best, for the least. I know some stuff about computers but getting onto a site to find the right parts for me it may as well be in another language.

 

price is not a concern 'as such' but keeping it to a reasonable level would be nice

*cough* alienware, the king of computers for $20,000*/cough*

 

ANY help much appreciated!

Madhouse want a new computer too!

*serious thread face*

I'm sowwy... I'm not the smartest techie around but if you seriously want a future-proof system, the i7 core setups would be the way to go. Plenty of DDR2 RAM aswell.

 

Lets see what Psyrus or fallenplate will suggest.

yeah the i7 cores look extreme

 

will see what resident computer knowers suggest

Is your current computer 3-5 years old and still competing?

 

Value for money: P45, Quad Core, 4GB DDR2 RAM

Value for money: 790, X3 or X4 Phenom, 4GB DDR2 RAM

my current desktop is about 6 years old Pentium 4, radeon card, creative sound card and plays PR on a solid low-med

Did you check out the whirlpool new system wiki that Psyrus usually posts? Good stuff in there. Only you will know your budget.

Just built this one to do 3d rendering/CAD at work:

 

Intel Q9550

Asus P5Q SE2

6gb (3x 2gb) DDR2 Kingston 1066mhz RAM

Sparkle GTX260+

reusing a 250gb Western Digital hard drive

reusing old case

24" Asus monitor (forgot its exact name)

 

The whole thing (if I bought that with hdd and case) would've costed around 1.2-1.3k

 

For about $150-$200 more, you could have an i7 cpu and compatible motherboard in there.

 

If you're just buying a computer for home usage where PR will be the most strenuous thing you'll run on it, drop the Q9550 for something like the E8400.

 

I actually don't see much worth in going with i7 - you're wanting this pc to last you 3-5 years which by then, would probably be i7's end of line year (assuming Intel keeps with its Tick Tock mentality). Besides, the E8400 still nice

 

edit:

 

Did you check out the whirlpool new system wiki that Psyrus usually posts? Good stuff in there. Only you will know your budget.

 

Might as well save him the bother while I'm here

 

http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/?tag=rmp_sg_whirlpoolpcs_boxes

Edited June 21, 200915 yr by Stoked24

^ looks pretty good

 

@S.O.P: yeah i had a quick look at one of the links, searching, asking questions ect. trying to find out the most I can

Intel Core i7 920 $425.00 $425.00

Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU Cooler $95.00 $95.00

Samsung 1TB 7200rpm SATA II HD103UJ $135.00 x4 $540.00

DFI LanParty UT-X58-T3EH8 Motherboard$445.00 $445.00

Zalman ZM1000-HP 1000W Power Supply $285.00 $285.00

Antec Twelve Hundred Case $289.00 $289.00

Arctic Cooling MX-2 Compound $6.00 $6.00

GainwardGeForceGTX285 GoldenSample $525.00 x3 $1,575.00

Corsair HX3X12G1600C9 12GB (6x2GB) DDR3 $365.00 $365.00

BenQ G2412HD 24in Widescreen LCD Monitor $279.00 x2 $558.00

 

 

 

Sub-Total: $4,583.00

 

there you go 5 min work get you an i7 with 4tb raid0, tri sli 285gtx on dual monitors (game in one watch pron on the other) and 12 gb ram.

 

next

:hi:

Edited June 21, 200915 yr by Shifty.au

Intel Core i7 920 $425.00 $425.00

Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU Cooler $95.00 $95.00

Samsung 1TB 7200rpm SATA II HD103UJ $135.00 x4 $540.00

DFI LanParty UT-X58-T3EH8 Motherboard$445.00 $445.00

Zalman ZM1000-HP 1000W Power Supply $285.00 $285.00

Antec Twelve Hundred Case $289.00 $289.00

Arctic Cooling MX-2 Compound $6.00 $6.00

GainwardGeForceGTX285 GoldenSample $525.00 x3 $1,575.00

Corsair HX3X12G1600C9 12GB (6x2GB) DDR3 $365.00 $365.00

BenQ G2412HD 24in Widescreen LCD Monitor $279.00 x2 $558.00

 

 

 

Sub-Total: $4,583.00

 

there you go 5 min work get you an i7 with 4tb raid0, tri sli 285gtx on dual monitors (game in one watch pron on the other) and 12 gb ram.

 

next

:hi:

 

but keeping it to a reasonable level would be nice

 

*cough*

 

now where could i get all this hardware... probably not going to get monitors, gonna plug it straight into my eyeballs! Well maybe upto a new 42inch LCD tv at least...

 

Is that motherboard necessary.. anything with "lanparty" in it screams "I like men!"

 

its a good set up but im thinking under 2.5k... we are building a computer after all not a space shuttle

*cough*

Is that motherboard necessary.. anything with "lanparty" in it screams "I like men!"

 

lol... just lol

Just built this one to do 3d rendering/CAD at work:

 

Intel Q9550

Asus P5Q SE2

6gb (3x 2gb) DDR2 Kingston 1066mhz RAM

Sparkle GTX260+

reusing a 250gb Western Digital hard drive

reusing old case

24" Asus monitor (forgot its exact name)

 

The whole thing (if I bought that with hdd and case) would've costed around 1.2-1.3k

 

For about $150-$200 more, you could have an i7 cpu and compatible motherboard in there.

 

If you're just buying a computer for home usage where PR will be the most strenuous thing you'll run on it, drop the Q9550 for something like the E8400.

 

I actually don't see much worth in going with i7 - you're wanting this pc to last you 3-5 years which by then, would probably be i7's end of line year (assuming Intel keeps with its Tick Tock mentality). Besides, the E8400 still nice

Similar to what I suggested, with more details. I suggested quadcore because I thought it may have the 3-5 year longevity he is after that a dual may not give him.

 

My e8400 is running sweet, and will probably be good for a couple more video card upgrades. Having it overclocked gives it a bit more usable life.

 

There are other options though, Scrim's is a good starter.

 

Gigabyte GA-EP43-US3L (45 if you want 2 vid cards) or Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P

Dual or Quad (e8400 is good, quadcore may give you a bit more) or AMD Phenom II AM3 955

4890 or GTX285

2 Hard Drives (don't worry about raid)

Corsair HX620

Case to your liking

Edited June 21, 200915 yr by captncrunch240

price is not a concern 'as such' but keeping it to a reasonable level would be nice

*cough* alienware, the king of computers for $20,000*/cough*

 

ANY help much appreciated!

 

$4500 < $20000

Gees theres no pleasing some people.

 

2 things we need to know . how much do you think you will spend and how much can you spend if you absolutly had too ?

 

$2000 gets you a top notch comp for today and maybe 12 months.

You cant buy something today and have it still near current in 2 years.

My general advice is get an intel e8400 or i7 920 a $2-300 mb 2x 4890 or a gtx 285 at least 6 gb ram and 2 1tb harddrives (raid0).

 

A 42"lcd that does <5ms and 1920x1080 res can be had for $1500-2500 or a nice 24"for $350.

 

:hi:

Realistically i could build you something E8500 with DDR3 for just under a Gee all brand named with warrantees, at the end of the day some people seem to think a pc will be extinct after 12 months, but as ur aware we have many a user on big d with a 3- 5 yr old pc and there still happy so... different needs for individual situations,

 

E8400/E8500

GB EP45T

Skill DDR3 @ 1333 x 6 GB

GB 285 GTX 1GB

2 TB / Raid 0

 

1058

Edited June 21, 200915 yr by Ericazuoq

$4500 < $20000

Gees theres no pleasing some people.

 

na I was meaning not like the $20000 computer... That system is very pleasing but not to my wallet.

 

2 things we need to know . how much do you think you will spend and how much can you spend if you absolutly had too ?

 

ok im thinking around 2500 up to 3000 if i really had to

 

dont worry about monitor, ill sort that one out, i want it to be good with good gaming for the next 2 or so years and then just a good reliable computer for the a few more.

I think 4890's run way too hot.

 

My gtx285 squeals like a pig.

 

Just a few things to think about before you decide

Considering games are still slow to use Dual let alone Quad core technology your ok their its the eye candy that kills so a Dcore or Qcore with 6g of ram to suit the FSB of the mobo and CPU, and then spring for the best eyecandy providing gun GPU's you can get

I got an i7 920, 4890, 6Gig DDR3, big ass hdd, better than basic mobo and a 750watt Antec PSU for 1535.

 

The i7's are now affordable, overclock like made and should last awhile.

 

The latest gear is not much more than the above examples.

 

Take your time, do lots of research.

 

In my thread which was quite long I asked a lot of questions all over the place and the end result was a great price and I am super happy with my purchase.

 

End of story, just take your time and have a look around. I didn't think I could afford an i7 rig, I have one just because I looked and looked and looked.

 

I think 4890's run way too hot.

 

 

 

Doesn't seem so to me.

 

 

I got my i7 920 for under $400 as well.

Edited June 21, 200915 yr by Snazzy

well smoke when you get your system let me know how she operates! I had a look at what you ended up buying at its good stuff for a good price.

 

I would be looking at similar to yours

$2000 gets you a top notch comp for today and maybe 12 months.

 

 

It's true. Unless you feel like having stupid bragging rights for some ridiculous PC that you won't even need half the power of there isnt much point going over $2k. I got myself a top notch custom-part PC about....6 months ago? which cost me about $1,100 and still runs all the newest games completely maxed out.

 

IMO PC's last longer than 12 months, there is the extreme of people who make their PC last them like 6-7 years and the other extreme of people who think you need to update every freaking fortnight. You can build a PC which will run games on good quality for far longer than 12 months.

 

As for actually helping you know what to get I have nothing to offer just thought id post that

 

/back on topic

It's true. Unless you feel like having stupid bragging rights for some ridiculous PC that you won't even need half the power of there isnt much point going over $2k. I got myself a top notch custom-part PC about....6 months ago? which cost me about $1,100 and still runs all the newest games completely maxed out.

 

IMO PC's last longer than 12 months, there is the extreme of people who make their PC last them like 6-7 years and the other extreme of people who think you need to update every freaking fortnight. You can build a PC which will run games on good quality for far longer than 12 months.

 

As for actually helping you know what to get I have nothing to offer just thought id post that

 

/back on topic

 

AMEN!!

Shotgun, it's running awesome and I love it!!

 

Worth every penny.

There you go then get close to what smoke got as it was good value and has plenty of grunt.