Basic guide Part 2

[Merlin]

This is the basic list as it stands right now we can add to it later should we need to.
My List( not included here are monitor, keyboard/mouse, and speakers)
1. Choose the Processor manufactorer that best fits your needs and price range
2. Choose the form factor and case that can best fits your needs ( Full tower, Mini-ATX, etc.)
3. Choose a socket type based on current trends and future plans by #1 choice
4. Choose a Mainboard/CPU combo based on #1 and #3 ( look also at "barebones" offerings at this stage)
5. Choose your video card and system RAM
6. Choose your Hard drive/s based upon your file system plans ( RAID or not )
7. Choose your optical drive/s
8. Choose a sound card IF your Mainboard of choice doesnt have what you need built in.
9. Choose a solid power supply. I put this at the end because what you choose in 1-8 will determine how much power you need but this is one of the more important choices ( no comments here dicecca..hahaha) it may be more cost effective IF you purchase a case with a power supply in it at step #2 choosing a form factor.

Please feel free to offer your ideas as I am sure I have missed something or put something in the wrong place. This is intended to be very basic just FYI.

[Merlin]

Since the Processor type is being discussed in another thread I would like to ask those of you who have a good bit of experience in one area more than another to pick a number coresponding to that experience and tell us a little about it and what choice you recomend and why. This could get to be a very long thread so please keep your responses on point and brief. Since Video cards is a biggy I will start a thread for that by itself (Ford or Chevy 2).

[Merlin]

Will no one weight in here?? I don't want to be a pain in the butt but I can't flesh out this guide by myself and I can't assign people to it sooooo PLEASE help me out here!!

[Merlin]

Maybe we should move this to a heavier trafic area. Not many people come to the feedback center I guess.

[dicecca112]

Done

[Zertz]

it may be more cost effective IF you purchase a case with a power supply in it at step #2 choosing a form factor.

You usually get a not so good PSUs when they're included with cases.

I'll comment more later, my BBQ is waiting for the steaks

[Merlin]

I guess no one is really interested in this......oh well

[dicecca112]

Its the end of summer, give it time a lot of people are out. I'll be PMing you with some ideas by the end of the month, once the school push and job search slow down

[ibleet]

I think this is a great thread, but having built just one rig so far, I hardly qualify to make suggestions or even comment on any of these topics. But...Im gonna take a stab anyway.

All I do know is that I am partial to Corsair PSU's. I run a 520 in my current system and will most likely buy a 620 for my next build. They are hard to beat!

Case to me is not a huge issue. Just pick one that has more than adequate airflow and space. I avoid cases that come with PSU's as there are usually better choices.

The first rig I built was AMD, so my next build is gonna be Intel. Possibly a Q6600 and build around that. I am partial to Asus, so my mobo may be a P5k. I will most likely choose either an 8800, or 8600's in SLI as my video card selection. I think that 4 GB of ram should do the job nicely.

The only other thing to consider is what you'll be doing with the computer, and your personal budget. I build for gaming with a budget under $2000, so my parts will be geared more in that direction.

I hope that others will contribute because I am anxious to see their opinions.

[Merlin]

Ok no problem. I don't know anything about how traffic moves and flows around here, especially since I was basically gone for 2 years.