Building a Computer
 

I want to build a computer, mainly being for my music.
I want something that will run pretty quickly, and obviously have a decent sound card.

Any suggestions on parts?

I need....

a case
motherboard & cpu
sound card
video card
hard drive (i want one being from 100-160gb)
cd-rom (not sure if i want a dvd burner, or just a regular cd-r)
RAM

i need at least 2 2.0 usb, 1 firewire inputs

i already have a logitech wireless keyboard and mouse
i have 2 older monitors in my garage..ill just use one of those for now.

software.. dont need software...

i want to build a computer for a few hundred dollars... doesnt need to be state of the art... not really into video games... but i want it to be pretty quick.

Give me some suggestions on what you all recommend part wise.

THANKS!

if its just for your music why not buy an external hard drive for the comp u have now?

i have an external hard drive.
i only have a laptop...
i want a desktop too.
you also can't not upgrade sound cards

Personally I am an amd fan, but if you go 64 bit make sure you are using a socket 939 board. Otherwise you are buying into an old form factor.

for shopping I use pricewatch I also shop at www.geeks.com
also ewiz has some decent deals.

most boards come with on board sound which sounds decent. If you want to upgrade the sound card expect to spend a bit. honestly I took my Soundblaster live card out after a couple of years since the onboard was sufficent. for video cards the $50-$60 video cards are pretty decent if you don't game. spend the few extra dollars and go sata on the hd. you may want to buy a firewire card as opposed to having one on-board, since the boards that have them cost more than the price difference. do some shopping and tell us what you are looking at and we can give you advice from there.

^^ Ahh, I got burned through pricewatch for almost $400 once.

Before you buy from ANY online company, check with resellerratings.com first.

i need help picking out a case, video card, and memory.

i think ill stay with the motherboard and cpu.

as for the sound card, that is still on debate.
i want something good for sound, but i am thinking of just having a kilpsch 2.1 system

go to www.pricewatch.com real time pricing!!

or just go to www.justdeals.com great place for good stuff cheap!

if you need more help just im me

I prefer tiger direct because you get a warranty, it's a little more expensive, but i really dont trust pricewatch at all.

The stick with the onboard sound for now. Not saying the Klipsch 2.1 is no good, but 2 satellites and a sub won't require a sound card, you you won't benefit from it either. If you decide on surround speakers sometime, Creative Soundblaster Audigy 1 or 2 for the win.

i dont really need opinions on where to buy stuff

Brien,

Any luck on finding parts for your computer? I just started a thread about building a computer. I want to do the same, but have no idea where to start. There are so many choices for boards, sound cards, graphics cards, etc. I am bit confused.

Paul

:D looks like I started a trend

People just get Amd athlon 64's atleast 3000+

and build around that!

make sure it is the 939 socket. Not the 754. The newer AMD's are all socket 939 so it provides an upgrade path.


as for case and powersupply, power supply is the more important of the 2, usually you would get them together in a bundle. what you want is a decent power supply, 400Watts min.

as for recommending parts, there are so many you could build the same technical specs with at least 100 different parts. and It really is a matter of money. so anything we tell you would be completely arbitrary.

so lets say,
HD http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=HD-ST250BS
MB http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-K8U-939
CPU http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=A64-32BWBX
case/PS http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=CA-ST420BK
Video card http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=EV-4000_12
memory http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=D400_1GKI

yES eWIZ I FORGOT ABOUT THEM GOOD DEALS! :iwave