New Computer

HMTKSteve

I've been combing the big PC maker sites to build a new system. This system is going to be attached to my HDTV and used for media (iTV/DVD/Web/Hulu) and PC gaming. What follows is the best deal I have been able to put together through a manufacturer. I ended up with HP because similar Dell configurations wanted to include a monitor.

Components

* • Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* • Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad processor Q8300 [2.5GHz, 4MB L2, 1333MHz FSB]
* • FREE UPGRADE! 6GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM [3 DIMMs] from 4GB
* • 500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive
* • 1GB ATI Radeon HD 4850 [2 DVI, HDMI and VGA adapters]
* • LightScribe 16X max. DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti drive
* • Blu-ray ROM (player)
* • Integrated 10/100/1000 (Gigabit) Ethernet, No wireless LAN
* • 15-in-1 memory card reader, 1 USB, audio, video (for TV Tuner)
* • TV tuner, dual format ATSC-NTSC with PVR, remote
* • Integrated 7.1 channel sound with front audio ports
* • HP wireless keyboard and HP wireless optical mouse

Can anyone find me something better via newegg or other part sources? My total came to $1049.

George Patches

Get the faster dual core you can get instead of the quad core. Video decoding is typically not multi-threaded. Faster clock cycles will work better than more cores. Games are similar.

Also I think a new ATI 5770 will perform about the same as the 4850, but have DX11 support.

HMTKSteve

After hearing from a few people about the dual-core vs. quad-core issue I went on newegg and pieced together the following items. I have not fully investigated each piece yet and there may be some compatability issues:

1. SAPPHIRE 100283L Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
2. i-rocks RF-6572-BK Piano Black 2.4 GHz RF Wireless Slim Keyboard/Mouse Combo w/ Travel Pouch - Retail
3. G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1200 (PC2 9600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-9600CL5D-4GBPI - Retail
4. Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
5. Seventeam ST-850ZAF 850W ATX 12V V2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
6. Thermaltake V9 Black Edition ATX Computer Gaming Chassis with Dual Oversized 230mm Ultra-Silent Cooling Fans VJ400G1N2Z Mid ... - Retail
7. GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
8. AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX250OCGQBOX - Retail

Total cost is $795.

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You might wish to use this button, , the next time you try to make a list. That way you won't have silly double list markers.