The Personal Computer Thread

[Samyaza]

Hello people, Im looking to get an assembled PC. The only thing i've decided is the processor which is Core 2 Quad Q8200. I need help in fixing a motherboard and all the other necessary hardware for it. If you guys could tell me what exactly to look for then I can do the searching. I need it mostly to record sound clips and some video editing at times. Forgot the budget. Max is 25k including the processor.

Thanks.

[Aryan]

@Samyaza: Get atleast 4GB of RAM and a top of the line graphics card if you want to do some serious video editing as well as gaming! Heck, I have 6GB of RAM (although Windows XP doesn't use all of it, sadly. ) and a GTX260, but I still sometimes feel I should've got the GTX280! More is, after all really not enough.

[Samyaza]

@Samyaza: Get atleast 4GB of RAM and a top of the line graphics card if you want to do some serious video editing as well as gaming! Heck, I have 6GB of RAM (although Windows XP doesn't use all of it, sadly. ) and a GTX260, but I still sometimes feel I should've got the GTX280! More is, after all really not enough.

I won't be using it for gaming or big time editing. Just small stuff for youtube and all. So I doubt ill need any expensive graphic card. Or do I?

[Aryan]

I won't be using it for gaming or big time editing. Just small stuff for youtube and all. So I doubt ill need any expensive graphic card. Or do I?

No, then you ofcourse won't.

[shadez]

Here's a config in the same price that would be double as fast as the one you posted.
Processor: Intel E8400 ~9k
Motherboard: Gigabyte G31-S2L ~2.4k
RAM :Transcend 2x2gb ddr2 800 ~2k
Hard Drive: Seagate sata II 7200.12 500gb ~3k
Graphic Card: Sapphire HD4850 - ~9.5k
PSU: Corsair VX450 - ~4k
Total:29900/- and you still have leftover for a decent cabinet and a sound card.

P.S.: DDR2 is better than the others.

thanks a ton man. thanks a ton.
i guess i will drop graphics card for this month and pick it up next month. so 20k now. my budget is, unfortunately, 32-35k inc monitor, ups.
few questions:
1. sound card - which do you suggest? i plan to fit in a 7.1 later. could you tell me price too?
2. i saw something like '10/100 Base T network interface' - Broadband ready. does this matter? G31 has it?
3. Best monitor to buy for 8k? max push to 10k.
stupid questions maybe. but i need help ...

[nightwing]

thanks a ton man. thanks a ton.
i guess i will drop graphics card for this month and pick it up next month. so 20k now. my budget is, unfortunately, 32-35k inc monitor, ups.
few questions:
1. sound card - which do you suggest? i plan to fit in a 7.1 later. could you tell me price too?
2. i saw something like '10/100 Base T network interface' - Broadband ready. does this matter? G31 has it?
3. Best monitor to buy for 8k? max push to 10k.
stupid questions maybe. but i need help ...

If you are dropping the graphic card for now you might as well use that money to invest in a motherboard that has a better onboard graphic chipset. Since you game a lot why not go for an AMD? It will be more than ideal.
AMD Phenom 9850 Black for 8.8k plus an Asus M3A78-CM for 5.5k would be excellent. Plus you will get a better graphic chipset than the Intel rig.
10/100 Base T network interface is basically the Ethernet card that you plug your broadband cable into. All new motherboards have Ethernet onboard. You dont have to worry about that.
You can get a Creative Sound Blaster audigy Value for 1.9k. Or an X-Fi surround sound for around 4k.

Dont have any idea about the monitor as I am on my good ol 17" CRT.

[shadez]

thanks mate. i ended up with the following config (medium gaming + entertainment).

Monitor - BenQ T2200HD ~ 9.5k
Cabinet - Cool Master Elite 330 ~ 1.6k
Processor - Intel Q6600 ~ 10k
Motherboard - Gigabyte G31-S2L ~2.4k
RAM - Transcend 2x2GB DDR2 800 ~2k
HDD - Seagate SATAII 7200.12 500gb ~ 3.2k
PSU - Corsair VX450 - ~4k
GPU - Palit HD4850 ~ 8.1k
UPS - APC ~ 2.5k

Already have:
Sony DVD combo drive - IDE
Keyboard and Mouse

now some doubts:
1. would Gigabyte G31-S2L motherboard blend good with Q6600? is there any other better option in say, below 4k?
2. is 2x2 memory good or a 4GB single one? what would be the cost in INR for 4GB DDR2?
3. i might drop the GPU in this buy and fit it in later, next month or so. is there any unforeseen problem in doing so?
4. sound cards: i might also need a 7.1 channel surround sound upgrade later. so is it advisible to buy a sound card now? or can i manage with normal speakers and current board and then buy it later? cost involved?
5. any suggestions on the above list?

[Invincible]

My laptop config:

Dell Vostro 1510
Intel Core2 Duo T5870 - 2.0 ghz
3GB RAM, 250 GB HDD
GeForce 8400M GS - 512 mb
Vista Business

Planning for a good gaming PC for home (with a budget of Rs. 10k for GPU)...
When I went to Grant road a couple of days back, I asked for the price of 4850 at one shop.. and I was given a pleasant surprise by the dealer. He quoted just Rs. 7900.. (negotiate to get another Rs.300 discount?)

Looks like I can go for 4870 instead..

[nightwing]

thanks mate. i ended up with the following config (medium gaming + entertainment).

Monitor - BenQ T2200HD ~ 9.5k
Cabinet - Cool Master Elite 330 ~ 1.6k
Processor - Intel Q6600 ~ 10k
Motherboard - Gigabyte G31-S2L ~2.4k
RAM - Transcend 2x2GB DDR2 800 ~2k
HDD - Seagate SATAII 7200.12 500gb ~ 3.2k
PSU - Corsair VX450 - ~4k
GPU - Palit HD4850 ~ 8.1k
UPS - APC ~ 2.5k

Already have:
Sony DVD combo drive - IDE
Keyboard and Mouse

now some doubts:
1. would Gigabyte G31-S2L motherboard blend good with Q6600? is there any other better option in say, below 4k?
2. is 2x2 memory good or a 4GB single one? what would be the cost in INR for 4GB DDR2?
3. i might drop the GPU in this buy and fit it in later, next month or so. is there any unforeseen problem in doing so?
4. sound cards: i might also need a 7.1 channel surround sound upgrade later. so is it advisible to buy a sound card now? or can i manage with normal speakers and current board and then buy it later? cost involved?
5. any suggestions on the above list?

1. Yes it will. But you wont get much in the name of upgradibility. Also onboard video chipset s**ks.
2. 2x2GB is better as it will run in dual channel. Cost varies from brand to brand and speed to speed.
3. Yes. Lots of issues and problems.
4. Both the Creative Audigy Value and X-FI surround sound support 7.1.
5. GO FOR AMD.

[pranay]

I'm planning to buy a laptop but confused between the Core 2 Duo processor 2.0(T5800) and AMD turion 2.0(both HP)
What is the basic difference between these two? and which one is better for future

AMD delivers better performance when it comes to processing speed. But I think intel runs cooler. I think there is a difference in cache memory as well. Do check that.

1. Yes it will. But you wont get much in the name of upgradibility. Also onboard video chipset s**ks.
2. 2x2GB is better as it will run in dual channel. Cost varies from brand to brand and speed to speed.
3. Yes. Lots of issues and problems.
4. Both the Creative Audigy Value and X-FI surround sound support 7.1.
5. GO FOR AMD.

+1. Upgrading later will be a prob. @Shadez: You can settle for AMD.

Looks like I can go for 4870 instead..

For around 10K, 8800GT would be a good buy.

[shadez]

a quick question: what are the pros and cons of using intel and amd?

i have heard AMD's are much much better in terms of performance. but it has heating issues and dont hold good in the long run. true ?

i am even now sceptical bout buying AMD.
back to intel , i am confused between these mobos:
1. ASUS P5N-MX
2. Giga G31
3. MSI P45 Neo-F

which would be a better deal? also in terms of upgradability?
i am not looking for much upgrades actually... maybe RAM, graphics, audio... nothing more planned and gonna be.

[pranay]

a quick question: what are the pros and cons of using intel and amd?

i have heard AMD's are much much better in terms of performance. but it has heating issues and dont hold good in the long run. true ?

i am even now sceptical bout buying AMD.
back to intel , i am confused between these mobos:
1. ASUS P5N-MX
2. Giga G31
3. MSI P45 Neo-F

which would be a better deal? also in terms of upgradability?
i am not looking for much upgrades actually... maybe RAM, graphics, audio... nothing more planned and gonna be.

The MSI board sounds better among all since it supports RAM speed upto 10xx Mhz and also Core2Extreme processors. You can upgrade easily with this mobo.

[nightwing]

a quick question: what are the pros and cons of using intel and amd?

i have heard AMD's are much much better in terms of performance. but it has heating issues and dont hold good in the long run. true ?

i am even now sceptical bout buying AMD.
back to intel , i am confused between these mobos:
1. ASUS P5N-MX
2. Giga G31
3. MSI P45 Neo-F

which would be a better deal? also in terms of upgradability?
i am not looking for much upgrades actually... maybe RAM, graphics, audio... nothing more planned and gonna be.

Pros of AMD: Almost(sometimes even better) similar performance at the same price to their Intel counterpart.
Cons: None.Duhh.....both Intel and AMD are always at each others throat. So you can expect both these companies to deliver the best performance through their products. There's no good and bad.
As for the heating issues in AMDs,it's quite an old story. When AMD was still young in the business,their processors were notorious for overheating. Now though,you dont have to worry. And let's not venture into overclocking.
My 10 year old AMD K6-II 550MHz with 3D now still works great on my ancient system. Even Intel cant beat that. Trust the AMD fanboys here,AMD is as reliable as Intel.
Get the AMD with your eyes closed.You wont be disappointed.

[samschenker]

Pros of AMD: Almost(sometimes even better) similar performance at the same price to their Intel counterpart.
Cons: None.Duhh.....both Intel and AMD are always at each others throat. So you can expect both these companies to deliver the best performance through their products. There's no good and bad.
As for the heating issues in AMDs,it's quite an old story. When AMD was still young in the business,their processors were notorious for overheating. Now though,you dont have to worry. And let's not venture into overclocking.
My 10 year old AMD K6-II 550MHz with 3D now still works great on my ancient system. Even Intel cant beat that. Trust the AMD fanboys here,AMD is as reliable as Intel.
Get the AMD with your eyes closed.You wont be disappointed.

1+ to what nightwing said...
been using AMD Athlon XP (ASUS nvidia chipset) on my PC for the past 6 years...quite old one
It runs almost all the games until NFS UG without any problems.

[Aparajith]

Even am using AMD for the past 5 years. It was an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice core then. Its a 4200+ AMD X2 now. The over-heating stuff was only with the old Athlons, not in the Athlon XP, 64 and X2's. Though I must admit that only now the current Phenoms are only as good as the quads or core2Duos of Intel. The nail on the head of AMD was(is) i7. So AMD still rules the VFM market. If u want ultimate performance to the level of i7's, AMD still has no answer.