Every time I start to configure computers, all Hades breaks loose and the next thing I know is that I'm over $1k .

 

stop messing with it!

buy the stock special.. then upgrade to a newer stock special next year or two.

not like a car where you have it 9 years later..

 

Why buy something that can't do what you would like it to? That's like buying something on sale just because it's on sale.

 

But it was on sale.

 

I'm tellin ya, man...


Gateway SX2800-03 Core 2 Quad Q8200(2.33GHz) 4GB DDR3 640GB Intel GMA X4500 Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit

$419.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...way-_-83113111

 

http://dealnews.com/i-BUYPOWER-Gamer-Extre...ing/337174.html

 

If you are building a gaming or development system where all out graphics or processing performance is key, you need to pay the piper and purchase individual components (what I did for my last "personal" system). If you only need 80% of the performance as that top-notch system, you can save 40% in price by going with a pre-built system (Dell works really well in this regard). My last "business" system (the one that controls the laser) was through Dell. 2GHz (in that range) single core, 2GB running Vista Home with a 500GB drive, DVD, etc. for around $200. The OS is, unfortunately, a surprisingly large chunk of the pie if you're unable to transfer it from another system, so a pre-built price is even better when you include the OS.

 

Thoughts on compatibility, etc.? I assembled these items via newegg.com:

[QUOTE]Item

 

- No go on the Motherboard wrong socket type, the CPU wont work with it. That is your biggest hangup.

- The Ram is also the wrong type (speed/series) for the selected motherboard you need to make sure you are matching up specs on every item.

- Power supply is questionable. It does not list a 75w 6 pin connector for your graphics card which is required for power use. Your power supply does give a 6 pin connector but it does not specify if it is 75w output or not. For a 550w PS I would suspect it is but I wouldn't take any chances.

- In my opinion your graphics card is complete overkill for your setup/needs. You might have a hell of a lot of processing power graphically but unless you are assembling complex graphics it is unnecessary. Your motherboard/CPU wont be able to put it to its full potential. Basically $$ wasted.

Also I thought you were sticking with a $750 budget? That setup is actually more than the setup I proposed originally which would outperform what you have built for less. Yes I know its only about a $30 difference in price but you can still compromise on some parts and still stay under the $900 mark.

What are you realistically going to spend? Set yourself a limit and go from there. Also when you build start from the CPU and build up from there, CPU -> Motherboard -> RAM -> Other Accessories (Applicable Cards/HD(s)/etc.. )

Hope this helps skip, GL.

 

Would like to be at or below $1k now.

The difference, as I understand it, between the i5 & i7 is that the i7 does hyperthreading(whatever that is). Don't need what I don't know.