budget PC shopping

[ScottJ]

Would like to put a newish tech PC in the bedroom, got this Tiger ad, thoughts?

Shooting for the 500 - 700 range for PC/keyboard/mouse only.

I'm undecided on screen (or size), I'm building a desk to facilitate the placement of the primary screen. I'm thinking something in the 20 - 22" range will probably fit. I DO need the ability to run dual monitor, in addition to the 20 - 22" monitor, there will be an auxiliary 32" TV/monitor screen (accepts HDMI or 15-pin). Due to this requirement, I should probably pay close attention to the PC's video card capabilities (and I'm way behind on video card tech/options)...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=1908430&sku=G180-11000&SRCCODE=WEM2999RL&cm_mmc=email-_-Main-_-WEM2999-_-tigeremail2999&utm_source=EML&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=WEM2999

[Lason]

Are you wanting to run the different size screens all at the same time? Dual monitors is no biggie, any modern card can do that. If you want to run dual monitors AND the 32" on hdmi then you will be limited but still doable. You will be forced to run an AMD card though. Nvidia cards can only run 2 monitors on a single card. AMD can run 3, Im running three identical screens but 2 are displayport cables and the third is on HDMI.

**EDIT** Maybe I misunderstood, is the 32" one of the dual monitors?

[goofygrin]

I built a computer for my son last month, buying the parts from Microcenter.

Case: $35 cheapie, has a decent PSU
CPU: $180 Intel i5 2500k
MB: Asus $120 - $50 (bundle with the CPU). Has onboard VGA, DVI and HDMI.
HD: 120g SSD $130-20MIR
Memory: $35 8gb
DVDR: $20
$470 + tax - $20MIR

Monitor: $140 22" from TG/Compusa store

I had an OS and a keyboard/mouse, so you'd have to add that.

[ScottJ]

Are you wanting to run the different size screens all at the same time? Dual monitors is no biggie, any modern card can do that. If you want to run dual monitors AND the 32" on hdmi then you will be limited but still doable. You will be forced to run an AMD card though. Nvidia cards can only run 2 monitors on a single card. AMD can run 3, Im running three identical screens but 2 are displayport cables and the third is on HDMI.

Just the 32" + the 20-22" (2 screens total). Basically I want the ability to supersize my desktop, have some video playback happening on the 32" (full screen), and misc. window activity happening on the smaller one. I'd like to connect the 32" to the video card via HDMI, and the smaller one via DVI (or HDMI also perhaps, depending on what the smaller screen provides as options).

The 32" will be pitched at an angle facing my bed, while the smaller one will be situated in a more workstation like fashion. Both screens will be in fairly close proximity, so cable length hopefully won't be an issue (or easily overcome w/ longer HDMI cables)..

[Lason]

Ok in that case you can run any Nvidia or AMD card and be ok.

What will be the main use for this? Gaming, work or what?

[ScottJ]

Ok in that case you can run any Nvidia or AMD card and be ok.

What will be the main use for this? Gaming, work or what?

50-60% Work (proprietary network element management software, no huge sys requirements here) + light gaming + standard assortment of email, MS office, winamp, perhaps some light recording duty (music/instrument).

I can't imagine the system would require much, most anything modern should do.

[Tx Redneck]

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0376494 Intel Core i3 2125 LGA 1155 Boxed Processor Intel Core i3 2125 LGA 1155 Boxed Processor

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0375352 Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Mobo

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0347229 Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0347304 Corsair XMS 8GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666) CL9

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0381815 EVGA 01G-P3-1351-KR NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 1/Gig

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0357384 Thermaltake V3 Black Edition ATX Mid Tower W/430 Watt PSU

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0364538 Samsung 22X DVD±RW Burner with Dual Layer Support

Grand Total $652.67 after tax

With $70 in MIR.

This will do mild gaming, record/encode your music well, any and all office type stuff, give you the ability to go to a Core i7 in the future if need be, run multiple monitors, have more than enough ram and bookoo's storage space.

Ohh, and I would NEVER recommend a Hateway to anyone, EVER.

[ScottJ]

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0376494 Intel Core i3 2125 LGA 1155 Boxed Processor Intel Core i3 2125 LGA 1155 Boxed Processor

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0375352 Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 LGA 1155 Z68 ATX Intel Mobo

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0347229 Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0347304 Corsair XMS 8GB DDR3-1333 (PC3-10666) CL9

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0381815 EVGA 01G-P3-1351-KR NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 1/Gig

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0357384 Thermaltake V3 Black Edition ATX Mid Tower W/430 Watt PSU

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0364538 Samsung 22X DVD±RW Burner with Dual Layer Support

Grand Total $652.67 after tax

With $70 in MIR.

This will do mild gaming, record/encode your music well, any and all office type stuff, give you the ability to go to a Core i7 in the future if need be, run multiple monitors, have more than enough ram and bookoo's storage space.

Ohh, and I would NEVER recommend a Hateway to anyone, EVER.

NICE! I think this may be the winning combo, thanks a ton for putting a list together, that's crazy you can get that much RAM for that $, man have I been away from things...

[mstng86]

PC in the Bedroom eh!!!!???

[ScottJ]

PC in the Bedroom eh!!!!???

Ya, I work from home and my Manhattan apartment doesn't have enough space to segregate bedroom/office. My current setup is the laptop on coffee table, after my desk is built, I'll have a nice corner setup w/ the 32" and PC workstation. Hell, I'll throw up some pics when I'm done so you guys get the idea

[Ratt]

NICE! I think this may be the winning combo, thanks a ton for putting a list together, that's crazy you can get that much RAM for that $, man have I been away from things...

DDR3 RAM is cheap....and I mean CHEAP. DDR2 is still expensive

[ScottJ]

DDR3 RAM is cheap....and I mean CHEAP. DDR2 is still expensive

What are the current supported flavors of PC RAM, differences, costs, etc? I gotta believe that 8G of fancy-ram would still cost $$$. I guess DDR3 isn't really fancy right now.

[goofygrin]

@ Microcenter, you might be better off getting the 4 core i5 2500 + a motherboard as they have a bundle discount of $50. That would make the combo the same as listed above $ wise, but it will be faster right off the bat.

[Tx Redneck]

Supported speeds vary by Mobo. That Corsair ram is decent stuff, although my preference is G.Skill which they don't carry.

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion

[Tx Redneck]

DDR3 RAM is cheap....and I mean CHEAP. DDR2 is still expensive

Ddr2 is expensive because it's no longer the standard.

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion