budget PC shopping

[Tx Redneck]

@ 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.

But you likely give up on mobo features/quality. Atx v matx, dual pcie, 32gigs ddr3 2133...

Sent from my iPhail eleventybillion

[goofygrin]

Same MB. It's a combo with any Z68 MB.

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/57e09b6d#/57e09b6d/27

[Tx Redneck]

Same MB. It's a combo with any Z68 MB.

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/...d#/57e09b6d/27

No, it's limited to select boards and some are mATX. There's a few ASUS that aren't.

[Lason]

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.

Nope DDR3 is about as good as your going to get. Im running 16gb of 1866 DDR3 in a $4k gaming rig. Ram is one of the cheaper things these days. SSD hard drives are where alot of the $$$ is.

[roliath]

Nope 1866 DDR3 is about as good as your going to get. Im running 16gb of 1866 DDR3 in a $4k gaming rig. Ram is one of the cheaper things these days. SSD hard drives are where alot of the $$$ is.

I should probably read the thread (the whole thread), but I believe Corsair (i think its them) has some 2100~2200 ram kits. I know my buddy's hexacore is running a kit @ 2166.

[Lason]

I should probably read the thread (the whole thread), but I believe Corsair (i think its them) has some 2100~2200 ram kits. I know my buddy's hexacore is running a kit @ 2166.

speed wise sure, I just meant DDR3 because Scott was wondering if there were better options because DDR2 is more expensive. I wasnt very clear but you are right, there are faster speed DDR3 sticks out there. I fixed my post so it was a bit more factual.

[roliath]

speed wise sure, I just meant DDR3 because Scott was wondering if there were better options because DDR2 is more expensive. I wasnt very clear but you are right, there are faster speed DDR3 sticks out there. I fixed my post so it was a bit more factual.

Word

[ScottJ]

Very helpful fellas, seems like the best thing to do is what I did last time (build my own). Seems like the only loose end is a primary screen (20 - 20"), and a nice mouse/keyboard. Any of you have the LED computer screens? Feedback vs. LCD? I know the LED TV's look pretty amazing, I imagine computer monitors should be like that too.

[Lason]

Im running 3 of these and love them, no complaints. They have built in speakers but they suck so dont plan on relying on them. Only other issue is no DVI input, displayport and HDMI only which can suck for alot of users. 24" btw

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236154

Oh and on the keyboard and mouse, I like Razer products and although I have/had a Razer Lycosa keyboard for 5 years, when I built my new pc I got a new one and it sucks. The backlighting does whatever it wants when I restart, it may be lit, partially lit or all dark and I have to hit the button to turn it back on. Only does it on restarts though. Also it doesnt seem as responsive as my old one, I actually switched them out and gave my kids the new one.

I use a Razer Naga mouse and love it but its aimed at gamers with all the extra buttons on the side. The do have some nice wireless ones too.

[Lason]

Oh and just looked in my email and Frys is having a sale and has that same monitor I posted up for $179 with $10 MIR

http://www.frys.com/product/6486092?site=frysecampaign

[ScottJ]

Oh and just looked in my email and Frys is having a sale and has that same monitor I posted up for $179 with $10 MIR

http://www.frys.com/product/6486092?site=frysecampaign

That's really cool, so would I run into an issue connecting my 32" (HDMI) and this one, to that EVGA card suggested above?

[Lason]

I would run a DVI to displayport cable like this one for the monitor and then HDMI for the TV.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10246&cs_id=1024604&p_id=6000&seq=1&format=2

[ScottJ]

I would run a DVI to displayport cable like this one for the monitor and then HDMI for the TV.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

I checked that EVGA card it says it has these connectors:

DVI 2 x Dual-Link DVI-I
Dual Link DVI Support Yes
HDMI 1 x mini-HDMI 1.4a

ASUS monitor says it has these connectors:

Input / Output

PC Input: DVI-D/D-Sub
PC Audio Input: 3.5mm Mini-jack
Video Input: HDMI 1.3
AV Audio Input: HDMI 1.3
Earphone jack: 3.5mm Mini-jack



So maybe I can just hook up TV with a miniHDMI - HDMI cable, and ASUS monitor with DVI - DVI cable. Does that sound right?

[Lason]

I checked that EVGA card it says it has these connectors:

DVI 2 x Dual-Link DVI-I
Dual Link DVI Support Yes
HDMI 1 x mini-HDMI 1.4a

ASUS monitor says it has these connectors:

Input / Output

PC Input: DVI-D/D-Sub
PC Audio Input: 3.5mm Mini-jack
Video Input: HDMI 1.3
AV Audio Input: HDMI 1.3
Earphone jack: 3.5mm Mini-jack



So maybe I can just hook up TV with a miniHDMI - HDMI cable, and ASUS monitor with DVI - DVI cable. Does that sound right?

You are correct, I just noticed the monitor I posted first (the one I have) is different that the one Frys has. The one I has doesnt have the DVI port and the Frys one does so yeah you can just use a normal DVI cable to hook it up.

[ScottJ]

You are correct, I just noticed the monitor I posted first (the one I have) is different that the one Frys has. The one I has doesnt have the DVI port and the Frys one does so yeah you can just use a normal DVI cable to hook it up.

sweet much appreciated w/ all the info, last time I built something was like 4+ years ago!