I need help building a new machine! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

KnifeMissile · 11-30-2010, 04:08 PM

It's that time of decade where I'm looking to build a new computer for myself. However, it's been a while since I've done so and the market is more confusing now than ever!

I'm hoping to not spend more than $800 CAD on the motherboard, processor and RAM but I have no real budgetary limit. Of course, I'm looking to optimize for some metric of performance per money... I will be exclusively shopping at Canada Computers since they're local to me and have very competitive prices and knowledgeable staff (an industry rarity), so you can check their website for inventory...

I need a 64 bit Windows 7 machine for software development and video editing, as well as general computer use. Software development's not exactly a computationally intense activity but video editing and encoding is! I don't plan to play any games on it except StarCraft 2...

My current machine only has a case fan. Both the processor and video card are fanless. I cheated a bit to do this by inverting the case's outtake fan to be an intake fan that blows right onto the Thermaltake Sonic Tower heat sink that's cooling an Intel E6600 processor. I would like to reuse my current video card (NVIDIA EN9600GT) and purchase a new heat sink to duplicate this fanlessness, especially if my video card is CUDA compatible for my NLE but I'd like to know if I'm mistaken in this...

Power consumption is also a mild concern so something reasonably power efficient would be nice. I'd rather not burn a lot more electricity just to be a little faster, especially since I'm the sort to leave their machine on 24/7...

What do you guys think? I'd be very happy to hear your suggestions!
Thank you...

rmarshall · 12-07-2010, 02:15 PM

Asus Maximus III GENE Socket 1156 Intel P55 Chipset CrossfireX/SLI Dual-Channel DDR3 2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1600/1333/1066Mhz 2x PCI-Express 2.0 x16 GigaLAN 8 CH SupremeFX X-Fi Audio 6x SATA 3.0Gb/s 14x USB 2.0 ATX $159.99 ($20 rebate)
Intel Core i5 650 Dual-Core Socket LGA1156, 3.20Ghz, 4MB L3 Cache, 32nm (Retail Boxed) (BX80616I5650) $184.99 ($5 rebate)
Corsair DDR3, 2000MHz 12GB (3x4GB) DIMM, Unbuffered, 9-10-9-27, XMS3 with Classic Heat Spreader - Core i3, i5 and i7 Dual Channel DDR3 (CMX12GX3M3A2000C9) $279.99

Total: $624.97 less $25 mailin rebates. Add $81.25 HST. It should work with your existing video card.

Willravel · 12-07-2010, 02:36 PM

Do you have a preference between Intel and AMD processors? I ask because the AMD build I did earlier this year was less than $600 and could very easily do what you need.

Hotmnkyluv · 12-07-2010, 03:13 PM

AMD is definitely gonna get the job done cheaper but it's really a Ford / Chevy argument...
I'm an Intel guy and will always happily pay more for that little sticker.

Shadowex3 · 12-07-2010, 08:53 PM

That's below my price range of expertise but whatever you do budget it around one of These power supplies. If you can't afford a good power supply (one of the ~500-600 watters should be fine for you) then you can't afford a computer, you do not want some exploding Allied/Ultra/Deer PSU in your computer.

11-30-2010, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
KnifeMissile Location: Waterloo, Ontario	I need help building a new machine! It's that time of decade where I'm looking to build a new computer for myself. However, it's been a while since I've done so and the market is more confusing now than ever! I'm hoping to not spend more than $800 CAD on the motherboard, processor and RAM but I have no real budgetary limit. Of course, I'm looking to optimize for some metric of performance per money... I will be exclusively shopping at Canada Computers since they're local to me and have very competitive prices and knowledgeable staff (an industry rarity), so you can check their website for inventory... I need a 64 bit Windows 7 machine for software development and video editing, as well as general computer use. Software development's not exactly a computationally intense activity but video editing and encoding is! I don't plan to play any games on it except StarCraft 2... My current machine only has a case fan. Both the processor and video card are fanless. I cheated a bit to do this by inverting the case's outtake fan to be an intake fan that blows right onto the Thermaltake Sonic Tower heat sink that's cooling an Intel E6600 processor. I would like to reuse my current video card (NVIDIA EN9600GT) and purchase a new heat sink to duplicate this fanlessness, especially if my video card is CUDA compatible for my NLE but I'd like to know if I'm mistaken in this... Power consumption is also a mild concern so something reasonably power efficient would be nice. I'd rather not burn a lot more electricity just to be a little faster, especially since I'm the sort to leave their machine on 24/7... What do you guys think? I'd be very happy to hear your suggestions! Thank you...

12-07-2010, 02:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
rmarshall Addict Location: Kingston,Ontario	Asus Maximus III GENE Socket 1156 Intel P55 Chipset CrossfireX/SLI Dual-Channel DDR3 2133(O.C.)/2000(O.C.)/1600/1333/1066Mhz 2x PCI-Express 2.0 x16 GigaLAN 8 CH SupremeFX X-Fi Audio 6x SATA 3.0Gb/s 14x USB 2.0 ATX $159.99 ($20 rebate) Intel Core i5 650 Dual-Core Socket LGA1156, 3.20Ghz, 4MB L3 Cache, 32nm (Retail Boxed) (BX80616I5650) $184.99 ($5 rebate) Corsair DDR3, 2000MHz 12GB (3x4GB) DIMM, Unbuffered, 9-10-9-27, XMS3 with Classic Heat Spreader - Core i3, i5 and i7 Dual Channel DDR3 (CMX12GX3M3A2000C9) $279.99 Total: $624.97 less $25 mailin rebates. Add $81.25 HST. It should work with your existing video card. __________________ "Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege" Irish proverb Last edited by rmarshall; 12-07-2010 at 02:20 PM..

12-07-2010, 02:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Do you have a preference between Intel and AMD processors? I ask because the AMD build I did earlier this year was less than $600 and could very easily do what you need.

12-07-2010, 03:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Hotmnkyluv Tilted Location: Sunny South Florida	AMD is definitely gonna get the job done cheaper but it's really a Ford / Chevy argument... I'm an Intel guy and will always happily pay more for that little sticker.