Building a computer

Dr.Satan · 03-02-2010, 07:08 AM

I have a friend who is looking to build a computer, but isn't really sure what he needs. And I don't really know enough to give him much. So I figured you guys would be the best to go to.

He knows he wants to be able to make music. Like run some decent music programs like fruity loops and acid pro.

And he's looking at a buget of around like 4/500 or so. What's the best computer he can get for that? And where is the best place to buy/build it at? This is just for the tower too b/c, he's got a good monitor and shit, so he doesn't really need anything but the tower.

Bridget · 03-02-2010, 08:22 AM

http://www.newegg.com

**Bully** · 03-02-2010, 09:14 AM

Although it's a UK based company OCUK give some good examples of what parts work together, http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produc...d=43&catid=339

SomeOldGuy · 03-02-2010, 02:54 PM

Here are a few options:

http://www.pc-music.com/content/buil...ndows-7-part-2

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/...le.php/3785166

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea...awesome_pc_647

Gwarsbane · 03-02-2010, 03:17 PM

Someone just asked about doing this on the MekTek forums, though they were going for a gaming rig.

http://www.mektek.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=151475

The computer that was suggested was not a powerhouse but for what your friend wants to do with it, it should do fine. And depending on what software and hardware your friend has already things could be tweaked more.

I would personally suggest a bigger case and a larger power supply then a 380watt. If he doesn't need an OS then that money could go towards the power supply and case. I would suggest no less then a 600watt power supply just for future upgrade ability of other hardware.

And of course its a DDR2 motherboard so he would have to get DDR2 ram not DDR3 that was suggested at first.

There are 2 decent online stores that you can look at, both have build options.

http://www.newegg.com like what was suggested
http://www.ncixus.com

Again what was suggest is not a powerhouse but it should be fine for what your friend wants to do with it.

wakka · 03-02-2010, 03:30 PM

don't buy AMD right now.

quad core pentium thx (especially for music rendering)

Sidd · 03-02-2010, 07:19 PM

Does he need a discrete graphics card or is an IGP good enough?

If IGP is fine then he can afford a much faster quad core cpu, something in the region of an AMD Phenom II X4 940 or Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300.

2 * 2Gb of ram is worthwhile but may be out of budget.

Gwarsbane · 03-02-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakka

don't buy AMD right now.

quad core pentium thx (especially for music rendering)

I just posted what was suggested. 500 bucks is not a whole lot to build a decent computer with, though its enough to build a decent starter machine.

The programs he mentioned aren't powerhouses. I use video rendering software which is going to push much harder and my AMD X2 4800 does just fine (take a while for 1920x1200 HD).

An Intel quad core is going to be more expensive, which means hes going to have to get a smaller CPU.

I don't know if those programs need or use more then one core, but many programs don't need or use more then 1 or 2 cores right now. I don't even think these kinds of programs would work even the AMD CPU that was suggested or even work my CPU.

**mervaka** · 03-03-2010, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bully

Although it's a UK based company OCUK give some good examples of what parts work together, http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produc...d=43&catid=339

quite ironically, i bought from them a while back, and was refused a return on the grounds of incompatibility because i had opened the box..

a few months later i had stoke on trent trading standards ringing me up. seems they got busted!

**Bully** · 03-03-2010, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mervaka

quite ironically, i bought from them a while back, and was refused a return on the grounds of incompatibility because i had opened the box..

a few months later i had stoke on trent trading standards ringing me up. seems they got busted!

Last time i buy from OCUK then.

EquilibriuM · 03-13-2010, 02:37 AM

Your friend is so getting a DELL!

03-02-2010, 07:08 AM	#1
Dr.Satan Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greeley, CO Class/Position: Med / Solly Gametype: PAYLOAD Affiliations: DET- Posts Rated Helpful 19 Times	Building a computer I have a friend who is looking to build a computer, but isn't really sure what he needs. And I don't really know enough to give him much. So I figured you guys would be the best to go to. He knows he wants to be able to make music. Like run some decent music programs like fruity loops and acid pro. And he's looking at a buget of around like 4/500 or so. What's the best computer he can get for that? And where is the best place to buy/build it at? This is just for the tower too b/c, he's got a good monitor and shit, so he doesn't really need anything but the tower. __________________ FF Community Map Pack(s): 1 / 2 (Released) conc_school \| hellion_classic \| ksour_PAYLOAD \| mulch_faf (Beta) alchimy_b1 (Lua) base_payload_2015 (Models) props_trainyard Support FF:

03-02-2010, 09:14 AM	#3
Bully Beta Tester Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Yorkshire, England Class/Position: Spectating Gametype: British Bulldogs Affiliations: ®™ ^ Posts Rated Helpful 67 Times	Although it's a UK based company OCUK give some good examples of what parts work together, http://www.overclockers.co.uk/produc...d=43&catid=339 __________________ ®™ Support FF:

03-02-2010, 02:54 PM	#4
SomeOldGuy older than dirt Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: just east of the jug handle Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	Here are a few options: http://www.pc-music.com/content/buil...ndows-7-part-2 http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/...le.php/3785166 http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea...awesome_pc_647 Last edited by SomeOldGuy; 03-02-2010 at 02:54 PM.

03-13-2010, 02:37 AM	#11
EquilibriuM G9- D&A Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida Class/Position: D Solly,Engy Gametype: ALL Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Your friend is so getting a DELL! __________________

03-02-2010, 08:22 AM	#2
Bridget Banned Join Date: Sep 2008 Class/Position: Soldier Gametype: AVD Affiliations: TALOS Posts Rated Helpful 5 Times	http://www.newegg.com

03-02-2010, 03:17 PM	#5
Gwarsbane Slayer of humans D&A Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mostly on earth though in some alt dimensions Class/Position: I'm an Offensive Defensive person Gametype: Fortress Forever Affiliations: I'm a merc, only thing that talks is money Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	Someone just asked about doing this on the MekTek forums, though they were going for a gaming rig. http://www.mektek.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=151475 The computer that was suggested was not a powerhouse but for what your friend wants to do with it, it should do fine. And depending on what software and hardware your friend has already things could be tweaked more. I would personally suggest a bigger case and a larger power supply then a 380watt. If he doesn't need an OS then that money could go towards the power supply and case. I would suggest no less then a 600watt power supply just for future upgrade ability of other hardware. And of course its a DDR2 motherboard so he would have to get DDR2 ram not DDR3 that was suggested at first. There are 2 decent online stores that you can look at, both have build options. http://www.newegg.com like what was suggested http://www.ncixus.com Again what was suggest is not a powerhouse but it should be fine for what your friend wants to do with it.

03-02-2010, 03:30 PM	#6
wakka Join Date: Aug 2009 Class/Position: top Gametype: pwning caroline in bed Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	don't buy AMD right now. quad core pentium thx (especially for music rendering)

03-02-2010, 07:19 PM	#7
Sidd Lua Team Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	Does he need a discrete graphics card or is an IGP good enough? If IGP is fine then he can afford a much faster quad core cpu, something in the region of an AMD Phenom II X4 940 or Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300. 2 * 2Gb of ram is worthwhile but may be out of budget.

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