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[Falcon333]

Hey guys, I'm in need of some advice/suggestions for my new PC which I am (supposed to) getting when my dad goes to China.

What I am looking for:
Video/Graphics card: Needs to be decent, nothing too special.
Sound card: Something that will support my mic properly would be fantastic.
Processor: To be honest, I have no clue which one to choose.
And anything else that may be relevant to a new PC.

I have very little knowledge regarding hardware related stuff, so if I may seem stupid here. Well... I probably am, but still all help is appreciated!

~~Falcon333

[Tym]

Well, there's lots of stuff to get but it depends on  your budget, how much are you willing to spend and what's your focus? What will you use your computer for mainly?

Like me, i do gaming so i reinforced my computer for gaming, lots of ram, strong vid card, dual processor lots of hdd space.

soo, what we'll need

1. Need Your Budget
2. What you'll use it for
3. What do you already have that you can cannibalize.

Like me, I already had a mouse, keyboard, and hard drive so i didn't need to buy those right away i focused on other stuff i didnt' have then i got a new mouse then new hard drive

[UnLimiTeD5]

Chose your Graphics card depending on your monitor, I guess you will have one.
Having a monitor too big or small for the card will waste recources.

In your Budget, consider everything, and start with the nonobvious parts.
Do you have a proper mainboard?
It needs to match your processor of choice.
And remember that the best pc won't start without enough power.
For power supply watch to have pfc, efficency lower than 80% will just cost you money.
For a midclass/upper end gaming pc I would recommend atleast 2 GB DDR2 Ram, a Phenom xx50 (the 50 marks new versions) or core 2 6600+ or better, and a 200GB harddrive, the more the better.

Keep in mind a single harddisk can store up to 320 GB, anything more will make the noise go up as additional disks do the job.

For a graphics card I recommend an ATi 4950 for 'bout 200 bucks (europe, like 300 in amiland) or Geforce 8800 GT (watch the chip type is G92).
The latter should cost about 170$ .

The Soundcard: There is no real alternative to Creative, I recommend a
X-Fi Xtreme Gamer  for midbudget.
Best series on the market, pci slot, eax 5.0, surrond sound.
Should work with any mic.

And a special tip for people like you are:
Watch the prices carefully, if you get it finished in a configured complete system, and the price doesn't differ, you should take it.

Further watch all your components will atleast have a year of guarantee, and the shiping won't cost you another 100 bucks.
If you have a high budget, and take high end components, take a closer look on the heat, some fans might do wonders.
For this again, watch the noise.


Otherwise, Tym, QFT .

[Bodybag2224-Armor]

Where the fuck can I find an 8800 for 170$?

[Tym]

www.newegg.com

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130332
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130357
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130359
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318

[Crono]

Where the fuck can I find an 8800 for 170$?

Best Buy..............

[Bodybag2224-Armor]

Lol not at my best buy 250 is more like it.

[Tym]

Click those links. All 8800's for $170 and under

[DerangedGerman]

He who uses best buy will die. Online is so much cheaper 

Go newegg!

www.newegg.com

[Tym]

 exactly. i love new egg. 75% of my computer is from new egg.

[stumpster]

Newegg is the best.  Absolutely love 'em.

[Bodybag2224-Armor]

Yeah, I'm pissed with my Gateway, once I get bored with it I'm making my own computer....or cyborg

[DBSights2]

E6600 is a nice processor, no complaints, powerful, and cheap.

[Kolath]

Make sure you get the 8800 GT 512 MB, that is the newer chip.

October '07 Midrange Guide: http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3125
Sept '07 Budget Guide: http://www.anandtech.com/guides/showdoc.aspx?i=3148

Those two guides are a little outdated but they are a good starting point.  If this is for gaming, look at their suggested gaming rigs.  At this point you will probably want to go with Intel.  Depending on your budget you might want to go for a Q6600 or one of the newer quad-cores.  If you give us a price range and list of parts you already have, it will facilitate suggestions.

[DBSights2]

be wary of quadcores.  I find that the extra power just goes to waste as you rarely have more than 2 intensive apps open at a time and, for gaming, very few programs are able to use all 4 cores

[AmPmAllied]

Very few programs use both cores in a Dual Core unit well, most use 1 core completely and put a little extra into the other.

[DBSights2]

not CoH! and the second core is always useful for those OS related tasks as well as taking the load off the main processor (vent, firefox, etc.) while ur playing.  I constantly minimize and remaximize and the 2nd core makes that lagless and seamless

[Falcon333]

Ok, 1st of all, thanks for all the replies.
2nd, my budget is pretty unlimited, just nothing crazy expensive is ok
3rd, system summary
Mainboard :   i865PE-W83627HF
Chipset :   Intel i865PE
Processor :   Intel Pentium 4 @ 2606 MHz
Physical Memory :   512 MB (1 x 512 DDR-SDRAM PC3200 @ 200 MHz)
Video Card :   ATI Technologies Inc Radeon 9600 XT (V350)
Hard Disk :   SAMSUNG SP0802N (80 GB)
Hard Disk :   ST332062 0AS              (320 GB)
DVD-Rom Drive :   SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616Q  (48x )
CD-Rom Recorder :   CR-487ETE CDR, CDR-W (52x ) (52x )
Monitor Type :   Samsung SyncMaster 16 inchs
Network Card :   3COM Corp, Networking Division 3C940 Gigabit Ethernet PCI CODEC
Operating System :   Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.01.2600 Service Pack 2
DirectX :   Version 9.0c

[UnLimiTeD]

So, if you have the money:
Get a dualcore, btw, coh uses both, aswell as supreme commander, crysis, all upcoming games by relic.....

Most of the time Intel is the better choice.
I don't know where you live and with what you pay, but for me a good Graphics card is about 200€, so I recommend taking a ATI X4950.
Newest generation, should hit stores this month.
costs more than a GT8800, but brings equal power per cent.
As stated, Creatives X-Fi series is without alternatives for soundcards, EAX 5.0, surround sound, 128 bit.
If you only want to play, take the 'Gamer' Edition without Frontpanel.
DDR2 Ram, 3 is too expensive. 
4 GB is a waste right now, but so cheap you might cosider buying 4 1GB bars.
600W power supply should be sufficient.

[Falcon333]

Ok, as a side note: all this will be bought in China. (which is much cheaper)