Computer build help

JMartel wrote in post #11478561
So add another small hard drive for the OS? When it comes time to actually building it, I might need a step by step on how to do things with separate drives. What about 30GB or 32GB?

http://www.newegg.com …aspx?Item=N82E1​6820227510

30GB is apparently cutting it close for a Windows 7 install with Photoshop and general apps. Try this one, or the 60GB version.

http://eshop.macsales.​com/search/40GB+ssd+ex​treme

WD Black are fast, reliable, and they're a good brand. Personally I trust them over Samsung, for no good reason.

Don't forget external disks for backups.

I have external harddrives. The question is, are the Mobo's for the sandy bridges more expensive? This is pretty close to max budget here. I might even be cutting out the video card for a little while to get the SSD drive instead.

Actually, they should be the same price as most 1156 boards. I think the Anandtech thread has some members that work at Microcenter posting pricing.

If you get an H67 board you can use the integrated Sandy Bridge GPU and leave out the video card entirely.

Sandy Bridge has a video card build (GPU) in, and you can add another later if you need to.

That would work. Would I need a video card for video editing?

I appreciate the help.

Nope, maybe for high end gaming.

I edit HD video just fine on an integrated AMD 785G (which is about 1/3rd of a 12 EU Sandy Bridge chip), so I think you'll be fine.

Ok. Like I said, the only thing I have to use is a Tablet PC that's 4 1/2 years old. So, I have lost touch on what all the hardware stuff is doing lately.

nvm.

Ok, new question. Intel vs. AMD. Any reason to go with Intel over the less expensive AMD?

Intel = Performance. AMD = Value. Benchmarks shows a 20% difference, which isn't too huge.

So I would be better off getting the i7 950 than the AMD Phenom II X6 1090T? It's $70 cheaper and is faster.

http://www.newegg.com …6819103849&Tpk=​x6%201090T

The i7 is definitely faster. How much so is up for debate (most users don't edit photos anything like the photoshop speed tests do).

I just made an AMD build in another thread that you may want to look atif you're overbudget/want price/performance.

JMartel wrote in post #11471876
Ok, so I just graduated today ...

Keep in mind that I have about $550 in gift cards to Best Buy so the majority of stuff will be purchased though there.

Congratulations on graduating!

You won't get much from Best Buy as far as components are concerned, but systems are a different story. As mentioned, Sandy Bridge is coming out as early as Intel's planned announcement on January 5 for performance-ended processors, Febuary 20th for mainstream.

It is hard to tell if the systems manufacturers will have products on the shelf on those dates. Patience might get be worth it.

bcd01 wrote in post #11499977
Congratulations on graduating!

You won't get much from Best Buy as far as components are concerned, but systems are a different story. As mentioned, Sandy Bridge is coming out as early as Intel's planned announcement on January 5 for performance-ended processors, Febuary 20th for mainstream.

It is hard to tell if the systems manufacturers will have products on the shelf on those dates. Patience might get be worth it.

Thanks. I definitely haven't ordered anything yet. And Best Buy's website actually has an ok selection and their prices are the same or maybe $5 different, tops. I'm ordering things on there that would cost the same at Tigerdirect or Newegg so it's not a big deal. I'm still debating as to wait for Sandy Bridges or not. I'm not sure how much of an improvement the comparable version would be compared to the i7 950 that I'm looking at. I'm coming from a tablet that's got a 2.4 or 2.7 (can't remember) single core so it's going to be a big leap forward, regardless.

The issue with waiting is, there's always something new in the technology world coming out in a few months that's always going to be better. Hard to tell if you should wait or just say screw it and buy now.