Quick Picks
Updated 3/16/2010
Here are a list of parts that are generally agreed-upon to be good, solid choices for anyone assembling a new machine.
THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST, NOR IS IT MEANT TO BE.
Everyone's needs in a computer are different. This part should be a starting point in your research, not a definitive guide to what you should get. Changes, corrections, additions, and comments are always welcome.
Intel CPU
- Intel i5 750 The current best price/performance ratio chip available.
AMD CPU
Intel Motherboard
NOTE: Gigabyte P55 boards are picky about memory, check the RAM section below. There have also been some infrequent reports that the ATI 5XXX series do not work/play well with the Gigabyte boards. If you're concerned we recommend the MSI board.
AMD Motherboard
Memory
Graphics
- 1680x1050 and below:
- Radeon 4770 - A slightly less hot and less powerful 4850 that can easily overclock to 4850 levels.
- Radeon 4850- Our typical recommendation at this resolution.
- Radeon 5750 - Slightly faster than the 4850 and less power-hungry/heat producing. Worthwhile at $150 if other choices aren't available.
1900x1200 and below - Radeon 5770 - Our minimum recommendation for this resolution.
- Radeon 5830 - Decent but overpriced compromise between the 5770/5850
- Radeon 5850 - The most powerful card worth buying without going into serious overkill territory.
Hard Drive
Solid State Drives
Optical
Case
Power Supplies
Aftermarket Cooling
LGA775/AM2/3 (Core 2 and AMD chips):
LGA1156 (i5/i7):
TV Tuners
Operating Sytem
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM Edition
HTPC Prebuilt
- Dell Zino
- Acer Revo Note: Comes with XP Home, needs Win Vista/7 installed to support HD decoding
LCDs
In general, most LCDs will be fine for the average user, and price is the biggest driver. However, you can also
check the 2nd post of the Anandtech LCD thread, which lists nearly every "picky bastard" choice in the 20-24+ range.
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