PC Hardware Recommendations

I'm frequently asked to recommend PC hardware for people building their own systems.

Putting together your own system is not difficult, but it is often not any cheaper than buying a name brand system because you are paying the retail price for every component. Dell, Compaq, IBM, HP, etc. pay far less for each piece of a system, including the operating system. And I know this, as I've been a supplier to these companies (motherboards and semiconductors).

Contrary to what many people think, the major PC companies do not use low quality components. They cannot afford to do warranty repairs and still be profitable so they are very concerned about reliability.

You can also build a high quality machine that is very upgradeable but it will cost more than a Dell, Gateway, or HP machine. For people that enjoy doing it themselves it's a fun thing to build your own, but for people that just want to buy a pre-made system and not learn about the guts of the system there's no shame in buying a complete system.

In general, do not try to upgrade an old system. Newer CPUs are very power hungry, and it's unlikely that you can actually use anything from the old system other than the keyboard, mouse, floppy drive, and CD-ROM drive, a savings of less than $100. You can re-use a PCI 56K modem as well.

I don't own stock in Newegg, but I have found that they consistently have the lowest prices (or close to it) on almost every piece of hardware.

Remember that when you build your own system you have NO warranty on the complete system. YOU have to troubleshoot any system problems. Your machine will not be FCC certified or UL approved. Your system will not be WHQL (Windows Hardware Qualification Labs) certified. These certifications are not all that important to you, though they do provide some assurance of quality when buying a pre-made system (an assurance you won't get when you buy a system from a chop shop). The WHQL certification is especially valuable because it means that extensive testing has been performed on the complete machine to ensure compliance with Microsoft's standards. All name brand machines are WHQL certified because the operating system costs less for WHQL certified machines. WHQL is a GOOD thing. It imposed sanity on manufacturers of peripherals, forcing both their hardware and their drivers to work with fewer problems.

I am very into low noise and good cooling. This involve using multiple case fans and hard drive fans, running at low speed. You can buy speed controllable fans from http://svc.com. You can also lower the voltage on 12 volt fans by using some power diodes in series (6 diodes will lower the 12V to 7.8V).

On higher end systems I am into RAID, as the consequences of a hard disk crash are getting to be just too high, and back-up solutions for today's high capacity hard drives are not practical. Many motherboards have integrated RAID 1 controllers (RAID 0 is a misnomer and is not redundant).

I prefer controller-based call-waiting modems as opposed to WinModems. If you are using dial-up then you're too cheap to get DSL or a cable modem, and you're also probably too cheap to get a second phone line, so a call-waiting modem is a good idea (but you have to subscribe to call-waiting).

I don't build systems for friends and relatives as this generally involves a commitment of lifetime technical support that I am unwilling to provide. I recommend that they buy complete systems. In general I've found that HP has the best combination of features and price, but that Dell machines rapidly get too expensive when you start configuring them with sufficient memory, hard drives, etc.

Video Editing, Photo Editing

This system uses a graphics card designed for video applications, not gaming. It has the more expensive 8X DVD writer. Dual SATA drives should be mirrored with the on-board RAID 1 controller. ECC memory is used for extra reliability. Top of the line SuperMicro full tower case with extensive cooling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-System

Mfg

Part #

Description

QTY

Each

Total

Vendor

MB

Asus

P4C800-E Deluxe

Motherboard

1

181

181

NewEgg

CPU

Intel

BX80532PG2600D

2.6Ghz P4 800 Mhz FSB

1

174

174

NewEgg

Memory

Crucial

CT6472Z40B 

512MB DDR400 ECC

2

120

240

NewEgg

Graphics

Asus

V9560 Video Suite

VIDEOSUITE GEFORCE

1

175

175

NewEgg

DVD-ROM

Pioneer

DVD-120

DVD

1

35

35

NewEgg

CD-RW/DVD-RW

Plextor

Plextor PX-708A

DVD Burner

1

216

216

NewEgg

Hard Drive

Maxtor

6Y200M0

200 GB, 8MB cache, 7200 RPM (RAID 1), Serial ATA

2

186

372

NewEgg

Case/Power Supply

SuperMicro

cse-762-420

Full Tower Case w 420W supply

1

187

187

nerds.net

Media Reader

Koutech

F7209

Multi-media front panel, USB 2.0

1

52

52

NewEgg

Modem (if needed)

ActionTec

PCIV9212-60CW

Controller Based Call-Waiting Modem

1

49

49

Digitally Unique

Keyboard

Microsoft

K49-00023

102 key Multimedia Keyboard

1

14

14

NewEgg

Mouse

Microsoft

D58-00041

Intelli-Mouse Optical

1

16

16

NewEgg

Operating System

Microsoft

E85-02179

Windows XP Pro

1

140

140

NewEgg

Floppy

Samsung

SFD321B/LEB

3.5" Floppy

1

5.6

5.6

NewEgg

Cooling

SVC

GF8M4B

80mm cooling fans/4 pin Ball Bearing

7

2.5

17.5

SVC

Cooling

Vantec

Iceberg Copper

DDR Heat Spreader, copper

2

5

10

NewEgg

Cooling

Unknown

EC-HK-3F

Triple fan hard drive cooler

2

6

12

NewEgg

Cooling

Speeze

4F01B4

Fan Card

1

5.5

5.5

NewEgg

Cooling

Vantec

HDC-502A

Hard Disk Cooler

2

8

16

NewEgg

Cooling

Zalman

ZM-NB32J

Northbridge Heat Sink

1

5

5

NewEgg

 

 

 

 

 

 

1922.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gaming (High end graphics)

This system uses a graphics card designed for gaming. It has the less expensive 4X DVD writer. Dual SATA drives should be mirrored with the on-board RAID 1 controller. ECC memory is used for extra reliability. Top of the line SuperMicro full tower case with extensive cooling. Not an exciting case with neon lights, just a very good quality server case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-System

Mfg

Part #

Description

QTY

Each

Total

Vendor

MB

Asus

P4C800-E Deluxe

Motherboard

1

180

181

NewEgg

CPU

Intel

BX80532PG2600D

3.0 Ghz P4 800 Mhz FSB

1

174

174

NewEgg

Memory

Crucial

CT6472Z40B 

512MB DDR400 ECC

2

120

240

NewEgg

Graphics

Asus

RADEON 9800XT

256MB Radeon 9800 Graphics Card

1

490

490

NewEgg

DVD-ROM

Pioneer

DVD-120

DVD

1

35

35

NewEgg

CD-RW/DVD-RW

Pioneer

DVR-A06USPK4

DVD Burner

1

155

155

NewEgg

Hard Drive

Maxtor

6Y200M0

200 GB, 8MB cache, 7200 RPM (RAID 1), Serial ATA

2

186

372

NewEgg

Case/Power Supply

SuperMicro

cse-762-420

Full Tower Case w 420W supply

1

187

187

nerds.net

Media Reader

Koutech

F7209

Multi-media front panel, USB 2.0

1

52

52

NewEgg

Modem (if needed)

ActionTec

PCIV9212-60CW

Controller Based Call-Waiting Modem

1

49

49

Digitally Unique

Keyboard

Microsoft

K49-00023

102 key Multimedia Keyboard

1

14

14

NewEgg

Mouse

Microsoft

D58-00041

Intelli-Mouse Optical

1

16

16

NewEgg

Operating System

Microsoft

E85-02179

Windows XP Pro

1

140

140

NewEgg

Floppy

Samsung

SFD321B/LEB

3.5" Floppy

1

5.6

6

NewEgg

Cooling

SVC

GF8M4B

80mm cooling fans/4 pin Ball Bearing

7

2.5

17.5

SVC

Cooling

Vantec

Iceberg Copper

DDR Heat Spreader, copper

2

5

10

NewEgg

Cooling

Unknown

EC-HK-3F

Triple fan hard drive cooler

2

6

12

NewEgg

Cooling

Speeze

4F01B4

Fan Card

1

5.5

5

NewEgg

Cooling

Vantec

HDC-502A

Hard Disk Cooler

2

8

16

NewEgg

Cooling

Zalman

ZM-NB32J

Northbridge Heat Sink

1

5

5

NewEgg

 

 

 

 

 

 

2176.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital Piano (MIDI, no fancy graphics, slim case)

This system is designed to be used with a digital piano. It has a built-in MIDI port, something lacking in all retail PCs these days. It uses a very unique slim line case. I've built one of these, but with a previous model motherboard from Gigabyte.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-System

Mfg

Part #

Description

QTY

Each

Total

Vendor

MB

Gigabyte

Gigabyte 845GV

Motherboard (AGP, MIDI)1

1

63

63

NewEgg

CPU

Intel

BX80532PC2400D

2.4 Ghz P4 533 Mhz FSB

1

165

165

NewEgg

Memory

Crucial

CT3264Z335

256MB DDR333

2

42

84

NewEgg

Hard Drive

Maxtor

6Y120P0

120 GB, 8MB cache, 7200 RPM, EIDE

1

104

104

NewEgg

CD-RW/DVD-ROM

LG

GCC-4520B

CD-RW drive with DVD reader

1

65

65

NewEgg

Case/Power Supply

Evercase

ECE0229

Slim case with RPC313 PCI riser card & Front I/O2

1

70

70

Evercase*

Floppy

Samsung

SFD321B/LEB

3.5" Floppy

1

6

6

NewEgg

Modem (if needed)

ActionTec

PCIV9212-60CW

Controller Based Call-Waiting Modem

1

49

49

Digitally Unique

Keyboard

Microsoft

K49-00023

102 key Multimedia Keyboard

1

14

14

NewEgg

Mouse

Microsoft

D58-00041

Intelli-Mouse Optical

1

16

16

NewEgg

Operating System

Microsoft

N09-00741

Windows XP Home

1

91

91

NewEgg

Cooling

Vantec

Iceberg Copper

DDR Heat Spreader, copper

2

5

10

NewEgg

Cooling

Speeze

4F01B4

Fan Card

1

6

5

NewEgg

Cooling

Vantec

HDC-502A

Hard Disk Cooler

1

8

8

NewEgg

Cooling

Antec

76005

40 mm ball bearing fan

1

6

6

NewEgg

Cooling

Zalman

ZM-NB32J

Northbridge Heat Sink

1

5

5

NewEgg

 

 

 

 

 

 

761.00

 

1. Note that very few motherboards still provide MIDI ports, the motherboard specified is one of the few Micro-ATX boards that has a MIDI connector on the I/O panel. Even digital pianos with USB ports do not provide the functionality of a true MIDI port.

2. This is the only slim case for MicroATX that allows the use of full size PCI add-on cards via an innovative right angle riser card that breaks out slot specific PCI signals onto little boards that plug into the motherboard's PCI slots. Contact Evercase to purchase. Be sure to order the riser card and the front I/O panel as well. I bought this case direct, by going to their San Jose office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Browsing, E-mail, Office Applications, a good PC for your kid's school work, and too slow to play high end games!

This is a basic system with high quality components. If buying a retail system instead, be sure that it includes 1394 (Firewire), front audio and USB ports, at least a 120GB, 7200 rpm hard drive with 8MB of cache, and 512MB of RAM. Watch out for decontented systems that will require a lot of additonal items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-System

Mfg

Part #

Description

QTY

Each

Total

Vendor

MB

Gigabyte

Gigabyte 845GV

Motherboard (AGP, MIDI)

1

63

63

NewEgg

CPU

Intel

BX80531P180G128

1.8Ghz Celeron, 400Mhz FSB

1

56

56

NewEgg

Memory

Crucial

CT3264Z265

256MB DDR266

2

38

76

NewEgg

Hard Drive

Maxtor

6Y120P0

120 GB, 8MB cache, 7200 RPM, EIDE

1

104

104

NewEgg

CD-RW/DVD-ROM

LG

GCC-4520B

CD-RW drive with DVD reader

1

65

65

NewEgg

Case/Power Supply

Antec

SLK3700AMB

Mid Tower

1

73

73

NewEgg

Floppy

Samsung

SFD321B/LEB

3.5" Floppy

1

6

6

NewEgg

Media Reader

Koutech

F7209

Multi-media front panel, USB 2.0

1

52

52

NewEgg

Modem (if needed)

ActionTec

PCIV9212-60CW

Controller Based Call-Waiting Modem

1

49

49

Digitally Unique

Keyboard

Microsoft

K49-00023

102 key Multimedia Keyboard

1

14

14

NewEgg

Mouse

Microsoft

D58-00041

Intelli-Mouse Optical

1

16

16

NewEgg

Operating System

Microsoft

N09-00741

Windows XP Home

1

91

91

NewEgg

Cooling

Vantec

Iceberg Copper

DDR Heat Spreader, copper

2

5

10

NewEgg

Cooling

Speeze

4F01B4

Fan Card

1

6

5

NewEgg

Cooling

Vantec

HDC-502A

Hard Disk Cooler

1

8

8

NewEgg

Cooling

Thermaltake

A1280

120 mm ball bearing fan

1

7

7

NewEgg

Cooling

Zalman

ZM-NB32J

Northbridge Heat Sink

1

5

5

NewEgg

 

 

 

 

 

 

700.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Mom's or Grandmother's PC for Web Browsing & E-mail

This is a small, inexpensive system to give your mom or grandmother. It still uses good quality components and has extra cooling in an effort to minimize the amount of free tech support that you have to provide! The call-waiting modem is a good way to eliminate the need for an extra phone line, but if you don't care about this you can use a cheaper WinModem. Front audio and USB ports. It's still probably better to buy them an HP or Dell entry level model. You may have to work at attaching the hard drive cooler, but it is important with a 7200rpm drive. I actually like the Evercase ECE0229 with the riser card better, but it's too difficult to acquire, as they are not sold at retail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-System

Mfg

Part #

Description

QTY

Each

Total

Vendor

MB

Gigabyte

Gigabyte 845GV

Motherboard (AGP)

1

63

63

NewEgg

CPU

Intel

BX80530F1200256

1.2Ghz Celeron, 400Mhz FSB

1

38

38

NewEgg

Memory

Crucial

CT3264Z265

256MB DDR266

1

38

38

NewEgg

Hard Drive

Maxtor

6E040L0

40 GB, 8MB cache, 7200 RPM, EIDE

1

59

59

NewEgg

DVD-ROM

Pioneer

DVD-120

DVD

1

35

35

NewEgg

Case/Power Supply

Inwin

V535

Micro-ATX

1

38

38

NewEgg

Floppy

Samsung

SFD321B/LEB

3.5" Floppy

1

6

6

NewEgg

Modem (if needed)

ActionTec

PCIV9212-60CW

Controller Based Call-Waiting Modem

1

49

49

Digitally Unique

Keyboard

Microsoft

K49-00023

102 key Multimedia Keyboard

1

14

14

NewEgg

Mouse

Microsoft

D58-00041

Intelli-Mouse Optical

1

16

16

NewEgg

Operating System

Microsoft

N09-00741

Windows XP Home

1

91

91

NewEgg

Cooling

Vantec

HDC-502A

Hard Disk Cooler

1

8

8

NewEgg

 

 

 

 

 

 

455.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small PC for Web Browsing & E-mail

This is a small form factor system, good for web browsing and e-mail. It still uses good quality components. Limited expansion capability because it supports only low profile PCI cards. Front audio and USB ports. Case is also available in black, but if you do this be sure to buy a black face floppy and black face DVD drive. You may have to work at attaching the hard drive cooler, but it is important with a 7200rpm drive. I actually like the Evercase ECE0229 with the riser card better (the only slim case that allows multiple full size PCI cards), but it's too difficult to acquire, as they are not sold at retail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-System

Mfg

Part #

Description

QTY

Each

Total

Vendor

MB

Gigabyte

Gigabyte 845GV

Motherboard (AGP)

1

63

63

NewEgg

CPU

Intel

BX80530F1200256

1.2Ghz Celeron, 400Mhz FSB

1

38

38

NewEgg

Memory

Crucial

CT3264Z265

256MB DDR266

1

38

38

NewEgg

Hard Drive

Maxtor

6E040L0

40 GB, 2MB cache, 7200 RPM, EIDE

1

59

59

NewEgg

DVD-ROM

Pioneer

DVD-120

DVD

1

35

35

NewEgg

Case/Power Supply

Aopen

H340D

Micro-ATX Slim

1

38

38

NewEgg

Floppy

Samsung

SFD321B/LEB

3.5" Floppy

1

6

6

NewEgg

Modem (if needed)

Aopen

FM56-SVV

WinModem with optional MDA-56SVVL bracket

1

14

14

MyAopen

Keyboard

Microsoft

K49-00023

102 key Multimedia Keyboard

1

14

14

NewEgg

Mouse

Microsoft

D58-00041

Intelli-Mouse Optical

1

16

16

NewEgg

Operating System

Microsoft

N09-00741

Windows XP Home

1

91

91

NewEgg

Cooling

Vantec

HDC-502A

Hard Disk Cooler

1

8

8

NewEgg

 

 

 

 

 

 

420.00