1. What is the purpose of the computer? What all applications and games are you going to run? (Stupid answers like 'gaming' or 'office work' will not work. Be exact. Which games? Which applications? Avoid the word 'et cetera.')
Ans:
Mostly for web development. I use Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash, FW, Illustrator; many times simultaneously. Four users are also logged into the computer at almost all times, however not everyone has such kind of usage. One of the user plays games, though pretty old ones from 4 yrs back, so no hardcore gaming is done, and I think I am fine with on-board graphics as long as they're somewhat powerful. (But would like to leave an option to install a GPU at a later point of time if required for better gaming).
2. What is your overall budget? If you can extend a bit for a more balanced configuration, then mention this too.
Ans:
Upto 20k. Can extend if really worth it, or essential, depending on my choice of components.
3. Planning to overclock?
Ans:
No.
4. Which Operating System are you planning to use?
Ans:
Windows 7. Possibly 8 in the near future.
5. How much hard drive space is needed?
Ans:
None, I'm using my existing HDDs.
6. Do you want to buy a monitor? If yes, please mention which screen size and resolution do you want. If you already have a monitor and want to reuse it, again mention the size and resolution of monitor you have.
Ans:
Reusing existing Viewsonic 19" monitor. Resolution is 1440x900.
7. Which components you DON'T want to buy or which components you already have and plan on reusing?
Ans:
Viewsonic 19" monitor, Microsoft keyboard and mouse, HP PSC Printer, Logitech speakers, SATA internal HDDs, IDE DVD drive.
8. When are you planning to buy the system?
Ans:
Urgently. Right away.
9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
Ans:
No, will be done by assembler.
10. Where do you live? Are you buying locally? Are you open to buying stuff from online shops if you don't get locally?
Ans:
Mumbai. Yes, locally. But am also open to buying online. (Flipkart, Techshop, or any other reputed site).
11. Anything else which you would like to say?
Ans:
I'm currently on a C2D E6600 2.4 Ghz, Intel DG965RY mobo (on-board gfx), 3GB RAM since 5 years. But my display and network adaptors have turned faulty amongst other issues here and there, so decided to go in for a complete system upgrade again (except the external peripherals).
PROC: I'm eyeing the i5 2400 and 2500 (also 2500K), assuming they come to around 11-12k. Also, i5 3550 seems to be quite cheaper on Flipkart too. Coming from a Conroe, I'm a newbie to these new gen CPUs, so not quite sure about going for Ivy or Sandy, but these are the ones I found good. Also there is i5 2310 that is readily available with my vendor, as compared to ones I listed earlier, which is all mostly out of stock so I might have to order online or hunt down more vendors.
MOBO: In a bigger dilemma with the motherboard actually. Should I go in for an H61, or H67? (What's the notable difference?) Due to budget constraint, leaving Z68 aside. I've noticed some H61 mobos didn't have USB 3.0, so yeah, I do need that. Also I have confusion over ASUS, Gigabyte or Intel?
RAM: 4GB should be fine, I guess. Or 4+4 if any savings at the end. Is Transcend fine, or is Corsair really the way to go? I'm also talking in terms of the cost difference, to fit in the budget.
CAB: Cooler Master Elite 311 looks good for me, or there's also a 431 model I could go for.
PSU: Okay, to be honest, until now I have used cheap PSUs within 600-700, being naive at it. But having read on the forums how PSUs also require a fair amount of the budget, I guess you could suggest me something not too high, but in or around 2k?
This is my first post at TDF, and my knowledge over choosing computer hardware isn't that great, usually gone with what the vendor has to say, so relying on you guys this time to get me sorted.
Thank you very much!
Ans:
Mostly for web development. I use Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Flash, FW, Illustrator; many times simultaneously. Four users are also logged into the computer at almost all times, however not everyone has such kind of usage. One of the user plays games, though pretty old ones from 4 yrs back, so no hardcore gaming is done, and I think I am fine with on-board graphics as long as they're somewhat powerful. (But would like to leave an option to install a GPU at a later point of time if required for better gaming).
2. What is your overall budget? If you can extend a bit for a more balanced configuration, then mention this too.
Ans:
Upto 20k. Can extend if really worth it, or essential, depending on my choice of components.
3. Planning to overclock?
Ans:
No.
4. Which Operating System are you planning to use?
Ans:
Windows 7. Possibly 8 in the near future.
5. How much hard drive space is needed?
Ans:
None, I'm using my existing HDDs.
6. Do you want to buy a monitor? If yes, please mention which screen size and resolution do you want. If you already have a monitor and want to reuse it, again mention the size and resolution of monitor you have.
Ans:
Reusing existing Viewsonic 19" monitor. Resolution is 1440x900.
7. Which components you DON'T want to buy or which components you already have and plan on reusing?
Ans:
Viewsonic 19" monitor, Microsoft keyboard and mouse, HP PSC Printer, Logitech speakers, SATA internal HDDs, IDE DVD drive.
8. When are you planning to buy the system?
Ans:
Urgently. Right away.
9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
Ans:
No, will be done by assembler.
10. Where do you live? Are you buying locally? Are you open to buying stuff from online shops if you don't get locally?
Ans:
Mumbai. Yes, locally. But am also open to buying online. (Flipkart, Techshop, or any other reputed site).
11. Anything else which you would like to say?
Ans:
I'm currently on a C2D E6600 2.4 Ghz, Intel DG965RY mobo (on-board gfx), 3GB RAM since 5 years. But my display and network adaptors have turned faulty amongst other issues here and there, so decided to go in for a complete system upgrade again (except the external peripherals).
PROC: I'm eyeing the i5 2400 and 2500 (also 2500K), assuming they come to around 11-12k. Also, i5 3550 seems to be quite cheaper on Flipkart too. Coming from a Conroe, I'm a newbie to these new gen CPUs, so not quite sure about going for Ivy or Sandy, but these are the ones I found good. Also there is i5 2310 that is readily available with my vendor, as compared to ones I listed earlier, which is all mostly out of stock so I might have to order online or hunt down more vendors.
MOBO: In a bigger dilemma with the motherboard actually. Should I go in for an H61, or H67? (What's the notable difference?) Due to budget constraint, leaving Z68 aside. I've noticed some H61 mobos didn't have USB 3.0, so yeah, I do need that. Also I have confusion over ASUS, Gigabyte or Intel?
RAM: 4GB should be fine, I guess. Or 4+4 if any savings at the end. Is Transcend fine, or is Corsair really the way to go? I'm also talking in terms of the cost difference, to fit in the budget.
CAB: Cooler Master Elite 311 looks good for me, or there's also a 431 model I could go for.
PSU: Okay, to be honest, until now I have used cheap PSUs within 600-700, being naive at it. But having read on the forums how PSUs also require a fair amount of the budget, I guess you could suggest me something not too high, but in or around 2k?
This is my first post at TDF, and my knowledge over choosing computer hardware isn't that great, usually gone with what the vendor has to say, so relying on you guys this time to get me sorted.
Thank you very much!
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