What do you build your computer around?

[bob05]

I was just wondering: What computer part do you build your computer around or value the most (i.e. CPU, Motherboard)? Any comments wanted!:D

Thanxs:cool:

[RayH]

Available money.

[muchmark]

ditto

[DocEvi1]

I agree, but then CPU and motherboard.

Stefan

[cook_n]

Don't forget a good looking case with alot of power.

[G]

Data integrity and data storage is my primary concern.

G

[Happy13178]

Trick question. Overall system performance can be affected in so many ways, and so many parts out there in varying quality levels, you could have a great processor, and horrible everything else, and the system will suck, performance wise. The best question should be, what are you gonna use it for?

[gibsinep]

well, latley it is spare parts I have.

Like my last biuld for another computer in my house. it is pretty decent. Not as good compared to my comp but still pretty nice.


Duron 750
ak75-ec
20gb hd
128mb ram
(nice case I got from a local store)
geofrce 2 mx 400


Guess what this cost me all under $180.00
Not bad just to have another computer to do stuff on.

It is so cheap cause I had basically everything but mobo,HD,cd-rom, and case.

[rextex]

I guess I have to answer motherboard for the poll (and price)since first I look at the cost of motherboards before I do anything else.
I may have in mind the P4 or High PIII processor I'd like when first shopping, but then of course reality sets in.
For instance I altered my plans with the system I recently built.I opted for a Celeron II 850 based on my usage needs and the motherboard I found, an older Aopen AX34 ProII.The motherboard is capable of supporting PIII 1Ghz also.
I found my selection worked out well.
I don't even use all the power I have.
Later I'll upgrade the drives and get a controller card, probaly move to an UW SCSI.
Then I'll be ready to move my peripherals to a newer board and later processor.
At that point I will be where I really get to enjoy a high power system fully.
Whereas if I had just bought the most expensive latest processor and board I would limited by the drives and costs anyway.
Not only that but I find driver,O.S. issues and all kinds hassles surround the first few generations of a new Processor / Chipset jumps.
I'd rather have tried and true equipment.

[shark_megabyte]

I have just built a machine with these considerations:

1) Processor - high heat tolerance in case i make a mistake OCing
2) memory - ddr 333
3) motherboard - overclock-friendly

Price also figured in as the deciding factor between ddr and rdram, as I concluded from published benchmarks that losing a few hundred points to pc800 was worth the money I saved.

[araaraara]

While price is an important factor in the systems I build, I consider the motherboard to be of most importance. I always try to find a motherboard with lots of features and good upgradability rather than going with a cheaper one. With a good motherboard, you can start out with basic parts and then move on up to better ones later. Socket A motherboards are great for this because you can get a value Duron to start and later upgrade to an Athlon(XP). Ram support and the number of slots in also important, because they affect upgradability too. It's cheaper and easier to buy a good motherboard at first rather than buying a cheap motherboard and then later having to replace it when you upgrade. With AMD, you don't have to base a system around the processor, because they are all interchangable. Some Socket A motherboards also have very flexible memory configurations.

[uncle_jimbo]

Three main things I take into consideration, quality of parts (sometimes), speed, and price, I feel now its nearly impossible to build a really upradeable PC, due to the fact that both AMD and Intel are both changing socket pin counts (AMDs ClawHammer), but Intel I dont think will change until nearly the end of the year, anyone hear the release date of the P4 2.4 Ghz (next week, I think, and according to Cnet, P4s are going to get cheaper, finally).

[bushmaster]

Your wife and or girlfriends schedule ....this way ya dont get yelled at for all the money you spent on that stinking box that you spend more time with than her.:D

[bob05]

well it sounds like most people value the mobo

[TARP2]

I think the mobo is a good place to start. It has so many variables.

On the other hand I think my computers are mainly built around my wallet.:eek: