New Computer Blues - AMD, Intel, Gigatbyte, and NewEgg Oh My!

Sheesh - I need a new computer - the core of this one is 5 years old now, and is getting really slow and quirky. I've been looking at systems online and I am going to build my own. The real test is getting enough of a processor to give you cutting edge for a few years and then another couple of years at half speed. I like the AMD line and Intel seems to have some more cost effective CPUs that get the job done. If you aren't up on this stuff - you can now get a "six core" CPU - essentially putting 6 CPUs into one processor.

Motherboards are the platform on which everything rides, so you have to get a good one. Integrated video only adds a few bucks, but lets you coast a couple months before you have to commit to a kick ass video card. Nowadays - you need a super good power supply like 600 or 700 watts to get the job done, and they aren't cheap, and you need at least 4 gigs of ddr 3 memory. I have a Windows 7 disk from one of the kids computers and hard drives and DVD drives from my old rig.

All in all CPU is $250, motherboard is $100, power supply is $100 and memory is $80, putting a pretty good solution in place for about $530. Next upgrade is a super video card - another $190 or so into the pot.

There are two great websites for making your decisions on all this stuff - feel free to putz about - -

http://www.pricewatch.com/ (cheapest and best raw hardware supplies)
http://www.tomshardware.com/ (great articles, advice and how-to's on building your own rig)
http://www.newegg.com/ (great hardware specials and some cool add-ons like cases and fans and stuff)

I now return you to your regularly scheduled life....