Windows 7 - Build My Own System

I built a barebones system earlier this year and found many issues with the standard components. I replaced the case, fans and CPU cooling system. I would like to build another but this time pick my components more carefully.

There are so many cases, MOBOs, etc.

I will be using for video conversion, DVD ripping and virtual machine testing.

Preferences would include DVI, HDMI, USB 3, quiet cooling/fans.

Is there any guide that could help me in this effort?

You will find many articles out there if you google for "how to build your own computer". These articles are usually good at giving you a start on putting stuff together, but the things like cases, and fans and coolers all become a personal choice in the end.

Your best bet is to provide a budget to the folks here, as well as your requirements (which you have done) and let us make recommendations and you can look at our recommendations and decide for yourself how you want to go.

Budget would be $400 - $500. The main issue for me has been noise. The system that I built last makes much noise from the case fans and liquid cooling fan. Also, don't want blinking LEDs from case. AMD or Intel. No preference.

Thanks for any help.

There's no real guide because it's too broad of a topic. My advice, from building well over 100 computers in my life, is to start with a motherboard/processor combo. Decide on Intel or AMD. Then, let's say you choose an Intel Core i7-2600, you'll know you need a Socket 1155 mobo. So you go through a pick the motherboard, and that will tell you what type RAM to buy, in this case, DDR3.

Each component then comes after, in terms of drives, video cards, optical drives, etc. The case is usually the last thing you choose, right after the power supply.

Since you are in the States, Newegg.com is the best place to do this, and you can even save Wish Lists.

SilentPCreview.com is usually the best source for info about building a quiet PC--lots of reviews, forums, comments on fans, etc.

This is a very low budget for video work. If you plan doing video encoding I would add $500-$1000 to this budget depending on how serious you are.
I bought my i7 2600k ~ 2 months ago for $320.

If you do a lot of video conversion, I would go for a muscular CPU (e.g. i7 or one of the recent AMDs). That will buy you more than a fancy GPU. And yes, your budget is a bit tight - keep looking for specials at Newegg and Tiger Direct. Subscribe to their feeds. Then you are always up to date. They have specials nearly daily.

The last one that I built is an AMD Quad 9850. Cost was $339 plus additional $150 for case and Corsair H60.

Your prices look pretty good but I'm talking a full system price including a decent monitor for video work, DVD drive, keyboard, Operating system....It all adds up.

I have another PC with an Intel Q8300 which is more capable than the AMD you quoted and it takes 3 times what my i7 2600k does on a high quality Handbrake encode. The difference between ok and painful.

For Video Encoding you certainly want to focus on CPU power, first and foremost.

Budget priority should be something like:

First. Get the best CPU you possibly can.
Id stay with Intel for video encoding. i5 2500 may be a good choice here to, if the 2600K is a bit out of range.

Secondly youll want at least 4GB of RAM, or possibly 8GB if budget allows.

And lastly, GPU.



Unless your Video Encoding program uses something like CUDA, and is GPU based.
Then youll want to more towards a GPU.