Read Me
So, answering your questions:
1. - “
Where should I start?”
You should start with what you need the computer for.
You mentioned Photoshop, iTunes, and Games.
For media editing like Photoshop, or encoding video/audio files, INTEL processors is the way to go.
For PC Games, traditionally AMD processors work the best.
Now, all this based on the way these processors are built and work. If you want to know more details, ask me later.
As well, out of the items mentioned the order would be the following:
Processor >> Motherboard >> Power supply.
Then you pick the processor or CPU (the CPU will determine which motherboard you can use, since each processor has a different fitting or "socket").
Power supply you can get almost at the end, some computer cases come with them. To pick a Power Supply you need to see how much power is drawn from your computer to run normally, and how quiet it is.
Quietness goes also for HD, CPU fans, Video Cards, Cases, Case fans.
2. - “
I am looking to spend around $1200 or so. Maybe a bit less”
1200 can buy you a sweet computer, but make sure you get something you can upgrade when the next generation item comes out (typically a few months later, be ready for that).
The most costly things will be: CPU, Video Card (high end ones), RAM (high end ones ONLY for “Pro” gaming), and Motherboard.
3. - “
I want a fast machine…”
A fast machine comes from this:
High speed CPU w/large “cache” +
Large RAM w/ low “latency” and the least amount of chips +
Large “cache” Hard Drive (large or small capacity HD, not much diff in terms of speed).
The “cache” is the CPU’s bottleneck; the bigger the better.
The “latency” is the RAM’s bottleneck; the smaller the better. Most people don’t need to get into this with RAM unless you consider yourself a serious gamer, in which case you would already know how to put a computer together IMO.
The “cache” in a HD is its bottleneck. Think of it as the size of chunks of information sent back and forth by the HD.
4. - “
…with large hard drive or two.”
Two hard drives is a good idea. Keep all your valuable files in the non-C drive. You don’t need to have two different HD, since you can “split” or “partition” one into 2, 3, 4… whatever you want.
5. - “
Dvd burner… ”
DVD burners are coming with Blue-ray and HD-DVD, but that battle is not settled yet, so get a cheap one for now, although most are. A new hybrid BD-DVD and HD-DVD disc was invented (putting those two new technologies together), thank God! Give it a couple of years and the technology will be affordable by us and out on the market.
6. - “… and a Graphics card.”
Some motherboards come with “integrated video” so you wouldn’t need a video card, but they’re not the greatest, and you will probably need one for most of your Games.
7. - “
I am not looking for really high end.”
Please do look for something mid-high end, for a good price; that’s the way I go and it never failed me. Keep this in mind: if it is on sale ask yourself “why, is the next new thing out?”
Use
Pricenetwork.ca for finding the best price on computers, parts, etc. (Great site to know, btw).
Good luck! and any more questions?
For someone like me who's for the most part quite the DIY'er I'm intimidated by the thought of building my own PC.
