Advice, yo!

[HappySadist]

So, it turns out (unsurprisingly) that my laptop is no good for architecture related software. Now, this is a mega issue. Thus, I would like to look into building one badass motherfucker of a computer for minimum price. The most important things i need are probably:

• Badass motherfucker processor
• Plenty of RAM
• Decent sized hard drive, but nothing over the top, considering I use my external one quite a bit
• A graphics card crafted in the fires of Mt. Doom
• HDMI compatibility (because I decided that since I don't use my HDTV, I'd let it double as a monitor

Now, I need some advice on where to source parts, what other components I would need, cost issues, and what parts I should go for. Can anyone help here?

Also, the computers at my uni have these really small computer cases. My housemate and I would like to know more about them. Ie. Are they good or shit?

[Aneurysm]

First address is a price comparison site, I find it useful for getting benchmarks for prices, however it doesn't automatically list the cheapest price you can find as it ignores specials etc.

www.staticice.com.au


These are the businesses I have purchased from in the past and for one reason or another I recommend them all. They all are competitive and its worth shopping around for different parts as one shop will often have some components but not all of them cheaper than the next.

www.fluidtek.com.au
www.itestate.com.au
www.msy.com.au
www.pccasegear.com.au

This site is a fantastic site for learning just about anything you could ever imagine, it has quite an extensive section on computers which I have linked you to.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/


In regards to the "small cases" at uni, I would say they are probably Micro ATX format which just simply means they use a smaller than standard motherboard format. There are various pros and cons to this format, but the crux of it is that if you have the desk space, then go for a standard size build.

[HappySadist]

Cheers. I will take a look at all those links when I don't have so much overdue uni work.

I went to the MSY store in Geelong today and it was pretty decent. The chinese people there were surprisingly really helpful. Prices were good. I will source from other places, but a computer with the performance I want will probably cost around $832.

[Jader7777]

Or just buy an Asus 1201N and chill out.

[HappySadist]

Or just STFU.

sqi

[Jader7777]

Seriously though if you're not planning to do much else than use your computer for achitect work, some simple games and media/document work then go with a little Asus 1201N. You can HDMI out onto a telly if you'd like. It even supports 1080p viewing.

[HappySadist]

You realise that some projects take up to a day to render on an average computer? Do you have any Idea how much strain this stuff puts on your computer?

[Aneurysm]

even ignoring the demands you need to place on your pc, building your own pc is almost without exception cheaper, so long as you do your homework, you can save significant $ assembling it yourself.

[HappySadist]

Or I can steal a mac and have no dramas.

[Jader7777]

Can't you just attend TAFE or something. Just take up a cheap course in... art appreciation or something. Bam, access to computers almost 27/4

[HappySadist]

I have access to computers 24/7, but uni is a whole 10-15 mins walk away. You can see my dilemma, yes?

[FluKe]

Walk?

[HappySadist]

I'm too poor now to pay for fuel. Plus there is the issue of pay parking. So I just walk everywhere.

[Jader7777]

What about the issue of pay standing.

[HappySadist]