Time to buy a new computer

[Haopengyou]

I bought my "old" computer seven years ago and have made a couple of upgrades to it since that time. It is now time to bite the bullet and build a brand new one from scratch. I just did some googling and was stupified by the the amount of new terms out there. I am looking for some help with the following areas:

- if you can point me to a couple of webpages that will give me a survey of the new technologies out there - SATA, new video standards, cpus, etc.

- if you can make a suggestion for a system that has to be able to do dvd editing/rendering while simultaneously letting me surf the web (usually 4 or 5 windows open with Firefox and as many as 30 tabs open with each window), send/compose email using Tbird, watch dvd's or tv on my computer's tv card, use photo editing software, webpage development software, skype (text, audio and video all used quite often)...and work with 8 or 9 other relatively small, untaxing programs that I reference several times a day.

I also connect to two different networks and have three different printers hooked up to my computer, a fax modem and a scanner. I use the computer to sync 2 handheld pc's, an mp3 player and my cell phone.

I am experimenting with LINUX now and think I will go that rout. Most of the apps I use now are open source. The main attraction to LINUX is that I hear it is very stable. I usually leave my pc's on 24/7 so that they can download emails, update virus dictionaries etc while I am fast asleep but also so that people can access the data on my computer. It is attached to the internet in such a way that people can do that.

Is it time for a dual processor computer? Which cpu/mb would you recommend?

[Webster]

Is it time for a dual processor computer? Which cpu/mb would you recommend?

Why don't you just build a Q6600 on a Gigabyte microATX board. That will save you the trouble of searching for a video card.

$189.99 Q6600 CPU slightly old, but relatively cheap and proven - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017
$58.49 MoBo not the latest but also relatively cheap. And since you're consider Linux, it is best not to get the latest hardware as it may not yet support - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128078
$69.99 CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184
$94.99 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3750640AS 750GB - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148134

Pick a case of your choice - This is more of a personal preference.
http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=9&name=Computer-Cases

You can use your old monitor or pick up a cheap 22 inches monitor for $179.99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009145

Cost without monitor, case = $413.46 plus shipping.
Add $25.99 for SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151173
If you need a floppy, keyboard, and mouse then get them from your old computer.

Install the Linux distro of you choice and you're set.
Granted these are not the cutting edge of technology, but the system is nothing to sneeze at.

[budz]

My suggestion is to get a Yorkfield Q9550 Cpu with a P45 chipset mobo. You haven't posted the amount you want to spend so this is my suggestion for components.

Intel Q9550, $319.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041

Cooler Master Hyper 212 CPU Cooler, $42.99 (This will fit into the CM 590 Case)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103040

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 motherboard, $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128345

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel RAM, $67.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231145

Cooler Master CM 590 Case, $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152

SeaSonic M12II SS-500GM 500W ATX12V 2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Power Supply, $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151056

SAPPHIRE 100255L Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Video Card, $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102792

(1) Seagate 80gb SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive, $38.99 for Operating system
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231

(2) Seagate 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive, $79.99 for Storage space/Video editing
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148335

Pioneer 216D SATA Dvd Burner, $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129032

Get some Scythe Slipstream fans for case cooling, (4 - 5 fans for CM 590 case).

Scythe SY1225SL12M 120mm "Slipstream" Case Fan, $8.99 each
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185058

Or some 120mm Yate Loon Medium Speed Fans from Petrastechshop.com although they are out of stock at the moment they should be instock in about 2 weeks.
http://www.petrastechshop.com/120x25mmfans.html

Approximate price with 4 Scythe slipstream fans: $1051.89
You'll have to add the shipping costs on your own since I have no clue what they are.

If you don't wanna build your own pc then check out the Dell website for deals on Quad Core systems.