1) For $220 you could get the new 6 core processor, but it depends on what you are doing with it. For a general productivity machine though I'd probably still go with Intel i5 750.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/3674/a...5t-reviewed/12
Quote:
Applications like video encoding and offline 3D rendering show the real strengths of the Phenom II X6. And thanks to Turbo Core, you don't give up any performance in less threaded applications compared to a Phenom II X4. The 1090T can easily trump the Core i7 860 and the 1055T can do even better against the Core i5 750.
You start running into problems when you look at lightly threaded applications or mixed workloads that aren't always stressing all six cores. In these situations Intel's quad-core Lynnfield processors (Core i5 700 series and Core i7 800 series) are better buys. They give you better performance in these light or mixed workload scenarios, not to mention lower overall power consumption.
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2) Not sure about motherboards, but ASUS is good, and I like Gigabyte motherboards as well. Intel chipsets for Intel chips. And I'd probably go with an ATI card to get video acceleration and audio for movies and such, something like this:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...2%28ME%29.aspx
ETA: This also gives you high def audio decoding for Bluray movies.
3) Dual monitors are better overall for productivity, though I wouldn't give up my 24" monitor.. do a 24" and a 22"
But for 22" I'd go with something like this:
http://accessories.dell.com/sna/prod...1&sku=320-7825
IPS panel in it and has lots of good reviews.
4) Yup, should be very easy to set up, Windows 7's concept of libraries makes adding directories on other drives to your documents or videos folders easy.
5) Well I just got
this case and it's great and very quiet, but probably not conducive to a budget machine. There are some good cheaper cases that will be quiet though. I've had Antec Sonata cases before and they're quite good and quiet for the price. I'm VERY picky about noise though and to get a truly near silent computer you do have to put out extra $$.
A good CPU heatsink with a good fan is also important and can really reduce the noise.
Some good sites for info on that:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/
6) 4GB is probably fine for most people (ensure you have 64 bit Windows to take advantage of it), or if you get a Core i5 I think you can actually have 6GB to take advantage of the tri-channel setup to get a speed boost. I upgraded to 8GB recently and it made a huge difference for me, but I'm not a typical user.