From the outset, I knew that I wanted to balance energy efficiency, quiet, and performance. I also had a budget of $1,000 for the entire system--including a monitor and copy of Windows. A lot had changed in the computer world since I left and returned from my time in Mexico. I found tomshardware.com to be a real handy research tool. They have some great articles like a monthly guide to the best videocards for a variety of budgets. They also have head-to-head benchmarks for CPUs and hard drives, etc.
I ended up going with the following equipment. The list is roughly in order of most important components to least important, which is the same order in which you should select them. I always purchase all my electronics at newegg.com because they are always within a dollar or two of the low-price internet-wide and they have an unbeatable return policy and customer service. Watch out for their combo deals too--you can save quite a bit by buying certain components together. A short explanation follows each item:
Motherboard - ASUS M4A88TD-V EVO/USB3 AM3 - $110 after rebate
The motherboard determines all the rest of the equipment: computer size, type of processor, etc. Asus and Gigabyte are both great brands. I knew I wanted to "future-proof" the design to the extent possible, which meant I needed native USB3, eSATA, AM3+ socket, and at least 16 lanes PCI-e lanes for my videocard. This board also came with a lot of extra goodies like an auto-overclocking tool and an application that increases your energy efficiency when your computer is only doing light stuff.
Case - Antec Sonata III - $90 after rebate
Known for its ultra-quiet operation which is due to the ultra-large 12cm fan and some other cool features like silicone hard drive mounting brackets which reduce vibration. It's also pretty slick looking. It comes with a 500W power supply which is 80 Plus Certified which means it is more energy efficient than your average bear.
Processor - AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz - ~$140
The AMD processors are generally cheaper, but beyond that, the Intel-AMD debate could rage forever. Modern processors use much more energy than older processors did, but they have also gotten pretty clever with minimizing power consumption. This is one of the largest areas you can save energy. The other is the video card.
Video Card - Sapphire Radeon HD 5770 1GB - $135 after mail in rebate
A great way to save money is to get a motherboard with integrated graphics. The other extreme is to get two identical videocards and run them in parallel. For most, a single graphic card is sufficient. This card is great if you are a casual gamer and/or watch HD media on your computer.
Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar Black - $65
The big choice with hard drives is conventional vs. solid state. Solid state is faster and more expensive. It's also more energy efficient and has no moving parts. I went with conventional, although I plan on upgrading to solid state in the near future. Western Digital also makes a Caviar Green which is touted for energy efficiency. Really though, it simply sacrifices performance for the energy efficiency. My external hard drive (for backups ONLY) is a 1TB GreenDrive from Fantom Drives--also energy efficient.
Memory - Patriot G Series ‘Sector 5’ Edition 4GB - $45
I was really surprised how much the price had come down since I purchased this. Not much to say here, just try to make sure your memory is compatible with your motherboard according to the motherboard manufacturer's technical sheets.
I'm nerding out even myself now, so I'll wrap things up. I rounded out the system with a DVD writer (don't bother with Lightscribe, it's not pretty), media card reader, 21" Asus monitor (ENERGYSTAR labeled), Logitech 2.1 speakers, ergonomic keyboard, wifi adapter, blu tooth adapter (for working from home with headset), and a wireless mouse. I also got Windows 7 Home which is fantastic by the way. Drop me a line if you're building your own system and need help.
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