February's Setup of the Month?

[veliaris]

So I've finally convinced my old lady to let me buy a new computer but (!) I know all of nothing about building a computer. I have no idea how to make sure parts are compatible, much less what won't be obsolete in 6 months, so I'm looking forward to your February Setup to provide me a blueprint of what blindly to buy. I am in the "norwal" price range (and have an Antec 300 ATX on order).

[llDemonll]

I highly doubt there will be one. February hasn't graced us with anything new and seeing as the Intel Sandy Bridge CPU's aren't back out yet (motherboards that is), there's not much different that the last setup. March or April will be the next big setup changes, as those will be when Sandy Bridge is back on the market

[TanAxys]

So I've finally convinced my old lady to let me buy a new computer but (!) I know all of nothing about building a computer. I have no idea how to make sure parts are compatible, much less what won't be obsolete in 6 months, so I'm looking forward to your February Setup to provide me a blueprint of what blindly to buy. I am in the "norwal" price range (and have an Antec 300 ATX on order).

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...uide/Guide.png
same idea with more options

[veliaris]

http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/...uide/Guide.png
same idea with more options

I've seen this, but have no idea if each of these components is compatible with the next. Like RAM, I assume the whole system is limited by the weakest link in the chain. As for the Sandy issue, what are we supposed to do then? Is the only option going with an i7?

[llDemonll]

Are you looking for a computer immediately, or can you wait a month or so for the Sandy Bridge chips to come out again?