Unless you have a hard time finding gold, Thermal Expansion's Induction Smelter is the most effective ore processing machine to start with. The Pulverizer doesn't require Sand, so it's cheaper to run (in materials), and you'll need one eventually anyways, but you will get higher yields from the smelter. You'll need an Engine to run the Thermal Expansion machines. The Sterling Engine is the cheapest, but it eventually becomes completely obsolete. The Steam Engine from Thermal Expansion is more expensive and requires both fuel and water, but it makes a good standalone work horse, and it will never explode. The Hobbyist Steam Engine has the best fuel efficiency to start with, and once you fill it up with water, it won't run out for a long time, but it requires almost two more Gold Ingots. The Hobbyist Steam Engine eventually outclasses the TE Steam Engine once you build a Boiler and start running the Hobbyist Steam Engine off of Steam from the Boiler.
