First time builder for art/design student.

[Eggs Benediction]

Hello! First of all, I'd like to mention that it's great to find a forum with so many helpful people!

Anyways, on to buisness--

I am a design/illustration student, who requires a PC to run Adobe CS2 Programs, Corel Painter, Maya, 3D Studio Max, etc. I tend to run many of these high end softwares at once, and the school computers always freezes on me.
So I will need a rig that can do all of this, as well as allow me to try out some of those awesome PC games/MMO's I've been dying to play on high settings ^^;.

A friend is assisting me in the assembly, but his Holiday break arrived and I can't get a hold of him atm. So I need your opinions!! Mind you, I am a dunce when it comes to this, so please bear with me

Budget: $1450 (NOT including monitor or OS)

Desires:
-2GB RAM ( 1GB on my friend's comp was no match for Painter+Illustrator+Music )
-10000 RPM Hard Drive for running those high end softwares.
- 7200 RPM Hard Drive for storing junk/documents (music, pics, finished art)
- Dual Core Processor, since I will be multitasking (did a little homework ^^)
- Built in Ethernet Connection
- Nice Video card, possibly a couple steps down from current.
- Mid-range Sound Card...
- A sturdy case.

Yes, these are the things that I am aiming for, with the $1450 budget. I don't know if it's even possible, but hopefully you all can help me with a list. Thanks, and I look forward to your replies!

-Eggs

[Cricket]

AMD or Intel? I'd recommend Intel for those design/illustration programs.

And normally I'd recommend a Matrox video card for people using programs like the ones above but if you want to play games also, then Matrox is out. You might want to look at the ATi video cards.

Almost every modern motherboard has on-board ethernet now. And the on-board sound is pretty good too...try it before you buy a separate sound card.

There is only one 10,000 RPM SATA HDD right now...the Western Digital Raptor.

For the case take a look at what Antec has to offer. They come with good quality power supplies (one of the most important parts in a computer but the most often overlooked part...get a good power supply).

Cricket

[Eggs Benediction]

Pardon the double post. I thought the first post didn't go through, because it said I wasn't logged in after I finished it. It was not intentional.

Cricket, thank you for the feedback. : ) So, Intel is a better choice for what I'll be using?

I'll take a look at those Antec cases. I've been told that the PSU's that are included in many cases are usually crappy. But if Antec supplies good PSU's, then I will consider it. : )

My net access is limited so I will try to respond in a day or two. Thanks much!

[blue60007]

I'd recommend Intel too for this too. Yes, Antec cases come with Antec power supplies, which are of good quality (along with Enermax, Seasonic, XClio, just to name a few). Yes, usually power supplies bundled with cases are pretty crappy.

Although, since you want to go dual core, most of the power supplies that come with the Antec cases aren't really going to be powerful enough for this system I imagine.

[jayb1234]

Here is an Antec with a 500w PSU in a TAC compliant case. Here is the full list of TAC compliant cases. If you need more than 500w, get a case off that list and buy the PSU seperately if you have too.

[Eggs Benediction]

Sorry for the late post, and thank you for the feedback!!!!!!

I did more research on Dual Core Processing, and I figured that in my current situation, I will opt for a single core. The Funding for this computer comes from a scholarship, and I don't want to spend the extra $$ on the product/energy bills if many applications don't utilize dual core technology. I don't think I will mind too much.

This is AMD, but please let me know what you think. It's well under budget, which means I'll have a little more to spend on monitor and such.


~COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

~eVGA 256-P2-N518 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

~eVGA 133-K8-NF41 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail (FREE w/ card)

~AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BPBOX - Retail

~CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX2048-3200 - Retail

~Xion PowerReal XON-600F14T-201 ATX12V V.2.01 600W Power Supply - Retail - Retail

~LITE-ON Black ATAPI / E-IDE DVD Burner Model SHM-160P6S - Retail

$1,112.97

Are these parts all compatiable? I am also considering a larger, 7200rpm HDD to store junk. Any suggestions?

[blue60007]

You won't need expensive XMS RAM, unless you plan on doing serious overclocking. I would defintely up the CPU a little bit. The 3200+ and a 7800GT are a little out of balance.

That's not a SLI-certified power supply. These are.

[Eggs Benediction]

Okay, I'll change it up a bit...

I forgot to add this:

~Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Included in the price.

[Eggs Benediction]

~AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3800BPBOX - Retail

~Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model KVR400X64C3AK2/2G - Retail

~eVGA 256-P2-N518 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

~eVGA 133-K8-NF41 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail (FREE w/ card)

~Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550 EPS12V 550W Power Supply - Retail

~Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

How's this?

[flcpge]

My brother runs pretty much the same software you do. He and his co-workers prefer the professional Quadro FX video cards for design. I don't know if that's important to you. You'll probably get a 24 inch monitor, right?

[blue60007]

There's been a lot of compatibilty issues with Kingston RAM lately...I think I'd avoid it. Get some Corsair Value Select instead.

Also, you won't need the server (EPS12V) version of that power supply.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103931

[Eggs Benediction]

Okay, I'll go with the corsair value select and the power supply you mentioned. Blue, thanks for your input! It's very much appreciated. I'll finalize my list a little later and wrap this up. Hopefully I can get some help when building this sucker.

flcpge, I WISH i could get a monitor that size. But 19 inch should provide plenty of window space for me.

[Eggs Benediction]

So here's what I got so far.... Opinions, anyone? : )

SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM

LITE-ON Black ATAPI / E-IDE DVD Burner Model SHM-160P6S - Retail

Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model VS2GBKIT400C3 - Retail

AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA4000BNBOX - Retail

eVGA 256-P2-N518 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

eVGA 133-K8-NF41 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail

$1198

EDIT: Is the power supply enough?

[blue60007]

Looks fine...Since eVGA is new into the motherboard market, I have no idea how good their motherboards are...but it's free, so you've got nothing to lose. I suppose if it's junk you can just toss it and get another one.

[Eggs Benediction]

Blue, your help has been greatly appreciated ^^

I'll order the parts soon. Scary, it's my first time building a pc.

[arix]

yea man that looks sweet whats your total$?? and man you can get a great deal with that mobo since thre is an offer u buy a selected card and u get the mobo so you will be ok.