New build - comments and suggestions appreciated

[bobbyp68]

Howdy,
What a great site this is

I am looking to assemble the parts for my first build. Basically I am trying to stay right around a grand(including LCD monitor). The main thing I am looking for is an efficient machine for downloading miniDV video, editing and burning DVDs. What I have today doesn't cut it. I am a light gamer. Enjoy Tiger Woods 2005 and MS flight simulator every now and again.

Here is what I have put together. Any suggestions or alternate recommendations would be appreciated => especially the Mobo, processor, video card.

Things I have:
Sound Blaster Live 24 Bit sound card
BenQ DW1460 DVD RW
BenQ CD RW
Firewire card
NIC card
Microsoft XP Home and an upgrade disk for Pro

Things I would like to have soon:
Case:
Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX - $99.99

Motherboard:
ASUS A8N-E Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - $103.00
OR
ASUS A8V Socket 939 VIA K8T800 Pro ATX AMD Motherboard - $71.00
OR
ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - $87.00

Processor:
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz HT 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - $201.00
OR
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz HT 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - $213.00

Ram:
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - $75.00

HD:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3200826AS 200GB 7200 RPM 8M Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - $97.00

Video:
eVGA 256-P2-N381 Geforce 6800XT 256MB 256-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - $129.00

Monitor:
BenQ FP71G+ (Black) Black 17" 8ms LCD Monitor - $199.99
OR
Hyvision MV178 Black 17" 8ms LCD Monitor - $199.99

My NewEgg wish list

[kodmaster]

I was looking at your choice for a case and I seen that it came with a power supply. I know Antec usually gives good power supply's with their case's I suggest that you go more on the seperate PSU aproach. I'll review everything else then add more.

Edit: I think you should go with the A8N5X Mobo... the first and this motherboard pretty much have the same features. The only difference I think is the price. The second motherboard is AGP which means it won't wor with your viedo card choice but ur video card choice is pretty good.

Edit: If I had the money I would be buying this case...but I don't. : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133132
It's pretty much your preference on what case you get. This is the one I liked...before and after I knew the price. Almost any case will work that isn't MAtx so look on newegg or some other site for a case you like. You'll see this and your monitor...keyboard and mouse the most. So you want to like their looks. For a power supply I recommend some brand name like Enermax(I think that's the name) or thermaltake. I don't know much about chips and monitors so someone else should be able to help you with that... BTW if you want you can seel you NIC that you currently have. Most motherboards now come with OnBoard LAN.

Edit Again: Your link to your NEWEGG wishlist doesn't work...NVM

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by kodmaster I was looking at your choice for a case and I seen that it came with a power supply. I know Antec usually gives good power supply's with their case's I suggest that you go more on the seperate PSU aproach. I'll review everything else then add more.

An Antec 450 W PSU would be fine for this system... no reason for another PSU.

I'd get the BenQ monitor, and for me $12 more for double the L2 cache on the 3700+ is a no-brainer.

[jfk]

Yep, grab the 3700+. It's the sweet spot with AMD64 cores right now. The rest looks good.

[glc]

Replace the Kingston ram with Corsair Value Select.

[bobbyp68]

Here is the final list of items I have received for my build. The items that I can't make my mind up on are case and power supply.

Things I have:
Sound Blaster Live 24 Bit sound card
BenQ DW1460 DVD RW
BenQ CD RW

Motherboard:
ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - $87.00
Processor:
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz HT 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - $213.00
Ram:
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory
HD:
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Video:
eVGA 256-P2-N381 Geforce 6800XT 256MB 256-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - $129.00
Monitor:
BenQ FP91G+ Black 19" 8ms LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 550:1 0.294mm Pixel Pitch

These are the cases I am tying to choose from. I guess it just comes down to making sure that I am getting a sufficient PS. I also want to try to stay right around $100 for both.

Case:
Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt
SmartPower 2.0 ATX - $99.99
Thermaltake Soprano VB1430BWS Black Chassis: 0.8 mm SECC, Front Door: Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply

So am I fine to go with one of these or is a higher wattage PS needed?

[thefultonhow]

I'd personally get the Antec -- Antec power supplies are slightly better than Thermaltake ones, and the Sonata is an easy case to work with. 450 Watts should be fine, and I'm guessing 430 Watts would be fine too.

[Davermonk]

I don't know how it fits in your budget, but if you're doing video editing, would you want to consider going with 2GB of RAM?

Just a thought.

[bobbyp68]

Originally Posted by Davermonk I don't know how it fits in your budget, but if you're doing video editing, would you want to consider going with 2GB of RAM? Just a thought.

So if I decide to add another gig of ram later what is the best way to do this? Just add a stick of 1GB in addition to the 2 x 512 Mb I have now or would it be better to have a 2 x 1GB configuration?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by bobbyp68 So if I decide to add another gig of ram later what is the best way to do this? Just add a stick of 1GB in addition to the 2 x 512 Mb I have now or would it be better to have a 2 x 1GB configuration?

Really doesn't matter. You'll have to see how many memory slots the motherboard comes with first and then go with the configuration that's the most cost effective for you.

Cricket

[ya basta]

I don't know how much video editing you plan on doing, but you might consider a larger hard drive, like the WD Caviar 320 gig with 16mb buffer.

Good luck!