I need to be jump started!!

[cdplayer]

Hello!

I am building a computer for the camera club of which I am a member. The computer has is to be very powerful because it will be handling Photoshop CS2, and a multi media tool called ProShow Gold.

ProShow Gold needs lots of memory a powerful CPU and fast motherboard. The last computer I built used the 939 technology. Since that they (the camera club) do not want to spend much money maybe using the 939 technology would be the way to go since the price on those modules have dropped significantly.

I'd would like to know what you think of that idea, what type of CPU and motherboard you can suggest. Oh yes the PSU/CPU has to be quiet since it will be in a auditorium displaying fellow photographers digital compositions.

I read the stickies. They are very good! At least I remembered what parts I need to build this computer.

Thanks!

CDplayer

[blue60007]

What kind of budget are you looking at?

The Antec Sonata II is a good starting place - quiet case and PSU (and quality).

[glc]

If you want to go 939, one of the X2 dual cores (the 3800 is good enough and it's cheap now) and an Asus A8N5X motherboard is probably the best bet. I just looked at the system requirements for ProShow Gold - they aren't that high. If you want to keep the thing *quiet* I'd get a video card with a passive cooler - you do not need a high end card for doing that kind of work so there should be a pretty good selection of passively cooled cards in a reasonable price range. I would probably look at a non-hypermemory Radeon X1300 or something like that. The place to spend money is on the quantity of ram - I'd try to talk them into 2 gigs. Premium ram is not necessary - PC3200 value ram is fine. At today's prices, I'd be looking at something in the 250gb range for a hard drive - SATA preferred.

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by blue60007 What kind of budget are you looking at? The Antec Sonata II is a good starting place - quiet case and PSU (and quality).

Thank you blue60007 for your suggestions! If I remember correctly the Antec Sonata II is a quiet box. I am wondering if I can get just the box. I think I would like to get the Seasonic 430W PSU.

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by glc If you want to go 939, one of the X2 dual cores (the 3800 is good enough and it's cheap now) and an Asus A8N5X motherboard is probably the best bet. I just looked at the system requirements for ProShow Gold - they aren't that high. If you want to keep the thing *quiet* I'd get a video card with a passive cooler - you do not need a high end card for doing that kind of work so there should be a pretty good selection of passively cooled cards in a reasonable price range. I would probably look at a non-hypermemory Radeon X1300 or something like that. The place to spend money is on the quantity of ram - I'd try to talk them into 2 gigs. Premium ram is not necessary - PC3200 value ram is fine. At today's prices, I'd be looking at something in the 250gb range for a hard drive - SATA preferred.

I have been officially jumpstarted! :-)

Thank you glc for the information. when you refer to the 3800 you are talking about a AMD CPU correct? I love AMD! The motherboard that you suggest is very similar to the last one I placed in my computer. It's all coming back to me now!

Thanks!

[glc]

If you want to use the Seasonic, why not find a different case that comes without a power supply? Make sure the Seasonic is ATX 2.0. I would think any case that has a single slow-running 120mm exhaust fan in the rear would be both quiet and would cool things adequately.

[Kareeser]

If you're going to be lugging the computer around to places, might I suggest a computer with a smaller footprint, or is easier to carry?

The Sonata II is a little heavy.. how about the Overture II? Sits horizontally instead of vertically, and is supposed to be a HTPC (Home Theatre PC)

[glc]

The Asus A8N-VM is a good micro-ATX board if you want to go that way - and the onboard video is even decent. Just make sure you load it up with ram as the onboard will use the system ram.

You could even look at the Shuttle XPC barebones systems.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Just one addition. On the hardrive. See if you can get one of them Seagates 7200.10 sata's. Really sweet hard drives for the price.

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by Mr.Ferrari Just one addition. On the hardrive. See if you can get one of them Seagates 7200.10 sata's. Really sweet hard drives for the price.

Thank you for the suggestion Mr.Ferrari!

I didn't know there were any other hard drives!!

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by glc The Asus A8N-VM is a good micro-ATX board if you want to go that way - and the onboard video is even decent. Just make sure you load it up with ram as the onboard will use the system ram. You could even look at the Shuttle XPC barebones systems.

Good Point glc!

Thanks!

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by Kareeser If you're going to be lugging the computer around to places, might I suggest a computer with a smaller footprint, or is easier to carry? The Sonata II is a little heavy.. how about the Overture II? Sits horizontally instead of vertically, and is supposed to be a HTPC (Home Theatre PC)

I will look at those boxes before a final desision is made!

Thanks Kareeser!

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by glc If you want to use the Seasonic, why not find a different case that comes without a power supply? Make sure the Seasonic is ATX 2.0. I would think any case that has a single slow-running 120mm exhaust fan in the rear would be both quiet and would cool things adequately.

Thank you for reminding me glc! I totally forgot that when I purchased my box it didn't have a PSU in it. I was able to install the Seasonic.

[cdplayer]

OK this is the configuration I have pulled together. Let me know if there are bits of hardware that will not function under this setup. THANKS!

Item Brand/Model Est. Price

Computer Case Antec – SLK 3000B $70.00
Power Supply Seasonic S12 430 $100.00
Motherboard Asus® A8N-E, Socket 939, NVIDIA nForce®4 $100.00
CPU AMD – X2 dual core 3800 $109.99
Hard drive Seagate – 320GB SATA $120.00
RAM OCZ 2Gb PC2-5400 DDR2 Dual Channel Special Ops Edition $244.99
Primary Optical LG GSA-H10L Lightscribe Dual Layer DVD±R/RW Drive (IDE) OEM, Black $50.00
Secondary Optical None
Sound Card SoundBlaster® Audigy™ 2 ZS Value (OEM) $74.99
Video Card PNY Verto GeForce 6800 GT PCIe $404.99
FDD Yes $40.00
Keyboard Microsoft Standard
Mouse Microsoft Standard
Modem ???
Monitor Working on that...
Speakers (?)
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro w/ CD & Manual $190.00

Approximate amount $1,504.96

[glc]

Wrong ram! 939's don't take DDR2.

[minsonngo]

1.) Instead of the LG DVD writer go with one of these which will save you a couple of bucks: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151118 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106019


2.) With the PSU, the one you have is great but I would go with something with more power and 430w. Here is a good alternative PSU that is stronger and less pricey: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103931


3.) Like GLC already mentioned, the board you have listed does not take DDR2. You need to find DDR 400 (PC 3200) memory for the system. Here are some good ones: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145440 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145450 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220037 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820141423


4.) As for the OS, why buy retail when you can get OEM for cheaper? Here is Windows XP MCE 2005 OEM version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116049 or you can take advantage of 64-bit processing with Windows XP Professional X64 OEM version here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16837102065


5.) You don't need a modem since most schools use T1 or similar connection and the motherboard has the integrated LAN port already.


6.) You have FDD listed for 40 bucks! I would just invest in a good flash drive or external HDD. Floppy drives are obsolete but if you have use for it here are some good INTERNAL ones for UNDER $8.00: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821103116 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821103203

***NOTE: The motherboard you have doesn't even have a FDD controller. So if you really need the FDD you can get a EXTERNAL USB one here for 20 bucks: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821103510


7.) If you want to save some extra dough, the onboard sound on that motherboard is already good, NO need for a aftermarket sound card.

[glc]

Missongo - the poster is in Canada, Newegg doesn't ship there. I'm assuming the prices are $CDN. With that in mind, I have no quarrels with the list as posted.

The A8N-E does in fact have a floppy controller.

[DarkPacMan77]

i do not "know" what case you are getting, but whatever it is, just make sure the airflow is decent, (slow 120mm fan in the rear, maybe an 80mm in the front is fine). To keep noise to a minimum a heavier, thicker case will help.

i guess that is all that is to be said for a photo computer. Rather nice build!

[minsonngo]

Whoa... I didn't even notice that haha. Thanks GLC!

[Kareeser]

Oh, hey, come on, the Canadian dollar doesn't suck that much

A floppy for $40 is quite expensive... perhaps there is an extra floppy drive you could pull from a broken/trashed system?

[minsonngo]

Yeah, $40 for a FDD is quite expensive. Even external USB ones shouldn't cost that much.

What online or physical store are you getting the prices from???

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by DarkPacMan77 i do not "know" what case you are getting, but whatever it is, just make sure the airflow is decent, (slow 120mm fan in the rear, maybe an 80mm in the front is fine). To keep noise to a minimum a heavier, thicker case will help. i guess that is all that is to be said for a photo computer. Rather nice build!

Thanks for the input DarkPacMan77!

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by glc Wrong ram! 939's don't take DDR2.

Thank you for the pointer glc!! Ops! :

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by minsonngo Yeah, $40 for a FDD is quite expensive. Even external USB ones shouldn't cost that much. What online or physical store are you getting the prices from???

OK, OK!
Kareeser - minsonngo

I have to agree that for an FDD 40 bucks is quite high! The one I am looking at a (7-N-1) runs about 25 bucks….

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by minsonngo 1.) Instead of the LG DVD writer go with one of these which will save you a couple of bucks: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151118 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106019 Thanks minsonngo! 2.) With the PSU, the one you have is great but I would go with something with more power and 430w. Here is a good alternative PSU that is stronger and less pricey: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103931 I understand the price difference. The box will be in a auditorium it is very important that the computer is quiet. 3.) Like the in so it is very important in that system is quiet GLC already mentioned, the board you have listed does not take DDR2. You need to find DDR 400 (PC 3200) memory for the system. Here are some good ones: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145440 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145450 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220037 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820141423 Ops! My bad! Thanks! 4.) As for the OS, why buy retail when you can get OEM for cheaper? Here is Windows XP MCE 2005 OEM version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116049 or you can take advantage of 64-bit processing with Windows XP Professional X64 OEM version here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16837102065 Will do! I don’t know why I place that price. I the past I have always grabbed a copy of the OS via OEM. It’s so easy to get the OS for cheap just buy a mouse, anything! 5.) You don't need a modem since most schools use T1 or similar connection and the motherboard has the integrated LAN port already. No modem needed! There is a port on the MOBO for high speed Internet access anyway 6.) You have FDD listed for 40 bucks! I would just invest in a good flash drive or external HDD. Floppy drives are obsolete but if you have use for it here are some good INTERNAL ones for UNDER $8.00: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821103116 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821103203 ***NOTE: The motherboard you have doesn't even have a FDD controller. So if you really need the FDD you can get a EXTERNAL USB one here for 20 bucks: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821103510 Actually the FDD is not $40.00. I am looking at one of those 7-N-1 models so a person can stick their memory card into the top of the FDD. I know that everyone says that Floppy drives are obsolete BUT there are times when I am forced to bow before the Floppy. 7.) If you want to save some extra dough, the onboard sound on that motherboard is already good, NO need for a aftermarket sound card.

Good point!

Thank you for the info!!!!!!!!!!!

[minsonngo]

Your welcome. I'm sorry I didn't realize you were in Cananda though.

FDD = Floppy Disk Drive. I think when you said you were looking at the 7 in 1 deal, that means one of those memory card readers instead. Am I right?

[blue60007]

The usually have a floppy drive built in along with card readers, USB ports, etc.

Keep those things unplugged during Windows installation - it can seriously mess things up.

[jayb1234]

Look for a Mitsumi FA404M , about $20 usd. $30 Canadian at ncix.

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by minsonngo Your welcome. I'm sorry I didn't realize you were in Cananda though. FDD = Floppy Disk Drive. I think when you said you were looking at the 7 in 1 deal, that means one of those memory card readers instead. Am I right?

NO problem minsonngo!

The 7 in 1 deal is a floppy disk with the slots for memory cards. Yep it can read several types of memory cards.

Cheers!

[cdplayer]

Originally Posted by jayb1234 Look for a Mitsumi FA404M , about $20 usd. $30 Canadian at ncix.

Thanks jayb1234!