a (more or less) final build plan - for your consideration

[spudsky]

Thanks to the members of this forum for putting me on track to a good (?) build!

Based on your suggestions, I list below a set of components for a good video editing / basic gaming system for +/- $1000. All are from newegg.

Case: Spire Blue Fin SP-6190U[/B] $32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811220009
Motherboard: asus p5b-E (w/ firewire) $158
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131070
Chip: Intel 6400 Core2Duo $220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115004
P/S: Rosewill 550W rp550v2-d-sl $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182030
HDD: (2) Western Digital WD2500JS
250 GB SATA II @69 $138
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144417
Video Card: ATI 100-435712
Radeon x850pro 256mb, 256 bit $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102606
Dvd: lite-on 16x dvd r/w,
w/ Lightscribe, shm165h6s $38
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106015
RAM: corsair xms2 1GB (512x2), 240pin
Twin 2x1024a-6400 $132
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145566
O/S: Win XP pro (OEM) $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116059

Total $1,048 plus shipping


Now for some questions: 1) will it work (:-o)? (compatability, etc)

2) I specified two HDDs because I want to do a hardware implement of RAID 0 to increase speed. I believe it’s possible with this system (?) I think I’d have to do it on the o/s install with the two drives (I’ve seen a tutorial on how to do that). Is that a good idea? Better to use just one drive for now & add RAID 0 later?

3) How about the video card? I wanted one with various outputs (HDTV, S-vid, etc), & good feature range w/o breaking bank.

4) I want to use two monitors for video editing. That’s not a problem, correct?

5) Anything I’m forgetting? (I have external floppy drive w/usb for bootup, keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.)

And again, THANK YOU for your unselfish help!

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by spudsky Now for some questions: 1) will it work (:-o)? (compatability, etc)

Everything looks okay except the Rosewill power supply. I'd get something better. The good brands start around $75 for the 550 watt PSUs.

Also, that video card you have listed is AGP, you need a PCI-Express 16 video card.

And do you really need WinXP Pro? It doesn't perform better than XP Home, just has more networking features built into it.

Originally Posted by spudsky 2) I specified two HDDs because I want to do a hardware implement of RAID 0 to increase speed. I believe it’s possible with this system (?) I think I’d have to do it on the o/s install with the two drives (I’ve seen a tutorial on how to do that). Is that a good idea? Better to use just one drive for now & add RAID 0 later?

I wouldn't even bother with RAID 0. The performance increase isn't that much and the risk of losing all your data if one of the drives go bad just outweighs the minimal benefits as far as I'm concerned. I'd still use two hard drives though...one for your OS and programs and one for your personal files.

Originally Posted by spudsky 3) How about the video card? I wanted one with various outputs (HDTV, S-vid, etc), & good feature range w/o breaking bank.

That video card you listed would have been fine except you need a PCI-Express 16 video card.

Originally Posted by spudsky 4) I want to use two monitors for video editing. That’s not a problem, correct?

You'll need a video card with two monitor outputs...or two video cards.

Originally Posted by spudsky 5) Anything I’m forgetting? (I have external floppy drive w/usb for bootup, keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.)

You really shouldn't need the external floppy drive for bootup or OS installation.

Cricket

[spudsky]

Originally Posted by Cricket Also, that video card you have listed is AGP, you need a PCI-Express 16 video card. You'll need a video card with two monitor outputs...or two video cards.You really shouldn't need the external floppy drive for bootup or OS installation. Cricket

thanks cricket -- i will look at diffferent p/s. & video card - i assume pci-express 16 is a mobo requirement, yes? can anyone suggest a good video card (for $100-200, maybe) capable of handling two monitors & pci-express 16?

[flanzig1]

Here's one that has two DVI connections and the TV out that you asked for: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131009

[glc]

Look at the ATI X1xxx cards. These have AVIVO which is an advantage with video work. I'd probably get a X1800GTO to maximize your gaming performance in that price range. Almost all cards in that price range have dual heads these days for 2 monitors.

I'd consider Seagate 7200.10 drives - they are faster than the WD's and have a better warranty.

You don't really need a 550w power supply - I'd go for quality over raw watt ratings. I'd go for a Fortron-built unit at 450 or 500 watts. The Rosewills are not *terrible* but you can do better.

You might consider 2gb of ram and either upgrading to a E6600 or downgrading to the E6300. The E6400 is kinda one of those "in between" processors - it's slightly faster than a E6300 but the E6600 has twice the cache. Save your money and get XP Home.

[spudsky]

here's my final ( i hope) answer, based on latest comments from the forum

$1000 video editing (& gaming) system

Case: Spire Blue Fin SP-6190U $32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811220009
Motherboard: asus p5b-E (w/ firewire) $158
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131070
Chip: Intel 6400 Core2Duo $220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115004
P/S: REVISED FSP Group (Fortron Source)
Model AX450-PN 450W $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954
HDD: REVISED (2) Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3200820AS
250GB SATA II @80 $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148141
Video Card: REVISED POWERCOLOR X1650Pro 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card – Retail $130 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131024
Dvd: lite-on 16x dvd r/w,
w/ Lightscribe, shm165h6s $38
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106015
RAM: corsair xms2 1GB (512x2), 240pin
Twin 2x1024a-6400 $132
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145566
O/S: REVISED Win XP (OEM) $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116056

Total $1,020 plus shipping

maybe i will forget about RAID 0 for now.
I do need to run 2 monitors.
maybe stick with c2d e64000 chip for slight advantage over 6300?

if anyone has further suggestions, i would appreciate hearing them before i buy!
-- thanks

[chuck4456]

The fact is: You don't get much more from the E6400 than the E6300. Go ahead and save 40 bucks on that.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by spudsky here's my final ( i hope) answer, based on latest comments from the forum $1000 video editing (& gaming) system if anyone has further suggestions, i would appreciate hearing them before i buy!

Your parts selection looks good to me.

Cricket