New Builder

[EliteBlack]

I've finally decided to build my own pc and i want a pc that games at fast speeds, i do a little music production(i'd say imma semi-veteran, not professional yet), and i want to do image editing as well. I want something under 1000(i can splurge on something extra if need be.)

Ive been studying the anatomy of the computer and so far all i got is the mobo, processor, and case

Computer Case: Thermaltake ElementS VK60001N2Z Black SECC ATX Mid Tower

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133077

**I just like the look of it and i hear metal cases are cooler than plastics. If you know any metal cases that look good and under 100.00...i would greatly appreciate it...**

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358&Tpk=GIGABYTE%20GA-EP45-UD3P


Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0 GHz 6M L2 Cache 1333MHz FSB LGA775 Dual-Core Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037&Tpk=Intel%20Core%202%20Duo%20E8400

thats all i got so far...i don't think i wanna do two gpu's with SLI so im looking for one good one...it doesnt have to be the best but one that is high-medium quality. Hope anybody can help.

Thank You.

[Khalil]

Welcome to pcmech.com
Music production (semi-pro) requires very stable hardware.
The thermaltake is fine, it is a case, you need a very good power supply, it will depend on what kind of video card you want, do you plan on using multiple monitors, most music production people use multiple monitors. But before all that, how much money you got to spend on this project?

[EliteBlack]

I want to build something under 1000$

i want a good quality video card at a good price...i don't need something super powerful just something adequate...(Any you can reccomend and by the way im going to run with an intel setup)

No multiple moniters...

Feel free to recommend anything im just trying to see how the parts work with each other to get a feel for it...and if you know any better cases for cheaper that would help too...

[pam123]

The new Radeon 4770 is a surprisingly good card and it's about $100.
But if your into music production pick your sound card now.

edit : Have you considered any of the professional level cards or would one of the upscale Creative cards work for you ?

[EliteBlack]

I want to build something under 1000$

Do you know any metal cases that look good and under 100

No multiple moniters...

Alright i started reading the other posts and got some ideas

Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core

Graphics Card: MSI R4770-T2D512 Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

-- the chipset manufacturer is ATI is it still compatible with an intel motherboard

PSU: OCZ OCZ600SXS StealthXStream 600W Power Supply with Four +12V rails, ATX, and 120mm Fan

RAM: Corsair XMS2 4 GB (2 X 2 GB) PC2-6400 800 MHz 240-PIN DDR2 Dual-Channel Memory Kit - TWIN2X4096-6400C5

--Since I only game occasionaly do i really need 4GB of memory??? Can i use 2???
would four be better

CD/DVD Drive: LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM SATA Combo - OEM

--It says its a combo drive does that mean that they can burn, rip and play cds
and dvds

Alright...please feel free to leave any comments or opinions on cases or any of the opponent..Came out to about 800$...again feel free to leave any suggestions or advice...and im not that deep in music production to buy a sound card just yet i need to make some money first.

[EliteBlack]

Originally Posted by pam123 The new Radeon 4770 is a surprisingly good card and it's about $100. But if your into music production pick your sound card now. edit : Have you considered any of the professional level cards or would one of the upscale Creative cards work for you ?

i wouldn't say im that serious right now...once i get outta college and have a foothold to start my buisness will i start producing hard core now...so i don't think i need a soundcard...however thanks for the help on the graphics card it is more powerfull than the one thats 30$ more....any other help would be a blessing.

[pam123]

RAM is so cheap that you can get 4 GB of it for less than $50 now so get it even though you're only an occasional gamer ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184)

You haven't listed an operating system but the switch to 64 bit is now starting in earnest and if you intend to keep that computer for a few years you'll also want the extra ram.

That burner just isn't that good a deal a DVD +/- burner that covers everything but bluRay is actually available for less and going to be more useful for longer : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136153


What are your preferences as far as monitors ?
Hard drives?
What peripherals do you already have ?

[glc]

I know of a lot of cases under $100 that look good TO ME, but what are the chances that they would look good to YOU? I would recommend an Antec Sonata 3. Yes, it's over $100, but it comes with a very high quality 500 watt power supply, you won't need that OCZ. If you don't want that, my next choice is a Coolermaster RC690.

Intel chipsets don't care what chipset the video card has.

Replace that combo drive with the burner that Pam recommends, and you need a hard drive - I suggest a WD Black, 750gb is the most bang for the buck right now.

[Khalil]

glc i noticed you have not been recommending xclio power supplies at all. For a while you recommended them. I used a few of them and they were really good, I can't get them from distribution anymore. Any reason why you stopped recommending them?

EliteBlack, do you know software you are planing on using for music production? Are you going to be using microphones anywhere near the computer?

[tomtoon]

I think it would be a good idea to get 4GB RAM, so you have no hiccups in your music production..

[glc]

Yes, they started showing signs of not being all that reliable after all. They are also not that great a value any more. It was the original unit that stood out at the time as being a great deal, there are a lot more quality players in the game now.

I think it would be a good idea to get 4GB RAM, so you have no hiccups in your music production..

RAM: Corsair XMS2 4 GB (2 X 2 GB) PC2-6400 800 MHz 240-PIN DDR2 Dual-Channel Memory Kit - TWIN2X4096-6400C5

Looks like 4gb to me, Tom........

[Khalil]

I m just curious what software he will be using. Music editing is CPU intensive, working with Reason (Propellorhead) I found that using a slow Quad Core is substantially better than a very fast Dual Core. The software offers so many different modules you can run at the same time I ended up building an 8 core machine just for music production, that said I have not touched it over a month

[tomtoon]

Originally Posted by glc Looks like 4gb to me, Tom........

Yes, I know but he asked if he needed 4GB???

[EliteBlack]

Originally Posted by pam123 RAM is so cheap that you can get 4 GB of it for less than $50 now so get it even though you're only an occasional gamer ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184) You haven't listed an operating system but the switch to 64 bit is now starting in earnest and if you intend to keep that computer for a few years you'll also want the extra ram. That burner just isn't that good a deal a DVD +/- burner that covers everything but bluRay is actually available for less and going to be more useful for longer : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136153 What are your preferences as far as monitors ? Hard drives? What peripherals do you already have ?

Thanks Imma go with you on the dvd drive...and i like LG...i just heard that lite-on are some of the best ones thats why i choose it...
one question does it burn dvd's and cd's

I have a 19 inch Sanyo HDTV in my dorm currently and i was just planning on using that as my moniter.,..

I will go with that WD BLACK 750 hard drive and if i use the antec case that comes with the 500 watt i can save some money but will 500 watts be enough???

And as far as peripherals? i have no idea what those are...

Also I plan on running Micorsoft XP 64bit as my os...might dual boot with ubuntu...

[EliteBlack]

Originally Posted by Khalil I m just curious what software he will be using. Music editing is CPU intensive, working with Reason (Propellorhead) I found that using a slow Quad Core is substantially better than a very fast Dual Core. The software offers so many different modules you can run at the same time I ended up building an 8 core machine just for music production, that said I have not touched it over a month

Im just running fruity loops right now...and i wanna get reasons and pro-tools soon but with college and football i don't have a lot of time right now so imma just be working with fruity loops...

[pam123]

Yes it burns/plays CDs and DVDs.

Yes 500 watts will be enough unless you decide to overclock ( If you've already made up your mind about using Intel that's OK. If you're still considering try looking at an AMD Phenom processor in your price range : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103650).

Peripherals are keyboard, mouse, monitor/tv, printer, etc.
If you've already got the ones you need, and a retail copy of the OS as well, we won't have to factor them into your budget.

[EliteBlack]

Originally Posted by pam123 Yes it burns/plays CDs and DVDs. Yes 500 watts will be enough unless you decide to overclock ( If you've already made up your mind about using Intel that's OK. If you're still considering try looking at an AMD Phenom processor in your price range : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103650). Peripherals are keyboard, mouse, monitor/tv, printer, etc. If you've already got the ones you need, and a retail copy of the OS as well, we won't have to factor them into your budget.

ok well yea i gotta mouse, tv, ain't got a printer yet and i don't have a keyboard yet...
and what is so good about overclocking???

[flanzig1]

Overclocking is a way of tweaking a CPU to increase the speed without having to pay for the next higher speed CPU. Overclocking can put more starin on the CPU/PSU and can lead to instablity.

[Khalil]

overclocking does not work well at all with Music production and Video editing as it increases the risk of crashing and errors.

[EliteBlack]

Originally Posted by Khalil overclocking does not work well at all with Music production and Video editing as it increases the risk of crashing and errors.

well no overclocking for me then...all in all i think im ready to start ordering the parts...any last comments or suggestions...

what about keyboards and mics...like midi when using a live instrument do i need any more peripherals or wat...

[Khalil]

computers are loud, will be tough to use them in same room with microphones while recording. I recommend you go to something like guitarcenter in your hometown and talk to them keyboards mics and what have you. There are way too many options to list here. You will still need a sound card for this machine.

[EliteBlack]

Originally Posted by Khalil computers are loud, will be tough to use them in same room with microphones while recording. I recommend you go to something like guitarcenter in your hometown and talk to them keyboards mics and what have you. There are way too many options to list here. You will still need a sound card for this machine.

Well i do got a couple dollars to splurge...

i like creative...i think they make good speakers and i was looking at one of their sound cards

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - OEM

What you think? and im not stuck on creative so i'll try anything you recommend

[Khalil]

http://www.emu.com/products/category.asp?category=505

[EliteBlack]

Originally Posted by Khalil http://www.emu.com/products/category.asp?category=505

allright ill look at it but other than that hows it looking

[Khalil]

Did you buy anything yet? The E8500 is a great CPU but for what you want to do specially if you end up getting reason then you might want to consider going to a Quad Core http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115131

Reason, Protools and software like that will work much better with a Quad.

[EliteBlack]

Originally Posted by Khalil Did you buy anything yet? The E8500 is a great CPU but for what you want to do specially if you end up getting reason then you might want to consider going to a Quad Core http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115131 Reason, Protools and software like that will work much better with a Quad.

naw i aint bought anything yet...but i think i'll just build this pc and then focus on one to make music with later

[Khalil]

Cool, when ready to build the next let us know, I can give you some solid advise on how to build a production workstation.

[EliteBlack]

Originally Posted by Khalil Cool, when ready to build the next let us know, I can give you some solid advise on how to build a production workstation.

Thanks so much for the help....ill definitely be back

[passn_thru2]

i have been investigating the
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
for a while now. i have decided to go with it. i am aware the Rebates are a scam and their Support has a bad reputation, i have heard that if you are specific and aren't asking about over clocking they respond.. whatever, I'll find out i guess... i get most of my support off the Forums anyway. i got an ASUS Rampage Formula when it was their top line.. the support i got for spending nearly $300 was to throw away the PoC manual, when i was trying to assemble it.. ahhh..their forum can be helpful., maybe

i just got back from the OCZ company Forum.. those guys know what support is.. you can actually email a tech person and get a quick response.. even at newegg.com they really respond to people's problems who post reviews.. offer help or replacement. I'm impressed

they have a Motherboard forum, a Gigabyte section, the OCZ tech said that...

OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227289

worked very well in the GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P, i have it in my ASUS Rampage.. 8 Gb i set it up to 1401 right now, really cool, 32.4*C on the thermo laser, never a problem..not even warm to the touch, it has serious heat pipes and fins on them, very substantial, look good, felt really heafty out of the box, work great.. 4Gb for $66. i have been trying to find out what ram to use on the UD3P for quite a while.. Ram seems to be a big secret .. i am not into overclocking much, as long as it works really good, my rig has an AI Suite.. with a little vertual gear shift ..never did turbo, the high performance is 1400, medium is 1300.. sweet. i usually run it 1200.. still blazing fast

i have an Antec 900 case.. lots of fans, it hums some, 10 fans in the case, ..but i find it comforting.. for a studio you would probably have to get a radio mouse and keyboard. have the case other side oh the wall/sound booth.

good luck..