Advice on new build

[KQFan]

My 2nd build - this time for a business workstation. I think I can hit under $600 before shipping and so that is my target.

Don't need: monitor (21" Samsung 215tw), keyboard or mouse, OS (XP Pro)

Do need (want): dual monitor support, possible gamer but that's not what I'm throwing at it, speedy handling of camera RAW files using Photoshop & Bridge. Everything else is typical business stuff.

Case
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129024
I don't think I need an Antec 900 w/window & separate PS given rest of build - opinion?

Motherboard
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299
P5QL Pro (N82E16813131329) is a bit less but seems to be missing FireWire, has a different NB, has 2 less SATA if I get hungry there, but supports 16gb memory instead of 8. Does that matter given XP Pro's 4gb limit? Too many P5Q's out there to narrow down but think I'd be fine w/1st choice. Opinions?

Display Adapter
ASUS EAH4350 SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP) Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile Ready Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121310
Again, not a concentration on gaming. Don't mind buying behind the curve. Current Samsung has DVI in so would this card work for dual monitors? That's a sticking point I want.

Processor
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037
Retail's the way to buy here so you get fan & paste pack, right?

Memory:
2 choices -
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145215 ... and...
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
tem #:N82E16820231166
The motherboard is rated for 1200 but I'm fine with 1066, right? Besides that, these seem to be a toss-up

HDD:
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136319
May ramp up to a 1TB WD Black, but this will increase my storage roughly 8x, so I'll fill this first.

Optical:
LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136152
Do I need to buy retail or OEM here?

Card reader:
Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5"
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223103
Not rocket science here. I just want one that works. Rosewill seemed to have biggest selection in top sellers.

That's all I can think of. Love to hear any comments.

Charlie

[Khalil]

Good parts list other than the Rosewill card reader, they tend to fall apart pretty quick.

[glc]

That is a dual head card, but it only has one DVI port. Here is a nice fanless dual DVI:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161274

I'd recommend DDR2-800, you don't need 1066 unless you plan on overclocking - which I would NOT do on a business machine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184

I'd recommend a combo floppy/card reader. You WILL need a floppy to install XP if you set the ICH to AHCI (recommended).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820300009
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820192022
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223111
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820816002

[KQFan]

Thanks, Khalil and glc for the replies.

OK to dual DVI card. For short term, can I hook up one DVI capable monitor and one VGA-only monitor (using a VGA to DVI dongle I have) to that card?

OK to the DDR2 800 memory. So given the intent of the build, no advantage of 1066 over 800 memory?

OK to the floppy. Any good threads on the sequence to go AHCI as I can't say I've done that before? (ie insert CD/boot/F6/etc)

Should I leave the card reader USB unplugged until XP is installed to make sure HDD is c: drive?

Is the moboard overkill for needs? I see that it's "designed for overclocker". It seems a good price at $105 after MIR but should I drop to a cheaper ASUS P5Q?

Charlie

[flanzig1]

Yes, leave the card reader unplugged until the OS is installed.

[glc]

Yes, you can connect a VGA-only monitor to a DVI port with an adapter. In fact, that card comes with one. It also comes with a DVI to HDMI adapter if you want to use a HDTV for a monitor.
There is no advantage to 1066 memory until you overclock the processor to over 1600 fsb.
You got it. Boot with CD, setup, F6. AHCI has to be set in the bios first.
Absolutely. Connect only the floppy data cable and power cable, leave USB cable disconnected.
If the base P5Q is cheaper and has all the features you need, that's fine. Functionally, it's pretty much the same board.

[KQFan]

I went ahead with the motherboard, graphics card, memory and card reader. There were May MIR's on them which would have expired had I not bought. Since I did, they of course were extended into June. No big deal, I get to split the cost into two months.

Still need to buy case, HDD, DVD and processor. Question on the DVD. I was going to go with an LG. I've had Lite-On before too. Newegg is constantly discontinuing models. I know they're not high dollar replacement items, but I'd like to find a model that's a bit more like a corporate stable item. Any rec's on LG or Lite-On? Or just buy anything?

Also, I've always wanted a LS model. I don't burn all that much, so media cost isn't a huge issue. Does anyone else like/dislike lightscribe and why?

Charlie

[glc]

Wait for a LG or Lite-On SATA with Lightscribe to come back into stock at Newegg, or get one from another vendor.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...tCode=10009773

Price is high, but the free shipping makes up for it.

[chuck4456]

+1.
LITE-ON or LG.

[KQFan]

I've got this one on Auto-Notify at newegg and will buy the rest of my components when it comes in.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136153

Thanks and I'll hope all goes well when I start building!

[KQFan]

What would the bottleneck on this system be if work in Photoshop got intensive such as complex filters or batch conversions of large quantities of files?

(Reminder: ASUS P5Q Pro, HIS 4650 512mb, Corsair 4gb DDR2 800, WD Caviar Black, Core 2 Duo E8400).

Before I ordered the processor, I wanted to make sure that I wasn't skimping there.

Ram is all that XP needs, right? Graphics should be sufficient if I'm not gaming, right? Should I blow another C note on processor power?

Charlie

[glc]

If you are going to blow another C-note, get a Q9550.