First Build From Scratch

[JMesser91]

Hello everyone. I currently have a laptop. It was top of the line about 2.5-3 years ago, but we all know how that works. Now I need some more power and space. I'll be getting a new laptop next summer for college as well. Basically, I want a desktop to do most all my computer needs and have my laptop for basic web surfing, playing music, etc.

For my desktop I will be using it for my large music collection. I have 10's of thousands of songs in my collection. Currently all of that is on an external hard drive, but that worries me. I would like to move these files (as well as other media such as videos & pictures) to a desktop and set it up to mirror them on another hard drive to back them up. I also do a fair amount of web design, programming, and gaming. The games I like aren't the most demanding, mostly MMO's and some FPS (like Halo and COD).

Another key thing I need to make sure I can do is be able to file share between my laptop and my desktop. My sister also really wants access to my music collection as well. I'm pretty sure I can do that via the windows network file sharing feature, but if not please let me know.

This will also be my first build from scratch. I have taken some computers apart and put them back together, mostly old worthless computers, but a few newer ones as well. I've replaced a part or two before as well. However, I have never bought all the parts and built a computer from the ground up.

With all that in mind, I have been reading and researching a fair amount about what parts to get and what not. Here is what I have come up with so far:

Case: Antec Nine Hundred + EA650 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 650W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129064

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131377

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115041

Graphics: ASUS EAH4890 TOP/HTDI/1GD5 Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121311

Memory: G.SKILL 8GB (4 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Quad Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5Q-8GBPQ - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231151

HDD: 2 x Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136284
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136075

Optical: LITE-ON 24X CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS324-08 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106291

Monitor: ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236052

Mice & Keyboard: I have a fairly nice mouse already. I don't really have an idea of what direction to go in for a keyboard. Wireless would be nice.

Wireless Card: I also need a wireless card, but as I am not up to date with the new ones and everything some guidance here would be awesome as well.

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116677


The reason for the 3 hard drives is that the 2 1TB ones will be mirrored and hold all of my media (music, video, pictures, etc.). The 160gb would just hold all my programs and what not, it would be my primary C drive. I am not that familiar with all the raid stuff with hard drives so any info there would be awesome.

Also, I was unsure if 8gb of RAM was overkill or not. Maybe I should go a 2x2 route and possibly upgrade later? I picked the quad core just based on what I've read but if a faster dual core would be a better route please let me know. I was just told that dealing with video, photo, and music converting and editing quad core would be the better route.

I have a 46" LCD 1080p TV that I will likely be hooking the computer to to play movies and such from time to time as well. I am looking to possibly upgrade my sound card in the future to increase performance on my 5.1 sorround sound system that I have currently.

Lastly, is this everything I would need to purchase to build the computer? As in I do not need to buy any other cables or screws or adapters or brackets, etc.

I know I have given a LOT of information, but I guess it is kind of needed. I am not set any anything that I have posted above so any suggestions will definitely be considered. Any help at all is much appreciated. THANKS!

-Jack

[glc]

If you are spending that kind of money, use a 500 gig Black drive for the OS and programs instead of that old SE.

What brand and model is your wireless router?

[JMesser91]

I am not exactly sure. We have Verizon as our ISP and they gave us a modem/router combo. I would like to think it is an n router, but have no idea. I was going to call them anyway to figure that out.

EDIT: I looked up the numbers on the router and it is this one:
http://www.actiontec.com/products/product.php?pid=189

[Khalil]

Nice rig!!

[glc]

It's not a N, it's just a G.

Vista 64 doesn't play nice with most wireless adapters. Your BEST solution is run a CAT 5 cable to the router.

These cards seem to review okay:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833320022
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833127075

[JMesser91]

I think I might try and do that. My router is down the hall in my old room, but there is a long attic hall down the side of the house (like where the roof slopes down) and goes almost all the way to where the router is, so I might do that eventually.

Is everything there compatible? Are there any forseeable problems I should look into? How do I set up the 2 hard drives to mirror each other and does that take any additional hardware or software?

Thanks guys.

[glc]

Before doing anything, set the SATA controller to RAID in the bios. Connect the main drive and install Windows on it. Then connect the 2 big drives and create a RAID 1 array with them in the BIOS.