help for building a budget pc

[roger eroom]

Hi you all!

I would be very grateful if someone here will help me with some suggestions
on bulding my new computer. Here's what I'm preparing to build:

case: AOpen QF 50C (Windowed)

motherboard: GA-7VM400AMF

Athlon XP 2500+ (AMD Processor
in a Box (PIB))

Kingston 512 MB DDR 184 Pins PC2700
- KVR333X64C25/512 = CL 2,5

Seagate Barracuda ST3160023AS
7200.7 160Gb 7200rpm 8Mb cache S-ATA (maybe adding one more seagate in raid
config).

NEC ND2510A White 8x DVD
Double Layer bulk 8.5GB

I can build this in Denmark for about 616 USD.

I'm mainly interested in good performance in multitasking like running Adobe
InDesign + Illustrator + internet explorer + Matlab at the same time (I
somehow realize that Pentium with HT would be better for this but I cannot
figure out a system at the same price tag - any suggestions greatly
appreciated).

Beeing stucked with amd barton 2500 because of the price tag I'm not so sure
wheater dual channel ram is more important than sata drives for system
performance (the motherboard I've choosed has sata but no dual channel ddr -
please make some suggestions in this regard also).

I would also choose aria case for this microATX motherboard but I'm not sure
about the thermal implications of such a pursuit (beside the price).

I'd also like to be able to make dv capture from a sony dv camera. Please
advise if the motherboard build in firewire is good enough for this or I
should buy some other specialized cards (whichone? -maybe you gurus could
suggest some newsgroups where I should ask?).

Yours gratefully,

Roger

 

[wooducoodu]

for just the items you mention (case,mb,cpu,ram & drives) i was able to put
together a nice setup for under $600 US.

http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishHistoryReview.asp?position=HISTORY&submit=VIEW&ID=896701

 

[wooducoodu]

had to change it a little bit cause i missed you were using a motheboard
with onboard video and firewire but still came out pretty good for about the
same price and you're probably better off using a seperate firewire card
anyway.

 

[Matt]

I would be very grateful if someone here will help me with some suggestions
on bulding my new computer. Here's what I'm preparing to build:

You didn't mention a power supply. You will definitely need one of those.

Probably you will also need an operating system.