No idea what i'm doing! Is this build ok?

[Tiggs]

hi,

just after some expert opinion!

i want a pc for my home office - i only run office type stuff on it (word, spread sheets, internet, etc, etc) but also use it for editing some home movies and photos...nothing too flash though.

I want something that wont slow down when i have loads of windows open!

I also want to run twin 19's TFTs

£600 built from vantage...sound ok?

System Case: Vantage Evolution Inspire Case
Power Supply: 400W Zoostorm PSU (26-32dB)
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLi Premium Motherboard (Skt 939)
Processor: AMD 64-Bit 3200+ (Skt 939)
System Memory: 2Gb DDR400 PC3200 Dual Channel Memory (2x 1Gb)
Hard Drive One: 160Gb Serial ATA300 7200RPM
Hard Drive Two: Please Select
Removeable Storage Devices: FDD and Digital Card Reader
CD Device One: DVDRW Drive (16x +/- Dual Layer)
CD Device Two: Please Select
Video Card: GeForce 6600GT 256Mb DDR +DVI/TV PCI-X
Video Card Two in Sli:: Please Select
Audio Device: 8 Channel Audio Integrated


I will add to this bits i have already (or will buy)

second 80gb HD
second DVD drive
firewire USB ports
LAN card
speakers
OS XP pro
Twin 19's

(estimate at £150 each)

that plus the cost of the two screens makes about £900....decent priice?

my brother will put the spare bits together (he's the IT bod) just want to see if the spec is ok?


any thoughts

thanks

Tiggs

 

[chelseafc2005]

thats a good spec system but you can get it cheeper if you build it yourself. There is no need to buy a lan card you get gigabit lan build into the mb. Yeah so overall a good spec system

maybe when you get it you can crunch for us

 

[Tiggs]

but can i get it cheaper??? i cant find the parts cheap enough to make it worthwhile?

also- i have been told to consider a dual chip....is that better for what i will be doing??

 

[Me__2001]

a dual core chip would make the video editing and encoding quicker but you need to think about the added cost for the amount of editing your going to do, other than that its fine and you dont need a LAN card the motherboard has one as already said and it also has 3 USB ports and 1 Firewire on the back

oh and also i'd change the power supply to a decent make

 

[ChristopherP]

System Case: Coolermaster Cavalier3 Black Case
Power Supply: 480W Thermaltake Xaser PSU (17-45dB)
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLi Premium Motherboard (Skt 939)
Processor: AMD 64-Bit Dual Core X2 3800+ (Skt 939)
System Memory: 2Gb DDR400 PC3200 Memory (2x 1Gb)
Hard Drive One: 300Gb Serial ATA300 7200RPM
Hard Drive Two: Please Select
Removeable Storage Devices: FDD and Digital Card Reader
CD Device One: DVDRW Drive (16x +/- Dual Layer)
CD Device Two: Please Select
Video Card: GeForce 6600GT 128Mb DDR +DVI/TV PCI-X
Video Card Two in Sli:: GeForce 6600GT 128Mb DDR +DVI/TV PCI-X
Audio Device: 8 Channel Audio Integrated
PCI Devices: Please Select
PCI Devices: Please Select
Keyboard & Mouse Set: Please Select
Speakers: Please Select
Monitor: Please Select
Operating System: Windows XP Home SP/2 - OEM

£787 plus VAT

 

[ChristopherP]

Oh - and make sure you get good monitors and identical ones for your setup.

DVI definatly, and ones that have good reviews. especially for photos etc...

 

[Tiggs]

hmmm...bit over budget that suggested set up - think i'll have to stick to my original CPU

 

[ChristopherP]

You could knock some money off the above by only having 1 graphics card...

the X2 should be good for movie editing.

Look into the possibility of a RAID 0 array by having two 80Gb HDD's instead of a single 160Gb - this will make moving files around faster.

 

[Tiggs]

why would i want two graphocs cards? do i need that to run dual screens?

 

[floppybootstomp]

why would i want two graphocs cards? do i need that to run dual screens?

No you don't. It's just that two graphics cards together in sli mode work better and faster than a single.

I don't really think you need a dual graphics setup though.

If you want to be doing a lot of multi-tasking, I'd definitely consider a dual core CPU.

And at least a 480W name make PSU.

 

[Tiggs]

so will the original card i selected allow me to run the two screens?

 

[Tiggs]

System Case: Coolermaster Cavalier3 Black Case
Power Supply: 480W Thermaltake Xaser PSU (17-45dB)
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLi Premium Motherboard (Skt 939)
Processor: AMD 64-Bit Dual Core X2 4200+ (Skt 939)
System Memory: 2Gb DDR400 PC3200 Dual Channel Memory (2x 1Gb)
Hard Drive One: 200Gb Serial ATA150 7200RPM
Hard Drive Two: None Selected
Removeable Storage Devices: FDD and Digital Card Reader
CD Device One: DVDRW Drive (16x +/- Dual Layer)
CD Device Two: None Selected
Video Card: GeForce 6600 256Mb DDR SILENT +DVI/TV PCI-X
Video Card Two in Sli:: None Selected
Audio Device: 8 Channel Audio Integrated


how about that?

not sure if that cards ok...there are loads to choose from and they all sound the same!!!

 

[ChristopherP]

You want the GT

and yes - you should be fine running 2 screens from that card.

 

[floppybootstomp]

You could save some money by going for the 3800 CPU instead of the 4200.

A 6600GT video card with 128Mb is better than a 6600 video card with 256Mb

And most video cards have two outputs, usually DVI, but would be best to chek if the card you finally select does have two.

 

[Tiggs]

System Case: Vantage Evolution Inspire Case
Power Supply: 480W Thermaltake Xaser PSU (17-45dB)
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLi Premium Motherboard (Skt 939)
Processor: AMD 64-Bit Dual Core X2 4200+ (Skt 939)
System Memory: 2Gb DDR400 PC3200 Dual Channel Memory (2x 1Gb)
Hard Drive One: 200Gb Serial ATA300 7200RPM
Hard Drive Two: Please Select
Removeable Storage Devices: Floppy Disc Drive
CD Device One: CD Drive (52x)
CD Device Two: Please Select
Video Card: GeForce 6600GT 256Mb DDR +DVI/TV PCI-X


like that then?

dont forget i have a dvd allready and few other bits

 

[floppybootstomp]

Looking good Tiggs although as I mentioned earlier, if your budget is a consideration, consider the 3800 dualie over the 4200.

Also, the floppy drive combined with the card reader (as you originally had listed) is a good idea, it doesn't cost a lot more than a standard floppy drive and can come in very handy.

 

[floppybootstomp]

I've just noticed you've gone from a DVDRW to a plain old CD ROM drive. Why's that then? If you already have a burner, at least consider a DVD ROM drive, a plain CD ROM drive is almost not worth having.

 

[Tiggs]

System Case: Coolermaster Cavalier3 Black Case
Power Supply: 480W Thermaltake Xaser PSU (17-45dB)
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLi Premium Motherboard (Skt 939)
Processor: AMD 64-Bit Dual Core X2 4200+ (Skt 939)
System Memory: 2Gb DDR400 PC3200 Memory (2x 1Gb)
Hard Drive One: 160Gb Serial ATA150 7200RPM
Hard Drive Two: 160Gb Serial ATA150 7200RPM
Removeable Storage Devices: FDD and Digital Card Reader
CD Device One: DVDRW Drive (16x +/- Dual Layer)
CD Device Two: Please Select
Video Card: GeForce 6600GT 256Mb DDR +DVI/TV PCI-X
Video Card Two in Sli:: Please Select
Audio Device: 8 Channel Audio Integrated

ok...all done i think (budget is a bit blown)....thinking of running a mirrored 2nd HD for saftey.

the 3800 is £50 cheaper...is it worth the saving or stick to the 4200

video card is the 256 version....worth it over the 125?

 

[floppybootstomp]

ok...all done i think (budget is a bit blown)....thinking of running a mirrored 2nd HD for saftey.

That will be a RAID 1 then. 160Gb is a tad small if you're going to be encoding video files, just thought I'd mention that.

the 3800 is £50 cheaper...is it worth the saving or stick to the 4200

Obviously the 4200 is better but you don't really need it, the 3800 will cope for your needs. You pays ya money, ya takes ya choice.

video card is the 256 version....worth it over the 125?

Yes.

All in all, looking good.

 

[Tiggs]

so would i be better going down to 3800 but ipping the HD's to 200GB???

although i play around with pics and home movies 160GB still seems massive!

i assume raid 1 is sensible? its primary a works pc for home office and cant afford downtime if a HD busts (do they ever bust?)

last question! are vantage ok? or should i try elsewhere and shop around? as im not 100% sure what i need i like the "build it on the website" style of their site....otherwise i dont know what bit goes with what! any other good sites like that or are they as good as any other?