Building a New PC

[§Daisuke]

Okay well here’s the thing. I’ve had my computer for more than 3 years and have maxed out the upgrades. Also I’ve seen that the computer is functioning very slowly.

Thus I’ve decided to get a new computer. Rather than buying a pre-manufactured computer like say from Dell or Alienware. I’ve decided to I was to build my own. This is the first time I’ll be doing something like this but I think I can get around with building and setting one up.

I’ve gone and done some research and come up with the following list. Since this is my first time assembling my own computer there might be some Compatibility Issues. I’m mainly going to be using this computer for AMV editing with Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects. Also I will be doing some 3D Rendering with Cinema 4D.

Anyway here is the list:

CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz FSB 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103562
$347.00

Motherboard
Gigabyte 7A8DW AMD Dual Opteron Socket 940 EATX Server Motherboard / AGP 8X / Gigabit LAN / USB 2.0 / Serial ATA
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1183

$289.97

Random Access Memory (RAM)
Crucial 1024MB PC2100 DDR 266MHz Memory x 2
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 53&CatId=0
$129.99 x 2

Hard Drive
Maxtor / DiamondMax 10 / 300GB / 7200 / 16MB / SATA-150 / OEM / RoHS Compliant / Hard Drive
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 2&NoMapp=0
$89.99

Case + Power Supply
Xion II Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side Front USB and Audio Ports and 450-Watt Power Supply
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =A406-1028
$54.99

Video Card
NVIDIA GeForce 6600
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =TC3H-1016
$129.99

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
HP DVD740VI / 16x8x16x DVD+RW / 6x4x16x DVD-RW / 8x DVD+R DL / 40x32x40x CD-RW / DVD±RW Burner with Lightscribe
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 6&CatId=88
$129.99

Keyboard & Mouse
Logitech Cordless Desktop Optical 967320-0403 Black 104 Normal Keys 10 Function keys Function Keys PS/2 RF Wireless Standard Keyboard Mouse Included – OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6823126131
$24.95

LCD Display
HP L1902 / 19-Inch / 1024 x 768 / 16ms / Silver - Black LCD Monitor
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... &CatId=170
$269.99

Over all Price:
$1556.85

Is this over-doing it for my needs? Or ‘under-doing’ it?

My Current Budget is $1500 so I am over doing it a little. So if all you computer geniuses could point out where I would have compatibility issues with the Motherboard/Processor/Hard-Drive/ all those other things. It would be much appreciated.

Are there any parts missing? etc. that sort of thing would be helpful.

Also if you guys could point me to where I can find those same parts for a possibly cheaper price. Or better parts for the same or cheaper price would be much appreciated.

O and one more thing. Will this be compatible with Windows XP Media Edition?

Thank you very much.

[Scintilla]

CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz FSB 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819103562
$347.00

Motherboard
Gigabyte 7A8DW AMD Dual Opteron Socket 940 EATX Server Motherboard / AGP 8X / Gigabit LAN / USB 2.0 / Serial ATA
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1183

$289.97

Ack! You can't stick a Socket 939 processor in a Socket 940. Besides, you don't need a server. Switch to a good Socket 939 motherboard, like one from Epox or DFI.

Random Access Memory (RAM)
Crucial 1024MB PC2100 DDR 266MHz Memory x 2
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 53&CatId=0
$129.99 x 2

Uh-uh. You can do better than that. Any Socket 939 motherboard should support DDR400 (PC3200) memory.

Case + Power Supply
Xion II Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side Front USB and Audio Ports and 450-Watt Power Supply
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... =A406-1028
$54.99

Ho-lee, I wish my case had that many spots to put fans! Good luck getting your mail-in rebate though.

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
HP DVD740VI / 16x8x16x DVD+RW / 6x4x16x DVD-RW / 8x DVD+R DL / 40x32x40x CD-RW / DVD±RW Burner with Lightscribe
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... 6&CatId=88
$129.99

I'm sure you can find cheaper than that (and just as good) if you try.

My Current Budget is $1500 so I am over doing it a little. So if all you computer geniuses could point out where I would have compatibility issues with the Motherboard/Processor/Hard-Drive/ all those other things. It would be much appreciated.

Switching to a Socket 939 motherboard should knock about $150 off the price. Don't know how much the DDR400 RAM will bring it back up.

You may find it helpful to switch to a cheaper video card; I don't know how much GPU power 3D rendering will demand, but 2D video editing really doesn't require a high-end processor. On my eMachine, I edited with an integrated audio card, and IIRC, my current Sapphire Radeon X300SE card cost me less than $70. Both setups have been working perfectly fine.

Also if you guys could point me to where I can find those same parts for a possibly cheaper price. Or better parts for the same or cheaper price would be much appreciated.

http://www.pricegrabber.com is a great pricing engine, I've found. Newegg usually has great prices when you factor in shipping, and they have weekend specials every weekend -- for instance, here's a great <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 36152">DFI LanParty nForce4 939 motherboard</a> on sale.

[Keeper of Hellfire]

Will this be compatible with Windows XP Media Edition?

You want to run a dual core processor. It is for the OS like a dual processor system. The Media Edition is based on WinXP Home, which doesn't support dual processor systems. You need either WinXP Professional or a single core CPU.

[§Daisuke]

Okay thanks a lot Scintilla for your help. I'll see what I can do.

Will this be compatible with Windows XP Media Edition?

You want to run a dual core processor. It is for the OS like a dual processor system. The Media Edition is based on WinXP Home, which doesn't support dual processor systems. You need either WinXP Professional or a single core CPU.

Well that's okay I have XP Media Center Edition so I was asking about that but Professional is fine.

[§Daisuke]

Sorry for the Double Post but what is a better Interface?

IDE (Ultra ATA/66)
or
IDE (ATA/EIDE/ATAPI), IDE (Ultra ATA/DMA-33)

and is the difference really all that much?

[§Daisuke]

lol I'm really sorry for the triple post

What about 533MHz PC4200 Memory? Is that any good?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1649

[Scintilla]

Sorry for the Double Post but what is a better Interface?

IDE (Ultra ATA/66)
or
IDE (ATA/EIDE/ATAPI), IDE (Ultra ATA/DMA-33)

I admit I don't know exactly what all those acronyms mean, but ATA/66 seems outdated to me. I always thought that ATA/100 and ATA/133 were standard.

What about 533MHz PC4200 Memory? Is that any good?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1649

It's DDR2, which is incompatible with Socket 939. At the moment, DDR2 memory is only good if you've got an Intel system. AMD's Socket M2 will support (and require) DDR2, but it won't come out until 2006.

[Keeper of Hellfire]

Sorry for the Double Post but what is a better Interface?

IDE (Ultra ATA/66)
or
IDE (ATA/EIDE/ATAPI), IDE (Ultra ATA/DMA-33)

If you're asking for the hard disk, Serial-ATA (S-ATA) is the actual standard.

[§Daisuke]

Hmm so would this be a good CD/DVD Drive to buy?

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_tech ... d=10648731

[§Daisuke]

Sorry for the Double Post but what is a better Interface?

IDE (Ultra ATA/66)
or
IDE (ATA/EIDE/ATAPI), IDE (Ultra ATA/DMA-33)

If you're asking for the hard disk, Serial-ATA (S-ATA) is the actual standard.

Sorry didn't see your post. Should have been clearer. I'm talking about a CD/DVD-Drive like the one mentioned above.