New build -- please advise

[squarewater]

New forum member, longtime lurker.

My current (self-built) system (Athlon XP 2600+) is almost 5 years old and seriously in need of an upgrade, though I've been very happy with it. I do everything with it: web development, photo editing, music transcoding/listening, office apps, TV watching, and gaming. So, to kick off the next five years, I'm looking at the following setup. You can see the kind of hardware level and budget I'm working with. Advice?

CPU: E6850 (22.Jul)

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35T-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128055)
or
ASUS P5K3 DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131181)

RAM: mushkin eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) with EPP Profile Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996535 - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146677)
[I don't actually know how to choose the best memory for those boards -- but this amount and price seem about right]

System drive: Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136012)

Storage drives (2, in RAID0): Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073)
or
SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152052)
or
HITACHI Deskstar T7K500 HDT725050VLA360 (0A33437) 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145137)

Video card: EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130071)
or
EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130072)
[Here again I don't really know which brand is best, but I'm pretty sure I want a 8800GTS or 8800GTX, with 640MB+)

TV tuner card: Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600 ATSC/Digital/Analog TV Tuner PCI Card (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...010&SRCCODE=PRICEGRABBER&CMP=OTC-PRICEGRABBER)

Mouse : Logitech MX Revolution Black 7 Buttons 2 x Wheels USB RF Wireless Laser Mouse - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104015)

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116213)

Monitors, case, keyboard, DVD drive, etc. I've got covered for the moment from old system. PSU I have will probably work, but if not, do you all have recommendations for a good PSU to handle the above hardware?

 

[squarewater]

Anybody?

 

[maverick7]

it would really help if you told us what this was for
what your price range is
your goals for the system
if you want to oc it
games you hope to play

 

[emp]

Here just so you end up paying too much:

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050&Tp k=Ga-p35-ds3r

(one of the best mobos out there)

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

(Mu ch MUCH better ram, especially for the price)

You NEED a power supply, a high quality one for that setup, like this:

SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-550HT ATX12V/EPS12V, 80Plus, Active PFC, RoHS, 2PCI-E(6Pin), 550W Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151027

And last but not least, this is the Vista version that you'll want:

Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116204

 

[squarewater]

Thanks for the mobo tip Emp; I took your advice. Also made a few other choices, and this is how my proposed system is shaping up:
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishList Number=5583692

I think it's starting to gel. I'm wondering a couple of things:

1. The GTX is a splurge, and I'm willing to pay for the power. But is the superclocked version really worth it, do you think? Or do you get most of the benefits of the GTX with the regular one, for $80 less?

2. The video card specs say you need a 12V/28A PSU supply. From what I can tell my chosen PSU does not, but one user's comments says that it does, and the specs claim a combined output of 60A. I have to admit I don't understand whether these numbers are per-rail or what. Can somebody help me match up these numbers?

3. 64-bit vs 32-bit: from what I read, I'm likely to have headaches if I make the move to 64-bit Vista, because I use a number of non-mainstream programs and drivers that aren't made for it. Yet many people seem to be recommending it. Here are a couple of the articles I've read on the subject:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/1426/vista_64_bit_or_32_bit_version_x64 _vs_x86
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_ff_x64.asp
The security features aren't important to me, but compatibility is. So: can somebody make the case for 64-bit, or am I right that it's still a bit early for me to make the move?

4. General compatibility: anybody see anything that won't work together?

Thanks.

 

[chief5286]

Nothing came up when I clicked on the newegg wishlist link.

Anyway, I personally think there are very few situations in which it makes sense to pay the extra $$$ for a 640 mb GTS over a 320. From what I've gathered, there's little to be gained except in a very few games.

It seems to make much more sense to spend the extra $$$ for a GTX over a GTS than it does for a 640 over a 320, if that makes sense.

Looks good otherwise (with a decent PSU). You said you do some music work. If you also do a good bit of video work you might consider a quad core. Personal choice though, and the p35 chipset should allow you to upgrade if you find that a quad would be more useful.

 

[emp]

That Seasonic I recommended for you has 4 12V rails of 18A each, which combined is at least 50A or maybe a bit more (Pretty sure it's 50A). So as you see, you're pretty much set for anything you can throw at it.

Any Factory overclocked Graphics card is NOT worth it, you can overclock it yourself within 5 minutes! ITS THAT EASY! Any new user can do it as well, especially with the use of Atitool (It works for nvidia and ati cards), so do yourself a favor and don't get ripped by buying a factory overclocked card.

Just like my sig says, I'm PRO 64-Bit OS, it's natural because it's the future, the support nowadays is very decent even though there are not as many users as there should be. You only have to worry about compatibility if you use old/generic add-ons that the manufacturers just can't bring themselves together to make drivers that support them. Just make sure before you buy everything that you'll have drivers for everything and you should be more than fine.

 

[aevm]

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35T-DQ6 LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128055)
or
ASUS P5K3 DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131181)

RAM: mushkin eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) with EPP Profile Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996535 - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146677)
[I don't actually know how to choose the best memory for those boards -- but this amount and price seem about right]

Those motherboards want DDR3 memory, but the memory you picked is DDR2. I'd recommend sticking with DDR2 for the moment. Get a GA-P35-DQ6. Also, if you don't overclock, you can get some DDR2-800 and save some money without losing any performance.