Comments on this build?

[dude87]

I'm putting together this build to be the family's main PC/DVD authoring machine. No serious gaming planned. I'm just looking for some input - what could I do better without significantly changing the budget?

Here's what I'm planning:

Processor:

AMD Phenon 9600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103244

Motherboard:

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090

Memory:

Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220161

Hard Drive:

Western Digital Caviar GP WD7500AACS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136150
(I'll probably go with two in a RAID 1 configuration)

Case:

NZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146025

Power Supply:

Antec earthwatts EA430 430W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006

I'll use a DVD burner I already have and plan on running Windows XP. Is this is good build? Could I do better without spending a whole lot more? I'm planning on using the integrated graphics since I don't plan on any real gaming and 780g motherboards are capable of 1080i playback.

 

[The Hegemon]

Depends. Are you just making DVDs or are you actually doing multimedia editing?

 

[dude87]

Some editing, but for the most part working with MPG2 captures from my HD-based video camera (in other words, no conversions going on). I'll be adding some audio tracks here and there, but my main DVD authoring will be taking stuff I shot on my camcorder and putting it onto DVDs for my son's grandparents - motion menus will be the bulk of the "creative" content

 

[The Hegemon]

Well, I think you could definitely save some money with that build then. I'm not too familiar with the specs required for that sort of thing, but I do some Vegas 7 editing with a P4 haha. Anyway, I'd recommend swapping out the quad core for this much less expensive dual core. Don't go for the 3.0Ghz model. I recall that there were some rounding going on in it that would cause memory to run below it's rated speed (or something along those lines).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103234

Apart from that, looks like a quality build.

 

[ahslan]

I totally agree with Hegemon...And by going to the X2...you're gonna be running DDR2 800 ram...which is cheaper than DDR2 1066...

 

[dude87]

Assuming the overall cost of the system isn't an issue for me (it isn't) if I swapped out the Phenom for an x2 processor is there someplace else I could invest to improve the overall system?