New multipurpose computer. Opinions/suggestions welcomed.

[nitramm]

Hey everyone,

I'm a long time reader but a first time poster. I'm looking to build my first computer. This computer will be used for a little bit of everything...some gaming, graphics editing (Photoshop), movie editing (Premier), and multitasking in general. Probably nothing too hardcore though. I will most likely over clock it, probably not instantly, but soon after everything is put together. I would like to keep the price somewhere between $1000 and $1300, but still get quality parts that will last a while and be somewhat upgradable. (I will probably have this computer for a few years. My last computer was 5+ years ago. ) I’m not really interested in Crossfire, but the motherboard I’ve picked out supports it. I’ve picked that motherboard for the over clocking/reviews, but I’m defiantly open for suggestions.

I've got a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste already. I will probably upgrade my monitor, keyboard, and mouse soon after my computer is assembled though. Anyway, here is what I’m thinking about getting:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Graphics Card: ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253

Case: Antec Nine Hundred
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194

DVD Drive: SAMSUNG SH-S203N
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151154

Card Reader: Rosewill RCR-102 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Card Reader
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223073

CPU Cooler: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

CPU Cooler Bracket: XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

Total: $1,144.89 (without shipping and without rebates)

I’m really unsure about the motherboard and case…and well, everything. Any input, advice, and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you!
Martin

 

[effel]

It looks identical to every ~$1k build on this forum. Everything will work great together, and you'll have a high performing rig.

 

[Proximon]

LOL yes, can't argue with any of that. If you want to spend more money we could do so.

 

[sirrell]

Personally for gaming and video editing I'd use the CrossfireX feature that the board supports just by adding another GFX card and a bigger Watt PSU.

If not at least add the a better PSU, 650Watt is nothing, then you can look for another exact Brand/Model/Revision GFX card later.

You'll notice the difference especially in gaming and video editing and any 3D editing Software too.

 

[Noya]

Personally for gaming and video editing I'd use the CrossfireX feature that the board supports just by adding another GFX card and a bigger Watt PSU.

If not at least add the a better PSU, 650Watt is nothing, then you can look for another exact Brand/Model/Revision GFX card later.

You'll notice the difference especially in gaming and video editing and any 3D editing Software too.

What a noob.

I also like your late 90's website and your $120 spyware removal.

 

[Noya]

Hey everyone,

I'm a long time reader but a first time poster. I'm looking to build my first computer. This computer will be used for a little bit of everything...some gaming, graphics editing (Photoshop), movie editing (Premier), and multitasking in general. Probably nothing too hardcore though. I will most likely over clock it, probably not instantly, but soon after everything is put together. I would like to keep the price somewhere between $1000 and $1300, but still get quality parts that will last a while and be somewhat upgradable. (I will probably have this computer for a few years. My last computer was 5+ years ago. ) I’m not really interested in Crossfire, but the motherboard I’ve picked out supports it. I’ve picked that motherboard for the over clocking/reviews, but I’m defiantly open for suggestions.

I’m really unsure about the motherboard and case…and well, everything. Any input, advice, and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you!
Martin

If you want to keep this PC for a while, I would change the following:

Get an X38 motherboard for $20-30 more. Two full PCI-e 2.0 x16 lanes at x16 speeds (add another vid card later). Better overlocking. The P45 is kind of a dud compared to the P35, still good, but not WOW like the P35 was:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136045

ATi 4870 for $240, well worth it.
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=884497

Hard drives, hard drives, hard drives. One hard disk drive (HDD) simply won't cut if for Premiere and Photoshop (I use both also). A basic HDD setup for editing is like this:
HDD #1 - Windows / apps on the first 30gb partition; the rest for storage.
HDD #2 - Your editing, or "scratch disk". Import all your photos and video to this drive.
HDD #3 - Games on the first 75+gb partition; Storage and your "write to" on the second partition. When your done editing video, you encode it to MPEG2 to this partition (your reading from HDD#2 and writing to HDD#3. This saves HDD wear and also makes the process much faster).
While the the 640gb AAKS is sweet (I have one), you're better off with 3x320gb or 3x500gb drives. Trust me, I started out with 1 HDD, then 2 HDD, now 3 HDD...I couldn't go back to just 2, let alone a single drive.

I would also jump to this PSU to future proof adding another 4870:
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-750w-atx-12v-power-supply-corsair-tx-cmpsu-750tx-atx12v/q/loc/101/206178325.html

 

[royalcrown]

It would cut it depending on if it's light use or not. If it's major photoshopping I dunno...I would think ssd for editing would rock if they had more capacity.

 

[nitramm]

Thank you very much for your suggestions. I really like the 3 hard drives you suggested, Noya. I'm not a heavy user of Photoshop or Premier, but I do some editing.

Is Crossfire really worth it now? From the reviews I've read, it's seems to be better (at least in the long run) to just get one card and upgrade it as needed. I'm thinking about getting a 22 inch monitor soon, if that matters any. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks again!
Martin