What's wrong with this HPE 590-t configuration?

[spares-64142]

Hi, I'm customizing an HPE on the Costco site and I started with a question about the graphics card, then I realized I was only scratching the surface of my ignorance. I'll pay what I have to among the options on the site for video-editing and streaming HD movies and word processing and publishing, but I don't want to spend more than I have to. Gaming would be nice but I don't want to have to pay for it. I want the system to be fast and clean with room to grow. Do you see any problems or have suggestions? Any unnecessary memory, power etc. If so what would suffice plus a little more? Anything counterproductive or useless. Any combinations in conflict?

Please don't hold back. Strong opinions welcome. Feel free to go to the site and build your suggested system. Not doing anything else, right? Here's what I have so far. I heard that having DDR5 is more important than say 3GB, and that the 460 is fastest. I started with what I have to leave room for a sound card. Thanks for any help!

Selected Features:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-970 six-core [3.2GHz, 1.5MB L2 + 12MB shared L3 cache]
12GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM [6 DIMMs]
1.5TB RAID 1 (2 x 1.5TB SATA HDDs) - data security
3GB DDR3 NVIDIA GeForce GT 440 [DVI, HDMI, VGA]
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
15-in-1 memory card reader, 1 USB, 1394, audio, video (for TV Tuner)
HP 2711x 27-inch LED ultra-slim monitor, no speakers
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
No additional office software
HP USB keyboard and optical mouse
Wireless-N LAN card
Blu-ray writer & Lightscribe SuperMulti DVD burner
16x max. DVD ROM (player)
Norton Internet Security(TM) 2011 - 15 month
TV tuner, ATSC-NTSC with PVR, remote
Included Features:
Type: Ultimate performance PC
Chassis: uATX
Memory card reader: 15-in-1 media card reader
Processors: Intel Other
Total memory slots: 6 DIMM
Ports: 7 USB (3 front, 4 back), 2 eSATA (back), 1 IEEE 1394
Audio: Front headphone, line-in, mic (7.1 speaker capable)
Total slots: 2 PCIe (x16), 1 PCIe (x4), 1 PCIe (x1)
Energy Star Qualified: No
Power supply: 460 watts
Storage bay: HP Pocket Media Drive Bay
Dimensions: 16.85"(L) x 7.05"(W) x 15.79"(H)
Modem: Optional
Network interface: Wireless LAN-N, 10/100/1000Mbps (Ethernet)
Software kit: HP Pavilion bundle with MediaSmart Software Suite
DVD/CD burner software: Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe
Security software: Norton Internet Security 15-month subscription
Tools: Desktop icon for built-in desktop Help and Support Center
Warranty: 2-year In-Home limited hardware warranty
Support: 1-year limited software, 1-year limited hardware support

 

[hunter315]

There is soooo much wrong with that setup.


Stick with an i7 950, the 970 is not worth almost twice as much, it offers at best 50% more performance, in most cases about 20% more, and unless you will be using this computer to make a living editing videos the amount of time it saves you will never justify the extra cost.

Ram is cheap now so 12GB is fine, but i would go for 1333MHz rather than 1066.

3GB on a GT440 is just ridiculous, you only need that much video ram if you are working on rendering stuff real time across multiple screens like gaming across 3 screens, but a card like the GT440 could never make use of it, ever, get a stronger card like a GTX 560 with a normal amount of VRAM, it will probably be similarly priced.

Dont pay extra for a norton security suite, there are free options that are just as good.

 

[spares-64142]

There is soooo much wrong with that setup.


Stick with an i7 950, the 970 is not worth almost twice as much, it offers at best 50% more performance, in most cases about 20% more, and unless you will be using this computer to make a living editing videos the amount of time it saves you will never justify the extra cost.

Ram is cheap now so 12GB is fine, but i would go for 1333MHz rather than 1066.

3GB on a GT440 is just ridiculous, you only need that much video ram if you are working on rendering stuff real time across multiple screens like gaming across 3 screens, but a card like the GT440 could never make use of it, ever, get a stronger card like a GTX 560 with a normal amount of VRAM, it will probably be similarly priced.

Dont pay extra for a norton security suite, there are free options that are just as good.

Thanks! That's just the kind of info I'm looking for. Let me know if you think of anything else!