$700-800 Multitasking machine. Use Adobe Premier/CS5

[matts]

Rookie here. My friend sschnauzer recommended I post here--he was really happy with the advice you all provided.

Approx Purchase Date: before March 16th (NCIX sale ending)

Budget range: hoping for $700-800

System usage: multitasking (surfing the net, multi programs open, downloading, streaming video, rendering a video, fiddling on photoshop). No games.

Parts not required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS (likely buy Student discounted Windows 7 Pro x64)

Preferred websites: Canadian websites. Ncix and then will try to price match with DirectCanada (ppl have had troubles in the past) or others

Country: Canada

Overclocking: maybe

SLI or Crossfire: maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080 for now. Will buy another monitor 2560x1600 eventually and use both.

Additional Comments: Eventually would like to add another hard drive (have lots of HD video), and possibly a dedicated video card. I've considered a SSD as well, though not sure if the extra speed warrants the cost for my purposes (already over budget). I prefer quiet.


Processor
Intel Core i5 2500K Quad Core Unlocked Processor LGA1155 3.3GHZ Sandy Bridge 6MB ($215)
Chosen based on best value to performance ratio according to cpubenchmark.

Motherboard
[strike]MSI P55A-G55 P55 ATX LGA1156 DDR3 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 3PCI SLI CrossFireX SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard ($120->$110 rebate or PM w/ DirectCanada to $101)
I really have no idea—this is what NCIX suggested for a motherboard.[/strike]

[strike]A p67 as required for my processor:
MSI P67A-GD55 (B3) P67 ATX LGA1155 DDR3 2PCI-E16 3PCI-E 2PCI SLI CrossFireX SATA3 USB3 Motherboard ($160->$140 w/ rebate)
Unfortunately they are on backorder...

or maybe this one:
ASUS P8H67-M LE mATX LGA1155 PCI-E16 PCI-E4 2PCI DVI HDMI VGA Sandy Bridge B3 Motherboard ($99) Nice price...[/strike]

Thinking about this one.
Gigabyte H67A-UD3H-B3 ATX LGA1155 H67 DDR3 2PCI-E1 3PCI 1PCI-E16 CrossFireX SATA3 USB3.0 Motherboard
I chose this one because it has a Display Port for 2560x1600. Will try to use built in graphics, and possibly buy a dedicated video card in the future if need be. Will this mobo combined with the 2500k allow me to run dual monitors one 2560x1600 (using display port) and one 1920 x 1080 (using HDMI or DVI)? I realize I lose the ability to OC the CPU (I can get the 2500K for the same price as the 2500).

Ram
2 x Corsair CMZ4GX3M1A1600C9 Vengeance 4GB 1X4GB DDR3-1600 CL9-9-9-24 Memory ($98 w/ code 57079-1293)
I can save $20 if I get this:
Corsair CMV4GX3M1A1333C9 4GB 1X4GB DDR3-1333 CL9 Memory Module

[strike]Video card
ASUS Radeon HD 6850 DirectCU 790MHZ 1GB 4.0GHZ GDDR5 2XDVI DisplayPort HDMI PCI-E Video Card ($190->$170 w/ rebate or PM DirectCanada $157)
Best value to according to videocardbenchmark.

I can save $100 if I buy this one instead
Powercolor Radeon HD 4830 575MHZ 512MB 1.4GHZ GDDR3 VGA HDMI DVI PCI-E Video Card[/strike]

Case
Antec Three Hundred Mini Tower Gaming Case 300 ATX 3X5.25 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Audio ($50->$30 w/ rebate and code 29812-1293)
Not sure if I like those blue lights...I’d prefer just black if someone has a favourite case out there.

Power supply
[strike]Seasonic SS-400ET 400W EPS12V 20/24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 80PLUS 6PIN PCI-E 120MM Fan OEM ($43)[/strike]

Why not get a 650W for the same price.
Antec Truepower New 650W Modular Power Supply ATX12V V2.3 Active PFC 80 Plus SLI Ready 120MM PWM Fan ($60->$40 w/ rebate)

Cooling
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus Direct Touch 4 Heatpipe Heatsink AM2 AM3 LGA1366 LGA1155 LGA1156 120MM ($30)
Not sure if I really need this...?

Hard drive
Western Digital WD20EARS Caviar Green 2TB SATA2 3Gbps 64MB Cache 3.5IN Hard Drive OEM ($70 w/ code 49591-1293)

Realize the hard drive above is not the best, so will add a ssd for the os.
OCZ Vertex 2 Extended Sandforce 60GB 2.5IN SATA2 Solid State Disk Flash Drive SSD ($130->105 w/ rebate)

DVD writer
LG GH22NS50 Black 22X SATA DVD Writer OEM ($15 w/ code 40435-1293)

Card reader
Nmedia C68 3.5IN USB2.0 Flash Card Reader Silver Black with Front USB ($11)

Wireless lan: any thoughts re: built in vs. USB?

Current cost: ~$850

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Its a solid build, except for the motherboard. Its P55. You want a P67 motherboard

 

[HeyImGodly]

Change, the gpu, radeon doesnt help you at all.
Grab a GTS 450, its cheaper than the 6850 which is a gamers card, while still helps you with render times in applications like AE, PS, PR, Vegas 10.

 

[matts]

Thanks ScrewySqrl, I have fixed my post above. Unfortunately many of the cheaper p67 motherboards seem to be on back order (in Canada at least).

HeyImGodly--thanks for your input. I'll look into this one:
ASUS GeForce 450 GTS 810MHZ 1GB 3608MHZ GDDR5 DVI HDMI PCI-E Video Card ($110)
http://www.ncix.com/products/productdetail2.php?sku=59241

 

[ScrewySqrl]

another alternative is to get an H67 motherboard, which will use the HD 3000 Graphics built into your 2500K, and forgo a graphics card altogether. the HD30 is fairly good on its own. Its *fantastic* at video conversion. For example, HD1080p to 1024x768 for your ipad, 4 minute video converts in 22 seconds. And its fine with HD video playing, web surfing, and even very light gaming -- it'll handle any console-released game on low settings at 720p.

 

[HeyImGodly]

but if you do go H67 you will lose the ability to OC the CPU and will gain the ability to OC the onboard graphics.

 

[matts]

I really appreciate everyone's help. I updated my post above, the build is at ~800 + windows 7.

Currently I'm thinking of going for an H67 mobo w/ a display port (2560x1600), and no dedicated graphics card. Money saved will go towards a 60gb SSD.

My main question is whether this setup will allow me to use my 1920x1080 monitor for now, but eventually dual monitor with a 2560x1600?

Any other thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[HeyImGodly]

Hold off on the SSD since the new Sandforce controller will be integrated into all the newer SSD's the current ones will drop slightly in price.
i have no idea if H67 or P67 boards support dual monitors im 90% sure though they don't. Youd probably need an ATI card that supports eyefinity. or whatever the nvidia equivalent is.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

actually, it will support dual monitors, but not triple.

 

[HeyImGodly]

ahh, well disregard my answer.

 

[matts]

So I went with:

Gigabyte H67A UD3H ATX, Intel i5 2500K, Hyper 212 plus, Antec 300 case, 2x4gb cosair vengeance ram, and 2tb caviar black hd

Performance summary:
http://3dmark.com/3dmv/3011411

Windows Experience Index:
Processor 7.5
Memory 7.6
Graphics 5.9
Gaming Graphics 6.2
Primary hard disk 5.9

My only complaint so far would be the hard drive seek noise. Even when the computer is idle it seems to seek every few seconds. We have to turn it off to sleep it’s so annoying.

 

[matts]

Best answer selected by matts.

 

[matts]

Ram is becoming so cheap, for instance:

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314&AID=10657534&PID=749547&SID=forums&nm_mc=AFC-C8junctionCA

With the 15% promotion it is $62 shipped plus tax.

See the specs of my computer above...(Gigabyte H67A UD3H ATX, Intel i5 2500K, Hyper 212 plus, Antec 300 case, 2x4gb cosair vengeance ram, and 2tb caviar black hd)...

Would going from 8gb to 16gb really improve my performance?

Does it matter that my first 8gb is another brand? I'm assuming no if they are put in the proper slots...

Thanks!

 

[ScrewySqrl]

it will only improve performance if you are running out at 8 gb, otherwise it won't.

as long as its the same speed and timings, brand won't matter.