Please Comment on This System

I'm planning on building a new system whose primary use will be for dealing with audio production and editing and to have a weekly night where i run shoutcast for a radio stream.

Below are the main components of the system:

CPU: Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz 533 MHZ FSB
Motherboard: Intel 845GEBV2
Memory: Two Kingston 512 MB PC2700 DDR

Hard-Drive: Maxtor 40GB 7200RPM (hd is only for the os and core programs)
Hard-Drive: WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM
(hd is for my audio files)

Case: Antec SX-835II (power supply comes with 2 fans pre installed in case)

Graphics Card: ATI Radeon 9000 Pro (I don't need anything to fancy)

I haven't quite decided on my audio card yet. If anyone has any opinions or susggestions on the above system I'd be glad to hear them before I start to buy the components.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by netflame on 01/20/03 09:14 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

Just a comment on what sound card to use:

I've had great experience with Creative Labs Sound Blaster cards. If you are looking for just a good performer, then go for the SB Live! 5.1 else get the top 'o' the line Xtigy or whatever they are calling it.

GearJammer
<i><font color=blue>It takes 10 'Attaboys' to make up for 1 'Awww...crap!'</font color=blue></i>

I will be recording my sets (it's going to be a 2 hour format) onto my hard drive. I feel that there is plenty of hard drive space because I'm only doing a show once a week and I can back them all up onto cd-r after I'm done with that week's show. I have a broadband connection so there won't be any problems with the uploading part.

I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of any incompatibility issues with having a Maxtor drive as the main hd and a Western Digital as the secondary drive.

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2, Plantinum if you want I/O up front.
Thats my opinion.

Western Digital are designed for Cable Select. Recent Maxtor HDs have been shipped Cable Select as well, so just be sure to use a Cable Select type cable.

Run a test on your BroadBand system ahead of time. My Broadband system has a 300 upload limit, but a 1500 download limit.

<A HREF="http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop" target="_new"> Test your Broadband and PC at PC Pitstop </A>

Every working computer must be improved .... or replaced ...

<A HREF="http://members.ud.com/services/teams/team.htm?id=510E6639-84A1-465D-A914-07BDB039E379" target="_new">Join the THG Team.</A>

I do NOT know enough about the antec case to make a proper recommendation. I have to leave that to others who know your case design.

Are you saying the PSU has two fans in it?

My case is totally diffeent manufacture. I run a large fan in front right below the CDROMs which intake air and blows air over the hard drives. The previous case design had 4 80mm fans in that position. I have two large fans blowing air on the side aimed at the memory, CPU and motherboard. There are two 80 mm fans there too - aimed at the hard drive area but those also insure a cooler case air temp. I also have two 80 mm exaust fans on the back of the case. There is an additional 80mm fan exausting air out the top. These are in addition to the CPU and PSU fans.

You will definately need a fan on the CPU itself. While I had no problem with the stock fan for the P4 1.8a 100, I am NOT happy with the stock fan for the P4 2.4b 533. I use a Volcano 7+ CPU fan running over 4000 rpm and sometimes over 6000 rpu.

Do you need all that cooling? Maybe not. I run my FPU portion of my CPU at 100 per cent 100 per cent of the time - See the link about joining the THG team. On my setup, I run about 32-35 degrees C normally and about 45-48 C when running full bore.

Every working computer must be improved .... or replaced ...

<A HREF="http://members.ud.com/services/teams/team.htm?id=510E6639-84A1-465D-A914-07BDB039E379" target="_new">Join the THG Team.</A>