[dayexday]

well my old computer isn't working anymore. i posted a thread about hopefully trying to resuscitate it but I figure I should explore the possibility of building a new one.

I used to build computers a lot in my youth, but since i got a "real" non computer hardware job, I haven't really done much with hardware computer stuff in five years. I imagine not much has changed.

The computer will be used for audio editing/recording. So I really need a top notch sound card (which I have) and a powerful CPU. I don't need an especially good graphics card.

I don't follow hardware parts anymore so I just used the recommended computer parts thread to guide me and looked at the high end model.
I plan on getting all the stuff recommended below except
1. I don't need a high end graphics card. Is there any that's recommended for really basic computer stuff? Like I'm not a gamer at all.
2. I already have a really great case- lian li pc60. so i'd like to use that one. I am assuming that any motherboard/power supply will work with the case? Is that something I should look into more?
3. For the PSU, I would like to go modular. So I'm thinking the corsair HX 620 instead of the TX.


CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 ($120)
Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro ($140)
Video: SAPPHIRE 100242L Radeon HD 4850 ($160)
RAM: G.SKILL 4GB DDR2 800 ($80)
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W($100)
Optical: LITE-ON Black SATA ($24)
HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB ($84)
Case: Antec Nine Hundred ($120) or Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS ($120)

So again all the stuff above except I'm thinking a lower end graphics card, I want to use the case I have (lian li pc60) and I want a modular power supply.

Is it safe to say that everything will go together fine?

[thingie2]

CPU: For editing, I would recommend a Quad core CPU, Video editing uses multi cores, so I assume audio does too.

Motherboard: Should be fine.

Video card: if your only audio editing, you don't need an HD4850, save your money and put it towards something els in the build, or just keep it, I would go for a NVidia 8800GT or a ATI 3850, they have similar performance, just go with which is cheaper, you won't be needing good graphics, and both those are more than enough for general graphics use.

RAM: Is fine, I don't know how RAM hungry your software is, but if it requires large amounts of RAM, go for another 4GB if you have a 64Bit OS, if you don't, it doesn't matter.

PSU: That's a great PSU, (you could probably go with a lower Wattage unit though), as is any unit from Corsiar, however don't go for the 1000W unit, it isn't as good and is way more power than you need. If you want a Modular though, the HX series will do well for you.

Optical: Is fine, however you might want to consider one with lightscribe, it could be a good investment as it doesn't cost much extra.

HDD: A very good decision.

Case: If you like your current case, keep that one, you may as well, the above motherboard should fit it, as should all ATX form motherboards. But if you decide to change my personal choice would be an Antec 900.

[dayexday]

How about this build:

1. Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz (120$).
2. Asus P5Q Pro (120$)
3. G. Skill (4 GB) (55$)
4. Corsair 520 HX (115$)
5. Western Digital Caviar 640GB (75$)

Assuming the annoying mail in rebates go through, it will cost 515.

Do the components and price seem right?

I also need a CPU cooler, which I don't know anything about.
and a graphics card. Is any graphics card fine with the processors mentioned above NVidia 8800GT or a ATI 3850? Is there a specific brand I should go for?

[thingie2]

CPU: That looks more like what you will be wanting, you might want to consider a CPU from the Q9000 series though, they are faster and run cooler, but depending on budget and how bothered you are about how much more performance you get, it's up to you, however the performance won't be much different with a Q9000 series card at a similar price.

PSU: A very good choice, as I mentioned in my last post, all Corsairs are very good.

GPU: The 8800GT will perform marginly better than the ATI 3850, Don't go for a 8800GTS or GTX though, they are higher end cards, and are more than you require. Also, don't go for the 256MB version of the 8800GT, it performs much worse, go for the 512MB, you won't need the 1GB. As for Brand, it rearly doesn't matter, but I recommend looking for one that has a duel slot cooler, most do, but a few are low profile cards, but they get too hot.

CPU cooler: I recommend one of these they perform very well, and will remain quiet.

Note to everyone else that is undoubtably reading this thread: Feel free to jump in and recommend something else, or disagree with me, afterall, we need the best value for money for dayexday.

[Carbon]

I don't understand why anyone would recommend a 8800GT ever unless the budget is fixed.

The 4850 is only $35 more and outperforms it drastically. There's no real reason to drop down even if you don't do much gaming.

[thingie2]

I thought the 4850 was more than that, must be quite different in the US, in the UK the 3850 are around £50 and the 8800GT a little more, however the 4850 is around £130

[dayexday]

I just realized I never thanked you guys for all your help so allow me to apologize for not doing it sooner and thanks for everything.
Here is what I'm thinking.

1. Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz (180$). I wrote 120 before but it's 180. With the cooler Thingie2 recommended it would be like 217.

I saw an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 Yorkfield 2.5 GHz for 250$. The CPU cooler is included. Should I just go with that?
Honestly, I have no clue what Kentsfield/Yorkfield means and I know 2.5 is faster than 2.4 but I don't know if I'll even notice it. Whatever you guys recommend is what I'll go with.

2. Asus P5Q Pro (120$)
3. Corsair XMS 4 GB (after rebate 45) it's cheaper than the G. Skill (4 GB) (55$) and I've always heard Corsair was a great brand with great customer service.
4. Corsair 520 HX (115$)
5. Western Digital Caviar 640GB (75$)
6. Video Card- I was on newegg and was just confused over the tons of cards there. Maybe I should just go with one of the videocards Carbon recommended in the other thread? Zotac 9600 GT for 95$? Or the other recommended card Sapphire 100242L Radeon HD 4850 for 145 (after rebate)? Again, the names don't mean anything to me. I'll go with whatever you guys recommend. I'm not a gamer but saving 50 dollars isn't really a big deal to me since I hope on using this system for 4-5 years or hopefully longer.

And I think that's everything since I have a soundcard and case and I figure I could just use my old DVDRW and buy a new one when i need one for the 30-50 bucks.

[Carbon]

Might consider cutting out the graphics card altogether and going with onboard video if you don't play _any_ games.

Buy two pairs of that XMS, the Q6600, no video card, and one of these.

[tomthedrummer1992]

You've changed to a quad core CPU - this is good.

PSU - I've said it once and will say again - Thermaltake Toughpower 750W. It's fantastic. Audio editing can pull a lot of power - especially is you have the higher end soundcards - and a quiet PSU is also a good thing to have when audio editing - this the Thermaltake definitely is.

Is there anyway I can persuade you to go for a mac? Macs are THE BUSINESS when it comes to audio/video editing and multimedia in general. Seriously they are.

[thingie2]

What carbon says make's sense, if you are definatly not going to be doing anything that requires good video processing (gaming, CAD etc) then onboard would be best, I hadn't thought of that, it will save you quite a bit of money.

As for the RAM, only go for 2 sets of 4GB if you have a 64Bit OS, however I don't know if you do, so you'll have to find out (to find out right click on my computer>properties, then in the general tab, it should say your OS, if it says x64 in it, it's 64bit, if not, then it isn't)

As for which CPU, it depends how much you want to pay, a 6600 should perform fine, but a Q9300 will be faster, however only slightly, I would save the money, the changes differences are very slight, not worth the extra (around 5% on the reviews I saw). If you want, you could google "Q9300 review" and it should come up with some, most will compare it to the Q6600.

Thermaltake Toughpower 750W an ok PSU, but that size isn't needed, so you may as well save your money, and the PSU has 4 12V rails of only 15A each, and a single at 40A would be better. Also that PSU is not modular.

As for a Mac, of course it's an option, but I'm assuming your wanting to stay with a windows system as that is what you were using?