[ComputerGuy]

I thought I would use this thread as a blog/questions and answer thread. Im building my own computer for the first time. Im completely new to it so there will be a lot of questions I will want answered. Im trying to learn as much as I can about the in's and out's of a computer but have found so many out dated infomation after half way through reading one thing I realised the information was about 9 years old as all the components were in my current computer. I am willing to learn all about it as im interested so if I ask a dump question its not because im lazy or I didn't search its because I could find the information or didn't no if it was outdated or not so ill ask just to make sure.

Anyway like I said my current antique is 9 years old and very slow. So I thought ill build my own as I have always wanted to and after my friend did it who know's less than me (he had to phone someone up to ask which modem to pick after the person said which one's he could have and al he had to do is look at the sign to see which was the best aka the most expensive one lol) did it with the help of my other friends I thought I could do it too. I don't want someone telling me what I need I want to learn about it all my self and ask a few questions.

Right what I want to do with my new computer is video editing and watching videos. Up loading my videos from my camcorder. Also be watching a load of films and that on it too and want a TV on it. I want it to be fast too!
I have a few items I have picked out which ill post in a sec to see what you think.

ComputerGuy

PS: Please dont turn this thread into a massive convo with each other if you have another question about something nothing to do with my build make a new thread as I want to keep this purely a q+a/blog (thats if your interested in my progress).

[ComputerGuy]

Case:

I am pretty happy with the case I have chosen.

Ezcool H550 ATX Case Black with 24pin 450W PSU + 250MM Side Fan with Fan Control

MotherBoard:

Abit IN9 32X-MAX Nvidia® NF680i SLI Triple PCI-E, DDR2, DUAL GLAN, HDMI, 1394, WiFi Module, 5-phase Digital PWM

CPU:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66Ghz Socket 775 CPU

RAM (Memory):

Patriot 2GB (2 x 1GB) 1066Mhz Extreme Performance Memory

CPU Cooler:

Zalman CNPS9700 LED CPU Cooler



What I want to no is will the motherboard work with the case meaning will the front USB ports connect to it? (assuming the motherboard works with the case.)

Will the CPU cooler fit ok?

I saw the CPU and put it in my basket then found that motherboard then saw that all the components were a bundle so thought id get it.

Is the RAM a good make/quality?

Let me no what you think.

CG

[ComputerGuy]

Graphics Card:

YYT 8600GT 512MB DDR2, DVI, TV OUT, HDTV, PCI-E Graphics Card



I no they are sold out at the moment but is this a good graphics card? I want a decent quality one.

Is this where I plug my tv arial lead into so I can watch TV?


CG

[Krlll]

The case is ATX compliant and the motherboard is ATX so no problems with it fitting.
You wont have any problems connecting the front USB either.
From tech specs of mobo.

3 x USB 2.0 headers, 2 x IEEE1394 headers

I dont think you will have any problems with the CPU cooler fitting,it is not huge.(I have the CNPS9500 LED myself).
If in doubt check the case and coolers dimensions.
The ram is good quality and a good make but maybe something cheaper would suffice unless you are overclocking.The ram is advertised as 1066 but is actually 800(as is all DDR2)but you will not run it at 1066 by default unless you overclock it.
This would suit you just as well if not overclocking and is far cheaper.

[ComputerGuy]

Thanks for clearing that up Krlll.

I don't plan on overclocking so ill go for the cheaper one.

What about the graphics card?

Does my camcorder plug into the IEEE1394 socket on the mobo?

CG

[Krlll]

I dont know much about that graphics card.I read up al;ittle about it and it is ok,it is midrange and doesnt perform much better than a good quality AGP but it is cheap and DX10 so unless you want to spend more its ok I guess.
You cannot plug your Tv aerial into the card to watch Tv.
I dont know much about video editing either lol but as far as I know people usually connect the better video equipment to their PCs via the IEEE 1394 socket.

[ComputerGuy]

I want a decent graphics card its not the money that made me pick it.

So what cards would you recommend around the £100-£150 mark?

CG

[Krlll]

This one.

[ComputerGuy]

Thanks Krlll that looks good to me.

CG

[Thunderer]

From what I could see, you want the PC for video editing.

So as a processor (CPU) I would go for the Intel Quad Core Q6600 or the Q6700.
Why Quad Core you may ask?
So, with Quad Core you could run up to 4 multiple programs at once and without any distortion whatsoever, hence you could video-edit, upload from your cam without no blockage of the PC or running slow.

As for the video card I would go for the 8800GTX 768Mb since it has DirectX10 (which contain functions useful to a wide range of multimedia programmers, but are all almost entirely platform independent. This allows programmers access to fast graphics, sound, and input functions while not needing their apps to test for the capabilities of the computer on which their program is running) and also a physx card (which accelerates the rendering of 2D and 3D graphics) is incorporated in it.

Lastly as for the Power Supply I would not recomand the 450W since you are going to use it for video-editing it would be not that good and might be overheated. So I would at least buy a 600W so that there would be enough free space for the PC itself to use (if needed).

The rest seems to be ok. Hope this helped you. If you need more info. just ask and I would be happy to help you.