Building a computer for the first time

[MihiAir]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Mostly for converting videos, photoshop, some light gaming
2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
My budget is around $1000
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
US
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Not really, what ever give me the best value
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
NONE - Since I have a 5+ years old pre build Pentium 4 Sony computer.
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes, I have been looking on sites for few weeks
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I plans to overclock it
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Pretty soon, a week or so.

Currently these are the parts that I'm looking at, please give advice.
MB:GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU:Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz
CPU cooler: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
With a XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket Many people say that its a must for the the cooler
Case:Antec 300
GPU:SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit
PSU:CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W
Memory:G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
HD:Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Optical Drive: Suggestion.

Hope for good suggestions~ Thanks

 

[heyheybooboo]

@ 'light gaming' on an HD4870 1Gb

What software will you be using for your video work?

Photoshop luvs RAMs and fast (multiple) hard disk(s) I/O - your video work will also benefit from multiple drives. What OS will you be using?

At what resolution is your monitor?

 

[bamacre]

I'd get a better brand of video card. I hate Sapphire, bad warranty.

 

[DSF]

You don't need DDR2-1066 to overclock a Q6600. DDR2-800 will push the chip as far as it will go.

I agree with heyheybooboo. It might be good to define "light gaming" because a 4870 1GB isn't really necessary for most people's definition of light gaming. Also, it depends on what size monitor you're using.

Optical drives are all more or less the same. As long as you go with one from a major manufacturer you're fine. I hear that the newer Samsung drives are quieter than some of the competition, but I haven't seen an objective review so that's always difficult to verify. Not many people have drives from multiple manufacturers, so the basis for comparison is often limited. (Not to mention that sound tolerance varies widely from person to person. I've heard people say the Lite-On model I have is very quiet, and some say it's roaring loud. I think it's somewhere in the middle.

 

[MihiAir]

For the memory some people say stay with DDR2-800 and some say go with DDR2-1066, so I don't really know what to go with.

And with the GPU, i was thinking about getting 4850. Since I guess light gaming meaning I won't be like playing a lot of games at high quality. Since I'm in college so I won't be playing that much games. So I was thinking of getting a 4850 might be for my needs.

For the OS I think of using XP Pro, haven't think of upgrading to Vista yet.

For the video part, I use Winavi to convert my video formats.

I'm also planning to getting a new monitor as well, I would say a 22 inch monitor.

I'm looking at the following burners at newegg
Burner: SAMSUNG Black SH-S223F
LITE-ON Black iHAS120-04
LG Black 22X GH22NS30

Thanks for the suggestion~

 

[themisfit610]

WinAVI eh?

Upgrade that too

If you're ripping DVDs, try Handbrake or Ripbot264. Much better

~MiSfit

 

[MihiAir]

The video files that I have are RMVB, I'm trying to covert them to DVD format. So do Handbrake or Ripbot264 works with that?

Thanks

 

[DSF]

The Q6600 generally tops out at around 3.6GHz if you're lucky, and that's with very good cooling.

With the Q6600's 9x multiplier you need a FSB clock of 400 MHz to hit 3.6GHz. (9 x 400 MHz = 3600 MHz, or 3.6 GHz). 400 MHz is equivalent to DDR2-800. Anything faster than that is going to be difficult to run stably on a quad core chip. Most of them won't even make it to 3.6 GHz.

DDR2-1066 is mathematically unnecessary.

For a 22" monitor you're fine with a 4850 for light gaming. I'm still using an 8800GT for 22" and I've got no complaints.

 

[Denithor]

Q9400 (2.66GHz, 6MB cache) $270

Cooler & faster than Q6600 at stock, better overclocking performance (Q6600 commonly caps at 3.2GHz, these do 3.6 easily & even higher if you know what you're doing).

Might consider the 512MB 4870 instead of 1GB, I think they're around $180 with rebates and that would be perfect for 1680x1050.

Otherwise your build looks great. Enjoy, and post back to let us know how it goes.

 

[heyheybooboo]

+1 for Q9400 (and SSE4) - and Vista 64-bit

... or travel to the darkside of the Phenom(enal) II

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: heyheybooboo
+1 for Q9400 (and SSE4) - and Vista 64-bit

... or travel to the darkside of the Phenom(enal) II

That's not a bad option either, the PII 920 looks like a solid value at $235, plus the motherboard may be a bit cheaper. Everything else would stay the same.

Booboo, do you know if newegg has set up a filter for motherboards that support PII yet? It's pretty bad that we cannot easily recommend motherboards for these chips that are guaranteed to work correctly.

 

[MihiAir]

For the power supply, the one I listed now is CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W for $99.99 and after rebate is $79.99.
Right now at amazon the PC Power and Cooling S75CF Silencer 750W Quad Power Supply is selling for $99.99 after rebate is 64.99$ on Newegg this sell for the same price as the Cosair after the rebate. So which one is the better choice?

 

[Denithor]

650TX uses a 120mm fan, PCP&C uses an 80mm fan.

120mm fan = quieter

Plus the 650TX is made by Seasonic, the best maker in the business.

 

[MihiAir]

Isn't the PC Power and Cooling PSU also made by Seasonic?

For memory is this memory any good G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

Thanks

 

[Denithor]

It may be, but it still has an 80mm fan which simply isn't going to be as quiet as a 120mm.

And yes, that's probably the best DDR2 available right now in that price range.