Comment on my new setup

[esky]

My buddy wants a video editing PC. However, he's splitting the cost with somebody who'll also be using the computer, so there are some constraints: Can't be a MAC, and needs 3D support so a Matrox 2D gfx card is not an option.

Anyway, here's what I came up with so far on www.newegg.com :

ANTEC Life Style Series Black Case w/380W Power
Model# SONATA
Item # N82E16811129127
$ 95.00

Intel Pentium 4/ 3.2C GHz 800MHz FSB
Model# BX80532PG3200D
Item # N82E16819116164
$279.00


Intel "D875PBZLK" i875P Chipset Motherboard
Model# BOXD875PBZLK
Item # N82E16813121180
$130.00

Seagate 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
Model# ST3160023AS
Item # N82E16822148018
$119.00

ATI RADEON 9800PRO Video Card
Model# RADEON 9800PRO 128M
Item # N82E16814102286
$222.00

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS PCI Sound Card
Model# 70SB035000000
Item # N82E16829102162
$ 88.00

Lite-On Black 8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Model# SOHW-812S BLACK
Item # N82E16827106935
$ 86.99

Lite-On Black 16X DVD-ROM
Model# SOHD-167T Black
Item # N82E16827131118
$ 26.00

I picked the Pentium 4 because from my research it is best for video editing. Can't afford a sufficient SCSI hard drive configuration, so went with SATA. Picked the Audigy because it has firewire slot.. honestly don't know what the best sound card would be, just needs to have superior sound quality, won't need much in/out other than 2 speakers maybe.

I do need advice on:
(1) Better video card value vs performance and with good color/2D support as well... but something that will still play Doom 3 when it comes out, not necessarily at highest quality/fps.
(2) What is the ideal 1GB of RAM I should get? Please be specific down to the brand and model, because I'm totally lost in the PCxxxx and DDRxxx stuff, don't know what will be compatible with this mobo. Also an explanation of what RAM will be compatible just in general would be appreciated.
(3) Will the HD i picked connect correctly to the mobo?

 

[johnjkr1]

If you are making a video editing machine, you need to go RAID. One extra hard drive is well worth it for that specific case.

 

[esky]

I think the mobo I picked includes RAID, does it work with the SATA drive I picked and would it automatically integrade the built-in RAID for two of those drives?

Also is this RAM correct? http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-144-114&depa=0

 

[johnjkr1]

You just need some ddr 400 (pc3200) to match the pentium. That is some really good stuff, but you really don't have to spend THAT much to get a decent set of 512mb ram.

I'll have to look into the raid on that intel mobo. I think it uses serial ata, but i'll dig into it.

RAID in and of itself is quite simple to setup. You pick raid 0 or 1 (stripe or mirror), then when you install windows, you give it the raid drivers, then they just show up as 1 drive. That's it. If it is a video editing machine I would definetly recommend a third hard drive to back up data on. Also, you will likely need and extra 120mm fan for the sonata, it only comes with one. (I really like my sonata).

 

[johnjkr1]

The board appears to do raid 0 with serial ata. So, you would need two serial ata hard drives to take advantage of that. In the case of video editing, it would be clearly be worth it. Also, you might want to consider going to a sapphire ultimate 9800 pro, or the HIS technolgy ICE-q 9800 pro. Both those have reduced noise fans, or no fans, and would help keep the noise down for an extra $10. You could also save some money going with a 2.8 or 3.0 processor.

 

[esky]

Ok, thanks for the help.

I have a more final setup here: http://deviantone.com/pc3.txt

About the RAID setup, where do you pick the '0 or 1'? Is it like a jumper setting or something, or do you just plug one hard drive to the one slot, and the other to the second... then they appear as one?

Where do I pick in Windows what driver is installed?

 

[johnjkr1]

Actually, with the Intel motherboard, you don't get a choice, they only give you raid 0. Most other boards give you a broader selection of RAID options.
With raid you basically go into the raid bios, tell it what you want to do (cluster size, raid type, etc). Then when you try to install windows, you press F6 right at the beginning, give it the raid drivers (if necessary) then continue on from there. You do understand that RAID requires two physical hard drives, right?

For that price on that ram you could almost get 2 gigs of something else.

 

[esky]

Yea, but you don't need two hard drives for the SATA to connect correctly on this mobo right? You just need two to utlize RAID, which is made for 2 or more hard drives and has no benefit nor does it hurt when you have one HD...

Could you point me to a better RAM option on newegg?

 

[johnjkr1]

Right, you don't HAVE to use raid. But in your case, you should. It is not easy to just go back and add raid later, you might as well do it at the beginning. You can buy two 80 gig hard drives and have 160gb of space. Video editing requires three things to go fast...ram, cpu, hard drive access. You have the fast ram, the fast cpu, but without raid your losing alot of speed.

Also, I don't see any firewire. Don't you need firewire?


Ram:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=property&DEPA=0

corsair, the mushkin, kingston, geil all make good stuff. It wont be quite as fast, but that super ram is mostly for overclockers, which I assume you will not be doing with this machine.

 

[esky]

Wait, so will using RAID with two Hard Drives mean better performance than not using RAID, but only one Hard Drive?

That link seems broken btw