HELP! SOS: Best Comp you can build under $1000?

[kormaster]

I am upgrading for my sister who is going to be using this computer for architecture... meaning using programs such as Photoshop, 3Dmax, AutoCAD... rendering programs... 2D and 3D....

All she needs is faster computer... she has most of the peripherals (monitor scanner printer.. etc.)

Budget is cheap as possible of course... but the last system i build was in Jan 2002 and i am SO lost now.

MOBO:
I have been reading some stuff about the KT333 chip set... I;ve used EPOX board for my last 2 AMD XP systems... im happy with them... but I know you guys can recommend me something.. pros and cons?? I am so lost here.

Intel vs AMD? is that still a question now-a-days? It wasnt about 6-8 months ago.... abd what speed??? how about heatsinks? fans?

VIDEO CARD:
She's not a gamer... not a all... but she's gonna be rendering BIG files... need a powerful card... not those $600 ones.. for professional ones... but she said my GF 2 ULTRA was fine when she borrowed my comp. But i know you guys can find her a descent one... maybe GF 3?? ATI?? or Matrox G550? am i too outdated?? heheh please forgive me.. hehe

CASE:
I think im gonna go with Emermax FULL server case from newegg.com as i will be ordering almost everything from newegg.com unless there is a real deal going on somewhere else... e.g. DDR mem..

512 MB PC 2100?? 3000??? DDR??? help me here

HD: She has ATA100 30 gig HD... but i like to get her at least abother 80+

CD/DVD/BURNER:
I think im gonna go with LITE-ON 40x write.. and 16x DVD drive

Well guys... suggestions will be so much help for me.. thanks in advance!

 

[kormaster]

Bump PLease.. im desperate...

 

[Muzzy]

For what she'll be doing, I would put most of the money a fast HD. Those special edition WD with 8 MB cache would work nice. Save money on the case, get a decent one that's cheap. Definitely wanna get her a lot of memory. At the very least 512 MB, may be even double that. Let's see:

Case with 300W PS $45~$50

EPOX 8K3A KT333CE $89

AMD XP1600+ $75

MSI Geforce3 TD 128
Card model 8851-120 Retail $125

WD Special Ed 80 GB HD $120

Thermalright AX-7(w/o fan) $28

LITE-ON LTD-163 16X
DVD ROM Drive $38

Lite On 40X12X48 $69

2-Crucial Micron 512MB 64x64
PC2100 DDR $334

With shipping and misc., this should comes to about $1000. All prices are form newegg.

 

[Muzzy]

Oops, mistake on memory. It should be $234, not $334!!!! Now you have more money either to upgrade the graphic card or the memory!!

 

[kormaster]

Thanks for the heads up Muzzy... im thinking now... should i RAID the HD??? I've been reading about the Special edition WD drive... people like it and since she needs a lot of CPU/VIDEO/HD power.... i wouldnt want to bottle neck it at the HD level... i never thought about that issue.. thanks for enphasizing that part... I think i will listen to you abou thte case... save little... and get little more out of HD.... anymore suggestions??

 

[SYL]

Perhaps a dual proc solution. If im not mistaken those are applications that will take advantage of the dual procs.

 

[Utterman]

Originally posted by: SYL
Perhaps a dual proc solution. If im not mistaken those are applications that will take advantage of the dual procs.

Dual processor's would be great for what she is doing.

I suggest the following from newegg:

Motherboard: TYAN MPX (S2466N) AMD-760 MPX - $225
Processors: 2x Athlon MP 1600+ (1.4Ghz each so 2.8Ghz total) - $266
RAM: 512 PC2100 DDR - $113
Video: Radeon 8500LE - $99 (This card performed comparably to the Nvidia Quadro video cards)
Case: what you want, just try to get a 400 watt PSU
Sound: Turtle Beach Santa Cruz - $64
HD: I would get the Western Digital Special Edition 80 gig - $120
CDRW - Lite-on Lite On 40X12X48 - $70
DVD: LITE-ON LTD-163 16X DVD ROM - $42

I think that is it. Everything, but the case comes to $929 shipped.

 

[kormaster]

hmm DUAL proc... eh?? suggesting the MPs??? But... the price will be little higher... and considering that on my AMD 1.33 w/ 256 crucial GF 2 Ultra... it took her 20-30 to render one of her files.... and she thought it was GREAT!!! NOw.... with her new system... i dont expect to cut the time in half or what not.. |(maybe) but to spend extra 200+ and saving 5+ minutes on a rendering time isnt a great investment... she will be upgrading again in 2 years.... again.. anyone should i believe...

 

[kormaster]

oh yeah BTW.. I found out that only "certain" progs support dual proc.... i think 3dmax or photoshop does.... now is that a good reason to?? how about vid card? and should i get more than 512 mem of DDR??? PC 2100 or higher???

 

[Utterman]

Originally posted by: kormaster
oh yeah BTW.. I found out that only "certain" progs support dual proc.... i think 3dmax or photoshop does.... now is that a good reason to?? how about vid card? and should i get more than 512 mem of DDR??? PC 2100 or higher???

A dual processor setup will off-load some of the work to the other processor so task can be done faster.

The ATI Radeon 8500 is a pretty good card for what she is doing. Another card would be one from Matrox.

With the memory, PC2100 has a 266mhz FSB, so you don't need any higher with a MP system. As far as RAM go, I would get 512 megs first, then if it uses all of then, then get another 512 meg stick.

 

[kormaster]

Motherboard: TYAN MPX (S2466N) AMD-760 MPX - $225
Processors: 2x Athlon MP 1600+ (1.4Ghz each so 2.8Ghz total) - $266

is that a good setup for MPs?

 

[julks]

Don't get nVidia based cards, they suck on image quality. Your sister don't need the fastest, just the image quality with some speed.
So, definitely get ATi Radeon 7500, that one will have enough speed for everything she is doing, and will make things look better!

Just my opinion, she is doing architecture, not gaming!

 

[amdskip]

definately go the dual processor route and load it up with 1024mb's of RAM

 

[kormaster]

Dual Processor it is then.. i've convince my sister that she will need it... single processor could do the job, but i trust you guys... most of you guys are saying go for dual.. so ok... i WILL do it. now...
What MOBO?
What CPU?
Which DDR mem?? does it matter if i get 4 256 sticks or 2 512 sticks?? clock speed on those?
How much power supply?? At least 400W??
Help me finalize all the items guys. Thanks. You guys have been a great help so far!

 

[human2k]

Dude..........She's getting a dell!