Need Help for Computer Upgradation

[mumbaindude]

Hi, I am a ballet dancer/choreographer and wish very much to create my own high quality showreel DVDs

and demo CD's... (I'm also a game freak, though I am sure both purposes require the same sort of

configuration)...

I am upgrading the following configuration mainly out of the need for a faster and more efficient processing of

videos and video editing with applications like Adobe Premiere Pro and WinDVD Creator.

Current Configuration:
Mother Board - Intel Original D850MV
Processor - Intel P4 1.6 Ghz
Ram - 512MB RD Ram
Video Card - GeForce2 MX 64MB
HD - 80 GB + 160 Seria ATA
CD Rom - LG 52x Rom
CD RW - LG 48x-52x-48x
Cabinet - No name brand, 300 watt power supply and 2 fans...

PLEASE HELP ME OUT!!! I am boggled by all the various combos; I went to a somewhat reliable computer

dealer and he gave me the following choices of configurations:

Proposed Configurations:
Mother Board - Asus P4 C800 Deluxe OR Asus K8V Deluxe
Processor - Intel P4 3.0 Ghz OR AMD Athalon 3.0 Ghz
Ram - 512MB DDR 400 x 2 = 1 GB
Video Card - ATI (Club 3D) Radeon 9800XT 256 MB
HD - 120 Serial ATA + 120 Serial ATA
CD Rom - Sony DVD Rom 16x
CD RW - Sony DVD RW 8xDVDRW-40xCDRW-16xDVDRead-48xCDRead
Firewire - Included on the mother board(s)
Video Capture - Plexior ConvertX
Cabinet - Amtec SLR 3700

I already have a LAN and Modem, and the two motherboards have on-board Firewire and LAN...

Sooooooooooooooooooo... WHAT DO I DO??? I've always been told to trust only Intel Originals, but he said

that AMD offers higher performance at lower cost... which I countered with the argument that Intel doesn't

overheat and there is a much smaller chance of CPU burn-out. I am so totally confounded, and I am trying my

best to understand everything that I am getting into.

Taking into account the reason for which I need this computer upgrade, could anyone here fill me in on what it

is I should be looking for? Is the configuration that the wholesaler gave me what I need? Should I be looking

for something else? Will this heavy duty purchase be the answer to what I NEED???

PLEASE HELP ME,
Confounded...

P.S. Thanks in advance to the kind soul(s) who help me... )

 

[mechBgon]

Those are both good options he put together. The 9800XT video card is a lot more powerful (and expensive) than you'll need for your purposes, although it would be commensurate to the level of the rest of the computer and well-suited to a gamer. So you might save yourself quite a bit of money by moving down to a Radeon 9200 or something. But if you want to play HalfLife2 and Doom3 too, then the 9800XT is going to be far more satisfactory for that.

AMD is a very good option. The Athlon64 3000+ that he mentioned runs at 2.0GHz and competes with 3GHz+ Intel processors. It produces less heat than current-generation Intel processors and is not any more prone to burnout either. You might want to give it serious consideration. I have one myself. The Intel setup would also be good for what you've got in mind.

The case, I'm guessing that's the Antec SLK3700AMB? You can see one in all stages of disassembly if you click the Photo Guide link in my signature. I like them, easy to work with and pretty good ventilation/expansion/appearance If you do end up with the Intel setup, then pay a little extra and have him install a 400W-450W Antec or Enermax power supply, because the current Prescott-core Intel Pentium4's have a real appetite for electricity, and I don't like seeing stuff run at redline if it's going to be owned for a long time (I'm crazy that way ).

So anyway, it looks like a suitable setup either way. You could even order the parts from Newegg and build it yourself, it's not difficult since they're so modular. Check out my photo guide My one advice: do not buy a SATA drive if you're building it yourself, they're more hassle during setup on most motherboards. Regular ATA/100 or ATA/133 drives are the way to go if you're a first-timer.

Hope that helps Welcome to the Forums.