Need help with tough customer

[EQTitan]

I have a customer that has requested something I am not really sure how to build as I have never had to build this type of machine before. Aside from the components he has already listed what would be a good setup. Not really sure which way to go on the video conversion.

What the customer is asking for:
Gaming: Medal Of Honor Air Borne, Call of Duty 4
CADD: Microstation with dual monitor configuration, also running 3D rendering software.
Video editing: convert VHS video tape to DVD.
Operating software: Windows XP Pro.
Other software: Microsoft office 2003, Virus and spyware protection, registery mechanic and software to do the video converting.

built in multicard reader, sound card, Dual 19" CRT monitors and a floppy drive.

My thoughts:
Opteron
mid-high end quadro series card, maybe in SLi.
2-4Gb DDR2
Not sure on board
500GB Sata2
450w-550w PSU

 

[MarcVenice]

Opteron ? You kidding ? q6600 or q9450 all the way.

It's hard to say, but a 'regular' gaming card with 512mb might do the trick for his CAD needs as well. Not sure what is needed for VHS to DVD though, probably should ask on the video cards forum ? Definately 4gb of ram. 500w PSU should be plenty. Most p35 chipsets will be fine, probably better to go with something like a asus p5k-e or abit ip35 pro, for firewire/esata/wifi. Case, p182

Biggest question is the videocard. A decent 512mb firegl card costs 500$. A 9600gt 512mb costs 150$. Also kind of depends on his budget.

 

[EQTitan]

Spoke with sub. again he said they are only schematics which do not require alot of power to veiw but he is interested in gaming from the same rig....

This is what I tossed together:

Case : COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
PSU : ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT ATX12V 500W Power Supply - Retail
M/B : ABIT IP35-E LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
CPU : Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail
Memory : CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX - Retail
Video : EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
HDD : Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Media : SUPER TALENT INT-AIN1-C All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader - Retail
Floppy : SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
DVD/RW : SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM

I would imagine some sort of input from a VCR should do the trick it's just a matter of software to encode the VHS to digital...

 

[MarcVenice]

Are you ordering somewhere ? Or is it from your own shop ? The enermax liberty's have been throwing sparks at people more often then is healthy for a good PSU. I'd get something different, like a earthwatts 500w, corsair 450/550vx, etc.

Coolermaster case is a bit 'blingy', once again I say P182, nice and quiet, especially if it's also a important workstation. Or consider the antec sonata III, with the earthwatts 500w psu it's a very good deal.

E6600 = bad, better to get a e6750, e6850, e8400 or q6600. q6600 would probably help LOADS in his CAD work btw as well as video conversion.

4gb of ram, it's cheap, so why not, and once again I think he will benefit from it ? I know newegg is selling 2x2gb kits for as cheap as 60$ AR or 85$ without rebates.

Better to get a 8800gt or 9600gt if you need to cut some corners, because those cards offer the best bang for buck, better then the 8800gts 512mb. Or get the 8800gts 512mb from MSI, for 220$ AR.

No need for floppy disks these days. We got dvds, usb sticks and what not.

 

[EQTitan]

Sub. is requesting a floppy and I don't argue unless I see fit.

The CAD stuff is only schematics it nothing that needs 100% video power he won't be rendering anything major. Just trying to make a good first impression to get more business.

Unfortunately at this time I'm working from home trying to get my home based shop off the ground.



I don't like the 500w 17A on the 12v rails for the Antec SIII

 

[MarcVenice]

The e6600 would still be a bad pick though. And what is it you don't like about 17a on the 12v rails ? It will power any rig with a single videocard just fine. What your customer won't like is a PSU that starts throwing sparks at him after 1-2 years. Check the PSU forum, do a search on enermax. Do a google search too. Those liberty units die way to often. Anywaysm hope those other suggestions helped. Good luck with the build.

 

[heyheybooboo]

HP xw4600 Workstation $1,400 - costs less with XP Pro

e6850 - 4gb ecc ram - 250gb SATAII

You add the vid card, floppy, etc., get paid for your 'value added' services and leave the majority warranty services to your friends at HP for 3 years

I doubt MicroStation will truly run multiple threads in parallell but you may want to ask about the video software they plan on using. Quads may well be an 'overshot'.

For a firewire capture device add $250. For a 'base' USB capture device add $75.

 

[EQTitan]

This is what I currently have, being that his main concern is gaming not the schematics. He won't tell me his budget which is a surprise...

Quote #1
Case : Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply
M/B : ABIT Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU : Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz Quad-Core
Memory : G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit
Video : EVGA 512-P3-N862-AR GeForce 9600GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit
HDD : Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Media : SUPER TALENT INT-AIN1-C All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader
Floppy : SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy
DVD/RW : SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner
OS - Windows XP Pro 32 bit

Total with labor : $1049.99

heyhey, what sort of capture do you have in mind?

 

[heyheybooboo]

For firewire a Canopus ADVC model 55 or model 110 works with a bunch of software - you would need to purchase a firewire card or upgrade to the IP35 Pro.

The woods are full of usb capture devices. Some are really cheap (and known for dropping frames, screwing up sync and not playing well with software) and others come with 'SE' versions of software.

The Egg has a ADS Xpress which works pretty good but I think you have to use their proprietary capture software. You could then open the captured video in the preferred editing software.

The difference with the Canopus firewire units - your video editing software recognizes the unit and you may directly capture the content with the program.

You need to pay attention as to the analog/digital. Some units do analog - some do digital - and some do both analog/digital.

VHS will be analog capture. I think the ADS usb device is analog only. If yer guy may be purchasing (or owns) a digital video camera/camcorder you may want to verify that the capture device will do analog/digital so he won't get stuck ... and blame you

 

[MarcVenice]

If gaming is his main concern, a faster clocked dual would be better imo. A e8400 or e3110. If gaming is his main concern, you could step up the videocard to a 8800gts 512mb ? Or at least get this 9600gt, it's cheaper and faster then the EVGA you picked: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127332

Anyways, looking pretty good right now. Just 1 thing though, Vista is better then XP nowadays. Vista 64x can use 4gb of ram. So unless he insisted on XP, I'd buy Vista 64x instead.

 

[bamacre]

May want to look into this memory...
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=40&threadid=2116041

Hard to beat $64 + ship for 4GB DDR2-800.

Unless you are overclocking, I'd look into an Intel motherboard. Definitely not Abit, if for one reason, customer support.

Good deal on 500GB Seagate...
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4697788