New build questions

[sammee p]

Hi everyone, my first post so please be gentle with the noob!
I'm about to start building my first PC from scratch (will be ordering the parts next week) and I need a little bit of advice. First, some details:


1. PC will be used primarily for photo/video editing with CS4 suite, plus occasionally watching TV and movies. Not a gaming machine.

2. My budget is around AU$2500

3. Buying parts from Australia, mate

4. I like Intel

5. No legacy parts

6. Yep, had a look around the forums

7. No overclocking

8. Building this month

Now we've got that out of the way, my proposed system is this:
Intel i7 920
Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P mobo
6GB Patriot PC3-12800 DDR3
WD Caviar black 1TB HDD
Sapphire Radeon HD4890 GPU
BenQ G2412HD 24" LCD
Compro VideoMate Vista T500F PCI tv tuner
Antec nine hundred two case
Corsair TX-650 PSU
LG SATA DVDRW optical
3.5" multi card reader

I'll be looking to add to this in 12-24 months a blu-ray writer and SSD for the operating system, but don't see much point right now while the aussie prices are steep!

Now, firstly I'm a bit stumped when it comes to working out what PSU I need. I did think about posting this in the PSU forum but figure it's probably gonna go off topic anyway so I'd leave it here. The comments I've read vary wildly, some saying I need 1000w and others saying 400w is enough! Obviously, I don't want something too big. The corsair range looks nice to me which is why I was thinking of the TX-650. Is this a good choice? I don't know how to work out what each component is going to draw (especially the case, with it's 3 fans). How do I figure it out?

Second question- considering I'm not overclocking, and won't have the computer on 24/7, is the stock CPU cooler OK or do I really need an aftermarket one?

Feel free to tear my build plan to bits, I've never done this before and was going on Ars Technica's guide and some comments on the Bleeding Edge forum. Oh if only this was as easy as building rally cars lol.....

 

[Lunyone]

That is a pretty solid build there. The Corsair 650tx PSU is perfect for what you have. You CAN run on the Corsair 400cx PSU, but it'll limit your upgrade paths and it only comes with 1 x 6 pin PCI-e power connector, which you need 2 x 6 pin PCI-e power connectors for your 4890 GPU.
If you want to save some $ and still get a good case, I'd consider the Cooler Master 690 case. It runs about $40 less than the Antec 900 II case that you selected here in the U.S., not sure what difference you see in AU.

 

[sammee p]

Thanks for the quick reply I'll lock that PSU choice in! Case looks nice, I'll see if I can find one locally.
Any thoughts on whether I need a better cooler?

 

[Lunyone]

Under normal situations you won't need a different cooler. Now if your going for something quieter, than you might consider getting a different CPU cooler. Personally I'd just put the system together and see if the system is quiet enough for your tastes. If it seems a bit noisy than buy what you need. This way you can possibly save some $ now and if you need something later, you can narrow down what parts that your going to need to get quieter. you might find that the GPU might be the loudest part in the system and getting a different CPU cooler won't make any noise difference in the system.

 

[bendixG15]

Video editing boxes usually have 2 or more hard drives. Lessons the chance of dropped frames and speeds up the editing and writing (read from one drive and write to the other).

 

[sammee p]

@bendixG15 Good tip- I might grab another Caviar Black, they weren't that expensive.

Many thanks for the tips guys- I decided to go with the stock cooler. My parts arrived on Tuesday so I've spent the last couple of evenings putting it all together. I'm pretty much ready to fire it up
One last noob question though..... The manual that came with the GPU was pathetic! It has a 8 pin socket for a PCIe power connector, plus another 6 pin socket. Am I meant to use both, and take the extra 2 pins off a PCIe power connector and connect the remaining 6 to the GPU? Sounds stupid I know, but I just wanted to check before I plugged it in!

 

[brblx]

yes, 8pin and 6pin must be connected. i'm guessing you bought the 650TX? newegg says it has 2x6+2, which means it uses two 6pin connectors with extra pieces that snap on to make 8pin, if needed. you need to use one as an 8pin and snap the bit off the other and just let it hang (or zip tie it if it's long. whatever.).

seems silly to me, but that's the way they've designed it. you would think a minimum or 6 ground wires and 4 power wires with 2x6 would be ample power.

 

[sammee p]

@brblx Yep, I got the 650TX Seems a quality piece of kit, too. Thanks for the tip, I'm glad I was sort of on the right track, just need to grow some balls in future and give it a go!