new intel computer on a decent budget see inside(updated)

[Wolfsraider]

Ok here is the deal

income tax returns are better than expected

I want to build a computer with a $3400.00 budget.

I want to go intel only please.

I want to know what you guys think would be a "best all around system" for editing video, serving games (while playing them too lol), music creation,burning cd's,etc...

ide vs scsi what setup ie drives (# of)raid (level)

I would like to host a websit also,personal that is.

i have a 21 inch monitor and that is the only piece i'm considering leaving with the new system,maybe.

what would you build for an all out computer in this budget?


thanks for any\all advice

 

[Amused]

Antec SX1040
Asus P4T-E
P4 2.2A
1GB Samsung RDRAM
Gainward GF4 Ti4600 or All in Wonder Radeon (this depends on how important gaming is to you. If gaming is king, than the GF4. If editing is king, get the All in Wonder)
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Adaptec 29160 SCSI card
Seagate 36 GB X-15 drive SCSI (for windows, apps, and currect projects)
WD 120GB "Special edition" 8 MB buffer IDE (for storage and backup)
Plextor 40X CD/RW
Pioneer slot load DVD
Firewire card
Nic
And if you got some left over, a Sony 24" widescreen monitor.

I have this system (except for the SCSI, and I have a 2.0A P4) and it rocks

 

[Daovonnaex]

Are you overclocking? If so, ABIT TH7II-RAID. If not, Asus P4T-E (and even the P4T-E is a good overclocker, just not AS good as the TH7II). With that budget, I'd go with two 15k SCSI drives in RAID 0, either Fujitsu MAM or Seagate X15-36LP depending on what you're planning to do.

 

[Amused]

SCSI RAID is nice. But a good SCSI RAID card is close to a grand. I say stick with one SCSI drive, and use a fast IDE drive for strorage and backup

 

[Wolfsraider]

see below

 

[Wolfsraider]

see below

 

[Athlon4all]

AmusedOne pretty much summed up my thoughts, except for:

1.Get Abit TH7II instead of P4T-E
2. forget CD-RW+DVD, get a DVD+RW drive.

Otherwise his setup looks great

 

[Wolfsraider]

ok try this on for size and let me know please good or bad what you like dislike and why.

using googlegear for price checks,may go other places but they list everything there.

antec sx 1040b 126.99
p-4 2.2 gig northwood 541.00
th7II motherboard 151.45
512 ram add another 512 (@2x256) later or should i go ahead and do 1 gig? 164.00/328.00 (512/1 gig)
ati aiw radeon 8500 338.95
sb audigy (using for example, they dont carry santa cruz and in reality i'll use sblive till i get better) 63.50
toshiba dvd ram (not sure if dvdrw but hopefully yall can straighten out a hick lol) 399.00
adaptec 2100s raid card 374.99
seagate x-15 36lp 68 pin 36.7 gig drives (x2) 939.98
western digital wd 1000bb special edition 226.99
total 3326.85
shipping using 2 day =155.00

grand total =3481.85

ok now your comments

 

[Amused]

I'm an Asus fan, so I can't suggest Abit. I've had one bad experience with Abit, but none with Asus.

I'm clueless about DVD/RW, sorry The Lite-On has been rumored to have the ability to copy what the others wont. But I'm a very strong anti-piracy advocate, so we wont go there

The 2100 S gives the same, or worse performance than a single drive. A good SCSI RAID card will be close to, if not over a grand. A single 36 GB X-15 Seagate will SCREAM, and be fine for what you need. I've never seen an OS+apps+a current project take up more than 36GBs.

The WD1000BB special edition is nice (I own 4) but the WD1200JB is faster, and better. I'd spend the few dollors more and get that.

After more than a few bad experiences with SB products, I can NOT suggest them. If SB is your only choice, I would order a TB Santa Cruz separately and install it yourself.

Wait on the 1GB of RAM. I have 1GB but only because it was given to me. Had I bought it, I would have gone with 512MB. Like I said, if you want 1GB later, you can pick it up cheaper (the prices on RDRAM are slowly dropping) and it's easy to install.

The money you'll save on the extra x15 and RAM is almost enough to buy a widescreen Sony 24" monitor. Trust me, you'll enjoy that a LOT more than superfluous SCSI HDDs and RAM

 

[Wolfsraider]

wow thanks AmusedOne


The Lite-On has been rumored to have the ability to copy what the others wont.

mine wont copy any games but will copy cd's but i am worried that i won't be able to copy video cd's that i make from camcorder cd to cd ?

The 2100 S gives the same, or worse performance than a single drive. A good SCSI RAID card will be close to, if not over a grand. A single 36 GB X-15 Seagate will SCREAM, and be fine for what you need. I've never seen an OS+apps+a current project take up more than 36GBs.


ouch, guess i needed to hear that

After more than a few bad experiences with SB products, I can NOT suggest them. If SB is your only choice, I would order a TB Santa Cruz separately and install it yourself

yep me too really BAD but after them i want to SEE sound card performance before i Buy anything else once bitten twice shy lol


the money i save going only 1 scsi drive makes up for the ram thanks


The money you'll save on the extra x15 and RAM is almost enough to buy a widescreen Sony 24" monitor. Trust me, you'll enjoy that a LOT more than superfluous SCSI HDDs and RAM

must be a sweet monitor so i guess i'm headed to check her out

 

[Athlon4all]

Well, I am going to note that DVD-RAM cannot go into any drive except for a DVD-RAM. In other words, you can't even put a DVD-RAM disc in a DVD drive. DVD+RW is what has been shipping in some PC's. It I believe is very similar to a CD-RW in functionality, and it from what I understand, has the best compatibility with DVD players and DVD Drives so I would only get a DVD+RW.

I personally, would get a LCD/Huge monitor rather than a X15 RAID 0+1 setup+1Gig of RDRAM.

 

[chasem]

Well, You like spendning money i suppose.
Dont throw away all that money. you could have a kickin system for like 2700$

seagate x-15 36lp 68 pin 36.7 gig drives (x2) 939.98

How can you justify 500 extra $ for that extra drive. You really dont need it. get 2 120 gigs if you just want too spend money.

adaptec 2100s raid card 374.99

Your going to put those in raid0? I wouldnt touch raid0 with a 10 foot pole.
just get a scsi card and one boot drive.

toshiba dvd ram (not sure if dvdrw but hopefully yall can straighten out a hick lol) 399.00

Now, that is purly throwing money away. Why would you want a dvdram? Only your dvdram can read it. Do you need that much removable storage?

You've got a huuuuggee budget, doesnt mean you have to spend it all.


How can you justify 400$ for a removable 5 gig media drive. with disks like 10 bux each.

 

[Wolfsraider]

so you are saying :
#1

1Pentium4 Processor 2.2GHz, 400MHz FSB, Socket 478 Retail

2Samsung Original Rambus 256MB 800MHz 16-Device Memory

2 Seagate Cheetah X15 36LP ST336752LW 36.7GB 68pin 15k RPM 3.7MS Ultra160 SCSI Hard Drive

1Adaptec 3210S 2 Channel 64Bit Controller Card Retail

1ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon 8500DV 64MB DDR Video Card w/DVI, Video in & Video out Retail

1Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy X-Gamer Sound Card Retail

1Abit TH7II i850 P4 Skt478 RDRAM ATX Motherboard w/Audio Retail

1Western Digital Caviar WD1200JB (WD1200BB Special Edition) 120GB EIDE ATA/100 7200RPM HardDrive w/8MB Buffer


but case and power supply bought else where (and dvd-rw over budget but may look at getting it anyway)

or this:
#2

1 Pentium4 Processor 2.2GHz, 400MHz FSB, Socket 478 Retail

2Samsung Original Rambus 256MB 800MHz 16-Device Memory

1ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon 8500DV 64MB DDR Video Card w/DVI, Video in & Video out Retail

1Western Digital Caviar WD1200JB (WD1200BB Special Edition) 120GB EIDE ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer

1Abit TH7 II-Raid i850 P4 Skt478 RDRAM ATX Motherboard w/Audio Retail

1NEC MultiSync LCD1830 18in LCD Monitor

1Seagate Cheetah X15 36LP ST318452LC 18.4GB 3.7MS Ultra 160 SCSI 15000RPM 80Pins Hard Drive

1Antec SX1040B SOHO File Mid-Tower Server Case (Black)

1Adaptec SCSI Card 29160

1Plextor 24/10/40A PX-W2410TA/SW EIDE CD-RW Drive Retail

1Pioneer 16x DVD 40x CD, EIDE, slot load, internal, DVD-106S


this last one comes out in budget

the first one about 200.00 over wow but $1,899.00 for a sony lol i'd rather go scsi no offense meant but dang thats a lot of money lol= not including shipping but did find a place charging 35.00 next day air?

you still recomend solution #2?

 

[Athlon4all]

<< I wouldnt touch raid0 with a 10 foot pole. >>

I would if I could get RAID 0+1 but RAID 0 alone.....NO WAY!!!

 

[Wolfsraider]

chasem good points

Dont throw away all that money. you could have a kickin system for like 2700$

what would you suggest?

 

[Wolfsraider]

i would rather skimp on sound and such than skimp on hardware

i would really like to go scsi 0+1 but don't know the requirements anybody?

if i knew the layout on scsi for raid 0+1 ie how many drives are needed or for raid 0+5 then i could at least rule this out.

i am happy with the monitor i have as it is a 21 inch and better than i have seen at stores lcd?
not sure yet if i want to go that route as i love my graphics.

 

[Daovonnaex]

You need four drives for RAID 0+1.

 

[Wolfsraider]

thanks Daovonnaex You need four drives for RAID 0+1

just what i needed to know

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< thanks Daovonnaex You need four drives for RAID 0+1

just what i needed to know >>

SCSI RAID is psychotically expensive, it's pretty much outside of your budget. SCSI and IDE-RAID might work for you.

 

[Goosemaster]

FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THE HOT SOUNTHERN AMERICAN CHICKS DO NOT GET THE ADPATEC RAID CARD IT JUST PLAIN SUCKS ASS!! TRUST ME I KNOW!!!!


Sorry about that, just wanted to make sure you knew that. For you information, the seagate 18-36lp can transfer at 70MB/s SUTAINED, way more than you will EVER Need. Video editing will only use about 6Mbits at max, and games aren't bad to host either.


Get a SCSI REGARDLESS OF WHAT SYSTEM you will get It will only have the OS on it and scsi's rapid access times will make your general experience quicker...in the OS... where you most notice it. and get the 40x plextor. It can do safedisc..actually ANYTHING can with the new version of cdrwin..or is that Clone cd..hmm.

Again, please do NOT blow your money on the adaptec. Search the forums and you will see how BAD it really is. I would only recommend it for display puposes only..even then it is too much to have just to laugh at.

My recommendations:

SCSI os drive(check out my system..I'm poor so SHADAPPP. I saved up for those badbiys
IDE fatass Storage drive. 100GB min.


Accessdtv HDTV card(haas both analog and HDTV tunners and can record live to mpeg2 in hardware) Has vga, svideo and component out(i am not sure about the last one) has inputs as well. ACCESSDTV.com


Geforce 4600 tibadass
YOu get the fastest grpahics this way and have video taken care of withthe other card.

WHat do you want to hook you comp to for sound. If you have a NICE stereo. Get a Delta AUdio card. Mops the floor with audigy and anything else shy of Real professional stuff. It is the sannitary medium between consumer and expensivve as hell.

Finally, get a matrox dual head card, and a 15inch flatpannel for display statistics............temps, windows media video thingys etc.


have fun!!

and DO NOT GET HE ADAPTEC RAID CARD> THE CHEETAHS WILL OBLITERATE YOUR DEFINITION OF FAST ONCE YOU USE THEM .ADAPTEC IS GOOD>>THIS CARD JUST SUCKS>

 

[Amused]

<<

<< thanks Daovonnaex You need four drives for RAID 0+1

just what i needed to know >>

SCSI RAID is psychotically expensive, it's pretty much outside of your budget. SCSI and IDE-RAID might work for you. >>



If he goes SCSI, the IDE will be for backup and storage. I wouldn't RAID a backup/storage drive, unless it was RAID 1 or 0+1 or 5. Even still, that's a huge waste of money.

Besides, isn't running both an IDE RAID controller and SCSI card difficult?

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< I wouldn't RAID a backup/storage drive, unless it was RAID 1 or 0+1 or 5. Even still, that's a huge waste of money. >>


Actually, I'm running RAID 0 for my main drives and RAID 5 for my backups (on my stationary northwood system).

Besides, isn't running both an IDE RAID controller and SCSI card difficult?[/i] >>

 

[FishTankX]

Try this.

P4DC6+ (Super micro onboard SCSI i860 chipset) + 2X2.0GHZ Xeon (1300$ a combo from an online vendor)
Cheetah X15 36LP 500$?
100GB WD (Non 8MB version) 7200 RPM harddrive. 300$?
Geforce4 4600 400$
An SMP compatible sound card 100$ and under
Nice 21inch monitor (Maybe later a second, Dual head, anyone?) 900$
With 8 RIMM slots load it up with 2X256 now and have *PLENTY!!!* of room later for upgrade.
And whatever else you want. That's the bear bones.

Pros:SCREAMIN!!!! Dually creamy goodness. Downgrade to 1.8GHZ P4's and knock off 300$
Cons:Uh... all your Socket603 processors are belong to us. (I.E. Limited upgradability)

You will *NOT* beat the overall power of the Dual Xeon platform anytime soon. No way. Dual AthlonMP 1900+'s are OK but this is intel here, your trusted compatible friend.

Does it agree with your budget? The calc is disabled over here.. (Drat) Oh, BTW, a nice extra is a 550 watt power supply. Agreeable, yes? only 150$... enermax.)

Stuff all of this in a slammin case. A bit toasty (About as toasty as a dual 1GHZ Athlon) but oh so nice!
Mmm.. dually goodness..

 

[FishTankX]

Excuse me, i'm sorry.

The IWILL board has 8 RIMM slots with an expansion card.
The Super micro board is still a fine choice.

Anyone think the dually Prestonia is any good?

 

[Wolfsraider]

antec sx1040B case

Abit TH7 II-Raid i850 P4 Skt478 RDRAM ATX Motherboard w/Audio Retail

Intel(R) Pentium(R)4 Processor (Northwood) 2.2GHz, 400MHz FSB, Socket 478 (No Memory) Retail

Adaptec SCSI Card 29160

Samsung Original Rambus 256MB 800MHz 16-Device Memory = x4

Seagate Cheetah X15 36LP ST336752LW 36.7GB 68pin 15k RPM 3.7MS Ultra160 SCSI Hard Drive
boot / os drive

Western Digital Caviar WD1200JB (WD1200BB Special Edition) 120GB EIDE ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer =x2

Plextor 24/10/40A PX-W2410TA/SW EIDE CD-RW Drive Retail

Pioneer 16x DVD 40x CD, EIDE, slot load, internal, DVD-106S

ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon 8500DV 64MB DDR Video Card w/DVI, Video in & Video out Retail
but probably use radeon aiw wonder(old system) till r-300

Subtotal: $2740.30 @googlegear


640.00 left over to um upgrade later lol

now is this about right?