New PC (rig?) Input wanted.

[fatty4ksu]

A lil bit of gaming (madden, CS, HL2, but not nuts about FPS)


2 Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB
2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3250823AS 250GB Serial
Intel Pentium® 4 550 Processor Prescott 3.4GHz
Corsair TWINX2048-3200PRO 2048MB DDR400 XMS3200 ProSeries Memor 2GB
Antec NeoPower 480W Power Supply Retail
Asus P5AD2-E Premium 925XE P4 1066FSB
Audgiy 2
ATI Radeon X800 XL PCI Express 256MB
Antec P160 Anodized Aluminum
Subtotal: $2039.87

That's my budge. Around 1900-2200. This systme is for multitasking and video editing mainly. I need 2 GB, and I need lost of HD space, and a primary HD that is very fast.

I really want a better CPU..but there is really nothing better out now. (Not buying AMD, sh1tty multi-tasking, video editing)
I wonder if I should wait for dual-core...but the 955x's mobo are$$$$

 

[imported_Kensai]

Mmm. Fair enough.
I believe my to-be AMD system will kill yours in multitasking.

Tyan K8WE
Dual Opteron 275s (Dual, dual core chips)
etc. etc.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you're planning on RAID 0 the raptors, the performance gains are almost nothing vs a single one.

If you need a lot of space, I think you're better off getting another big storage drive instead of getting two raptors.

 

[ShadowBlade]

two raptors is sort of pointless
id reccomend
one 74GB raptor
2+ seagate barracudda 200GB

and as my standard, i reccomend AMD instead of intel

 

[Sensai]

umm... you might wanna rethink the memory dude... the 925x chipset and newer intel cpus require DDR-2... so depending on the brand, quality, and speed/timings ie DDR2-400/533/667 you wish to replace the twinx, it will most likely increase your subtotal.

also i know u said only video editing, but a VIVO card may be worth looking into...and maybe a nice HDTV tuner

 

[fatty4ksu]

I appreciated the replies (serioulsy, good job everyone)

1)You've all convinced me to only go w/one raptor. I just though raid-0 would be super-duper fantastic sweet.
2)I'm using a canopus advc-100 to capture, then the computer does the rest. So I need a computer w/great encoding times (INTEL>>>>AMD) and a sh1tload of ram (2gb)
3)Are you sure they require DDR2?? Damn..didn't know that. I suck.
Can someone link me a good 2X1gb ram module (dual channel)? (that works wit dat motherboard)

 

[Mrvile]

Still not gonna consider AMD? A good dual Opteron or FX machine will kill anything Intel has to offer.

 

[CptFarlow]

Everything is good now that you are getting only one raptor. Just one bit of advice. I have your processor, and it runs pretty hot. Obviously, an AMD with HT would be very good also.

I was planning on getting a heatsink from sidewinderpc.com which got awesome reviews, but I just went to look for it and it is nowhere to be found. Either way, sounds good.

Have fun with the new machine.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
I appreciated the replies (serioulsy, good job everyone)

1)You've all convinced me to only go w/one raptor. I just though raid-0 would be super-duper fantastic sweet.
2)I'm using a canopus advc-100 to capture, then the computer does the rest. So I need a computer w/great encoding times (INTEL>>>>AMD) and a sh1tload of ram (2gb)
3)Are you sure they require DDR2?? Damn..didn't know that. I suck.
Can someone link me a good 2X1gb ram module (dual channel)? (that works wit dat motherboard)

I almost always recommend A64, but I agree that if this is going to be a dedicated video editing rig, then Intel is a very good option.

I wish I could help you more on the ram, but as an AMD guy I wouldn't know what to say.

 

[fatty4ksu]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Still not gonna consider AMD? A good dual Opteron or FX machine will kill anything Intel has to offer.

Even in encoding? Remember, I have to keep it under 2200. And I know that a p4 3.4 will beat even an FX in encoding. (I think at least)

BTW: My current COMP is a newcastle 3000+ 64. It's fast for my games (I went from 8K 2001 marks w/my p4 1.8 GHZ to 14K w/the new CPU (geforce 4 ti4600) but I notice it isn't doing as well w/multitasking than my 1.8 GHZ.

 

[fatty4ksu]

BTW: How hard is it to install a new CPU cooler over a retail CPU? This scenario scares the sh1t outta me.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
BTW: How hard is it to install a new CPU cooler over a retail CPU? This scenario scares the sh1t outta me.

Depending on the cooler, some are far easier to install than retail ones.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Still not gonna consider AMD? A good dual Opteron or FX machine will kill anything Intel has to offer.

Even in encoding? Remember, I have to keep it under 2200. And I know that a p4 3.4 will beat even an FX in encoding. (I think at least)

BTW: My current COMP is a newcastle 3000+ 64. It's fast for my games (I went from 8K 2001 marks w/my p4 1.8 GHZ to 14K w/the new CPU (geforce 4 ti4600) but I notice it isn't doing as well w/multitasking than my 1.8 GHZ.

Yeah, at video conversion type stuff, Intel shines.

Have you thought about just getting a really fast A64 to put in your current rig? Does this need to be a dedicated rig? Getting a 4000+ A64 would be cheaper than getting a whole new Intel rig and you'd get similar performance.

 

[fatty4ksu]

current system

A64 3000+ (newcaslte) It idles at 42 C and load at 52 C (kinda hott)
ti 4600 geforce 4 (Good at it's time...VERY old now)
turtle beach sound card
512 single channel ram (need dual)
msi neoV8 mobo (doesn't support 2 different sata set-ups)
80 gb ide
160 gb ide
sh1tty case.

I could use a full updgrade. (I encode kstate football games..I need to do a perfect job, my current system REALLY hampers the job I do)