Newbie computer build

[orgman15]

Hello. I am new to computer building but I want to put together something that can handle some amateur video editing and light gaming.
I have chosen some components already but don't know which processor to go with and what motherboards suit the processors listed below.
I would like some advice on whether to go with the P4 or AMD64 and what Motherboards to get for each of those processors.
Also some advice on a good value 'bang for buck' video card.

The prices listed are about what I can afford so please advise off these. i.e. I don't want to pay AUD$300 for a motherboard
All these prices are in Australian dollars quoted from Australian online sellers.


CPU

Intel
P4 3.0GHz 800FSB retail box $299

AMD
ATHLON 64 3000+ retail box $264


Mother Board

For Intel
??????

For AMD
??????


HDD

Seagate Serial ATA 7200RPM 160GB $175


RAM

CORSAIR 512meg Value Select DDR400 $142


Optical Drives


CDR-RW/DVD-ROM
LiteON COMBO 52x32x52x 16x DVD $69
Model SOHC-5232K


DVD Burner
LiteON 8x DVD± R/RW DL DVD Burner $148
Model: SOHW-832S

Case

COOLER MASTER CENTURION V $129
CAC-T05 SILVER w/350W PSU

 

[Sonic587]

Welcome to AT!

First off, here's a bunch of questions to ponder: What programs will you be using for video editing? Do you care about 64-bits? Do you want more FPS in gaming or faster video editing times?


For the A64 I'd suggest either this Chaintech or this Epox. I don't know if they'd have them in AUS, though.

Good bang for the buck videocards:

~US$100 - Geforce 4 TI4XXX series/Radeon 9500/9600 series

~US$200 - Radeon 9800 pro

~US$300 - Geforce 6800

~US$400 - Geforce 6800GT

 

[compfreak999]

Originally posted by: orgman15
Hello. I am new to computer building but I want to put together something that can handle some amateur video editing and light gaming.
I have chosen some components already but don't know which processor to go with and what motherboards suit the processors listed below.
I would like some advice on whether to go with the P4 or AMD64 and what Motherboards to get for each of those processors.
Also some advice on a good value 'bang for buck' video card.

The prices listed are about what I can afford so please advise off these. i.e. I don't want to pay AUD$300 for a motherboard
All these prices are in Australian dollars quoted from Australian online sellers.


CPU

Intel
P4 3.0GHz 800FSB retail box $299

AMD
ATHLON 64 3000+ retail box $264


Mother Board

For Intel
??????

For AMD
??????


HDD

Seagate Serial ATA 7200RPM 160GB $175


RAM

CORSAIR 512meg Value Select DDR400 $142


Optical Drives


CDR-RW/DVD-ROM
LiteON COMBO 52x32x52x 16x DVD $69
Model SOHC-5232K


DVD Burner
LiteON 8x DVD± R/RW DL DVD Burner $148
Model: SOHW-832S

Case

COOLER MASTER CENTURION V $129
CAC-T05 SILVER w/350W PSU

lot of your stuff is overpriced, the intel cpu is way overpriced, and the seagate hard drive is also overpriced.

 

[orgman15]

Thanks for the comments.

These prices are in Australian dollars remember.

US dollars are about 0.7 of Australian dollars so the AUD$299 P4 is about US$210.

Is that too much?

 

[Gurck]

Currency differences aside, most any p4 is too much. I speak from experience on this (see 'Main Rig' ). Typically AMD processors have been faster in gaming and cheaper, while Intel processors have been faster in multimedia editing. A64s are better at both and cheaper though. For the hard drive I'd go with a big IDE. SATA drives are only marginally faster, but cost much more. Hard drives aren't bottlenecks in video editing or in gaming (used only when loading a level) so it's not of utmost importance, especially with such a slight speed difference. I personally stay away from Lite-On optical drives, after having to RMA one (and the replacement is still loud as a jet engine, though it at least works, unlike the first one) and reading about other ATers having problems with them. Many ATers have also had problems with MSI motherboards, may want to take that into consideration - you can do a search to see what I'm talking about. I prefer Asus mainboards, but Abit and DFI are two other big hits with builders. You didn't list a video card and/or what your definition of light gaming is. You'd have to be more specific to get a suggestion there; video cards can be the most expensive part in a pc and have a big range of price/performance, depending on what you want to do with one.

 

[orgman15]

Thanks Gurck. That is some good advice. I will be using it when building my system.

The AMD64 are not the much cheaper here in Australia.

For example: AMD64 2800 is $245 while P4 2.8GHz is $260.

 

[Bovinicus]

All in all you have some pretty good selections for the listed items.

I think the Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB is a good bang for the buck video card for under $200 USD. However, the GeForce 6600 is looking even better; it just isn't available with an AGP interface yet. For an even cheaper card, go with the Radeon 9600 Pro. Good for under $150 USD. Don't go with anything weaker, or you'll just be hindering the system too much.

For AMD, go with the nForce 250Gb chipset. Find the cheapest motherboard from a trusted manufacturer that supports all the features you need and go with it. Most motherboards using the same chipset vary in performance only in negligible amounts.

For Intel, go with the cheapset Intel chipset you can find. SiS has cheaper viable alternatives if you can't afford the Intel name, but Intel chipset reliability/compatibility is still superb. Again, find the cheapest motherboard from a trusted manufacturer that supports all the features you need and go with it.