This will be Fun:Please HELP a Rookie:

[Bedlamite]

This will be Fun: Please help a Rookie out:

Hello everyone,
I?m really new to all of this so your help is greatly appreciated! I am building this rig for video editing and other highly demanding process. I have only ordered the Case and would like to know what you all think about this setup before I order everything else?

--ANTEC SX1040B
--ENERMAX EG651P-VE (FMA). 550W Power
--SOYO DRAGON+ Plus
--AMD XP 1900+/266
--ALPHA PAL8045U
--1536MB 184-pin DIMM (X3)
--Teac 1.44MB Black Floppy Drive
--2-WD1000JB SE- (Raid 1setup?)
--Lite-On 32x12x40 CDRW Model LTR-32123S
--Lite-On 16x DVD Model LTD-16301 or Pioneer slot load? (I can?t decide!)
--ATI ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON 8500DV 64MB DDR AGP-RETAIL

Cables:
1-Round Floppy drive cable.

Other:
--Microsoft Intelli-Mouse Optical
--Logitech''s THX certified Z560 4.1
--Heatspreader / Heatsink for DDR
--Hard Disk Drive Cooler.
--Enermax's Whispersys System Exhaust Blower (Slot Fan),
-- Arctic Silver II


Here are some easy questions; once again your help is greatly appreciated!!

1) What fans should I upgrade for he SX1040B? (All fans) sounds like Panaflow is the best?
2) Will the Enermax PSU fit nice in my SX1040B?
3) Is the ECC RAM really worth the extra money, It sounds like it is?
4) Lite-ON or Pioneer DVD? Anything bad about the Lite-ON
5) Anything bad about the Lite-On 32X?
6) What do you suggest for a secondary PCI Graphics card?
7) What other ATA cables will I need?
8) Anyone know anything about the IntelliMouse Explorer?
9) Did I forget anything?

Thanks again!!

PS I will be running win2k

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< --ENERMAX EG651P-VE (FMA). 550W Power >>


Your case comes with a 400w Antec PSU, which is adequate for your needs. If you really want more power, get a Top Power 430w PSU--it's better than the Enermax and has plenty of power.


<< --ALPHA PAL8045U >>


You might not like the fan on that HSF, it's a 7,000 RPM Delta screamer.


<< --1536MB 184-pin DIMM (X3) >>


What brand?


<< --2-WD1000JB SE- (Raid 1setup?) >>


RAID 0


<< --Lite-On 32x12x40 CDRW Model LTR-32123S >>


Bad choice...it'll fail. The Yamaha CRW3200 burns as fast as that (or faster), because it is 24x CAV instead of CLV.


<< --Lite-On 16x DVD Model LTD-16301 or Pioneer slot load? (I can?t decide!) >>


The Lite-On is a bit faster and rips faster for burning.


<< --ATI ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON 8500DV 64MB DDR AGP-RETAIL >>


The Matrox RT2500 would be a much better choice.



<< Cables:
1-Round Floppy drive cable. >>


You'll want round ATA cables, too.



<< --Microsoft Intelli-Mouse Optical >>


Considering all the CPU power you need for other apps, using a PS/2 mouse could help (and USB isn't that great). The Kensington Optical Elite PS/2 is a fine mouse, and is more programmable.


<< --Heatspreader / Heatsink for DDR >>


Unnecessary.


<< --Hard Disk Drive Cooler. >>


Unnecessary.


<< --Enermax's Whispersys System Exhaust Blower (Slot Fan), >>


Unnecessary.




<< Here are some easy questions; once again your help is greatly appreciated!!

1) What fans should I upgrade for he SX1040B? (All fans) sounds like Panaflow is the best?
2) Will the Enermax PSU fit nice in my SX1040B?
3) Is the ECC RAM really worth the extra money, It sounds like it is?
4) Lite-ON or Pioneer DVD? Anything bad about the Lite-ON
5) Anything bad about the Lite-On 32X?
6) What do you suggest for a secondary PCI Graphics card?
7) What other ATA cables will I need?
8) Anyone know anything about the IntelliMouse Explorer?
9) Did I forget anything?

Thanks again!!

PS I will be running win2k >>


1: Panaflo is nice and quiet, and moves a good deal of air. Enermax fans are good as well.
2: Don't get an Enermax PSU (it would fit). They have too much deviation on the 5v rail (and you definitely don't need 550w).
3: Your mainboard can't use ECC anyhow. Get Crucial PC2100 non-ecc, or if you want some high performance, Corsair or Mushkin.
4: Lite-On, nothing bad about it
5: Some DOA and reliability issues. The Yamaha CRW3200 is as fast or faster, and has additional burning modes.
6: Unnecessary.
7: Your drives will all come with ATA cables, but it'd be better to buy round ATA cables (the max length should be 18", that's the ATA spec limit. Don't buy 24" or 36" ATA cables). You only have 4 ATA devices, meaning that each device can be on master with your mainboard. Therefore, get single-device round ATA (80-conductor) or better.
8: It's great, but not that great. I like Logitech better, and Kensington better than Logitech.
9: Sound card. The onboard sound isn't fantastic and uses too many CPU cycles. The Philips Acoustic edge has excellent sound and some professional features at a good price. You could always get one of the "Prosumer" cards, like the Yamaha XG1000.

As for Win2k, unless you already own it--don't pay for it since it can be had for free.

 

[Siva]

1) how much airflow do you want?
2) Yes
3) No
4) Lite-ON isn't as reliable as a good brand name, Pioneer unless you really can't afford it.
5) see above
6) Not bad for dual monitor, that's how i'm running my setup for now
7) ATA 100 cables for hds ATA 33 cables for DVD/CDR
8) Its an optical mouse by microsoft
9) No, but heat spread for ram, whisper system, etc...? come on now, a little bit much

 

[erikiksaz]

I was just about to ask about the need for a 550 watt power supply. So far it doesn't seem like you need one.

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< I was just about to ask about the need for a 550 watt power supply. So far it doesn't seem like you need one. >>

Maybe he's planning to add peltiers...

 

[Bedlamite]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I wanted to go dual processors form the start and now I?m starting to lean back that way. I was reading more about the ASUS A7M266-D (AMD-760MPX) Series. Does anyone know anything negative about this board?
I can run dual AMD 1900+ on this correct?
I can?t put the same HSF unit on. No holes in the ASUS MB. I would need to go with a SK6 (but I don?t think they would fit?)


<<--1536MB 184-pin DIMM (X3) >>
**What brand of ram?**

I thought Crucial was a great brand of ram? I didn?t know Corsair and Mushkin are better. Will I notice a difference in the ram quality? What MB use ECC?

**I like Logitech better, and Kensington better than Logitech**

I just looked on Kensington?s site what mouse are you recommending?

**No, but heat spread for ram, whisper system, etc...? come on now**
Hehe, I just want to make sure all my parts are running cool and content, maybe it?s a little over kill..

**I was just about to ask about the need for a 550 watt power supply. So far it doesn't seem like you need one.**

I had this picked out for if i were to go with the ASUS A&M266 its need a lot of power I have been told. It even uses the P4 connection..

If anyone know anything about the ASUS A7M266-D (AMD-760MPX) Series please share.

Argg? I just thought of something is the ASUS A7M266-D going to fit into the Antec 1040B case?

Thanks again!

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I wanted to go dual processors form the start and now I?m starting to lean back that way. I was reading more about the ASUS A7M266-D (AMD-760MPX) Series. Does anyone know anything negative about this board?
I can run dual AMD 1900+ on this correct?
I can?t put the same HSF unit on. No holes in the ASUS MB. I would need to go with a SK6 (but I don?t think they would fit?) >>


Get a Glacial II if you get that.




<< <<--1536MB 184-pin DIMM (X3) >>
**What brand of ram?**

I thought Crucial was a great brand of ram? I didn?t know Corsair and Mushkin are better. Will I notice a difference in the ram quality? What MB use ECC? >>


Crucial is great. Corsair and Mushkin high performance are better (Corsair is better than Mushkin). If you desperately want ECC (unnecessary unless you have a server), the Asus A7M266-D supports it (in which case get Crucial).



<< **I like Logitech better, and Kensington better than Logitech**

I just looked on Kensington?s site what mouse are you recommending? >>


The Kensington Optical Elite PS/2



<< **No, but heat spread for ram, whisper system, etc...? come on now**
Hehe, I just want to make sure all my parts are running cool and content, maybe it?s a little over kill.. >>


Useless overkill.



<< **I was just about to ask about the need for a 550 watt power supply. So far it doesn't seem like you need one.**

I had this picked out for if i were to go with the ASUS A&M266 its need a lot of power I have been told. It even uses the P4 connection.. >>


Even with that, it's unnecessary. The Top Power 430w would supply all the power you need, it has as many connectors as the Enermax, and it doesn't share Enermax's problem.



<< If anyone know anything about the ASUS A7M266-D (AMD-760MPX) Series please share. >>


It's a great board, though no real USB support (good, USB sucks). GamePC has a review of it (www.gamepc.com).



<< Argg? I just thought of something is the ASUS A7M266-D going to fit into the Antec 1040B case? >>


It will.

 

[Bedlamite]

Thanks a lot,

I thought that ASUS A7M266-D had a few glitches in the USB1.1 and they snatched it out. And now they include a USB2 card. Do you know if this is true? Sounds like a good deal (too bad it takes up one of the slots)

What?s the HSF Glacial II? I did a few searched and didn?t find anything about it.

Thanks

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< Thanks a lot,

I thought that ASUS A7M266-D had a few glitches in the USB1.1 and they snatched it out. And now they include a USB2 card. Do you know if this is true? Sounds like a good deal (too bad it takes up one of the slots)

What?s the HSF Glacial II? I did a few searched and didn?t find anything about it.

Thanks >>

The include a USB card that doesn't use a slot on the mobo, but it does on your case. It's not called the Glacial II (my fault), it's called the the Millenium Glaciator II, a review of which can be found here. Only the Swiftech and the Alpha PAL8045 performed better in their test, but this one attaches with clips, so you can use it on the A7M266-D.