Video Editing and 3D computer Help needed

[MercuryGirl]

Hi everyone I am new, I am looking for help building a computer to take back for next semester. I am wanting to build a fairly high end system, but I am on a tight budget. ~less than $1800.00. I have never built a computer before, but I am willing to give it a shot. I am pretty well up on most stuff and have installed video cards, raid, and ram; so I know a little (very, but still)

Here is what I have come up with.

Case :: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...811235005&Tpk=GT1000-B
~$380.00

Mother Board :: I can't really tell the difference. I don't know about overclocking or all of the other stuff, though I suppose I should learn.
~$200 - $300 ok

CPU :: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115042
~$350.00

Ram :: I could use opinions, not sure if I should go ddr3, or ddr2
~200.00 - 300 ok

Video Card :: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814150252
Or something similar, I know I need a video card that will help out with open gl rendering as this is what after effects uses for direct rendering.
$179.00 to 300.00 for video card acceptable.

Power supply:: Worried about this, don't want to spend a ton of money on a 1000 watt power supply and wondering if my specs so far even warrant it. Thinking around a 750 watt or 800. though still a pretty penny.

I have two 19" lcd monitors and a 4 250GB WD 7200 hd's and a raid card that I plan to put into zero.


Any advice appreciated. thanks



What kind of cooling should I use, I am interested in keeping the system at around 40 C

I was thinking about using a tool and and cutting out part of the top of the case, installing a grid and setting up two more 120 MM fans

 

[DSF]

First of all, $400 for a case is a waste if you ask me. There are cases with very good noise and cooling characteristics for $150 or less. Something like the Coolermaster RC-590 or RC-690, Antec Solo or Antec P182 if you want an understated case. If you like the windows-and-lights look of the case you linked, then popular choices include the Antec 900, Raidmax Smilodon and Thermaltake Armor. Windowed cases tend to be noisier than their solid counterparts though.

As far as the motherboard, a good P35 board is all you need for what you're doing. A basic model is around $90-100. If you need firewire for your video work or a second PCI-e x4-16 slot for your RAID card that will cost more, but you shouldn't need to spend over $175. I don't think I'd do RAID 0 with data I can't afford to lose though. If you do, I would make sure that backups are performed regularly, especially with 4 discs in the array.

I'm assuming your work applications make use of multiple cores, so that CPU is fine. DDR2 is far more cost-effective, and DDR3 provides almost zero performance improvement. You shouldn't be spending more than $100 on 4GB of RAM. If your apps will use 8GB you may as well pick it up now while RAM is cheap.

A single 8800GT should be fine I would think, unless you need a professional-class video card. I don't really have any experience in that area. For a system with 4 HDDs, a Q9450 and an 8800GT a 500W power supply is plenty. Just make sure to get a name-brand power supply. Nothing will ruin a build faster than a cheapo PSU.

 

[bendixG15]

Reading your post ....

I suggest you go to Dell and buy one of their boxes and be done with it.

Save you money and headaches.

 

[MercuryGirl]

Anyone else got any opinions on this, and I would rather slit my wrists that buy a dell system. Shit, might as well go buy a compaq

 

[ther00kie16]

That case is pretty ugly. Look through Coolermaster cases, the RC-690 and the more expensive Cosmos are great cases. If you want expensive, try a Lian Li. That case was used for the Fastra "supercomputer" that housed 4 9800GX2s so you know it has good cooling.
Another case with good cooling. It's the only one I know of with 2 250mm fans. Only thing is it'll weigh a ton cuz it's steel.
better video card
For ram, DDR2 will still be mainstream for at least another year or two so start with this GSkill 1000..
For good CPU cooling get the Xigmatek S1283
As for the motherboard, check out the Gigabte EP35-DS3R.

 

[MercuryGirl]

I was actually thinking also about the LIAN LI PC-P80

As far as the wind tunnel is concerned, how much does it actually weigh? 30 - 40 LBS or more?

I love the video card suggestion, thanks

Some of that should save me a little bank. What do you recommend for Power Supply?

 

[aigomorla]

are you overclocking?

If you are here is my advice.

Sorry i dont like that zalman case. Its heavy and ugly, and stupidly expensive. If your budget is that large, theres tons of better cases to work with and yet keep a classic apeal.

Look at the Silverstones TJ-09 series. Its mid tower, and also friendly to transport.


B4 we give you part recomendations, do you even have any experience building a computer? Do you know anyone that can help you build a computer? Its not simple like a puzzle. You need to route cables, and do wire managemant actively while building your computer, or you cant get some wire management done.

1800 w/o Monitor is not a small budget. Its actually quite large. Infact if i had that budget i could probably build a QX processor system for ya if you had patience to find all the parts.

700-800 for a QX9650
200 for the DFI LT P35-T2R or DFI LT X38-T2R (230 dollars) Avoid the X48 versions as there hard as hell to tweek.
250 for the case
220 for the 2 x WD 640GB hard drives.
170 for Seasonic M12 799

Total so far is 1640 dollars leaves around 160 for the GPU.

But this is because i added the QX Processor. We change that to a wolfdale or a non extreme yorkie, and you get a TON in sholder room.

For Videocard, grab a HD3870X2 or wait for the newgen cards, those i believe have better openGL support in the drivers, then nvidia cards do.

 

[MercuryGirl]

The cheapest I am spotting the QX9650 for is around $1000.00

 

[DSF]

I don't see any reason to pay the price premium for an Extreme chip honestly.

 

[heyheybooboo]

1) Put the $$$ in the bank;
2) Lease an HP or Dell Precision workstation for 2 or 3 years;
3) 64-bit OS, 8 Gb ECC ram, quad core cpu, nice FireGL graphics;
4) Install your RAID;
5) Hook up your dual monitors; and
6) Learn (and don't forget to pay your $50/month lease payment).

btw - After Effects CS3 seems to do a little better with more memory bandwidth rather than more cores. AE the program is not really multithreaded BUT most of your encoder plugins will be. MainConcept (Oh. The Horror!) seems to favor AMD.

What could be better than establishing good credit while you learn?

 

[theAnimal]

Case ???
Q9450
DFI LP LT P35 T2R
8GB DDR2 800
9600GT
Corsair VX450 or HX520 / Seasonic S12 II 430/500 or M12 II 430/500

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: MercuryGirl
The cheapest I am spotting the QX9650 for is around $1000.00

try ebay. :T

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: MercuryGirl
Anyone else got any opinions on this, and I would rather slit my wrists that buy a dell system. Shit, might as well go buy a compaq

If you buy junk you get junk.

The Dell Precision workstations are wonderful.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Antec Twelve Hundred Gaming case w/ 1x200mm and 7x120mm fans $180-250 (amazon @ $210)
Corsair CPMSU-520HX 520W PS $105 AR (newegg)
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3R $120 (newegg)
Q9450 $350 (newegg)
8gb gskill ddr-1000 4x2 $170 (newegg)
HD 3870x2 $310-320 AR (newegg)

That's about $1375 after rebates and before shipping