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looking for input

Post Date: 2008-07-05
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modernviking View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		  Quote modernviking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: looking for input
    Posted: 05 Jul 2008 at 9:28pm
hey all, I am a newb when it comes to building so I am looking for any help. I have been researching and talking with friends to come to the build I have now, but I would like people who have done this before to add their thoughts.  I plan on using it for general use as well as gaming (cod4, counter strike, empire:total war and a few others when they come out), music and video editing.  I am also looking into building one that will hopefully last a good while, and can be updated if necessary.  My price tag is around $1700-$2100 if I can help it. Thanks in advance.
 
 
$1,832
Direct Load URL: http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=164365
 
Chassis: Digital Storm 750Si
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 750W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 2.66GHz (1333MHz Front Side Bus) (6MB Cache)
Motherboard: CLEARANCE PRICED: NVIDIA 680i LT SLI Core 2 Quad (Chipset: nForce 680i SLI)
System Memory: 4GB DDR2 Corsair at 800MHz Dominator DHX (High-Performance)
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Hard Drive 2: - No Thanks
Raid Option: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: CLEARANCE PRICED: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS 512MB
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: CLEARANCE PRICED: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE
Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 2 (Silent Artic Cooling Heat-sink Upgrade (Copper Heatpipes)
Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Green Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
Modifications: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my processor
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
 
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2008 at 9:34pm
A quad core such as the Q9450 would make your editing life so much better.

You'll also have to upgrade the mobo to a 750i or 780i or Asus Rampage if you do decide to get the quad core. The 680i doesn't support the quads.

I'd also go for the Radeon HD4850 but that's just me.

The rest look good.
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
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Bismark View Drop Down
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Posts: 120 		  Quote Bismark Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 05 Jul 2008 at 11:21pm
This gets you in a bit under you high end budget.


Config

Antec 900 is a good case, lotta reviews and alot of people love Antec.

Q9300 is a good value processor, PC gamer recommended it in thier value build.

As Sky said you need to upgrade the motherboard to support the processor, in your budget the 780i looks like a good choice... going along with that and from recommendation when I did my build if you get a good motherboard the integrated sound is as good as low end sound cards so this spec has no sound card.

I left the GPU as you had it but once again as Sky said the HD4850 is also a good choice though in my opinion if you go with an ATI graphics card you might as well go with the rampage motherboard to take advantage of crossfire in the future if you wished so.

Other things to note, you could probaly get away with the OCZ ram if you dont intend to overclock. And you could go with a 650w power supply if you dont intend to go SLI or crossfire ever, if you are planning that you probably want to go with a 1000w power supply eevn though they say 750 will run two cards I personally like to be on the safe side.

You'll get lots more input, Im not super technical and these folks offered me alot of help, just trying to put some ideas and talking points out there. Good luck
Asus Rampage Formula
Core 2 Quad Q9550
2 ATI Radeon HD4870 Crossfire
4GB Corsair DHX 1066
1000W Corsair HX
DS 850Si

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widdlecat View Drop Down
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Posts: 840 		  Quote widdlecat Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Jul 2008 at 1:11am
If you're going to be doing music editing, you need a better sound card. Are you working with "live" music feeds... will you be doing any recording? If so, you need a serious card for good results. If you're talking about editing from CDs or other digital media, then you just need a card with a good DAC and preferable premium opamps to give a musical feed to your speakers or headphone.

If you're looking at "audiophile" sound, the closest you'll get with a standard pc setup will be with the ASUS Xonar soundcards... at a premium price. The D2 and D2X are equipped with burr brown DACs and Cirrus Logic ADCs. (Best handling of conversion that I've found on a soundcard for pcs so far.) The razer barracuda ac-1 has great opamps from Analog Devices, but I can't figure out who makes the DAC for them. Also note that if the ASUS mobo has their supreme fx or supreme fx II riser card audio, they utilise the Cirrus Logic DAC and ADC as well.

Edit: I looked up the ASUS rampage mobo and it does indeed have the supreme fx II audio card.

Edited by widdlecat - 06 Jul 2008 at 1:49am
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modernviking View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		  Quote modernviking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Jul 2008 at 9:09pm
thank you all for your valuable insight, it has helped me alot to decide and understand everything better.
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modernviking View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		  Quote modernviking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2008 at 6:22pm
If I added the razer barracuda ac-1 sound card, would I need to also up the power supply to 1000w, or would it work fine at 750w?
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skyR View Drop Down
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Posts: 2220 		  Quote skyR Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2008 at 6:25pm
750W is fine if you don't plan on adding another graphics card.
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star.
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modernviking View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		  Quote modernviking Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2008 at 6:36pm
thanks sky!
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SunfighterLC View Drop Down
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Posts: 1527 		  Quote SunfighterLC Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 07 Jul 2008 at 6:53pm
Keep in mind do you really need a sound card? Its more dependent on the quality of your speakers and your sound tolerance. I know i have a sound card in my signature, but that was more due to me having excess cash and not having any toy to spend it on at the time lol..so it was a luxury.
 
 
I can attest that the 780 and the 790 (as they used the same audio) have great on-board sound quality. The onboard sound isnt like the old days where it totally sucked, most have high quality 7.1 now. Personally if i had any knowledge on computers, id skip a sound card, and just check the sound out on the mobo first. If it wasnt to my liking, then hey..just buy a sound card and install it yourself, it isnt hard at all. If it is good enough for you then you just saved a pile of money or you can use that savings to get even better hardware.
 
my 2.5 cents
E8500@ 4.03Ghz
XFX 790i Ultra
1000W Corsair HX
2 280 GTX EVGA FTW
4GB OCZ Reaper 1800Mhz
250-80-300GB VR HD
Logitech Z-2300 2.1 Speakers
Asus Xonar 7.1
Hanns-G HG 281D 28" HDMI Monitor
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widdlecat View Drop Down
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Posts: 840 		  Quote widdlecat Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 08 Jul 2008 at 1:12am
Originally posted by SunfighterLC

Keep in mind do you really need a sound card? Its more dependent on the quality of your speakers and your sound tolerance. I know i have a sound card in my signature, but that was more due to me having excess cash and not having any toy to spend it on at the time lol..so it was a luxury...



So, which xonar did you get? How you liking it? Smile
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