Another New Computer Thread~

[Himay]

Hey BG, time for another new computer thread! Had my current PC for ~8 years and its about time for a new one. Opinions on better component options and whatever else are appreciated. Planning on running Windows Vista 64bit and overclocking the CPU to 3.2GHz . One question I had is if 1000W is necessary or if i could go for something cheaper. I'll be adding more storage, a 500GB external immediately and probably more down the line. I do a lot of DVD mastering, some audio, and gaming.

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017

CPU Cooling: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=CNPS9700LED

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131219

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2KIT12864AA800

Graphics Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102748

Storage: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=WD1500AHFD

DVD Drive: Pioneer DVR-112D (not on newegg)

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...k=Antec%2bP182

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171022

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=L206WTY-BF

[Cephius]

There's no need for a 1000w power supply unless you plan on running crossfire and having multiple RAID arrays down the road, which I doubt you will. A 650 or 750 will do you just fine.

Also just a note about the heatsink. Zalman's are more made for dual cores, not quads. You should be able to get to 3.2 with it, but probably not much higher especially if your ambient temperature where you live is high. If you feel you'll want to go all out on overclocking, get a tuniq tower, it's the absolute best for cooling a quad core. Just be advised it is a MONSTER in terms of size.

[Olo401]

Can't be much bigger than this beastly thing I got.. And I'm not even overclocking yet!

[Shuemue]

Get a tuniq, and yeah, a good 750w psu would be more than enough.

[Reality]

There's no need for a 1000w power supply unless you plan on running crossfire and having multiple RAID arrays down the road, which I doubt you will. A 650 or 750 will do you just fine.

Also just a note about the heatsink. Zalman's are more made for dual cores, not quads. You should be able to get to 3.2 with it, but probably not much higher especially if your ambient temperature where you live is high. If you feel you'll want to go all out on overclocking, get a tuniq tower, it's the absolute best for cooling a quad core. Just be advised it is a MONSTER in terms of size.

or a Thermalright Ultra 120 extreme (if you can still find them), they're arguably the best HS's on the market for any core2 duo/quad

it's what i'm using, with a 3400 RPM sunon 120mm

http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/.../stress-sm.png

also, if you're willing to spend a tad bit more, i recommend this monitor (you can only find them at office max/office depo as far as I know)

Soyo 24" LCD WS DYLM24D6 $279.99

There are two different versions of this monitor that were manufactured, the difference between the two being the panel type: TN & SPVA. LCD screens can use one of 3 (with a few sub-types for each of the 3) different types of panels. TN panels (which is what the 20" LCD uses in your first post), VA panels, and IPS panels.

TN panels are the fastest in terms of response time but aren't great in terms of viewing angles or color reproduction, as they cannot display true 16.7 million colors without using color gamuts/artificial blending. They also suffer from a "Negative" effect, similar to what a photo would look like if you inverted all of the colors, when viewing the monitor at slight angles above or below the screen. VA panels (PVA, MVA, SPVA) do not suffer from the negative effect, and can display a true 16.7m color palatte, and have better viewing angles and better blacks, the downside for VA panels is they're slightly higher in response time, the VA Soyo 24" has a 6ms response time. However, response times are not noticable with current LCD technology unless you're using: an IPS panel, the third of the 3 I mentioned. These screens offer the absolute best image quality of the three panel types, the best viewing angles, and the best blacks. Unfortunately they sport response times of about 20-40ms on average. They are used in the color-correction industry, typically photo adjustments and the like

I hope this helps your decision. I was fortunate to find one of the SPVA panel Soyo 24" screens and it's what I use everyday and it's so beautiful

[Himay]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions guys. I'll be building this at the end of the month, can't wait for my new toy!

Here are the changes I've made per your suggestions:

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703009

HS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835154001

Also, about the monitor. The Soyo that Reality suggested looks very nice but my desk space is very limited. I was thinking about going with the 22" or 20" models, is there anything I should know about change in screen type, degradation of quality, etc., if I were to go that route?

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Edit: I also just noticed the Memory section is a little misleading in my original post. It links to a 2GB (2 x 1GB) product on NewEgg, I'm actually planning on going with a total of 4GB.

[Reality]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions guys. I'll be building this at the end of the month, can't wait for my new toy!

Here are the changes I've made per your suggestions:

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703009

HS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835154001

Also, about the monitor. The Soyo that Reality suggested looks very nice but my desk space is very limited. I was thinking about going with the 22" or 20" models, is there anything I should know about change in screen type, degradation of quality, etc., if I were to go that route?

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Edit: I also just noticed the Memory section is a little misleading in my original post. It links to a 2GB (2 x 1GB) product on NewEgg, I'm actually planning on going with a total of 4GB.

just that 20" screens are generally 1440x900 resolution if you go widescreen, 1600x1200 if you go 4:3, 22" screens have a max resolution of 1680x1050

if you want 1080p capability on a computer monitor you need at least a 24" LCD, or a 23" Apple Cinema screen

[Epical]

just that 20" screens are generally 1440x900 resolution if you go widescreen, 1600x1200 if you go 4:3, 22" screens have a max resolution of 1680x1050

if you want 1080p capability on a computer monitor you need at least a 24" LCD, or a 23" Apple Cinema screen

Erm... 19" are normally 1440x900, 20" starts the 1680x1050 reso. That's used up to 24", which uses 1920x1200.

And by the second thing, I assume you mean if you want to benefit fully from 1080p, you want 24"+, or else you're not getting what you <insert other word than paid> for. Capability is the wrong word.

[njitjk68]

Edit: I also just noticed the Memory section is a little misleading in my original post. It links to a 2GB (2 x 1GB) product on NewEgg, I'm actually planning on going with a total of 4GB.

If you are getting 4GB get 2x2GB sticks if you can. It puts less stress on the Northbridge if you use two memory slots instead of four.

[Reality]

Erm... 19" are normally 1440x900, 20" starts the 1680x1050 reso. That's used up to 24", which uses 1920x1200.

And by the second thing, I assume you mean if you want to benefit fully from 1080p, you want 24"+, or else you're not getting what you <insert other word than paid> for. Capability is the wrong word.

i'm not sure what you're talking about with your second comment

23" apple cinema, and 24"+ screens are 1920x1200 until you get up to the 30" LCD TV's which can be found with 1920x1080 screen resolution

"1080p capability" is a perfectly fine phrase, as anything lower than a 24" LCD will not have the screen resolution to display a 1080p movie, without compressing it to fit the screen

[Shuemue]

Get this PSU instead, far better brand and it's $20 cheaper, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

[Epical]

i'm not sure what you're talking about with your second comment

23" apple cinema, and 24"+ screens are 1920x1200 until you get up to the 30" LCD TV's which can be found with 1920x1080 screen resolution

"1080p capability" is a perfectly fine phrase, as anything lower than a 24" LCD will not have the screen resolution to display a 1080p movie, without compressing it to fit the screen

It's not really important, more of a nitpick, but if something isn't "capable" it cannot do it -- or in this case, display a 1080p movie. It CAN, but you won't get as much out of it due to the smaller resolution.

Either way, moot point... move on!

[Reality]

It's not really important, more of a nitpick, but if something isn't "capable" it cannot do it -- or in this case, display a 1080p movie. It CAN, but you won't get as much out of it due to the smaller resolution.

Either way, moot point... move on!

technically speaking, there are two points of view here

is it "capable" of displaying the movie
is it "capable" of displaying the movie @ 1080p

i was speaking specifically that a 19-22" screen can't display the movie at 1080p, since it lacks the pixels to do so. you were speaking about just putting the movie on the screen. we are both right