OK, thats it. **COMPUTER BUILD HELP THREAD

[Tom]

i can speak computers like i can speak mexican. ok, so i can speak a little mexican, but irrelevant.

WHAT DO I WANT IN A COMPUTER NOWADAYS?

i made this list with my $600 budget and a lot of google:

Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s
$59.99
Western Digital Caviar Blue 160GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s
$38.99

ASUS M4A88T-M/USB3 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
$94.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders $99.99

Kingston 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500)
$78.99

AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition 3.2GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Desktop Processor - C3 Revision
$88.99

LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24LS50 LightScribe Support $20.99

Rosewill Blackbone Black Computer Case
Rosewill RV2-700 700W Power Supply
$79.98

Grand Total: $562.91

GOAL: media to include video/picture editing, ripping/playing DVDs


** post relevant tips/experiences to include specs, prices, and current technology updates.

[HeavyMetal]

if you want to edit pictures and video

up your ram. I have 10GB on my build i just finished...the more the merrier. take advantage of that 64bit windows.

btw i can save you 100 if youd like, i can send you the windows 7 disk i have.

i would shoot for a quad core processor as well, some of the editing programs take advantage of them.

[iant333]

Besides not having a video card it looks decent. Onboard video sucks so I would get one. I spent like 2500 dollars on my computer 4 years ago and I would never do that again. I don't do like hardcore video editing or anything but it holds up to current games and internet browsing better than most new computers.

Basically i'm saying a cheaper computer can do alot of stuff just fine so it doesnt make alot of sense to me to go super crazy, so what you have looks good.

[Tom]

ram is $$$, for now i might swap the 2x2 and go with 1x4 so i can expand more if i need it

depending on how quickly i get this going, i may take you up on that offer

not sure what my priorities are as far as editing, what programs are there and how do i get them? im a serious-windows n00b, only resorting to such due to funding and lifetime compatibility...

any input on the case/power combo? those were the hardest to figure out, eventually going with what seems to be the nicest for the best combo deal

[H8PVMT]

when the cpu i built in 98 crashed a few months ago I got a compaq at P.C. Richards for 300 bucks, 3g ram 500g HD, DVD burner and a 2.9 amd processor got a flat screen for 90 and it's held up so far

[HeavyMetal]

from what i understand, that powersupply is overkill..but the price isnt a huge breaker on those anyway

you wont regret the more ram...def expand when you can. good to plan for.

I have Vegas Pro 9, its what I do all my work in, I can send you the install for that as well, haha.

the learning curve is easy. and its powerful if you know what youre doing. ill be editing KOH 2011 in vegas 9 if that means anything

[iant333]

A video card should be a priority more than > 4gb of ram.

[HeavyMetal]

well yes, obviously you should acquire a video card if you would like your computer to operate...figured that was common sense

[iant333]

He doesnt have one listed. You can run without one, but it sucks.

[Tom]

so the consensus is i can pull the trigger on this and i should make it out alive?

[HeavyMetal]

He doesnt have one listed. You can run without one, but it sucks.

Cuts down on eye strain

[HeavyMetal]

so the consensus is i can pull the trigger on this and i should make it out alive?

get a video card as stated in there

your onboard video will suck nutsacks

[Tom]

its got a ATI Radeon HD 4250 GPU in the board, HDMI FTW

[HeavyMetal]

well then giggity

[iant333]

its got a ATI Radeon HD 4250 GPU in the board, HDMI FTW

Thats not bad then. I like ATI.