Hi, I'm building a PC for personal use and can use a hand.
Tasks:
-Video editing/encoding (new babies in family...woohoo!)
-Net/email, etc. On home network.
-Database work (Access)
-Photo editing/long term storage.
-Some gaming, not hardcore. (FPS and RTS)
-P2P file sharing
-MP3 station
Current Rig:
-AMD 1600+
-Soyo Dragon Plus board
-GeForce3 ti200 AGP video card
-Antec tower with 330W smartpower supply
-512 RAM
-110 Gigs across 3 3.5" drives. CD-ROM and CDRW drives
-19" KDS VS monitor (dying...flywheel screams!)
Note: System currently unstable
What I'm looking for:
-Small computer to sit on my desk. Thinking of using a quiet nmediapc case...thoughts? NMediaPC case
What I've purchased so far:
-19" Dell 1905 LCD monitor (recent great deal)
What I need help with:
-Motherboard (microatx probably). Passive northbridge cooling preferred
-Processor (thinking 3200+?)
-Video card, preferrably passive cooling. DVI a huge plus to match the new monitor. Inexpensive.
-Elegant case for desktop use in living area...d-vine, etc are too expensive.
-Drive setup (250GB+): Thinking RAID1 for safety...OR....would it be better to use a single internal drive and an external drive and do periodic backups? Which is safer?
Budget:
I'm a bang-for-your-buck kinda guy. Don't want junk but won't pay hundreds of dollars more for a few extra framerates.
Overclocking: Probably not, but I used to quite a bit. Celery 300 to 450? Those were the days.
Aesthetics and noise are kinda big issues. ANY advice is welcome! I typically build new rigs once every 3 years...so it should be "good enough" to last at least 2. The need for growing storage is some concern, we'll see.
Thanks! I really appreciate the hand. (and yeah, I've searched my butt off and have looked at comparison charts until my eyes bled...really, they're still bleeding now...ouch)
-Wandere
Tasks:
-Video editing/encoding (new babies in family...woohoo!)
-Net/email, etc. On home network.
-Database work (Access)
-Photo editing/long term storage.
-Some gaming, not hardcore. (FPS and RTS)
-P2P file sharing
-MP3 station
Current Rig:
-AMD 1600+
-Soyo Dragon Plus board
-GeForce3 ti200 AGP video card
-Antec tower with 330W smartpower supply
-512 RAM
-110 Gigs across 3 3.5" drives. CD-ROM and CDRW drives
-19" KDS VS monitor (dying...flywheel screams!)
Note: System currently unstable
What I'm looking for:
-Small computer to sit on my desk. Thinking of using a quiet nmediapc case...thoughts? NMediaPC case
What I've purchased so far:
-19" Dell 1905 LCD monitor (recent great deal)
What I need help with:
-Motherboard (microatx probably). Passive northbridge cooling preferred
-Processor (thinking 3200+?)
-Video card, preferrably passive cooling. DVI a huge plus to match the new monitor. Inexpensive.
-Elegant case for desktop use in living area...d-vine, etc are too expensive.
-Drive setup (250GB+): Thinking RAID1 for safety...OR....would it be better to use a single internal drive and an external drive and do periodic backups? Which is safer?
Budget:
I'm a bang-for-your-buck kinda guy. Don't want junk but won't pay hundreds of dollars more for a few extra framerates.
Overclocking: Probably not, but I used to quite a bit. Celery 300 to 450? Those were the days.
Aesthetics and noise are kinda big issues. ANY advice is welcome! I typically build new rigs once every 3 years...so it should be "good enough" to last at least 2. The need for growing storage is some concern, we'll see.
Thanks! I really appreciate the hand. (and yeah, I've searched my butt off and have looked at comparison charts until my eyes bled...really, they're still bleeding now...ouch)
-Wandere