First build: $1000 "multi-media" PC. ADVICE

iAsterisk

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I am new to this forum but I know to follow this format:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: By 2012 (though I do not have a real time limit) BUDGET RANGE: $800-1200

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: photo and video editing/graphic generation (Adobe CS), surfing the net, word processing (school work). I don't game.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: OS. i'm okay with picking my own mouse, keyboard, speakers, etc. but advice would be appreciated

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: canadacomputers.ca (i can go to store to not have to worry about shipping) newegg.ca, tigerdirect.ca, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada

PARTS PREFERENCES: 20" LCD with the possibility of dual screen later. I prefer intel over amd, and I heard Corsair is great for the power supply.

OVERCLOCKING: Yes SLI OR CROSSFIRE:Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 (is this too much?)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I'm looking for a future-proof PC with a good performance to price ratio. I would like the possibility of overclocking and Multi-GPU's so it can compete in the future. This is my first build and I am not experienced in computer building, but I am devoted and will spend extra time to learn and build it myself. I would prefer canadacomputers.ca because I could get my products from the store to get rid of the costs for shipping.

THANKS A LOT
I FEEL LIKE A BURDEN :(, so don't spend to much time. Right now I'm looking for advice.
 
Solution
^ Here is a config...

CPU - i5
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=025781&cid=CPU.840

Mobo - MSI GD 65
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=025682&cid=MBD.842

RAM -
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series DDR3 1600MHz
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=026157&cid=RAM.346.539

CASE -
Antec 300
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018460&cid=CAS.664

I dont understand 1 thing - Why do you need the support for SLI/ Crossfire(Multiple card support, when you dont game ?
Multiple cards are only advantageous when you want more graphics power for gaming...apart from that they dont offer any advantage in other tasks...

PSU - I will...
^ Here is a config...

CPU - i5
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=025781&cid=CPU.840

Mobo - MSI GD 65
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=025682&cid=MBD.842

RAM -
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series DDR3 1600MHz
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=026157&cid=RAM.346.539

CASE -
Antec 300
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018460&cid=CAS.664

I dont understand 1 thing - Why do you need the support for SLI/ Crossfire(Multiple card support, when you dont game ?
Multiple cards are only advantageous when you want more graphics power for gaming...apart from that they dont offer any advantage in other tasks...

PSU - I will give the suggestion later depending on the need of SLI/ Crossfire...
And also if you decide you wont need SLI/ Crossfire, then you can drop down to a different mobo like this one -
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=025601&cid=MBD.842

HDD -
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=021509&cid=HDD.443.877
or
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=021237&cid=HDD.443.877

DVD - Get a SATA one...

Graphics card - Again for your needs, a Nvidia GT220/ HD 4650/ 4670 would suffice...

Monitor - ASUS VH222H 21.6" Widescreen Black LCD Monitor, 5ms, 20000:1 ASCR, WSXGA+ (1920x1080)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=022184&cid=MTR.282
 
Solution

iAsterisk

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Aug 23, 2009
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Thank you for your suggestions. I've decided on an i5 build.
I guess if SLI/Crossfire only provide an advantage in gaming, then I am not interested. I think the mobo should have USB 3.0 support for the longevity of it. Also, now that I think about it, I would prefer a large hard drive, maybe 2x1TB. Also, canada computers loads really slowly, so it might be easier for you to use tigerdirect.ca. thanks again
 
^ The here are some changes -
1. Mobo - Has USB 3.0 and SATA 6GB/s
Tigerdirect.ca doesnt have good options...here is a link from canadacomputers and ncix.com
Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 Socket
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=027168&cid=MBD.842
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=46237&vpn=GA%2DP55A%2DUD3&manufacture=Gigabyte

PSU -
OCZ Z-series 550W - A very good one at a very good price...
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=45235&vpn=OCZZ550&manufacture=OCZ%20Technology
Or
Corsair 550
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=015941&cid=PSU.731
or
OCZ 550W
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=020847&cid=PSU.723

HDD -
Buy 1TB WD Black or Samsung F3 1TB...the Blacks would be slightly faster than the Samsung, but the Samsung would be cheaper...
 

iAsterisk

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i'll be looking for a wireless adapter, should i get a usb one or a pci one?
also, im gonna O/C, do i need a new cooler or will the stock one be fine?
Ok so here is an updated version of the parts:
CPU
Intel Core i5 750 Quad-Core Socket LGA1156, 2.66Ghz, 8MB L3 Cache, 45nm
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4959973&CatId=4731

GPU
EVGA GeForce GT220 Video Card - 1024MB DDR3, PCI-Express 2.0, DVI, HDMI, VGA
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5296653&CatId=3669

HD
Western Digital Caviar Black (WD1001FALS) 1000GB (1TB) SATAII 7200RPM 32MB Cache (OEM)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018887&cid=HDD.443.877

PSU
Corsair CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX 12V 41A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=015941&cid=PSU.731

Case
Antec Three Hundred Gaming Case ATX 3/0/(6) 2xUSB Audio No PS
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018460&cid=CAS.664

DVD Drive
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE SATA Black 22X DVD-Writer OEM
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=027426&cid=MDD.184

RAM
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series DDR3 1600MHz (PC3-12800) 4GB (2x2GB) Dual Channel Kit (F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=026157&cid=RAM.346.539
*they don't have the one's u suggested at my store, so maybe something else. also i think i would benefit from more ram? (because of video editing which uses the ram to render the images)

MOBO
Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3
http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=027168&cid=MBD.842
*a note on the gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 u suggested (because i asked for usb 3.0)
apparantly if you connect two graphic cards, the sata 3.0 and usb 3.0 downgrade to normal mode. but i won't so this would be a problem


i think after i finalize my selections, ill repost and ask other forum users to revise.
 

iAsterisk

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ok i've revised one more time. i need some professionals to check it over quickly because i really want to buy the parts soon.

CPU $199.97
Intel Core i5 750 Quad-Core Socket LGA1156, 2.66Ghz, 8MB L3 Cache, 45nm
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4959973&CatId=4731

GPU $74.97
XFX Radeon HD 4670 Video Card - 1GB GDDR2, PCI Express 2.0, CrossFireX Ready, Dual DVI, HDTV, HDMI Support
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5256326&sku=P450-4670

RAM $99.99
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series DDR3 1600MHz (PC3-12800) 4GB (2x2GB) Dual Channel Kit (F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=026157&cid=RAM.346.539

MOBO 1 $154.99
Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD3 Socket 1156 Intel P55 Chipset Dual-Channel DDR3 2200/1600/1333/1066/800Mhz 2x PCI Express x16 7.1-Ch HD Audio 2x SATA 6Gb/s+6x SATA 3Gb/s GigaLAN 2x USB 3.0+12x USB 2.0 ATX
http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=027168&cid=MBD.842
*the only reason I want to go for this one is because it supports usb 3.0 and sata 6gb/s which should increase longevity, but if i were to use crossfirex, sata 3 and usb 3 would downgrade to normal mode due to a p55 limitation.

MOBO 2 $104.99
Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2 Socket 1156 Intel P55 Express Chipset Dual-Channel DDR3 2200/1333/1066Mhz 2x PCI-E X16 8-Ch HD Audio 7x SATAII 1x eSATA GigaLAN IEEE1394 Micro ATX
http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=027168&cid=MBD.842

HD $99.99
Western Digital Caviar Black (WD1001FALS) 1000GB (1TB) SATAII 7200RPM 32MB Cache (OEM)
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018887&cid=HDD.443.877

PSU $78.99
Corsair CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX 12V 41A 24PIN ATX Power Supply Active PFC 120MM Fan
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=015941&cid=PSU.731

Case $62.99
Antec Three Hundred Gaming Case ATX 3/0/(6) 2xUSB Audio No PS
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=018460&cid=CAS.664

DVD Drive $29.99
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE SATA Black 22X DVD-Writer OEM
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=027426&cid=MDD.184

MOBO 1 TOTAL $801.88
MOBO 2 TOTAL $751.88

What to decide:
1)Which mobo? The reason I want to go for the ud3 is because it has usb 3.0 and sata 6 gb/s support which should provide longevity but it does have the issue
of downgrading usb 3.0 and sata 6gb/s to normal modes when you do crossfire. i don't game so i won't be needing crossfire anyway. is it worth it?

2)i'm going to be overclocking, and i don't think the stock fan will suffice. which cooler should i get?

3)what would i have to do to have 6gb of ram?
 
1) If you wont be adding more than 1 graphic card, then you wouldnt have to worry about that at all...So stick with UD3...And Yes it is worth it and would save you from having to upgrade your mobo or to buy 2 add-on cards to support USB3.0 and SATA 6GB/s...

2) No stock HSF wont suffice...Get this one -
CM Hyper 212+
http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=025125&cid=FAN.349
and this - http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=017216&cid=FAN.687

3) If you want to have 6GB of RAM, then add them in this config -
2x 2GB + 2x 1GB and make sure all the sticks hae the same timing/ voltage/ speed...Make sure you populate either 2 slots or all the 4 slots...else you will loose Dual-Channel config...