Help on my design ($800)

[Jarsniff]

I'm trying to design my college computer. I plan on heavy image/video editing, multimedia, and gaming. I'd appreciate any input or changes to my design. This is my first build so i expect a lot of flaws with my current design.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: <1 week
BUDGET RANGE: US$500-900

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Video/image editing, movies, gaming

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PREFERRED PARTS: Feel free to change anything.

CPU: Either:
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471&cm_sp=DailyDeal-_-19-103-471-_-Product

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

Motherboard: [strike]GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359[/strike]
ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard ????
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366

Graphics: SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

CD/DVD: Sony Optiarc DVD Burner with LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032

Case: RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WB Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156063

PSU: OCZ StealthXStream OCZ700SXS 700W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341019

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

cpu cooler: ??

ram: ??

 

[Helloworld_98]

the amd cpu would easily be the best choice for your apps but you need a 790 series motherboard not P45.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

This is what I'd get in your price range:

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=Antec%20Three%20Hundred $58.95

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx $109.99 - $10.00 MIR

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471 $189.99

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387 $109.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166 $54.99

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 $189.99 - $15.00 MIR

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 $74.99

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 $23.99

Total - $812.88 - $25.00 MIR's

 

[Outlander_04]

Be very careful when selecting an amd cpu/mb/ram combo they are compatible .

The original post has an am2+ processor, and an am3 mb which wont work together


Am3 cpu's do work in am2+ mb's though

I would probably build using

am3 X3 720 be
the OP's mb
2 x 2 gig of DDR3 ram
a corsair 650 watt psu
and the rest of shortstuffs build

The 720 be processor is only $135 but gives you almost all the performance of the quad
and you get the latest AM3 platform /ddr3 which will have ongoing support .

650 watt is plenty for that build

 

[Jarsniff]

Updated build
Any input?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You still have an AM3 motherboard and AM2+ CPU. You will either need to swap the CPU for an AM3 model or go with a AM2+ motherboard and DDR2 RAM.