New PC Design

[VHockey86]

Hey, well my dad has finally decided he wants to buy a new computer to replace his old 200mhz pentium pro POS.

Ne ways, after reviewing how terrible dell prices have been lately, hes decided to let me/us bulid it.

Main uses in order of predicted usage:
1) Basics, web surfing, email, powerpoint, excel
2) CAD modeling with Solidworks 2004
3) Video capture from VHS tapes and burning onto DVDs
4) Image/Video Editing

So here was my basic design... he hasnt really given me a specific budget, just what he wants to be able to do. Another note.. he doesnt buy computers frequently so its got to be decent enough to go for awhile (doesnt really make sense to buy so infrequently but oh well).

Case/PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProduc...129-115&depa=0

Mobo:
ASUS Motherboard for Intel Pentium 4 / Celeron Processors, 800Mhz FSB Model# P4P800 Deluxe Retail - $126.00

Processor:
Intel Pentium 4 / 2.8CGHz 512k socket 478 Hyper Threading Technology 800 MHz FSB - RETAIL - $215.00

RAM:
2 x
All products > Memory (System Memory) > GEIL > N82E16820144305
GEIL DDR RAM 512MB PC-3200 Value 400MHz Ultra- CAS 2.5, 2T Command With Extreme Performance Heat SpreaderGL5123200B Value - $174.00


Video Cards: (workstations cards for CAD)
PNY Quadro FX 500 128MB DDR DVI/VGA 8X AGP- RETAIL - $330 OR...

PNY Quadro4 750 XGL 128MB DDR, 4XAGP, DVI+VGA - RETAIL - $355 OR...

ATI FIREGL T2 128MB DDR, 8X AGP, VGA/DVI - RETAIL BOX - $331

Hard Drive:
WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 120GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE MODEL # WD1200JB - OEM, DRIVE ONLY - $104.00

DVD-ROM
ARTEC DVDROM 16X IDE DHM-G48 Retail -$32.99

DVD-RW/+RW:
Plextor 8X DVD-RW +RW DVD Recorder - Beige Model PX-708A Retail - $230.00

Display:
Samsung SyncMaster 950B 19" CRT monitor - Retail - $199.00

Video Capture:
TV LEADTEK WINFAST "DELUXE" TV2000XP TV/FM MULTIMEDIA CARD - RETAIL BOX - $46.00

Misc:
Logitech BLACK Elite Keyboard - RETAIL - $29.00

Logitech MX300 Optical Mouse (PS/2 & USB) - RETAIL - $25.00

Well that about does it for an intial design... plenty of things I suppose I could skimp on if needed.

Just a few notes: Dont even get started on the pentium thing, its what he wants (although personally I use AMD).

The graphics card is where I'm hung up the most. Id like to get an ATI All-in-Wonder 9600 pro or maybe 9800, however according to the solidworks webpage they dont work worth a damn.

So that brought me to the workstation cards. I'm not really sure how the Quadro4 750 card compares to the Quadro FX 500. According to a Tom's hardware guide I read... the ATI FireGL T2 was rated best for price vs. performance and beat the nvidia FX500 in solidworks 2003 (quadro 4 wasnt benched in that one), however in Solidworks 2004 theres a couple new features that are designed specifically for nvidia cards and wont work on even the ATI workstation cards.

If anyone knows more about the CAD/workstation cards id really appreciate any help. How do they compare in performance to the home/gamer cards that I'm used to seeing... 9xxx cards and nvidia ti4200 and FX cards?

Any other comments may be helpful

Thx,
VHockey

[twiztidtruckie]

Deleted
Please don't try to advertise items you have for sale in the Traders Forums in other threads.

surreal

About those video cards..Seems to be overkill really. You shouldnt need to have such an advanced card for what youll be doing with it. Hard drive and memory looks good. My opinion for a graphics card would go with an ATI 9600 Pro maybe? Its close, if not cheaper than what you were going to purchase... Its a great card, i have used many of em and love em.

Just my .02$

Truckie

[VHockey86]

Well like i said above, i was oringlaly planning on going with a 9600 or 9800 pro, however according to solidworks those ati cards glitch really bad, parts and or assemblies disappear from the screen or other various problems.

[jmichna]

Looks like a good system, and given the CAD modeling and video editing, I don't think the video card is overkill at all.

You've also allowed for a bit of "growth" since you will be able to:
1) add more ram (useful for CAD, video editing, and even larger Powerpoint presentations containing lots of graphics);
2) upgrade the video card at some point
3) perhaps even bounce up the processor when (if) Intel prices drop.

Nice job!

[ArcticFox]

Wow...sweet....

I want that system.........

[VHockey86]

bump for last words...

[VHockey86]

Do you think a case with an Antec tru380W power supply in it would be enough juce for this system? Or Would the case with the tru430W be worth the extra 20 bucks

[MadMan2k]

I don't think the case is worth that much, you can get a Chieftec case for less, even with a 450 watt PS, and they look very similar. What are the differences, anyway? An antec logo? :/

[MrPurple]

Decent built, but I would go with a cheaper case.
Go with the solution series Antec cases, the SLK3700.
Solid case, has plenty of room, and for $66 its half the price of the other case, and you really do not need 430W of power.

As for video, I would get an FX or an ATI, as you stated CAD is not a primary function of the system.

You might also want to check out the competative AMD prices. P4 are very good, but AMD might be a bit cheaper.

[ZL1]

my 2 cents

get a true 430W PSU
and get two sata drives and put them in raid 0, very good for video editing


D


EDIT: 2 more cents

that board is a very nice board and it already has sata raid
and you might consider p4-2.6 its $175 and it easily overclocks to 3ghz on stock hsf

1 more cent - no, no on the artec dvd, I have one and its killing me