help with building pc

[traquemort]

Hi everyone, new to the forum but been a somewhat longtime lurker.

i havent build a pc for a while (last 4 pc were laptops)(current x60t and xps 1705), and even after extensive reading im still at a loss.

here s what i currently have(bought, taken from friends and dad):
case x2
PSU: antec neo 550W, another antec 500W
dvd burner x2
HD OS: 4x 74gb raptors (latest ones)(couldnt resist considering the lot price, same price as 2 anyway)
HD storage: 2x 500gb seagate (to start)
HD other: misc for backup ide
sound card : xfi for games
graphics : x300 pcie
lcd: dell 2405fpw, 3x 19in lcd w/matrox triplehead2go, 19in ws

i will be using this for everything, heavy use of photoshop,video editing,encoding/dec.,CAD, movies (including HD), and games(racing sim, rts, nothing to graphic intesive yet).

currently i have easily over 1tb in data, which i would like easy access on the pc;looking at 2tb . as for backup i am considering a pc as a nas server for myself and the rest of the family.

budget pc: 900$ max excluding graphics
budget backup: 600$ if possible

that leaves help with:
storage method (raid 0,1, 1+0,5, SW/HW)
MB
CPU thinking of an e4300 and OC
RAM
raid cards?
graphics:
OS on the fence between vista and sticking with xp pro , price not a factor as im a student

backup server

thanks for any help !

 

[ShellGuy]

Well i would work with atleast 4gb ram, can be had for less than 200 bucks, as for OS if you are sure that all ur apps will work on vista then get vista ultmate or home premium, its up to you, Graphics do you plan on using it for gameing alot? if not then you can go with a med to low graphics, depending on what you want for MB, i can tell you what i have and i love it but the board has to support things you want, Here is my mobo, i love it, also like i said above you can get 4gb ram for 165.98 after instant rebate.


There is my input..


Will G.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well if you run 4gb of ram then you'll need a 64bit os to take advantage of it all. As for the brand I've run mushkin, kingston, pny, micron and corsair. I recently had problems with corsair and a rma for high end pc3500 that they didn't want to do me right by. I refused to accept their offers for lower end replacements and ended up with them offering me a refund that I still haven't received to this day. I run more corsair than anything else in the house but would tell you to look hard at crucial. If you'll use a price check engine you can find good prices on the things that you want from reputable vendors.

 

[ShellGuy]

I find normally new egg has nice pricing the mem i wsa refering to was G Skill ram works great in my pc at home got 2gb of it going to get another 2gb to make 4. If you want the link i can give it

 

[traquemort]

thaks for the info on the ram, i ll most likely go with vista so down the road i wont have to change everything.

the link would be appreciated.

for games, i think i d rather get a mid low end graphics card eg. 7600gt for now, and upgrade later. I still have my xps laptop for gaming right now.

 

[traquemort]

i was looking at this ram 2x1GB crucial ballistix

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

for 85$ on buy

 

[ShellGuy]

Here is my ram



Will G.