System Build

[Schnozzinkobenstein]

My friend is working on a system. She thinks she has everything picked out, but she checked with me to make sure everything was okay. I thought it all looked okay, but I thought I'd run it by you guys. She's a fine art major, so mostly she'll be using this for high quality photo and video editting, as she isn't much of a gamer.

case
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=4197078&CatId=1509

HD
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...ails.asp?EdpNo=4762445

media dirive
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...dpNo=1871218&CatId=942

dvd drive
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=4779509&CatId=1624

power supply
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...dpNo=3436149&CatId=106

video card
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=3749879&CatId=3585

mother board
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...ails.asp?EdpNo=3528165

processor
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...ails.asp?EdpNo=3952342

RAM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=3228139&CatId=2261

monitor
http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...pNo=4242642&CatId=2775

Should she change to DDR3? That will probably require a motherboard change and then a CPU change following, right?

 

[M0RPH]

What's that, about $950? She might want to consider a Dell as well:

Dell Studio Slim Quad Core Desktop w/ 24" LCD Monitor & Blu-Ray Reader $903.00 Free Shipping

Dell S2409W 24" LCD; Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 @ 2.33GHz; 4GB RAM; 750GB HDD; Blu-Ray reader & DVD burner; gigabit ethernet; Vista Home Premium; ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB; 1yr warranty

$1204.00 - 25% off Code: $BFNQC2FBN472L = $903.00 Free Shipping

I don't know why a non-gamer would want a big gaming case like that.

 

[M0RPH]

Also could build an i7 for not much more.

combo i7 920 / mobo/ 6GB ddr3 Text $550 AR

That's more than yours by about $130, but if you scale back on case/psu with this
Text
it's pretty close

 

[brblx]

AM3 socket phenom II's and the core i7's are what use ddr3 right now. core2 and AM2+ phenom II's will use ddr2.

case and power supply seem like overkill, the antec above would be fine.

prices in general seem high, you could get a much better deal on cpu and mobo at newegg. there are phenom II's with similar performance to that C2Q that can be had with a mobo for under 300 bucks.

does she have any reason for a dedicated GPU? does she use photoshop CS4 or a video editing program with GPU acceleration?

 

[nageov3t]

just a personal gripe, but I really hate the new trend in cases to put the USB/audio ports in retarded locations.

for me at least, the front of the desktop is always the most easily accessible part. it's not uncommon for me to have one side of the pc flush against a wall (obv. not the side with a side fan ) or have things on top of the case (right now, for example, my ipod dock and D&D dice bags are sitting on top of it)

with that setup, I'd consider getting a Sonata maybe.

 

[Schnozzinkobenstein]

Thanks guys. If I run into any more questions I'll let you know.