Putting together a PC for a friend

Zaggy

<div class="IPBDescription">what does one need for rendering/audio?</div>requirements:
-rendering
-audio editing
-some gaming
-budget of ~900 euro


What I have so far is a quad 755 build, 'cause i7 doesn't fit in the budget...yet.
I don't really know what one needs for rendering/audio editing, so I figured
gamepc + quadcpu+ lots of mem + professional soundcard.

case:
Cooler Master CM 690
El cheapo but no screws required:
<a href="http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_detail/1044/42465/cooler-master-cm-690---midtowermodel---atx---geen-voeding-eps12v-ps-2---zwart---usb-firewire-audio-e-sata.html" target="_blank">http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_det...dio-e-sata.html</a>
€ 64,47

PSU
CoolerMaster Real Power M520
Good brand and modulair
<a href="http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_detail/1073/35577/coolermaster-real-power-m520-modular-psu---voeding-intern---atx12v-2-3-eps12v-2-91---115-230-volt-wisselstroom-v---520-watt.html" target="_blank">http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_det...--520-watt.html</a>
€ 65,71

MOBO:
Gigabyte GA-EP45DS3L
Good stuff as far I've experienced.
<a href="http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_detail/849/80174/gigabyte-ga-ep45-ds3l---moederbord---atx---ip45---lga775-socket---udma133-serial-ata-300---gigabit-ethernet---high-definition-a.html" target="_blank">http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_det...finition-a.html</a>
€ 95,89

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
Quad and a lot of oompf
<a href="http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_detail/913/64630/processor---1-x-intel-core-2-quad-q9550-2-83-ghz-1333-mhz---lga775-socket---l2-12-mb-2-x-6mb-6mb-per-dual-core---doo.html" target="_blank">http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_det...core---doo.html</a>
€ 276,32

RAM
8gb 2x OCZ vista upgrade editon (2x2GiG DDR 800Mhz PC2-6400)2x
Good brand, lots of it.
<a href="http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_detail/744/30847/ocz-vista-upgrade-edition---geheugen---4-gb-2-x-2-gb---dimm-240-pins---ddr2---800-mhz-pc2-6400---cl5---1-8---2-0-v---niet-.html" target="_blank">http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_det...-v---niet-.html</a>
€ 62,48

HDD:
SamSung EcoGreen F1 1TB hdd.
good brand, lots of diskspace, big buffer.
<a href="http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_detail/857/191574/samsung-ecogreen-f1-dt-hd103ui---vaste-schijf---1-tb---intern---3-5---sata-300---5400-tpm--buffer-32-mb.html" target="_blank">http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_det...ffer-32-mb.html</a>
€ 80,97

GFX:
Gigabyte GV R487D5-1GD
best bang/buck powerhouse afaik
<a href="http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_detail/970/195222/gigabyte-gv-r487d5-1gd---grafische-adapter---radeon-hd-4870---pci-express-2-0-x16---1-gb-gddr5---digitale-visuele-interface-dvi.html" target="_blank">http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_det...erface-dvi.html</a>
€ 267,31

optical drive/burner:
<a href="http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_detail/862/80746/samsung-writemaster-sh-s223f---schijfstation---dvd-rw-r-dl-dvd-ram---22x-22x-12x---serial-ata---intern---5-25---zwart-z.html" target="_blank">http://www.azerty.nl/producten/product_det...---zwart-z.html</a>
€ 23,13

sub total: €936,28
sound:
e-mu is a professional brand as buddy told me (I have absolutely no clue about audio editing)
<a href="http://www.thomann.de/nl/emu_0404_digital_audio_system.htm" target="_blank">http://www.thomann.de/nl/emu_0404_digital_audio_system.htm</a>
€95
<a href="http://www.thomann.de/nl/emu_1212m_digitalaudiosystem.htm" target="_blank">http://www.thomann.de/nl/emu_1212m_digitalaudiosystem.htm</a>
€144

I went slightly over the budget :/

ZupiCo

Looks good, and really, for audio editing and rendering you can't really have too much processing power and memory. For the sound card I would suggest looking at ESI Juli@, which I have heard really good things about and the price is reasonable as well.

[Edit] Also, 520 watts should be enough for that if the PSU is a good brand, which Coolermaster is, but it might still be a good idea to check for example <a href="http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp" target="_blank">http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp</a> just to be safe. [/Edit]

sherpa

I've had nothing but trouble from Antec and Jeantech for powering my PC with 500w units.

I've only got an e8200 and 8800GT- I've had 2 Antecs, both have exploded on this setup, the Jeantech I'm using now constantly makes my GFX card crash and hang the system.

"Minimum System Requirement- 300w PSU" my hairy a***.

Zaggy

<!--quoteo(post=1697234:date=Jan 6 2009, 12:11 PM:name=ZupiCo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ZupiCo @ Jan 6 2009, 12:11 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1697234"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Looks good, and really, for audio editing and rendering you can't really have too much processing power and memory. For the sound card I would suggest looking at ESI Juli@, which I have heard really good things about and the price is reasonable as well.

[Edit] Also, 520 watts should be enough for that if the PSU is a good brand, which Coolermaster is, but it might still be a good idea to check for example <a href="http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp" target="_blank">http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp</a> just to be safe. [/Edit]<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thanks for the soundcard tip!

Friend of mine has a pretty similar setup, runs very well at 520W psu, Corsair though.


<!--quoteo(post=1697236:date=Jan 6 2009, 01:11 PM:name=sherpa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sherpa @ Jan 6 2009, 01:11 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1697236"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I've had nothing but trouble from Antec and Jeantech for powering my PC with 500w units.

I've only got an e8200 and 8800GT- I've had 2 Antecs, both have exploded on this setup, the Jeantech I'm using now constantly makes my GFX card crash and hang the system.

"Minimum System Requirement- 300w PSU" my hairy a***.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Antec should be good stuff, don't know about Jeantech.
I for one can vouch for the 520W Corsair, e6750 @ 3,2, 8800gts 320mb stock myself, friend has 520W corsair, e8400, hd4870 @ a stock speeds.

Corporal_Fortier

About audio editing:
The more he plans on using computer simulated stuff (and not using external tools), the more CPU it'll become, and fast. So yeah, good choice of CPU there, a quad will come in handy.

I thought first that 8GB RAM was a lil' overkill, but hell, for that price! <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />

And yeah, E-MU is Creative's professionnal line of soundcards and audio interfaces. I'd really go for that 1212M as I have one too back home and it works like a charm. I've been working with it for two years now (on a hobby basis, but still) and it never let me down and never had any conflict with games or whatever. I'm stuying abroad for a few months and I'm using E-MU's 0202 USB audio interface with my laptop, great product too, but nowhere as near as an integrated card. So yeah, I'd really give that 1212M a try; comes with quite a few "light-version" softwares which is great if he doesn't have anything yet to work with.

Oh and my experience with the 1212M was with XP Pro SP2 only. I have Vista on my laptop and had problems with the 0202 (the USB one) until recently, because there were no official Vista drivers out. But everything's fine now; I checked last week and E-MU released official drivers for Vista on their website, and the 1212M is supported. So if you don't find any official vista approved drivers in the box, go check online, they now exist <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />

Hope that helps!

Oh and good job on that 1TB hard drives, as even a 4 minutes song takes up quite a few GB of space!

EDIT: Oh he may need to save up some cash for an external mixer or preamp if he doesn't have anything and he's just starting up. I learned by trial and error so yeah... I can explain some more about that if you wish (gotta go now though)

Zaggy

<!--quoteo(post=1697265:date=Jan 7 2009, 07:42 AM:name=Corporal_Fortier)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Corporal_Fortier @ Jan 7 2009, 07:42 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1697265"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><snip><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thanks for the input, I've adviced my friend the PC.

Spooge

For socket 775 motherboards, I find the most recommended are the ASUS P5Q variety. There should be some in your price range.

That_Annoying_Kid

Creative has always been a solid name for me


hey zaggy!