please review my build...

[KoRn_Kid]

Im ready for an upgrade, this will be my first build and would like you guys input before I start ordering this stuff. I already have the drive's and firewire card, just need to buy the rest.

This computer will be use for video & photo editing, DVD encoding,
HDTV recording & playback using Windows MCE
And I only plan on playing one game once in a while, The Sims 2.

Since I have a budget to stick with, I decided to get the following parts...

ABIT P35-E
OCZ 2GB ( 2 X 1GB ) Platinum PC2-6400
Q6600 G0
Antec True Power Trio TP3-550 550watt
PNY VCG68128XWB GeForce 6800 128MB
Haugpauge HVR-1600 PCI Card
3 port firewire PCI Card
IDE/ATA controller PCI Card
(3) 300GB PATA Seagate Hard Drive
(1) 200GB PATA Seagate Hard Drive
(1) 160GB PATA Seagate Hard Drive
(1) DVD-RW PATA Drive

Im still looking fo a case & good cpu heatsink

Please let me know what you guys think,
is everything compatible?
will the power supply handle this system?
will I be able to playback HDTV content and/or play The Sims 2 with the video card?

TIA

 

[engiNURD]

I think that card is too old, even though it costs ~$45AR. Go for the 7600GT or 7600GS for only a bit more, but more power friendly, and you'll get MUCH better performance, too! If you'd rather not, just get a simple 7200GS or X1550 for only $30.

A good CPU HSF for the Q6600 would be the Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme + S-Flex fan, or a Tuniq Tower. The Tuniq is only $47 @ svc.com. Also, svc has a Centurion case for only $30 + shipping. Check out if shipping is cheap enough for you there. If not, newegg might be cheaper, despite the $50 base charge before $16 shipping (for a centurion case).

Toss one of those PATA drives into an external enclosure, so your DVDRW drive will have its own channel. Mixing optical drives with hard drives slows down that IDE channel, so I'd advise against it.

If you want to offload the HD video decoding from the CPU to the GPU, you'll need a midrange DX10 card. However, what else do you plan on doing with the CPU while your'e watching HD content? If all you're doing is watching, then theres really no need for such a vidcard. Hm... is your TV HDCP compliant? If so, get a vidcard that is, too, like the X1950GT ($110) or 8500GT ($80).