$1200ish Build And No Clue Where To Start (Provided Lots of Info) - Hardware & Software

[highlight]Can someone step me through building it tomorrow? Read my post at the bottom[/highlight] [highlight][b]I've got everything else decided on and now all I need is a CD drive. Suggestions would be appreciated[/b][/highlight] It's time for FP to help my :downs:ishness once again. I need to build a pc and I've got no idea where to start. Any help you guys can give I'll greatly appreciate. Details time! You guys should love my organization of this post because I love BBcode :razz: Planning to purchase within next two weeks. [list] [*][b]I live in the US, Georgia to be specific[/b] [*]Applications I will use: [list] [*]3ds Max 2010 [*]Adobe Photoshop CS4 [*]Adobe Premier CS4 [*]Adobe After Effects CS3 [*]Various software for making my musics [*]Steam and the shitload of games I'm going to buy after I build this sonbitch [*]Various other stuffs I may want/need/whatever [/list] [*]What I'm assuming I need is [list] [*]a quad core [*]a lot of ram [*]a 64 bit OS (I've got a later question about this) [*]a nice HDD or two that gives me plenty of space [*]a nice graphics card [*]a nice sound card (Midi input is optional as of now) [*]all those other components that I barely understand [*]Cables [*]help understanding how to integrate all of these pc components to make my pretty little computer [/list] [*]What I have ([b]if I can get something better without going way overbudget then go ahead and add it into my build please[/b]): [list] [*]A Dell 1680x1050 monitor (would look up more specifics but Dells site has terrible navigation) [*]A Dell Keyboard (Would like a new one for gaming/multimedia, please) [*]A Dell optical Mouse (Would like a new one, please) [*]Some crap speakers ([b]add me some new, nice ones if they aren't too expensive, please[/b]) [*]Wacom Intuos 3 9x12 tablet [/list] [*]What I need help with: [list] [*]Can I use my xbox on the same monitor and with the same speakers? If so, what kind of switch should I get (As of now the only one I have is a shit connector that works by pressing scroll lock twice, and only works with a ps/2 keyboard, which I can't use on my current pc)? Xbox video/audio setup as follows: [list] [*]End of cord has VGA and standard red and white RCA connectors. [*]VGA goes to 1680x1050 monitor (not currently using monitor with my pc) [*]RCA connectors converted to a single 1/8" TRS connector. These go to otherwise unused speakers. [/list] [*]Could I get a bigger, better monitor without spending way too much? [*]I really want to understand hardware better. I'm hoping to learn a lot from this build. [*]Cooling? I live in Georgia, so the temperatures aren't too bad, but the room it will be in does get warm when I've got a lot of stuff on. [*]I'm having some delay when I use my mixer with my pc, as well as my piano (usb input). How could the is be fixed to be immediate? My mixer/piano setup: [list] [*]Piano goes to usb input. A couple of seconds delay here, which makes vocoder stuff impossible [*]Microphone goes to mixer via XLR connector. [*]Mixer goes to pc via a 1/4" TRS converted to a 1/8" TRS and then to the Rear Line In input. [/list] [/list] [/list] Now, my question about the 64 bit OS is this: If I get 64 bit Vista, would I be able to find a free deal on a 64 bit Win7 when it comes out? (I've been hearing rumors that you could upgrade for free around FP) Also, would a lot of my applications be able to run on a 64 bit OS? Finally, I've got no clue about making sure I have the right/updated drivers at all times so any help there would be amazing. Anything that I may have missed or messed up on seeing as I'm a complete novice please tell me and I'll add it in. Sorry if the post is confusing, I wanted to provide a ton of detail [highlight]Thanks![/highlight]

When do you plan on buying this?

Edit: 1-2 weeks at most.

Like, just how soon? A lot of the nice combo deals and such on Newegg last only a week or two.

The next week or two, then. As of now I'm more worried about getting all the required components than combo deals, although I do know that's important.

Alright. Do you have to worry about paying tax?

Just curious, what do you draw if you have such a nice tablet?

[QUOTE=Prismatex;16371661]Alright. Do you have to worry about paying tax?[/QUOTE] Nope. I just got a nice check in the mail and it's more than I need for a good rig [QUOTE=Ajacks;16371687]Just curious, what do you draw if you have such a nice tablet?[/QUOTE] Textures, concept stuff. Mostly stuff that I never get around to finishing. I'd use it more, but I've got no games to model and texture for as of now.

[QUOTE=DOG-GY;16371744]Nope. I just got a nice check in the mail and it's more than I need for a good rig Textures, concept stuff. Mostly stuff that I never get around to finishing. I'd use it more, but I've got no games to model and texture for as of now.[/QUOTE] You use your wacom for texturing? I've always found that a hindrance when doing photobased textures, only good for painting textures.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;16371779]You use your wacom for texturing? I've always found that a hindrance when doing photobased textures, only good for painting textures.[/QUOTE] Painting textures, yes. Photobased, no. [editline]11:13AM[/editline] Added cables to op

Are you going to game or use those resource-heavy apps more?

Prismatex how did you manage 175 posts a day on your other alt :O

[QUOTE=Prismatex;16371924]Are you going to game or use those resource-heavy apps more?[/QUOTE] Because I'm going to be using those resource-heavy apps for gaming as well as my job I assume I will use them equally if not use the resource heavy apps more. I would love to use After Effects more but it's like trying to move a whale with a plastic tricycle on my current pc.

Wacoms are awsome for drawing

[QUOTE=DOG-GY;16371960]Because I'm going to be using those resource-heavy apps for gaming as well as my job I assume I will use them equally if not use the resource heavy apps more. I would love to use After Effects more but it's like trying to move a whale with a plastic tricycle on my current pc.[/QUOTE] What is your job?

[QUOTE=Ajacks;16372008]What is your job?[/QUOTE] Modeling, texturing, animating. I also do all of them as a hobby.

[QUOTE=DOG-GY;16372023]Modeling, texturing, animating. I also do all of them as a hobby.[/QUOTE] You get paid for a job, great hobby though.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;16372093]You get paid for a job, great hobby though.[/QUOTE] Yes. I get paid for my job. And it's a hobby.

Do you [B]need[/B] a sound card? Is there one you can reuse? [editline]11:33AM[/editline] Or would you be OK using integrated?

[QUOTE=Prismatex;16372172]Do you [B]need[/B] a sound card? Is there one you can reuse? [editline]11:33AM[/editline] Or would you be OK using integrated?[/QUOTE] I'm not sure what I need as far as sound cards go, to be honest. I don't really know how card itself affects my speakers or how it affects quality of recording. But no, I don't have one I can reuse.

Ajacks has me sold on a P193 so far. What the double post is this nonsense? [editline]03:23PM[/editline] Okay. So I'm going with an Intel Core i7 920. Or should I go with an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550?

Here: [url]https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/publicWishDetail.aspx?wishlistnumber=10608691[/url] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.216527[/url] Comes out to right about 1.1K with the combo. ASUS P6T, i7 920, 6GB DDR3 1600, GTX 275, 600W OCZ modular PSU (overkill, cut it down if you so desire), 1TB HD, Antec Three Hundred, Vista Home Premium 64-bit Add whatever keyboard and mouse you want. You can probably find some combo deals to cut down the cost as well.

Awesome! Thanks. As of now I think that's the build I'm going to get. I'm off keyboard/mouse browsing now. [editline]07:43PM[/editline] Actually, I'm going to hold off on the mouse and see if my wacom tablet's mouse could be used for gaming. If not I've got couple mice laying around. [editline]07:47PM[/editline] Edit numero three. Should I get a g11 keyboard or fork it out and get a g15?

G11, and you should really get a nice laser mouse like the G5. World of a difference.

[QUOTE=Odellus;16381918]G11, and you should really get a nice laser mouse like the G5. World of a difference.[/QUOTE] You don't think it would be a good idea to use my wacom tablet's mouse? If that's so, I'll get the G5.

The tablet probably came with a RFID mouse, no? Not so great for gaming.

[QUOTE=Prismatex;16382198]The tablet probably came with a RFID mouse, no? Not so great for gaming.[/QUOTE] Damn. Oh well. Also, how often should I format and how should I back up said files in a way where I don't have hours of file transfers from the HDD to externals HDDs/some alternative if I do so? [editline]10:36PM[/editline] Shit I forgot a CD drive. Can anyone help me there?

if you move shit a lot I recommend backing up your most important files every few weeks or so, formatting isn't so important. I do it about once a year, some people on here do it once a month. Whatever you feel comfortable with, but you should defrag often. just get a Samsung or Lite-On, Lite-On DVD drives are noisy though.

Already purchased :buddy: I decided to go with a Sony drive. Bad choice? It looked fairly good. [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032[/url]

nah sony is fine