Building my first PC - help please!

[autolycus]

I'd like to build a new PC. I don't do gaming, but i do a fair bit of video editing and multi-tasking.

The components i think might be suitabe i've listed below.

I've done a bit of updating of my current machine over the years, but i'm far from an expert and would be grateful for any advice.

Case
Antec Sonata III Case with 500Watt PSU

Motherboard RAM CPU Bundle MBB-P5NQ66
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2048MB 800Mhz DDR2 Heatsink And Fan nVidia 680I SLI Motherboard

HD
Samsung Spin Point SATAII NCQ 500GB 16Mb Cache Hard Disk Drive <9.0ms 7200rpm - OEM

Monitor
Acer AL1916WAS 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor

Software OS
Windows XP Home OEM - will i need SP2?

To that i guess i'd need to add a decent graphics card, (i'd like to be able to run my monitor and tv - via componet leads - at the same time), DVD ROM Drive, DVD Burner (SATA??), so any suggestions or advice here would be most welcome.

Does this look like a suitable/compatible system? Will i need anything else, like leads, grease, fans etc or will these components come with all i need?

Many thanks in advance.

[Jonny2Bad]

Yeah seems like anice system, be careful of the psu that comes with the case might not be up to the job depending on what gpu you choose but if your not a gamer then one of the cheaper ati 2400 2600 would do you as they have great hd tv and video capabilities. The mobo bundle comes all pre fitted so cant see you needing any cables but i would check that with some1 from nova.

[Danno]

everything looks like it will be ok. the bundle should come with leads to connect the drives and the case with fan or fans so you shouldn't need any extra.

you will need a copy of windows xp that includes SP2.

if your going to use the system for video editing i would recommend going for a second hard drive. have one drive for windows and programs and have a second drive for video editing.

[autolycus]

Thanks for the replies. Taking on board what's been said i'm looking at getting the following from Novatech:

2 x Western Digital Caviar SE16 250Gb 16Mb Cache Hard Disk Drive SATAII 300MB/s <8.9ms 7200rpm - OEM

Antec Sonata III Case with 500Watt PSU

Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2400 PRO SILENT 256MB DDR2 HDTV/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail

Samsung DVD Rom Drive SATA Black OEM

Samsung Lightscribe SATA 18xDVD+/-R/RW/RAM Black OEM With Nero

Motherboard Bundle Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2048MB 800Mhz DDR2 Heatsink And Fan nVidia 680I SLI Motherboard

Plus Windows XP SP2 and Acer AL1916WAS 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor
from a different supplier.

I'd be grateful for just a final confirmation that these items are all compatible and appropriate for for what i want to do as per OP, and that i haven't forgotten anything!

Thanks

[Taxation]

Whats the budget for this computer
So we know what to add instead of other things etc

comments:
2 hard drives?? why not get a bigger single drive?
ATI 2400 Pro is a bit of a weedy card especially seeing that your getting the Quad 6600

[autolycus]

Well, i'm looking at about £800, which is coincidentally(!!) about what this lot is going to cost. I don't really want to spend more unless i can see a big benefit for what i want to do. Danno gave me the idea of 2 HDs for video editing, which i believe is generally accepted as best practice, and i recon 500GB in total should be fine. The graphics probably is a bit weedy for the system, but i don't game - just watch some streaming video - and i also want to have the ability to connect to the TV via component, which i believe this card will do.

Comments appreciated and feel free to point out any flaws in my reply as i'm very much still learning.

[Jonny2Bad]

The 2nd hdd will improve the system speed as it does with all systems if you have a 2nd hdd running your music and films it leaves the main hdd to run the os and progs. So if doing video editing a 2nd hdd is a must really to help the 4 cores to their work to a maximum

[autolycus]

Well, i took the plunge last night and ordered the bits. I changed the ROM drive to liteon and added a basic novatech K/B, otherwise as planned. I guess my next posting will be in a week when i start screwing everything up - i mean - together.

One question meanwhile, as a matter of interest, why SP2 and not SP1 with this kit?

Thanks

[Taxation]

sp2 is newer
It is more up to date and requires less updates

[autolycus]

Thanks T, so there's no technical reason why XP home, XP home SP1 or XP home SP2 all would not work with this system?

[Taxation]

They should all work fine on the system