Please help new guy with build.

[Evolution]

Hey everyone. I'm new here, so please go easy on me.

I already have a bunch of components I purchased for my Dimension 8400, but I'm fed up with it and hopefully can return it to Dell. I'd like to put together a nice system that can accomodate everything I already have for under $500. So here's what I have already:

Maxtor SATA 80GB HD
Seagate IDE 160GB HD
WD USB2 80GB external HD

2GB PC2-4200 OCZ ValueRAM

ATI All-in-Wonder x600 Pro PCI-E

NEC ND-3500A DVD-RW
Lite-On 167T DVD

Dell 1704 FPT LCD monitor

and a bunch of USB2-compliant peripherals. The only one that I suppose would restrict my build is the DigiDesign Mbox, which has limited compatibility (listed at bottom).

So basically, I'd like to build something that has good performance for audio, video, and graphics editing. Ideally it would accept PC2-4200 RAM and be capable of running the mbox with no problems. I need a case, Mobo, CPU, soundcard, and heatsink that fit those needs somewhere in the $500 range.

Is that doable? Any suggestions?

Mbox Compatibility:
AMD Athlon 64 or 64 FX Processor

VIA K8T800, VIA K8T800 PRO, or NVIDIA nForce3 chipset
Socket 754 or 939 motherboard
384 MB minimum of supported RAM*
512 MB or higher highly recommended
AMD Athlon XP Processor (2000+)

VIA KT266A or NVIDIA nForce chipset
384 MB minimum of supported RAM*
512 MB or higher highly recommended
Intel Pentium 4 or Xeon Processor (2.4GHz+)

Intel 865PE, 875P, 925XE, 915GV, or 915GL chipset with P4
Asus P4C800-E motherboard (P4 w/875P)
384 MB minimum of supported RAM*
512 MB or higher highly recommended
The following chipsets have been approved with desktop computers with Intel P4 processors:

Intel 925XE
Intel 915PL
Intel 915GL/915GV
Intel 875P
Intel 865PE
Intel 850/850E
Intel 845/845E/845PE
Chipset Compatibility Alert

Digidesign's Mbox is not compatible with desktop computers with the following chipsets:
Intel 915G
Intel 915P
Intel 925X

 

[cillo76]

under $500, no. Closer to $1500.

 

[SonnieP]

A case, mb, cpu with heatsink, and and sound card should be doable as long as you stay reasonable. You might even consider using the onboard sound for now.

Consider the 939 chipset and stay with AMD for cost factor. It might not be much but I think it's some less.

 

[apj101]

Consider the 939 chipset and stay with AMD for cost factor. It might not be much but I think it's some less.

939 is a socket time, not a chipset

 

[cillo76]

You should look into the new iMac's. They can do all of the things, EXCEPT for gaming. very well.

 

[SonnieP]

939 is a socket time, not a chipset

Actually it's a socket type, isn't it... not sure where my brain was when I wrote that.

 

[Praetor]

Intel 865PE, 875P, 925XE, 915GV, or 915GL chipset with P4

Digidesign's Mbox is not compatible with desktop computers with the following chipsets:
Intel 915G
Intel 915P
Intel 925X

Um..... why the HELL isnt the 925X not compatible?

2GB PC2-4200 OCZ ValueRAM

If you want to use this then you'll be in Intel land. ... which is ok since you want to be doing graphical editing

I need a case, Mobo, CPU, soundcard, and heatsink that fit those needs somewhere in the $500 range

Well the heatsink tends to come with the CPU and the mobo will have onboard sound so really all you need is a CPU, MOBO and maybe a PSU (i.e., should be doable)

under $500, no. Closer to $1500.

For a mobo and processor?

Actually it's a socket type, isn't it...

Quite correct