Help me build a computer $1000

Sorry if this is kind of a noob question but I am still very much learning as this is my first computer build. Wouldnt it be safer though to go with two 500gb HDDs and run them in raid 0 then running a single TB HDD, please explain to me how that would be safer. Also if need be I can go over budget a bit I got a raise this week and can get any software I need free from work so they will provide me with Vista or XP 64 so that would save $100 right there. As far as motherboards go I want something that will allow for more upgrades in the future so I need it to have a few extra ports, the one you listed, does that have a bit of extra room for when I may need it?
Also for something like the graphics card if its only like an extra $50 or something to get something like the 8800 I wouldnt mind I can throw in an hour or two of overtime to afford the extra luxuries if need be. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif Although it is mainly for CAD, Autodesk, and CS3 I will use it at sometimes for some other things maybe a little gaming here or there nothing hardcore but maybe some unreal or GTA4 if/when it gets released for PC
RAID 0 means if 1 drive fails, you lose all your data. Thus having 2 x 500 GB drives in RAID 0 means you double your chances of losing your data compared to 1 x 1000 GB drive. RAID 1 gives you parity, but you get 1 drive's capacity (i.e. 2 x 500 GB in RAID 1 gives you data parity, so if 1 drive fails, you don't lose anything, but you'll only get 500 GB of storage).
The DFI board I linked to has 6 x SATA2 ports, so it leaves you room to add 2 more hard drives without having to purchase a SATA controller card. It has 6 USB ports, though it doesn't have Firewire (~$10 card to put in, but if you want Firewire onboard, there are other boards that offer it for roughly the same price).

The 8800 GT won't help much, if at all, w/ CAD or CS3 unless you're doing ultra-high-end 3D rendering using CAD (in which case you should be looking into an ATI FireGL or Nvidia Quadro). CPU, RAM, and HDD is what is going to help there. If you plan on playing casual games, I recommend the ATI HD 3850 256 MB, which is $100 after Mail-In Rebate. It'll play every game fine at 1280x1024/1440x900 on Medium settings or better, including Crysis. If you plan on playing at higher resolutions, then the 9600 GT ($145), HD 3870 ($155), or 8800 GT ($165) will be a better fit, though obviously more expensive.

 
If you plan on playing at higher resolutions, then the 9600 GT ($145), HD 3870 ($155), or 8800 GT ($165) will be a better fit, though obviously more expensive.
I'd recommend the 512MB over the 256MB 3850. The extra memory might come in handy for some CAD work, depending on how intensive.

There's some great deals out there on them:

Asus for $110 after MIR

MSI for $130 after MIR

And yeah, RAID 0 is not something I'd ever run. The minuscule gain in sustained performance is just not worth the risks, imo. RAID 1 or an external HDD would be the way to go for data protection.

 
I don't mean to sound offensive here, but your about to sink a G into a new computer and your going to have someone else pick out your parts? Atleast do some research first or something so you can ask legit questions if need be.
Understandable but the simple fact is between being a full-time student, holding a full time job, car audio, and competitve in several sports its just hard to find the time to learn everything there is to know about computers so I figure I know most of the basics and will ask friends here for the rest of the help. Money is a lot easier for me to get then the time to learn it all so I have no problem having help from these guys in picking out my setup. But thanks for your comment

 
Does your movie editing involve any rendering or so you do any graphic design?
Here's what I can come up with:

(2) Pioneer DVD Burners = $61.99 for both

Thermaltake Tsunami Case = $119.99 - $20 MIR

(2) Western Digital 640GB AAKS Hard Drives RAID0 = $259.98 for both

EVGA 8800GT 512MB = $189.99 - $30 MIR

G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-800 = $76.99

Gigabyte P35-DS3L Motherboard = $89.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz = $219.99

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Heatsink = $26.99

Vista Home Premium 32-bit System Builder Pack = $109.99

Rosewill 550w PSU = $56.99

Total: $1,199.64 (Shipped after MIR)

EDIT: I really believe this will be the best way you can spend your money. It's a well balanced system, of course not all 4 gigs of RAM will show up with a 32-bit OS, but ~3.3 will and if you ever switch to 64-bit you'll be set. Lots of storage for movies and way more than enough processing power (both GPU and CPU) to satisfy your every need. Of course it can be made cheaper with a lesser video card, but the 8800GT is an amazing deal. You can drop one DVD burner, but two is nice for CD/DVD direct copying.
thats not a good psu..thats also cheap ram..if you dont game or arent into hardcore editing a 9600gt would suit fine..

 
as you have seen you are gonna get a ton of different responses. there is nothing wrong with Rosewill power supplies or G-Skill ram

The price on those drives has dropped $60 since, they are $99 shipped each now:)

 
as you have seen you are gonna get a ton of different responses. there is nothing wrong with Rosewill power supplies or G-Skill ram
The price on those drives has dropped $60 since, they are $99 shipped each now:)
rosewill doesn't make good power supplies..and while gskill is ok..its bottom of the barrel ram..stick wit corsair

 
it depends on which build u decide to go with..
Well so far I dont have much picked out I plan to spend 1000 or so. I already have the software I need and the case will be here very soon, I plan on getting a quad core so for the price I think the Q6600 is going to be the way to go so I would plan on having 4gb of ram for that with anywhere from 500-1000gb HDD and for graphics I was thinking of a card around 150 or so but other than that I really dont have any plan set in stone yet. I just have the monitor, case, mouse/keyboard/ and speaker system thats all

 
as you have seen you are gonna get a ton of different responses. there is nothing wrong with Rosewill power supplies or G-Skill ram
The price on those drives has dropped $60 since, they are $99 shipped each now:)
Antec Earthwatts 500W and Corsair CMPSU-450VX > Rosewill 550W for about the same price ...
 
rosewill doesn't make good power supplies..and while gskill is ok..its bottom of the barrel ram..stick wit corsair
have you read the reviews on Rosewill ps's? all 4-5 eggs on newegg.

that recommended one has 326 reviews and 247 are excellent, not bad in my opinion.

there are many worse choices out there for the same price and it isn't like he is gonna spend a few hundred on a pcp&c, for a budget power supply it is a wise choice

538 reviews on the g.skill and 460 are 5 eggs, 86%

 
As far as motherboards what would you guys recomend cause that seems to be one of the most important peices to buy at the moment, I was thinking about getting something that could handle 8gb just so in the future I could always upgrade if need be from the 4gb I plan on buying but other than that I dont really know what to look for in a motherboard like you guys know, I plan to keep it between 100-150 if possible, unless you guys think its going to really be worth the extra cash

 
As far as motherboards what would you guys recomend cause that seems to be one of the most important peices to buy at the moment, I was thinking about getting something that could handle 8gb just so in the future I could always upgrade if need be from the 4gb I plan on buying but other than that I dont really know what to look for in a motherboard like you guys know, I plan to keep it between 100-150 if possible, unless you guys think its going to really be worth the extra cash
Actually, the PSU is one of the most critical pieces to get. Never, ever skimp here. Precisely why I recommended the PSU I did.

http://www.jonnyguru.com for some great info. The PSU section at www.hardforum.com contains a wealth of info, as well.

 
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