Hi PCBUILDers,

I am building a new machine for myself for the Holidays and I am looking
for some input from those here "in the know".

I am looking to use top-of-the-line components, except for the video
card.  I am not a gamer and don't need to spend $200-$300 on a fancy video
card.

Here is my plan:

- P4 2.8-3.2 Ghz, 800 Mhz FSB w/HT
- Minimum of 512MB RAM
- Still on the fence about SATA or RAID, but will have a 200GB HD for video
editing.
- Good case and PSU
- USB/FIREWIRE ports
- 1000MB NIC, or at least a top-of-the-line 100MB card.

Can anyone recommend a good motherboard?  Should I get ECC RAM?  Opinions
on RAID and SATA appreciated.  Any and ALL comments welcome.  I would
appreciate all replies to the list for others to see as well.  I should
note that I have done a lot of research already, but most of it has left me
more confused than anything.  Especially over SATA and RAID.  I used to
build and install/setup machines for a living, so I am not new to this, but
since my career path has changed in the last two years, I have lost touch
with some of the newest "stuff:.

Eric Greenberg

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