Considering building a new computer

[Jinx999]

Instead of a single 2TB drive I would grab 4 or so smaller but highly reliable drives and mount them in RAID 5 for my data (I have 4 of these; works very well and very quiet: http://www.newegg.com/Pro...spx?Item=N82E16822136320 Though some people complain about the noise so it might be my haf case keeping the noise down), and depending on your budget get an SSD harddrive for the OS. Then again I don't know if windows likes raid or if it's still not at that level.

Can you tell me the advantage of this? Because, pricewise, 2TB seems to be the sweet spot atm.

If you must buy windows (Yuck) you should probably at least spring for professional, since it is the version without a crippled kernel (well as non-crippled as windows kernels get these days). Since you are buying sufficient ram to run windows I assume you'll be running a 64 bit version? And I would be leery about running windows 7 with just 4 GB of ram, of course my usual workload is a bit heftier than most people's. But if you are in the UK and need to pay the microsoft UK tax (1$ = 1 pound... sure) it might not be worth it. (if windows is ever worth it)

I'm a non expert with worries about compatibility issues and learning curve. Which means Bill gates has a manacle around my leg. Yes, 64 bit. Can you be more specific about the advantages (or, if you prefer the lessened disadvantages) of professional edition?

My personal dislike of the RADEON line is well documented (too many failures and horror stories) so I won't bitch about it here.

Never have had a problem with it, personally.

I'm unfamiliar with CiT and power-supplies I usually research for a bit due to past reliability issues frying a lot of expensive hardware. Never skimping on power-supply cost again, learned that lesson the hard way.

I picked that because it was cheap, but not bargin basement.

Nice Screen selection, I find the extra 120 vertical pixels worth paying for in a 1920x1200 display but that does depend on what is on sale. I have 2 of these http://www.newegg.com/Pro...spx?Item=N82E16824001371 and they are quite nice but very pricey.

I added up the cost and it's already pretty high by my standards.

If you are thinking of doing a mid-lifecycle upgrade of newer CPU and more ram I would suggest getting a AMD, because they tend to be better at that.

Wireless keyboards haven't worked for me ever, but the last time I tried it was a decade ago. I hope technology has marched on.

I'm fine with my current one. It runs from the PS2 socket, which I prefer, probably for sentimental reasons.
I checked the memory. It is two channel.
How much of an advantage is an SSD?