I am looking to build my second computer myself and wanted some guidance. I am building this computer for video editing and need something with more power. I will be installing windows 7 64 bit on the computer. I already have two 1TB hard drives and two 250GB hard drives that I will be using with it, also have a monitor so no need for that. I am looking to buy an i7 with a good deal of ram (6-8+ GB). My price range is about $700-$800. Can anyone help with this?

Hello,
First off, I don't run Win7, or 64bit.

When you speak about video editing, what kind of software are you planning to use? Is the software professional, or consumer? This has a huge bearing on what components you need to build with.

I do a lot of video editing. Working with avis, mpegs, dvds, encoding/ripping. I use Pegasys software (consumer) for encoding, along with various other free software... virtualdub, ffdshow, subtitleworkshop, etc.

Machine specs for consumer software aren't that stringent. A good video card, versus an expensive video card, is all that's required. Basically, you don't have to buy an expensive vid card for editing, although it would help if there was a fair amount of ram on it. The most important is raw CPU power which the i7 should have plenty of. The next thing is a good motherboard with good regulation, a good power supply, and good after-market CPU cooler done up with Arctic Silver 5 or equiv. Don't use the stock CPU cooler if you can help it.

Care to explain why not?

The editing software I will be using is CS4 and I MIGHT be using 3DS. Any video edits will be in AVCHD format. Why not the 64bit? How else would you take full control over the ram and software?

This was only to inform the OP that I don't run Win7 or 64bit so I cannot relate to that OS and 64bit applications.

Did you think I meant something else?

See my reply to Troy.
What has 64bit have to do with this?

Oh my goodness! I completely misread that one! I didn't read the "I" properly, and thought you were telling the OP not to use 64-bit Windows 7, and I was a bit surprised by it. Sorry mate!

64-bit would be required to make full use of the RAM as the OP is wanting 6-8GB. dmichael, are you looking for some help choosing parts for this machine?

Yes, this is what I thought you were thinking. No problem, I think the OP misread it too.

Yes, I already know this. My question is more about "controlling" the ram and software. Perhaps the OP meant controlling the amount of ram he can install/use. As far as software goes, there's nothing to do as long as it supports 64bit.

Yes I was looking for what parts you thought were best for the build. I already have an idea but I am not sure yet.

Well go ahead and give me the parts that you are thinking first! If I can use anything as a base then it will help to make it "your" machine.

Everything that I am looking at is coming from new egg....

ATX Mid Tower Black Computer Case With 585W Power Supply
N82E16811121065 Price $60

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
N82E16813128375 Price $189

XFX PVT95GZAFG GeForce 9500 GT 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card
N82E16814150322 Price $60

Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB
N82E16819115202 Price $289

G.SKILL Trident 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2000 (PC3 16000)
N82E16820231282 Price $125 X 2

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X
N82E16827151192 Price $29

Not sure what kind of fan just yet
Price $?

That is everything I was looking at, I have the hard drives and the monitors. Thanks

Definitely need to upgrade the case and PSU, you want a good case with airflow to keep the parts nice and cool, and a quality PSU to make sure everything can get the power needed.