if you are wanting to do video editing, infact anything other than word processing and internetting get a CRT monitor, a sony, or dell - 19'' im pretty sure dells are made by sony. you will save a hell of a lot here, and they are better, fact, for video/gaming you cannot beat a CRT, unless you are gonna spend silly money on a TFT with a desent response time also, id go with min of 1gb ram, and get 2x512 sticks [fast] matched to run dual channel and then you should in thory as long as u get a desent mobo be able to stick 2 cheaper slower 1gb sticks in at a later date if you need them and personally if your video editing, i wouldnt have a 74gb raptor and some 300s. id get 2x74s in raid 0 and a good dvd writer / ram as for cooling, it depends if you can cope with a jet engine on your desk. personally for a first build id leave the water! but the vapo chill coolers do work Very well for passive finally, i would spend a reasonable amount on a gfx card cause you will probably regret it otherwise. cause with a machine thats that good you want to be able to play a few games. my 2p