first time AMD builder

[joelthebowl]

I'll try to be brief

my setup in progress:

amd 2500 barton on a7n8x deluxe
corsair twin xms 512 pc2700
maxtor 80G 7200 rpm 8MB 133
geforce ti4200 (asus)
plextor 42x CDRW
case: antec SLK 2600

i don't plan to overclock for quite some time, as i am fairly new to the concept, and don't think it will be necessary. according to tom's, the bundled hsf for the athlon will most likely be sufficient. for the case fan, do i need to do anything special, or settle for something low-cost. at this point, i've read as much as i can find about the antec, but still unsure about its ventilation. i would appreciate any suggestions. i am still waiting for key parts to arrive, so assembly has not begun. thanks

 

[snik]

The retail AMD fan will be sufficient (it IS retail) but I don't think that your ears would like it. You may look into a better and quiter HSF. Since you don't plan to overclock this $19.99 Thermalright SK-7 would be more than enough. When paired with pretty much any kind of a fan it will provide much better cooling than the AMD HSF.

Do you have a link or specs for that Antec case? As far as case fans go consider comparing the CFM to dB ratio before making your purchase. Many recommend the Panaflo L1A (80 mm) because of its excellent cfm to noise ratio. I use these fans my self and would highly recommend using them. They move plenty of air and are pretty much inaudible. The L1A's however, can be pretty expensive.

 

[deerslayer]

I have no experience with retail HSF's, but I would also suggest going with the sk-7. Thermalright makes some very nice HSF, and if you do decide to overclock in the future, it should do pretty well.

For case fans I would suggest Panaflo L1A's. They are easy on the ears and they are good fans. You could also give NMB fan's a try, I have never tried these, but a lot of people suggest them and they are also very quiet.

Welcome to the forums!

 

[Zap]

Don't know how ubiquitous it is now, but the retail HSF that came with an XP2400+ CPU was pretty decent. It was an aluminum thin-fin design soldered onto a thick chromed copper base (I scratched it and saw copper). The fan is a black 60mm by 12mm or so, slightly thicker than the usual 60mmx10mm. The fan is also MUCH quieter than previous ones, such as the blue or green colored units found on other heatsinks (skivved aluminum). The fan is near inaudible in a normal system running at default speeds. Don't know if the fan is thermal controlled or anything, but the XP2400+ stayed nice and cool through a Windows install (including drivers/updates/etc.).

 

[WraithAkaMrak]

I'm also looking at getting the Antec SLK2600AMB for my first Athlon build.
Someone asking for the specs - it comes with a 300W Antec SmartPower P/S, rated 15A on 12v, and 220W on 5/3.3 combined, if I remember correctly.

I've also heard the SK-7 was a great heatsink. Will I have to worry about it being hard to install, or breaking anything?

The L1A fans, you need to buy a 3 or 4-pin connector for those, right? Is it best to connect them to the motherboard or the P/S?

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Originally posted by: WraithAkaMrak
I've also heard the SK-7 was a great heatsink. Will I have to worry about it being hard to install, or breaking anything?

yes, you do need to be careful with this hs. be nice and gentle with that screwdriver as you push the 3-prong clip down to attach to the mobo. it will resist ya and if you're not careful it could slip out and jab into the mobo.

deadseasquirrel