Help! configure my new AMD XP PC!

[xboxdude]

Here's what I plan to put in the PC, primarily a gaming machine.. please help me by suggesting any gotchas with the components..
component brand average street price
========= ======================== ==============
cpu amd athlon xp 1600 130
cpu cooler alpha pal8045 + quiet fan 40
motherboard soyo dragon+ 150
case fong kai fk320 90
hdd seagate barracude 4 or ibm deskstar 90
ram crucial, 512mb ddr2100 110
video card geforce3 ti200 (msi / gainward) 170

I've never built a PC before, but I've seen it done a zillion times.. so I have some basic questions..

1) If I buy the above parts online, will I get all required cables, connectors, and screws
2) Any suggestions for the case.. Anandtech recommended the Fong Kai.. is 300W enough? Will it fit the Alpha CPU cooler?
3) Should I think of a HDD cooler? If so, what is recommended?
4) Any other gotchas you can think of.. recommendations of alternate / additional parts?

 

[FlowerMan]

The PAL8045 might not fit on the Dragon mobos... or so I've heard. Fong Kai = POS, get an Antec or Enermax. ($99 at Newegg.com)

The mobo may come with only one ATA cable. My Abit KG7's only came with one. You will not get a 4-pin cable for the CDrom-sound card either.

Case? See above. I'm running 2 machines at work consisting of: XP 1700, Abit KG7lite, PAL8045+Sunon 2.1W 80mm, etc...

HD Cooler? Coolermaster 4002 or put a fan in the HD holder of the Antec SX1030 (enermax case is the same)

forgot your floppy, cdrom, network card, modem, etc...? If the PAL8045 does not fit, you might want to try the PAL6035 or Thermalright SK6.

 

[xboxdude]

thanks..
the floppy, cdrom etc are standard stuff, so i didnt list them..

But is there any other component needed essential for a high-performance gaming pc?

Is it worth putting an HDD cooler? Does it boost perf?

Any sites that do case reviews?

Any recommendations for a quiet fan that also cools a lot? Know where I can find the Orix fan anandtech reviewed (with the 8045)?

Regarding the connectors, the sound card - cdrom cable should come with the sound card or cdrom (so i hope)..
The online Soyo manual says it supplies with 3 ata/66 cables.. I think this would be useless having an ATA/100 drive like the barracuda.. so do I need to buy special ata/100 cables? What is recommended? How many?

Does the Soyo Dragon+ work well with Windows XP? Does it have all the drivers?

 

[FlowerMan]

But is there any other component needed essential for a high-performance gaming pc?

- Arctic Silver Thermal Compound would be nice.

Is it worth putting an HDD cooler? Does it boost perf?

- How would it boost performance? It will increase longevity and stability though.

Any sites that do case reviews?

- Search www.google.com for the case your want.

Any recommendations for a quiet fan that also cools a lot? Know where I can find the Orix fan anandtech reviewed (with the 8045)?

- Panaflo L1, M1, or H1.

Regarding the connectors, the sound card - cdrom cable should come with the sound card or cdrom (so i hope)..
The online Soyo manual says it supplies with 3 ata/66 cables.. I think this would be useless having an ATA/100 drive like the barracuda.. so do I need to buy special ata/100 cables? What is recommended? How many?

- Sound cards and CDroms dont come with the 4-pin cable... or so I've noticed. ATA66 cables are the same as the ATA100

Does the Soyo Dragon+ work well with Windows XP? Does it have all the drivers?

- I havent heard any complaints. It's based on the Via Kt266, right? Should be fine, you always gotta download the latest Via 4-1 drivers for your mobo.

 

[xboxdude]

that enermax case is a sweet looking case. Its the same one used by Alienware!!.. 3 fans!! Now I hope that doesn't make it noisy..

Now Antec seems to have the exact same case.. but their specs mention 2 fans.
http://www.antec-inc.com/product/cases/sohoser.html

Which one has a better power supply, as far as a cleaner signal? The enermax seems to have a 330W v/s 300W of the Antec.
Are they both made by the same case manufacturer?

I love the blue case.. pity newegg doesn't have it..

 

[elimcpheron]

actually the soyo dragon+ is compatible with the alpha pal8045

check this site for the mobo compatibility listings:

blah