Is this a good purchase for $200?

[TheUltimateNewbie]

LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/ LightScribe and 5X DVD-RAM Write Black ATAPI/E-IDE Model SHM-165H6S - OEM
$36.99

NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM
$29.25

Lian Li PC-7B plus II Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$94.99

SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
$5.99

2x Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E (1,200rpm) 120mm S-FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing by SONY Corporation) Case Cooling Fan - Retail
$27.98

Subtotal
$195.20
Shipping
$10.31
Total
$205.51

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A few notes about the items. (Also, price limit of $200)

1) Is it necessary for me to get two drives? I got the NEC because it's supposedly a better writer, and the Lite-On because it's supposedly a better reader. I currently have a NEC and Lite-On, and the Lite-On can read some discs that the NEC has been unable to, so I want to get both. Should I just stick with one?

2) Are the fans okay? I'm going for a quiet system this time around, so I read some reviews, and people said the Scythe S-Flex was the balance of quietness and CFM. I've been hearing about Yate Loon fans, but I'd prefer to order from the same place. I know the Scythe fans are somewhat expensive, but I don't mind paying the premium for good fans. I'm open to alternatives though.

3) Case is alright? It has 2x 120mm fans, nice simple design, and most importantly, less than $100 w/ free shipping. Already have PSU, so that's not a concern.

4) No, you cannot convince me not to buy that useless floppy drive. I just like the look.

 

[Sforsyth]

I only ever use 1 DVD Writer in my machines, I used to have a DVD Writer and DVD Reader but when ever I tried to read and write from them both it would mess up so now I just use 1 DVD writer to read and write to and from my Hard Drive.

 

[savvy]

Yes. They are solid purchases.

 

[cubby1223]

Switch the floppy drive to a Sony, it's well worth the extra $$.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Disagree with cubby.....Samsung floppy is fine, though my preference is for NEC.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
Disagree with cubby.....Samsung floppy is fine, though my preference is for NEC.

Not too long ago, someone on a different forum decided to test all the current new floppy drive brands, after enough times of new drives saying a disk is unformatted or unreadable, when old floppy drives would read the disk just fine. And the result was Sony drives being the clear winner, reading disks that none of the other new drives could. I'd have to do a lot of searching to pull up that review - but I can say Sony drives have never failed me so far, have never put up any fuss with any disks for any of the computers I have put them into.

That's why I suggest Sony for the couple extra dollars.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Get one DVD-ROM reader (not burner) plus the NEC burner. You'll save $10 and the reader will let you get past a few game copy protection schemes that don't like being installed or run from a burner.

For a case, the Antec SLK3000 is a great 2x120mm budget case, MWave carries it if Newegg is still out of stock.

For your intake fan you might get the quieter 800 RPM scythe instead if you're trying for quiet instead of the best possible cooling.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
Disagree with cubby.....Samsung floppy is fine, though my preference is for NEC.

Not too long ago, someone on a different forum decided to test all the current new floppy drive brands, after enough times of new drives saying a disk is unformatted or unreadable, when old floppy drives would read the disk just fine. And the result was Sony drives being the clear winner, reading disks that none of the other new drives could. I'd have to do a lot of searching to pull up that review - but I can say Sony drives have never failed me so far, have never put up any fuss with any disks for any of the computers I have put them into.

That's why I suggest Sony for the couple extra dollars.

I agree. I have built my main PC many, many times and the only ORIGINAL part that gets installed is my Sony diskette drive. It is well over ten years old and still works like a champ. It has saved my ass many times when a drive croaks and I have to use Ghost to restore an image.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

I don't really see the point to 2 dvd burners. I don't really see how one can be a better reader or writer, maybe if the disc is scratched to hell.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

parts chosen are pretty good,
1. get only 1 dvd burner, theres no need for 2, what do u plan to use 2 for?
2. what do u need a floppy drive for? i haven't used a floppy drive for the part 3 years. complete waste of money
3. the 2 x 120mm fans that come with the lian li case should be pretty quiet already, the 2 i got are very quiet and rotate at 1500rpm, they are adda fans, i'm not sure if lian li has changed that in the past 6 months. why dont u check out the stock fans first before u spend another $30. 1500rom 120mm fans are pretty good as case fans and provide very good airflow.ordering the yate loon fans from another website will save u about $20..

 

[jcmuse]

get 2 nexus 120mm instead.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

nexus fans @ 1000rpm aren't very good case fans, indeed, they are quiet but don't provide much airflow at all. nexus fans would be better suited for low airflow usage (with scythe ninja or scythe mine)