Last check before I build . .

[Platyply]

Well, after many months of planning I've finally settled on a setup. I'll probably end up building this system in my dorm >:| because I took so long getting the specs and my money together and waiting for the new part around the corner. Anyway, here are the specs:

Antec SX1040 Full-Tower ATX Case w/Antec 400W PS
Gigabyte GA-7DXR
Tbird 1.2Ghz Athlon 266Mhz FSB
CGK760092B Forged Aluminum w/30CFM Fan (is it too loud?)
Crucial PC2100 256MB DDR-SDRAM
IBM Deskstar 60GXP 60GB
Pioneer 106S DVD Drive
Plextor PlexWriter 24/10/40A (hate waiting . . .)
ATI Radeon 64MB DDR VIVO
Hercules Game Theater XP
3Com EtherLink 3C905C-TXM
Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro
Logitech iFeel Mouse
Gravis Eliminator Aftershock Gamepad (for Motocross Madness 2)
Windows 98SE
SyncMaster 955DF 19-inch (18.0 vis) Monitor

Total: $1,922.90

I plan on watching TV on my PC to save space, and hooking up a bookshelf stereo to the PC for my speakers. I'm not sure if I can hook up my VCR to the PC to watch my VHS tapes, anyone can help me with this? This is pretty much a school system with an occasional RTS or racing game (I'm a console gamer). I don't plan to overclock, but you never know. I will do the XP upgrade this October (hence the Win98 SE) and hopefully move to one of the hammers from AMD. Does this system check out, is it too much? What about removable media; is there anything that's faster and more convenient than ZIP?

- The Plat

 

[bearmeat]

heheh, you're gonna be one of THOSE guys in the dorms huh? I used to have a full tower, and I can tell you, it is NOT the way to go for a college PC. I went through 2-3 cases before settling with my Lian Li PC60. as for the other components, they look good. If its space saving you want I would seiously look into getting another sound card. The Herc is good, but takes up another chunk of the desk. You could find a way to stand it sideways, but getting a TB Santa Cruz ,Acoustic Edge, or a SB card would be better. It is a little much, but there were always these guys with overkill comps in the dorms that could watch TV, play games, DVD and just about do anything on their crazy rigs. Those guys hardly left the room though....

 

[wfbberzerker]

i would go with an epox 8k7a motherboard if i was you, a much better board in my opinion, and many people on this forum recommend it.

bearmeat: what do you mean that the hercules sound card takes up too much space? dont sound cards go inside the case?

 

[AgentofEvil]

The herc XP has a breakout box that sits on top of your desk. Its has allthe connections on it.

 

[TunaBoo]

I have room right next to my desk for my Antec 1030SX. On top of that I stack my Dell server. Then goes my router. Then my 8 port switch. Then my USB hub

 

[GremlinHater]

Half of it's my system! Me approve.

 

[wfbberzerker]

i still say epox 8k7a

 

[Duvie]

In my opinion:

I would go with the epox as well

I think the case and power supply is overkill, but each his own...

Otherwise killer system, I commend you on doing the obvious research you have done.


The vcr should work as the video in on the radeon card...hence the vi of vivo...

Where is the tv tuner if you plan on watching tv on the pc?

 

[Platyply]

The RADEON VIVO has a TV-Tuner from what I understand. So, if I hook up the TV cable to the VCR "antenna" jack, and the CPU to the "OUT TO TV" jack on the VCR, I should be able to watch TV and movies on my pc, but will have to change channels on the VCR. I just checked out the Epox, and the Gigabyte seems to have more features and a jumperless set-up, versus the Epox which uses the switches and jumper thing. I'll look into it, but that blue PCB is hard to say no to. About the case, what would you reccommend? I figured if I ever wanted to go RAID I could space the HDs to prevent over-heating (as the Antec has three int. HD slots).

The Herc's breakout box is the only setup where I can hook up my stereo spekers to the PC. There's the SB Live! Platinum but its connections are in the front, and from what I hear the Herc is a better card.

 

[GremlinHater]

Platyply: ?! Hey can you tell me where you found this out or point me to more specific info on how to set that up? Cause that would be soweet!

Edit: So basically your saying you would hook up your cable ot your VCR, and have it output to the card's input, hence, getting TV on your computer, sounds like it will work, gotta give it a try, If I don't before you do, can you message me about your results?