Monarch Computers HS/F

[quizzelsnatch]

I'm looking at buying a CPU/Mobo combo from Monarch Computer Systems. I was pretty disappointed when I saw the large lack of HS/Fs that Monarch has. Which one of those would be the best? Or should I order my own and replace the one that they give me with something like a Zalman CNPS-7000?

 

[akira34]

Newegg also offers up combo's/bundles of mobo's and processors... Not sure if they assemble them or not (I've not done that kind of thing in over 3 years, assembling everything myself). Of course, you COULD just get the mobo of your choice, along with the processor of your choice, and then put whatever HSF you want...

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: akira34
Newegg also offers up combo's/bundles of mobo's and processors... Not sure if they assemble them or not (I've not done that kind of thing in over 3 years, assembling everything myself). Of course, you COULD just get the mobo of your choice, along with the processor of your choice, and then put whatever HSF you want...

Yes, do that. Just get a good/quality MB with whatever combo you get.

 

[akira34]

Another benefit of putting the processor, mobo, HSF together yourself... You don't have to worry about the person putting it together having a 'bad day' and buggering it all up on you. Granted it's going to take longer than getting it shipped put together already, but isn't that part of why you're putting the computer together yourself? Otherwise, why not just purchase one already fully assembled?

For me, half the fun is doing the assembly...

 

[Tyrant222]

hey quiz,

I would just buy something else from svc.com or something. i believe the XP-120 is well regarded if you got the funds.

monarch has a special going where you get far cry + HL2 for free if you buy a combo. there prices are good as well. It was a no brainer after comparing zipzoomfly and newegg.

Link

 

[quizzelsnatch]

Yeah, it's much cheaper to do it at monarch, that's why I want to get the combo from them. The only problem is that I don't like the selection of HS/Fs and I was wondering if any of them would be good for overclocking.

 

[akira34]

I didn't see any great prices with those combo's... Take away the 'free' software and the prices are pretty much the same as other sites... Unless they're going to send you the games on media, I say it's not worth it... Even if they do, it might not be. Check the other vendors to see what else they have to offer with the bundles... OR, select the no heatsink option and get your own HSF of choice...

 

[quizzelsnatch]

Well, I really do want HL2.
you HAVE to choose a heatsink... Should I just choose the 8 dollar one and then when I get my own just switch them?

 

[akira34]

Go with the retail box cpu so that you don't have to dick around with another fan... It's less of a difference than getting the cheapest heatsink they're packaging with the bundle...

I'd also highly recommend getting the MSI mobo (K8N Neo2 Platinum)... Not sure about the other mobo's but MSI covers theirs for 3 years. Also getting the retail processor means you're covered on that for 3 years (from AMD). All that without spending even close to what they want to charge you for the same warranty period (another $30 on top of everything else)...

As far as I'm concerned, only newbs go with bundles. Anyone with any experience (and skill) will do the full assembly themself.

 

[quizzelsnatch]

Like I've already said, it's cheaper at Monarch to get the bundle than it is at Newegg to get the same thing.

 

[akira34]

You'll do what you want, but I'D get the version with the retail processor so that you're covered by the 3 year warranty and then get whatever the hell you want for a cooler... The retail and OEM processors are within $2 of each other making it a hell of a lot cheaper to do that and get the HSF you want then to get the $8 HSF installed and get the other one on top of it.

Like I've said [as well], bundles are for newbs that don't have the confidence (or ability) to properly assemble a system. I tried it ONCE, on my second build and it was a nightmare. I had to go through the tech's at the place I got the bundle from to get help (not the product manufacturers, which would have been a hell of a lot easier) since the config was buggered by the people that put it together. If you've put more than two systems together in the past two years, then you shouldn't have any problem putting together another. As for the game, I'm sure you can get that with something else (perhaps a video card upgrade you're itching for)... After that one experience with 'bundled' mobo and processors I swore to never again trust some twit to assemble critical components for my systems. Especially when I'm more than qualified to do it myself.

Yes, that bundle might be cheaper, but if they don't do it properly, you're already going to have issues. I don't mind spending a few dollars more, and KNOW that the hardware is assembled properly. Especially when I'm building a system that matters (they ALL do, even for me, family or paying customers).

Keep in mind, OEM processors have 90 day warranties.. That's IT unless you pay for the extra warranties... So, that will pretty much eat up your savings right there. Especially if you don't do the extra warranty and you have a processor failure after 90 days...

 

[quizzelsnatch]

Hmmmmm. You have some points... I'll just decide when I get the money, thanks for the advice.

 

[jbh129]

I wonder if monarch's limited selection of heatsinks is due to the fact that they ship the board with the heatsink installed. I know that many of the popular heatsinks exceed intel/amd's max weight. Obviously the xp90 does not but it may be part of the reason.

 

[qulAKle]

I ordered this combo and got the venus 7+. Its a sweet deal. For around 470 I got everything cpu, mobo, hsf, far cry and half life 2.

 

[Algere]

I know that many of the popular heatsinks exceed intel/amd's max weight. Obviously the xp90 does not but it may be part of the reason.

The XP-90 in combination with a fan can exceed Intel/AMD's weight limit (depends what fan is used).

 

[quizzelsnatch]

Originally posted by: jbh129
I wonder if monarch's limited selection of heatsinks is due to the fact that they ship the board with the heatsink installed. I know that many of the popular heatsinks exceed intel/amd's max weight. Obviously the xp90 does not but it may be part of the reason.

Yes, they list that as a reason at the bottom, but I still don't see why they would only have a selection of like 4 different HS/Fs.

 

[Mrvile]

Ok I ordered a combo from Monarch (shut up Akira) and here's what I did:

Ordered a MSI K8N Neo2 Plat combod with a 3500+ OEM. I paid less, only 252 (at the time) bucks for the CPU, and bought the XP-90 seperate. The funny thing is Monarch sent me the AMD HSF anyway, so I had to remove that when the combo arrived. I only got Farcry for free though because HL2 wasn't available at the time.

And Akira, if you say ordering a combo is for noobs basically I skipped a step ordering a combo. I skipped the "attach CPU to motherboard and throw lever" step (although in the end I had to do this anyway in order to get the XP-90 backplate on). Man I must be noob!

 

[GlobalHPSJoe]

Originally posted by: quizzelsnatch
I'm looking at buying a CPU/Mobo combo from Monarch Computer Systems. I was pretty disappointed when I saw the large lack of HS/Fs that Monarch has. Which one of those would be the best? Or should I order my own and replace the one that they give me with something like a Zalman CNPS-7000?

Our selection of heatsink/fans we have in our combo configurator is limited to only those that are safe to ship installed. (Our combos are pretested and setup with the latest release bios flashed) We do offer the Zalman cooler, but choose not to ship it installed on the combo, as that is a beast of a cooler.