Need advice on my computer spec

[Sentinelk9]

As the subject says i'm gona be building a computer for the first time. I'm trying to make it so that it doesn't burn a big hole in my wallet, but I want pretty good performance... so here goes:

**Config:**

3.06 P4 800FSB $410
Spark Series 7+ cpu cooler ~$34
EPoX EP-4PDAI Motherboard (has Sata and Fast ethernet) ~$110
Crucial 2x 512mb $190 (total)

9800 ATI Radeon AIW $385
120Gb Maxtor SATA $109
Iomega DVD+RW $130
Khypermedia CDRW $40 (I'm gettin 2 drives so i can make CD copies easily)

I haven't decided on a powersupply yet... what do you guys think about a 400W power supply? An enermax maybe?

With a power supply costing like 60-70$, the total comes out to be $1473 - not bad at all.

I need help with two main things (above and beyond your advice for the above ofcourse)
1. How many fans should I put in?
2. What/where should I get a cpu case?

1: I figure I'd need atleast 4-5 fans to satiate the heat the raedeon and the P4 will make. www.xoxide.com has some cool CCD fans. I figure I can set up my case to have a few intake fans blow right on top of the HD. Also, if I do get 4-5 fans, will there be enough connectors to hook them up.. or will I need a Rheobus?

2: As for the case, well I want a modded case. Xoxide's Blue X-dreamer is pretty nice... but does anyone have any good suggestions? I doubt I'll have the time to mod it myself; at least not as much as I would like. So a pre-modded case is going to be my best choice - have any ideas?

Also, since this is my first time building.. I was thinking maybe a removeable motherboard section and stuff would make it easier... but does it really matter?

This machine will likely be used for serious gaming, I figure this should be relatively good specs without overkill... 3.2Ghz P4 would be nice but thats way too expensive and 140Mhz increase is really not worth it.

Thanks in advance peeps.

 

[newbiepcuser]

I think 3.06 is over kill and not worth the price, I would go with either 2.8 or 2.6. If you plan to Overclock, then 2.4C. You have good chance it will hit 3.x.

For $40.00 I would just get Lite-on.

Do you happen to know what the Iomega drive really is, i.e Pioneer, Sony or Lite-on?


I'm Asus Man, so no comments on the Epox.

Besides there is Antec True power, but you might want to look at the Thermaltake. Cruial is okay but I would do two Hyper X sticks instead for the option of OCing later.

CPU case: well there Directron, newegg.com and plenty of recommendations on resellarratings.com. I really don't think your system will over heat, just some nice quiet fans to get air movement.

FYI: Intel is expected do price drop in Oct.

 

[Sentinelk9]

I don't exactly remember what the iomega was... i'm pretty sure it wasnt a sony. I found it on tigerdirect.com.

I guess I forgot to include that I'll probably not be overclocking my pc.

Anyone else got some advice? ^Bump^

P.S. Are lite-ons really much better than the regular pseudo no-name brands like khypermedia?

 

[newbiepcuser]

Originally posted by: Sentinelk9
I don't exactly remember what the iomega was... i'm pretty sure it wasnt a sony. I found it on tigerdirect.com.

I guess I forgot to include that I'll probably not be overclocking my pc.

Anyone else got some advice? ^Bump^

P.S. Are lite-ons really much better than the regular pseudo no-name brands like khypermedia?

do a check on tigerdirect on resellarratings before ordering, Yes, Lite-on is much better than khypermedia.

If you're not overclocking, then get the Asus board for $99.99 or Intel board. Both have serial ATA and network card. Or spend extra and get Intel 875 chipset board.

 

[Sammy5000]

Lite-Ons are worth it, and have better rep than Khypermedia.

As for case and fans, I am particularly fond of Cheiftec and Antec Server cases. Do a google search on the web for those. I personally have the Antec Soyo Server Case, and in that case, I have two front fans on the bottom blow cool are to the mobo/harddrives, two rear exhaust fans that blow hot air out of the case, and one that came with my Antec SmartPower PSU to blow hot air away from the CPU. The case also allows a fan to go on the side panel to help remove any hot air from the GPU.

Also, if you are sticking to air cooling, you should consider getting rounded cables, and tying up your cables nicely. You can have all of the fans you want, but if you have flat ide cables all over the place, your air flow will suffer.

 

[johnjkr1]

If you looking for a good power supply, I would go with Antec. I have tried both antecs and enermax's, and while both are great, the antec seem to be quite a bit quieter...especially the true powers

As for EPOX vs. ASUS, I have tried both also and they are practically the same thing. I've never had a problem with an EPOX board and they are generally very well built

-john

 

[johnjkr1]

as for the case, i also really like my antec (cheiftec)...i usually go with the antec over chieftec since they have a great warranty and a great support department...i broke a button after two years, and they sent me a whole new bezel next day..

as for the ram, if you not going absolutely crazy with the overclocking, you just cant go wrong with crucial. I've never had a stick die on me or cause any problems

 

[Sentinelk9]

Do the cheiftec/antec cases have a window and all that cool stuff on the side? I'm thinking of putting maybe 2 CCD's in there for looks. A window fan would be great to get air away from my GPU since I've heard the radeon 9800s run quite hot.

I guess I wouldn't mind replacing my cdrw drive with a lite on - know a good website to buy it from?

As far as the cases themselves go, I really dont want a huge server case (then again I don't want the Micro cases either). I guess i'll go check out the antecs - any specific models I should be looking at?

And for the fans, my main thing is how many should i have and whether or not I should have a rheobus for it - are there enough connectors from the MB/powersupply without using a rheobus for like 5 fans + the rest of the stuff on the computer?

 

[johnjkr1]

Antec cases have all kinds of window mods available, etc. check out www.directron.com maybe www.newegg.com for the lite-on

as for the fans...antec usually support two up front (one for the drives, one down below) and one or two on the back...i dont think you would need all of those

 

[Sentinelk9]

This is what I had in mind for a fan setup:

1 (or maybe two) intake fans blowing on the hard drive
if i'm using only 1 fan on the HD, i'll use the other intake fan for the dvdrw drive

Two output fans. And if possible one window/side fan to pump out the heat from the GPU or the hot draft comming from the CPU's fan.

 

[johnjkr1]

you cant put an intake fan on the dvd..unless you get some kind of wierd cooling setup....the fans in the front are down below....one at the bottom, one in the hard drive cage.....you can do all the rheobus stuff if you want, its kind of cool, but i just buy quiet fans to begin with...i have two front silent fans, one back silent fan..and an 80mm queit fan on my alpha cpu cooler...that and the damn near silent antec power supply make it a quiet pc...i got tired of the noise...and i'll tell you right now, that thermaltake cpu cooler is going to be a noisy sucker

if you want quiet, i can give you some other parts recommendations

 

[Sentinelk9]

Yea i was startin to worry about the noise the cpu's spark 7 might make... got any recs for a 3.06 p4? And I checked out the antec website... can I actually get a midtower case with a see through side panel? Or do I have to get the SOHO server thing for a see through side panel?

Also - the midtower seems to come with a 330 truepower PS, will that be enough for a p4, 9800ATI, dvd and all the other stuff?

 

[johnjkr1]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=7&manufactory=1516&DEPA=1&sortby=14&order=1

take a look through those....also, check directron...they have good stuff

as for coolers, you have all kinds of choices....i've heard the stock intel cooler does a great job actually...

and i would spring for a larger power supply...400w definetly.....many times you dont have to buy a case with a power supply

I have one of their SOHO "file servers"...the sx1030B..its not as huge as it looks....but i like their small cases too

 

[Sentinelk9]

Also... I just looked at the antec cases and damn they are EXPENSIVE! Not to mention the Truepower quite powersupplies are kinda pricey too.... are they both of exceptional quality? Cause in that case I wouldn't mind... especially since it seems the antec's soho see through one would be easy to use for a first time computer builder (like me) with the removeable motherboard housing and stuff...

Can I get the antec cases for cheaper on other websites? Got any good ones?

 

[johnjkr1]

$60-80 for a case is not expensive...go check out some coolermasters

and yes, power supplies cost alot....but if you cheap out and buy a crappy power supply all your nice components will fry one day

just a friendly warning...spend $50 for a good power supply...

 

[johnjkr1]

i only buy from newegg and directron because they are legitimate companies that accept returns...these days i only use newegg..hassle free

 

[Sentinelk9]

Cool, I see on newegg that they got the antec see through side case for 66$ and also they got a 330W PS (true power) for 55$, which seems reasonable. Anyone know if 330W is sufficient? Or will I need more?

 

[johnjkr1]

i have a 330w in mine...works fine...yours, not so sure....are you sure you want an all-in-wonder radeon??

i'd rather see you buy a temporary vid card and wait for the next revision coming out in december..it should be worth the wait....unless someone is buying all this for you now

 

[Sentinelk9]

I've been researching and learning how to build a computer for 2 months now... I doubt I can wait another few months Just cause I'm going to get drenched with work very soon... and after december there will be no way in hell i'll be able to build a computer (no time)

 

[wetcat007]

Seagate SATA and a little slower P4 that u can just oc.

 

[johnjkr1]

i was just saying buy a slower "temp" vid card and replace it later...as for the OC, some people like it, some people dont...with CPU prices where they are, i figure just buy what you want...Overclocking (especially for new computer builders) is just a load of headaches

 

[Sentinelk9]

I just found a Thermaltake Silent PurePower, 360W ATX power supply on new egg for 38$ !!! Does anyone know if Thermaltake makes reliable powersupplies? I know their coolers are good but...

anyway I also wanted to know if 360W would be enough to comfortably power my machine.

 

[Nebor]

3.06 P4 800FSB $410

Does not exist. The 3.06 is a 533mhz FSB processor. I didn't read the rest of your post, but I would worry that you made other mistakes like that... Make sure you match up the right stuff.... lest you end up running a P4C on an 850 chipset with PC2700 memory.

 

[Sentinelk9]

Nebor check out the following link to accessmicro:

http://www.accessmicro.com/content/products/productinfo.cfm?partnumber=CPPIN473%2E0B&product_id=45524

 

[Sentinelk9]

damn, now that I checked out the intel website, looks like the 3.06Ghz is not available in 800FSB, only 533FSB (like you said nebor)... its odd that accessmicro has it listed that way, accessmicro's usually a good company.

Guess i'll get the processor from newegg too dropping down to 3Ghz 800FSB w/ HT actually drops the price down by like 20$ so I wont complain... loosing a whole 60Mhz... boo hoo

Thanks for the shout out nebor I'll make sure accessmicro hears bout this..