Suggestions: About to Purchase, please take a gander

[zha4fh]

OK, here it is. I am new at this stuff. Not much into OCing, but will probably mess with memory timings.
Please share your thoughts....Thanks in advance.

Here goes:

A lot of people seem to like this board:
Asus A7N8X Deluxe Retail

People say to get the 1700 but I am set on this processor (call me stubborn)
AMD ATHLON XP 2700 /333 FSB

Getting two of these. Same memory THG used to test the ASUS board.
CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series 256MB 32MX8 PC-3500C2

Take a look at this woop-ass case:
GMCorporation Black Mid-Tower ATX
GMC case

The power supply:
Fortron - FSP400PFN 400W Power Supply

The Fan
ALPHA PAL8045U. Heat Sink + Fan

 

[nick1985]

for 90 bucks, that case looks gay. you could get the 80 dollar lan-boy and then not even have to buy a PSU.

i would opt for a 2500 over the 2700

 

[Arcanedeath]

I'll 2nd getting the 2500+, esp if your overclocking, and I'd look into an Antec Case w/ PS I think you'd be better off

 

[BG4533]

The case sucks, but if you like it then I guess that is what matters. I say Antec Sonata. Go with the XP2500. Also, the dual channel DDR will not provide much advantage over single channel. I would go with 1 512MB stick as it will be more useful in the future. Also, the Corsair PC3500 seems to be about the same price as the PC3700 and PC4000. If you are looking for it at Newegg, go over to Googlegear, they have it a lot cheaper.

Brian

 

[TerryMathews]

It's got an IDE port up front... Come to think of it, I wish mine had one.

 

[MDE]

The case does seem a bit cheesy, but the external IDE could come in handy if you REALLY need it. I'll fourth the 2500. Just raise the FSB to 200 and you have an instant 3200, couldn't be simpler, may need a small voltage bump, but nothing major.

EDIT: one 512MB stick of PC3200 XMS and don't trust THG any farther than I can whistle (I can't whistle)

 

[zha4fh]

Damn! Everyone is busting on my case...LOL. I think this case rocks....I am looking for nice clean lines with lots of space. Anyway i will check out everyones suggestions. Thanks for the advice on the memory also.

Thanks guys!

cheers!

 

[UncleWai]

one of thhose removable IDE enclousure thingy would woop this ide thingy's ass.

This case is seriously horrible, have you thought about getting the chieftec ones with window?

another vote for the xp2500

 

[UncleWai]

Originally posted by: zha4fh
Damn! Everyone is busting on my case...LOL. I think this case rocks....I am looking for nice clean lines with lots of space. Anyway i will check out everyones suggestions. Thanks for the advice on the memory also.

Thanks guys!

cheers!

get a lian-li then, this one seriously sucks.

 

[randumb]

Get a 2500+ if you plan to overclock, and a 2600+ if you don't. I'd get a 2500+ both ways, in case you ever do want to overclock in the future. Most people can get a 2500+ to 1.83@2.2, the 3200+ level.

 

[zha4fh]

Originally posted by: MonkeyDriveExpress

EDIT: one 512MB stick of PC3200 XMS and don't trust THG any farther than I can whistle (I can't whistle)

OK guys, you have convinced me....LOL....I will get the xp2500.
I do like the Lian LI, and was considering them. I will take another look. Why do the GMC's suck??? looks???

If you have the time, browse this GMC review

Is the general consensus that THG is crap??? I have been reading his reviews for a while. They seem to be detailed and methodical....hmmm.

I will also get the PC3200 XMS, but I have read the CL=2 is important....True??

Thanks again guys, big help.

Cheers!

 

[Corporate Thug]

yeah, thg is pretty crappy

cl2 is pretty important

that case is pretty bad

 

[modestninja]

Hopefully it's not too late, but instead of the Corsair memory get the Buffalo pc3200 with Winbond CH-5 chips or the Twinmos pc3200 with the same chips.

This memory is rated at cas 2.5, but does cas 2 without a problem. Right now my two 512mb sticks are at 220mhz with 2-2-3-8 timings on default voltage. Both the Buffalo and Twinmos cost less than Corsair and perform at least as well.

As for the mobo, I'd probably grab the Abit N7-S rev 2, mainly because in general they OC a little better and their tech support is a little better (although I really like my A7N8X-deleuxe.).

As for your heatsink, I'd get the thermalright slk-800a with an 80mm fan (personally a Panaflo H1A seems to have a good performance to noise ratio...) over the Alpha heatsink you originally posted.

 

[Ionizer86]

2500+ once again, hehe. Once again, the I owned an Alpha 8045. Not sure about the U model, but the Thermalrights are better. Even my now ~$18 AX-7 is better by like 3ºC.

Panaflo L1A's a good fan for low noise if you need an 80mm one.

Boards: look to the EPoX 8RDA+ and NF7-S along with the A7N8X DX. The 8RDA+ is a lot cheaper and may be a good choice if you don't need stuff like dual lan and SATA.

I'm gonna bust on the case again. $90 for a mid tower w/o window? lol. You may want to look into the Evercase E4252 black edition.

 

[techwanabe]

Originally posted by: nick1985
for 90 bucks, that case looks gay. you could get the 80 dollar lan-boy and then not even have to buy a PSU.

i would opt for a 2500 over the 2700

I second that.

I like my Antec Lanboy case - light weight, big enough, good solid P/S and a window too!

2500+ is alot more bang for the buck...

Buffalo 512 mb PC3200 Winbond for $89 shipped at newegg... good stuff

 

[zha4fh]

WOW....my head is spinning. thanks for everyone's help....I need time to reassemble my list....

I appreciate everyone's opinion, but i still cant get over the unaminous disgust in the GMC case, LOL !!!
This is an aluminum case!! (i think).

I do link the Lian Li, however.

Question about the Antec cases: Everyone seems to be into these cases, are the power supplies that good???
I am looking for a quit(er) case. I just think I get something better than a bundled package.

I will look into everyones suggestion about the memory, also. just too many decisions.

BTW, I want the SATA on the Asus.

 

[natopotato]

Originally posted by: zha4fh
WOW....my head is spinning. thanks for everyone's help....I need time to reassemble my list....

I appreciate everyone's opinion, but i still cant get over the unaminous disgust in the GMC case, LOL !!!
This is an aluminum case!! (i think).

I do link the Lian Li, however.

Question about the Antec cases: Everyone seems to be into these cases, are the power supplies that good???
I am looking for a quit(er) case. I just think I get something better than a bundled package.

I will look into everyones suggestion about the memory, also. just too many decisions.

BTW, I want the SATA on the Asus.

I for one think that the case looks good. I like the simplicity: no stupid windows, no funky curves, just very refined.

 

[modestninja]

The Abit NF7-s has SATA.