Suggestions on building a new system....

[AMDPwred]

I haven't paid much attention to hardware in awhile, so I'm very much out of the loop. Requirements:

I do a ton of programming
Great for gaming (HL2, CS:Source, Doom 3)
Random internet crap
Silent!!!

I'm probably going to get a Dell LCD because I love the 2 I have at work. Can anyone help me here? Is the AMD 64-bit CPU the way to go?

 

[saltedeggman]

Originally posted by: AMDPwred
I haven't paid much attention to hardware in awhile, so I'm very much out of the loop. Requirements:

I do a ton of programming
Great for gaming (HL2, CS:Source, Doom 3)
Random internet crap
Silent!!!

I'm probably going to get a Dell LCD because I love the 2 I have at work. Can anyone help me here? Is the AMD 64-bit CPU the way to go?

check here for suggestion

or you can catch one of the hot deals from Dell...and dell machines are as silent as you can get

 

[DaveSimmons]

Only thing missing from thread #1 in this forum are some quietness suggestions like:

* Antec Sonata case, or SLK3700AMB if you plan to put in a different PSU (Sonata is pretty quiet though)
* Zalman HSF, one of the -alcu type not the -cu

If you don't mind paying a fair amount extra for silence, check out the forums at www.SilentPCReview.com for suggestions.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: saltedeggman
and dell machines are as silent as you can get

..... and as hot as you can get. They put P4's in those things with only one fan, and that fan has to serve as the CPU fan via a duct, giving you almost zero airflow.
I'd just go with one of jpeyton's systems, but with a quieter case and cpu fan, the zalaman's are very nice if you want a quiet one.

 

[AMDPwred]

ASPIRE X-Navigator Silver/Black Aluminum ATX Mid-Tower Case with side window and 500W Power Supply, Model"ATXA8NW-AL/500" -RETAIL - $159.00
NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3500A BK, OEM - $66.00
NEC 1.44MB Black Internal Floppy Drive, OEM - $7.00
Western Digital 200GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD2000JD, OEM Drive Only - $117.00
Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200 - OEM - $142.27
ASUS "A8V Deluxe" VIA K8T800 Pro Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL - $129.50
AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache, Socket 939 64-bit Processor - Retail - $154.00
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" OEM - $81.00
Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 THX Certified Speaker System -RETAIL - $154.99
XFX nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-Bit, TV-Out/Dual DVI, 8X AGP, Model"PVT40KND" -RETAIL - $270.00
UltraSharp 2005FPW 20.1-inch Wide Aspect Flat Panel LCD Monitor with Height Adjustable Stand - $639.20

 

[saltedeggman]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs

Originally posted by: saltedeggman
and dell machines are as silent as you can get

..... and as hot as you can get. They put P4's in those things with only one fan, and that fan has to serve as the CPU fan via a duct, giving you almost zero airflow.
I'd just go with one of jpeyton's systems, but with a quieter case and cpu fan, the zalaman's are very nice if you want a quiet one.

its a trade off 🙂

i understand there are better designs, but running hotter isn't always necessarily bad as long as you don't encounter stability issues...and the "shorten your cpu life" crap is irrelevant because system will probably last longer than you want it to..... 🙂

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs

Originally posted by: saltedeggman
and dell machines are as silent as you can get

..... and as hot as you can get. They put P4's in those things with only one fan, and that fan has to serve as the CPU fan via a duct, giving you almost zero airflow.
I'd just go with one of jpeyton's systems, but with a quieter case and cpu fan, the zalaman's are very nice if you want a quiet one.

its a trade off 🙂

i understand there are better designs, but running hotter isn't always necessarily bad as long as you don't encounter stability issues...and the "shorten your cpu life" crap is irrelevant because system will probably last longer than you want it to..... 🙂

Yeah, it is a trade off, but for me personally i don't mind noise, so i would never get a dell. Plus my friend has a dell and it skips a lot in some games, and he's done a lot of testing with different parts and has narrowed it down to the CPU throtteling back. Either that or cheap parts, which is the other reason i dislike dell.
But if silent is all you want, a dell on sale is the way to go.

 

[JBDan]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Only thing missing from thread #1 in this forum are some quietness suggestions like:

* Antec Sonata case, or SLK3700AMB if you plan to put in a different PSU (Sonata is pretty quiet though)
* Zalman HSF, one of the -alcu type not the -cu

If you don't mind paying a fair amount extra for silence, check out the forums at www.SilentPCReview.com for suggestions.

And to add to that the 6400 Swiftech HS with a low rpm 92mm or 80mm fan is hard to beat 😉

 

[saltedeggman]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs

Originally posted by: saltedeggman
and dell machines are as silent as you can get

..... and as hot as you can get. They put P4's in those things with only one fan, and that fan has to serve as the CPU fan via a duct, giving you almost zero airflow.
I'd just go with one of jpeyton's systems, but with a quieter case and cpu fan, the zalaman's are very nice if you want a quiet one.

its a trade off 🙂

i understand there are better designs, but running hotter isn't always necessarily bad as long as you don't encounter stability issues...and the "shorten your cpu life" crap is irrelevant because system will probably last longer than you want it to..... 🙂

Yeah, it is a trade off, but for me personally i don't mind noise, so i would never get a dell. Plus my friend has a dell and it skips a lot in some games, and he's done a lot of testing with different parts and has narrowed it down to the CPU throtteling back. Either that or cheap parts, which is the other reason i dislike dell.
But if silent is all you want, a dell on sale is the way to go.

the market for PC has changed significantly. couple of years back, it was the case that Build everything yourself because its cheaper, better. Now the prices from larger vendors such as Dell makes me think twice before a customized build. I have built over 15 computers, mine and friends of mine. Now i just tell them to buy one because the money you can by going the "build it yourself" route is marginal, if existent.

 

[AMDPwred]

"the market for PC has changed significantly. couple of years back, it was the case that Build everything yourself because its cheaper, better. Now the prices from larger vendors such as Dell makes me think twice before a customized build. I have built over 15 computers, mine and friends of mine. Now i just tell them to buy one because the money you can by going the "build it yourself" route is marginal, if existent."

I just built a machine at Dell.com similar to what I posted above and it came out to $2700. Compared with the ~$1900 system I posted, there is a big difference.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs

Originally posted by: saltedeggman
and dell machines are as silent as you can get

..... and as hot as you can get. They put P4's in those things with only one fan, and that fan has to serve as the CPU fan via a duct, giving you almost zero airflow.
I'd just go with one of jpeyton's systems, but with a quieter case and cpu fan, the zalaman's are very nice if you want a quiet one.

its a trade off 🙂

i understand there are better designs, but running hotter isn't always necessarily bad as long as you don't encounter stability issues...and the "shorten your cpu life" crap is irrelevant because system will probably last longer than you want it to..... 🙂

Yeah, it is a trade off, but for me personally i don't mind noise, so i would never get a dell. Plus my friend has a dell and it skips a lot in some games, and he's done a lot of testing with different parts and has narrowed it down to the CPU throtteling back. Either that or cheap parts, which is the other reason i dislike dell.
But if silent is all you want, a dell on sale is the way to go.

the market for PC has changed significantly. couple of years back, it was the case that Build everything yourself because its cheaper, better. Now the prices from larger vendors such as Dell makes me think twice before a customized build. I have built over 15 computers, mine and friends of mine. Now i just tell them to buy one because the money you can by going the "build it yourself" route is marginal, if existent.

Even if the savings aren't there, i still prefer to build my own system, because i know what is going into it. Many large vendors will cut corners and give you sub standard components, but if you build your own computer, you have the final say of which parts go into it, and which don't.

 

[saltedeggman]

Originally posted by: AMDPwred
"the market for PC has changed significantly. couple of years back, it was the case that Build everything yourself because its cheaper, better. Now the prices from larger vendors such as Dell makes me think twice before a customized build. I have built over 15 computers, mine and friends of mine. Now i just tell them to buy one because the money you can by going the "build it yourself" route is marginal, if existent."

I just built a machine at Dell.com similar to what I posted above and it came out to $2700. Compared with the ~$1900 system I posted, there is a big difference.

there are always coupons and such ....thats what Hot Deals forum is for 😉

 

[AMDPwred]

Ok, so anyone want to comment on what I posted or provide some advice?

 

[JBDan]

Originally posted by: AMDPwred
I haven't paid much attention to hardware in awhile, so I'm very much out of the loop. Requirements:

I do a ton of programming
Great for gaming (HL2, CS:Source, Doom 3)
Random internet crap
Silent!!!

I'm probably going to get a Dell LCD because I love the 2 I have at work. Can anyone help me here? Is the AMD 64-bit CPU the way to go?

My opinion only: Yes amd64 is the way to go especially for gaming> new 90nm's run cool and are highly overclockable> get a case with 120mm exhaust fan (SilenX @14dba 56CFM) and a 120mm intake fan (same fan)>get an arctic cooling silencer for your GPU cooler=exhausts all hot air out rear of your case>get a Swiftech 6400HS (80mm SilenX @14dba 28CFM)or the Zalman 120 alcu HSF >get a good quiet PSU (antec,ocz,noisetaker) > I have a Tsunami case for all this (my PSU is a PCPOWER&Cooling with a SilenX 80mm fan) My system is in a room with all Hardwoods and very little furniture and is absolutely INAUDIBLE.

 

[klah]

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

or you can catch one of the hot deals from Dell...and dell machines are as silent as you can get

There is a thread here with people complaining about how loud their Prescott-based Dells are. The 92mm exhaust fan they use runs at a higher rpm than a Vantec Tornado when the cpu is under heavy load, and is still very loud when throttled down under light load.

 

[saltedeggman]

Originally posted by: klah

Originally posted by: saltedeggman

or you can catch one of the hot deals from Dell...and dell machines are as silent as you can get

There is a thread here with people complaining about how loud their Prescott-based Dells are. The 92mm exhaust fan they use runs at a higher rpm than a Vantec Tornado when the cpu is under heavy load, and is still very loud when throttled down under light load.

i did not know that...thanks... more power to you 🙂

PresHOT !!

 

[JBDan]

Originally posted by: JBDan

Originally posted by: AMDPwred
I haven't paid much attention to hardware in awhile, so I'm very much out of the loop. Requirements:

I do a ton of programming
Great for gaming (HL2, CS:Source, Doom 3)
Random internet crap
Silent!!!

I'm probably going to get a Dell LCD because I love the 2 I have at work. Can anyone help me here? Is the AMD 64-bit CPU the way to go?

My opinion only: Yes amd64 is the way to go especially for gaming> new 90nm's run cool and are highly overclockable> get a case with 120mm exhaust fan (SilenX @14dba 56CFM) and a 120mm intake fan (same fan)>get an arctic cooling silencer for your GPU cooler=exhausts all hot air out rear of your case>get a Swiftech 6400HS (80mm SilenX @14dba 28CFM)or the Zalman 120 alcu HSF >get a good quiet PSU (antec,ocz,noisetaker) > I have a Tsunami case for all this (my PSU is a PCPOWER&Cooling with a SilenX 80mm fan) My system is in a room with all Hardwoods and very little furniture and is absolutely INAUDIBLE.

ThermalRight XP 120 is a quality HS as well and is much lighter than the Swiftech and Zalman.