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Under-Budget $73... What should I upgrade?

take the PSU out, and take the case out, heres what to do.

Buy this case, it already has a great PSU. Antec

Then use the extra money to get an identical stick of memory, giving you a gig 🙂
 
nothin, it all looks good to me. spend it somewhere else, like monitor, speakers, hsf, software, etc...
 
Get the 256 ati 9800 pro instead of the 128. It's not that much more and can (from what I hear) be easily flashed to be an XT. btw..dont get sapphire stuff. They suck.
 
I have got to say the power supply!!!!! It is only 300 watts!!!!! The new video cards need more than that. I know you are using a 9800pro but the day will come when you want to replace it with a larger one and can't with out buying a PSU. I would recomend trashing the case and the PSU in favor of one of the ANTEC models with a 400 PSU. I personally like this Dragon style Antec, it comes with a Tru430 PSU and has plenty of room to expand. If you are looking for something smaller try this, it is 11 bucks less, but has a TRU380 PSU and is a tad smaller. There are also a bunch of other cases out there with large PSU that would fit in your budget. 73 left over + 30 for the case + 28 for the PSU = 131 bucks for a good combo. If you choose to do this, you may want to change your NEC DVD burner (very nice choice by the way) for the black model.

KD
 
Drop the Audigy2. An AV-710 is going to sound just as good and you'll get an optical output to boot.

Use the extra money to get a larger PS, that 300W Fortron is nice for a streamlined system, but with an A64 and a high-end videocard you're going to need more than that. Try one of these.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-163-104&depa=0

You'll get your 120mm PS fan still, and you'll get the extra 100 watts, plus active PFC.

You'll still have money leftover. Get a better case. That thing looks uglier than sin. This Maxtop Signature Series case is a nice one, I've got one sitting around right now waiting for parts to throw in it. Nice finish, decent power supply (so you'll have an extra spare when you're done), and great design.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-150-058&depa=0

You'll probably still have money left over at this point. What you do with the rest, no idea. You've got a nice selection of components there. I'd save the money and wait till vidcard prices get nicer and get yourself a 6800 or better.
 
Originally posted by: dudeman007
Get the 256 ati 9800 pro instead of the 128. It's not that much more and can (from what I hear) be easily flashed to be an XT. btw..dont get sapphire stuff. They suck.
Click to expand...

Um...all ATI reference cards are designed by Sapphire. ATI doesn't actually manufacture the graphics cards, so i sure hope they don't suck 😀
 
The P.S.U, Go with at least 400W, that way after you upgrade that 9800 pro to a later generation model (Past 6800/X800) generation the psu won't screw you over.
 
Originally posted by: Tostada
That's a waste of money getting a mediocre case (30 + 15) and a mediocre PSU (28 + 6) for $79 total when you can get a really good silent Antec 350W case for $80.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-148

And they have other good cases with good PSU's for less.
Click to expand...

That case doesn't allow active HD cooling. I dig the tool-less bay design, though. Shame they didn't recess the drive mounts back further and shift that fan over in front of them to provide active cooling.
 
Id get a Lian Li aluminium case and an Antec True 330 power supply, instead of the case and and PS you are getting. It uses up the extra $$$ almost exactly and makes a great upgrade.
 
Originally posted by: MachFive
Originally posted by: Tostada
That's a waste of money getting a mediocre case (30 + 15) and a mediocre PSU (28 + 6) for $79 total when you can get a really good silent Antec 350W case for $80.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-148

And they have other good cases with good PSU's for less.
Click to expand...

That case doesn't allow active HD cooling. I dig the tool-less bay design, though. Shame they didn't recess the drive mounts back further and shift that fan over in front of them to provide active cooling.
Click to expand...

It's not the best case, it's just better than the one he listed (which doesn't come with a single fan) for the same price.

There are similarly-priced cases (even beige without a door if that's what he's looking for) that do have fan mounts behind the hard drives if you're going to have two Raptors or think you need that. It's absolutely unnecessary with the Samsung he listed.
 
I wouldn't say unnecessary. The cooler you keep an item, the longer its life, period. It may be specced to run at up to 55C, and may last a long time at 45C, but if you stick active cooling on it and keep it at 40C it WILL last longer. Same for a processor or a video card or anything for that matter. It may not be a significant difference, but every little thing you do to ensure the cool operation of your system is worth it.

You're right though, definitely plenty of other cases.

On Newegg, the best way to find cases that allow active hard drive cooling is to set your search for "Interal 3.5" bays" to "4". Most cases with 4 internal 3.5" bays have them recessed with a fan (or several fans) in front.

The nicest ones are the kind that have mounts for 4 80mm fans. All it takes is 4 3/16" holes and you can mount a high-flow, low noise 120mm fan to keep your HDs on ice.
 
Let me explain my choices. First, i've been doing a lot of research at silentpcreview.com (a silent computer is important to me). The webiste and its forum members highly recommend the "ever case" I have listed. It's supposedly very well designed, has great air flow, and well help keep the system cooler by itself (so a noisy fan doesn't have to take over). Yes, it is hideous, but cheap! 🙂 And yes, I have purchased a separate fan. It's a Globe 120mm fan that is supposed to be exact same fan as the AcoustiFan, but in different clothing. Maybe I should upgrade to a better PSU, but many users have systems with the same model that tax the unit more than mine would. I dunno.

By the way, this is still up for discussion. Tell me what you think about what I've said.

Thanks very much for the replies!
 
Dont know anything about samsung drives. But what about going to best buy or CompUSA or CC and spending about $50 on an 80GB (I think CompUSa has a $49 Seagate 80GB) then take the remaining $129 and getting a 36GB Raptor drive (they are $120 on ZipZoomFly, I'd check newegg but it is down right now)? Just a thought.
-doug
 
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