What do you think of this set up so far? Any mistakes?

[vood0g]

A couple of days ago i posted about my bonus check and that I intended to build me a new computer. Anyhow, this is what I got so far:

AMD 64 3500+
DFI Ultra Lanparty SLI-DR
BFG 6800 Ultra OC
(2) Seagate 80GB HDD
DVD+/-RW 16x+|NEC ND-3520A
DVD-E616P2S CD/DVD-ROM

I havent purchased the memory yet, because I am not sure what to buy. I am leaning towards overclocking the computer, but never done it before. So i think i should buy the memory with the possibility of a future overclocking. What do you think of these two memory? And the Antec Trueblue 480 to power the system.

edit: removed raptor from listing.
Mushkin Hi Perf LII V2 Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB(512MB x 2) DDR PC-3200 w/ Heatspreader, Model 991357 - Retail

Mushkin Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail

Antec 480W Power Supply with Blue LED Fan, Model "TRUE480BLUE" - Retail

So far so good? Still need a case, which i think i am goign to get the Stacker.

 

[UsandThem]

I'm not 100%, as I have never seen that Antec in person, but it appears that it only has a 20 pin power connector. If you are going with a SLI NForce4 motherboard that uses the new 24 pin power connection, I would just get a newer power supply.

The extra four pins power your PCI Express slots.

There are several models out there for less than $100.00.

 

[vood0g]

can you recommend me one? i am not sure what to be looking for in a psu since i dont understand the different railings and such.

<-----newb

 

[ribbon13]

http://store.yahoo.com/directron/400tornado.html

Seasonic > The Antec and Enermaxes people are about to reccomend

 

[ribbon13]

Also.. why buy 2x80 seagates? do you already have them or something?
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101565

 

[Navid]

I wouldn't get a power supply with 2 separate 12-V rails.

This one has some good reviews. But, some say that the warranty (3 years) is not available in the US!
http://www.ajump.com/ajump/product.asp?...4&sku=99%2D99%2D99%2D99%2D99%2D7230034

 

[vood0g]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Also.. why buy 2x80 seagates? do you already have them or something?
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101565

i was wanting to learn how to do RAID.

edit: i didnt get the raptor.

 

[UsandThem]

Basically, there is always heated debates here on power supplies. They are the newest e-penis contest.

I personally went with the OCZ 420w Powerstream. I have been very impressed with it, however OCZ costs a little more than a lot of other brands. All my rails are very solid on it. It runs anywhere from $85.00 to $105.00 at different retailers.

I moved from a Antec True430, because my video card does not have any additional power connections on it. It gets it's power from the PCI Express slot only.

Although a 430w is plenty enough power for my rig, with it only being a 20 pin power connection had my 12v rail running at 11.5v. A little low for my tastes.

Now with the OCZ, I am at a solid 12v at all times.

I would stick with a name brand company, and you should be able to get a good unit from about $60.00 and up. You will get a different recommendation from just about everybody here.

If you are planning going to SLI in the future, I would get a 480w + unit, but that is just my opinion. You can read some more opinions in my hardware guide thread.

The new 24 pin connection is called BATX (or PCI Express support). So look for that support listed in the item descriptions.

 

[ribbon13]

Navid, if that was to me: The Seasonic ST400 I linked is single rail. Active PFC, 120mm fan, and 22A 12v == Efficient, quiet, and powerful.

The 24-pin connection is called EPS12V or ATX2.0 or above.
OCZ is made by Topower.

 

[Ike0069]

Man ribbon, you're a Seasonic whore.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
Man ribbon, you're a Seasonic whore.

Seasonic is a good brand, however for future SLI, I would not choose a 400w unit.

 

[ribbon13]

I want a S12-600 damn it!!!
^^
Nothing comes close to it. 120mm fan & dual 18A rails.

$75 Seasonic Tornado 400w PSU
$158 Coolermaster STC-T01
$12 Antec 120mm

$60 NEC ND-3520a
$149 Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3250823AS

$283 AMD ADA3500BIBOX
$227 DFI LANPARTY nF4 SLI-DR
$124x2 Corsair CMX512-3200XL
$600 BFG 6800 Ultra

 

[Navid]

I have no measurement results. But, I have the impression that the 120mm-fan PSUs are not as efficient as 2x80mm-fan ones.
This is because in the former, air has to make a 90-degree turn while for the latter, air moves straight in straight out.
Also, with only one intake fan, there is positive pressure inside the PSU which will result in some warm air from the PSU to enter the case, which is not good for cooling.

 

[ribbon13]

At a given CFM (airflow) level, an 80mm fan will be significantly louder than a 120mm fan because of the surface area of the fan. Because the fins on the 120mm fan cover a much larger area, they do not need to turn as fast as the fins on an 80mm fan to supply the same amount of air. Because of this, the noise generated by a 120mm fan, for a given CFM level, will be much less.

HOWEVER, there is a tradeoff.
At a given CFM level, while the 120mm fan will be quieter than the 80mm fan, the 80mm fan will have HIGHER static pressure. In other words, the air that is being pushed from the 80mm fan will be moving faster. This has it's own advantages. For instance, CPU cooling. When choosing a fan to cool a CPU static pressure is important. This is because it's a measure of how fast the air is moving past the fins of the heatsink. In most cases, using a 92mm or 80mm fan of the SAME cfm level as a 120mm fan will give BETTER cooling performance for CPUs.
But that's only for CPUs.

When dealing with case fans we do not care about static pressure generated by the fan only the total amount of air moved. Since 120mm fans can move more air, more quietly than an 80mm fan, these are the fans of choice for pressure insensitive applications.

The quality of the PSU will determine how efficient it is with heat production. Ideally, one 120mm fan should be plenty. But there are so many other factors to consider that vary from situation to situation. Is the PSU near to the CPU? Is the intake on the PSU facing the CPU, thereby drawing more heated air? Where are the heat producing components actually located in the PSU in relation to the fan? How good is the overall case cooling, or is the PSU going to be acting like a needed exhaust for your system?

As to whether a PSU should be considered like a case fan or a CPU fan, I would say more like a case fan. PSUs don't generate nearly as much heat as a CPU, and generally can tolerate much higher temperatures. But, since you are actively cooling components on the inside of the PSU, static pressure does play a part. Just not as big a part as with CPU fans.

Also, PCP&C who does extensive testing debunks 2x80mm.

http://www.pcpowerandcooling.com/pdf/Turbo-Cool_510_vs.pdf


With that case and PSU I reccomended he would have a 120mm case fan and a 120mm PSU. It would be very quiet and efficient.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Also, PCP&C who does extensive testing debunks 2x80mm.

Interesting! Do you have a link for the article or whatever it is that claims that? Thanks.

 

[ribbon13]

That pdf...
Look next to the CFM of the Antec/Enermax. Details aren't provided, but I've talked to some of thier engineers about it. Really all 2x80mm does is double the possibility of mechanical failure and make more noise.