Extra, extra!

[Galant]

Okay, it shouldn't bee too long now before I put together my new, and first PC (first build that is).

I've worked it so that for about $850 I can throw this together:

WD 80GB 7200Rpm 8MB Cache ATA/100
(Alternatives -
Seagate, same spec, SATA 150
Maxtor, same spec, ATA/133)

Corsair/Kingston PC3200 DDR SDRAM 2x256, Asus A7N8X Deluxe
Athlon XP 2500+, Radeon 9600Pro Atlantis, Volcano 9 HSF
(Alt. Volcano 11)
17" CRT monitor, Creative V.92 PCI Modem,
Artec CD-RW 52x24x52, 1.44 Mitsubishi Floppy, Mouse
WinXP Home, Thermal Paste

However, there is a big sale coming up over here in the US (like January sales) and I'm pretty sure I can save a decent amount of cash.

My question is, what do you think I should do with the extra? Upgrade some components for the same money, buy the cheaper components and upgrade elsewhere, or leave things the same and throw a few add-ons?

I'm pretty sure I can pick up a Radeon 9600XT for the same price as a Pro, which includes a copy of HL 2. I also expect to save some serious cash on a monitor.

Should I invest in extra cooling? At the moment I have only the HSF fans and one fan in the case. Here in Tucson it can get flippin hot with summer temps in excess of 40 deg. celcius.

Any other ideas?

[blockers]

Well if you save a serious amount of cash why dont you upgrade to a Radeon 9700 /pro, or if you save lots and lots get a r9800. As the r9600 XT is just an overclocked r9600pro. Also the HL2 it comes with isnt really any use. You may as well just buy the game when it comes out. as a) it wont be out till spring next year, b) you have to pay postage c) there are lots of versions of it. (like ones you can add mods to, single, and single/multiplayer etc.)

I would personally change the ASUS for an ABIT NF7-S.

Depending on the amount of money you have left why not get Corsair RAM isntead of the Kingston, as it is prolly better. But more expensive. If you do have LOTS (and i mean LOTS) of spare cash get corsair, and get the LL ones. As they have ultra tight timings.

Get winxp pro, as Home doesnt have all the features.

I would also go for the Maxtor hard drive, isntead of the WD one. As it probably quiter, and faster. It seems a bit silly to me to get a SATA hdd at the moment, as they are still very basic. With only ATA150 in burst, not continous.

That seems to be about everything.

Hope that answers some of the questions.....

Will

[joshwa]

Seriously, get a Samsung, Maxtor or Seagate instead of a WD - WD tend to be way noisier...

if you don't need IIS5, Logging into Domains, support for 2 CPUs, then you don't really need XP Pro - and you may as well save your money and just get Home

[Galant]

Yeah, okay. Thanks. But other than the alternatives I've listed (which are all about the same price anyway), what would be the recommendations?

[blockers]

Or get win2k pro as i prefer it to winxp anyway

[joshwa]

Some 80mm fans, get as many as will fit in your case

were you wanting it for video editing? if so, would you be better spending dosh on an ATI All in Wonder card?

[Galant]

Would I? Not looked at I?

[evildoc614]

if anything i would wait till after thanksgiving thats when most of the deals will be happening... i would be on the hunt at bestbuy for a monitor for a good price this weekend, they have awesome deals right after thanksgiving.. i would go for the cosair. make sure you get artic silver thermal paste not the cheap generic crap. everything elese looks cool, i have that WD hd and its not loud. i only payed 75 bucks for it and it was worth it. any extra money saved i would get round cables, better fans, zip ties, and other little stuff. I have almost the exact computer your building except in a shuttle and i have a 9600 all in wonder i get 13,500+ in 3dmark01 and 4k in 3dmark03 so you will be very happy with your system.

[joshwa]

eg: ATI ALL in Wonder 9600 Pro:
http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/aiw9600pro/

the ALL-IN-WONDER graphics card offers 2D, 3D, and multimedia video acceleration, TV output, an advanced TV tuner, and video capture all in one device

The newest offering, the ALL-IN-WONDER 9600 PRO, is the foundation for the perfect entertainment device: TV player, Personal Video Recorder, DVD and CD player, video editing platform, and now FM radio player that even includes an alarm clock.

[Galant]

Well, that was the point, I'm going to Best Buy after thanksgiving. how much was the 9600 AIW?

Does it perform as well as a 9600XT?

[Galant]

Also, what's the best way to cool a case?

I'll be going for an Antec SX630II

http://www.antec-inc.com/pro_details...p?ProdID=80632

it can take up to 4x 80mm fans. One rear fan comes as standard, then two at front (optional) and I believe 1 with optional side panel.

[joshwa]

Originally posted by Galant
Also, what's the best way to cool a case?

I'll be going for an Antec SX630II

http://www.antec-inc.com/pro_details...p?ProdID=80632

it can take up to 4x 80mm fans. One rear fan comes as standard, then two at front (optional) and I believe 1 with optional side panel.

lots of fans is the best way
blowing air in at bottom and front, and blowing out air at top and back

[Kezzer]

Originally posted by www.josh.org.uk
Seriously, get a Samsung, Maxtor or Seagate instead of a WD - WD tend to be way noisier...

/me puts head against pc.....

Nope, mine is not noisy whatsoever

[hotpurple]

Actually, the asus board is very good, you've made a wise choice. I personally would go for sata as it is the future and you don't really want obsolete technology. As they are the same price as well near as, why not?

I've got 2 sata dm+9s in raid 0 config and I can say i'm really pleased with both the performance and the noise.

Sounds a bit mad but why not go for a 9800se aiw? Hercules do one for about the same money as a 9600 pro. There's a fair chance that these can be modded to full 9800spec. Which is nice.

Chris

[evildoc614]

best way to cool a case? 2 rear exaust fans 2 fron intake 1 blowhole.. thats how i would do it =)

[funnelhead]

i throw hat in and suggest getting the best cpu heatsink you can afford - lets you clock that barton up and/or use a quiet fan...

Have you had a look a look at www.newegg.com ?
It's by far the best site well, prolly in the WORLD. Very cheap and brill service, got the best resellar rating in america.... and product good reviews too.

They even have a thanksgiving sale going on right now!

I got my 9700 from there and they delivered it 3000 miles in 19 hours, in time for me to get it before i came home from holiday in New york the next day.......

Easy now, F

http://www.newegg.com/