My friend asked me to put together a comp...

Aug 20, 2003, 04:33 AM

not to actually PUT it together but to decide on the parts... i decided on this

Thermaltake XASER III V2000+ ( SILVER ) 12-Bay All Aluminum ATX Super Tower Chassis with Locks - Retail --- $148.99
Aopen (BLACK) CD-RW DRIVE 52x24x52 - MODEL CRW5224 - OEM --- $39.00
Zalman ZM80C-HP Cooler for GPU (Graphics Processing Unit, a.k.a. Video Chipset) that utilizes a heatpipe. --- $29.99
Arctic Silver's NEW Premium Silver Polysynthetic Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 3. 3-gram( 1 cc. ) tube --- $5.99
Thermaltake VOLCANO 11+ Xaser Edition --- $32.50
Seagate 120GB 7200rpm EIDE Hard Drive Barracuda 7200.7 ST3120026A - OEM --- $102.00
OCZ DDR RAM 512MB PC-3200 400Hz --- $104.00
ABIT NF7-S --- $115.00
Allied TRUE 450W Power Supply --- $38.00
AMD ATHLON XP 2500 "Barton" 333 FSB PROCESSOR --- $85.00
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 - RETAIL --- $112.00
Creative Labs Inspire 6600 6.1 Speaker --- $86.00
ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB DVI/TV 8X AGP RETAIL --- $364.00
Philips 19" CRT Monitor Model 109S4074 Beige Retail --- $139.00

Price without monitor: $1,262.47... with shipping its $1,289.47

Price WITH monitor: $ 1,476.47 (including shipping...)

does that seem like a good computer for that price?
everything is from www.newegg.com (the only site you will ever need!)

~~craig588~~ · Aug 20, 2003, 04:38 AM

Swap the HD for a WD 8MB buffer drive. The 80 gig one should be fine, its hard to use that much space.

You can spend the extra money on some slightly better ram. Maybe get 2 sticks of this: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=20-146-836

Bane the ECF · Aug 20, 2003, 05:16 AM

I'd forget the Themaltake VOLCANO 11+ heatsink & fan. Instead, get a Vantec Aeroflow, CoolerMaster Aero 7+, or Themalright SLK-800U (no fan included).

And forget about the Audigy2. The NF7-s has built-in nForce SoundStorm audio, which rivals the Audigy2. Save the money off the sound card and get better speakers like the Altec Lansing 5100 5.1-Digital Surround Sound.

If you have extra cash, I recommend upgrading your power supply to a better brand: Antec. Their True430 and True480 are worth the money invested in the long run.

Craig is correct about the hard drive too. Get a nice Western Digital Special Edition 8MB Cache hard drive. They come with 3 year warranties, which are now rarer in the market.

Bane

~~craig588~~ · Aug 20, 2003, 05:42 AM

I agree about dumping the audigy 2 for the soundstorm, that will give you some more money to spend. You should get the Thermalright SLK 900A and a vantec tornado.

DriveEuro · Aug 20, 2003, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by generalstupid
not to actually PUT it together but to decide on the parts... i decided on this

Thermaltake XASER III V2000+ ( SILVER ) 12-Bay All Aluminum ATX Super Tower Chassis with Locks - Retail --- $148.99

If you get an Antec knockoff you can save 70$ easily.

Bane the ECF · Aug 20, 2003, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DriveEuro
If you get an Antec knockoff you can save 70$ easily.

But dude, why would you spend $1500 on a custom computer and save pennies not getting the most uber pre-modded cases in the market??? I'm gonna get one of those Xaser III V2000-series cases during my next upgrade!

Bane

toddsmack2k · Aug 20, 2003, 06:54 AM

I agree the PSU is def not the place to skimp or chance. Yeah you might get lucky but is it worth it?

BWX · Aug 20, 2003, 07:54 AM

I can see why you would get the Volcano 11 if you are getting that case- It does kinda go w. the whole theme- But the Thermalright's are better.

~~HawK~~ · Aug 20, 2003, 08:11 AM

If he does need a soundcard (for more in- out -dig)
go for the Hercules fortissimoIII 7.1 price around $60 and the aforementioned Altec speaker 5100.
what you save on it use it for a Q PSU !!!.

Judas · Aug 20, 2003, 08:37 AM

what Hawk said.... the Fortissimo 3 rivals creatives best....

Bane the ECF · Aug 20, 2003, 10:46 AM

Why? The friggin' nForce Soundstorm sound card is free! And it's just as good!

Aug 20, 2003, 09:45 PM

he wants that sound card so he can have the speakers (6.1)...

and guys... the hard drive IS 8 MB buffer... i chose that one on purpose...

Vampyromaniac · Aug 20, 2003, 10:26 PM

the SoundStorm does support 5.1 . . . . not enough?

tek · Aug 20, 2003, 10:33 PM

Remove the Audigy 2, replace it wth the soundcard on NF7-S, it ROCKS.

Remove the expensive case, change it to a Antec, just like DriveEuro said, knock off like 70 bucks.

Allied power supply? Ehh.. I dont think so, get a Enermax or Antec or Sparkle.

Heatsink = SLK-800(A), or Swiftech with a Vantec Tornado, get him a nice fan controller too.

Add a blue cathode light, a blue neon FAN.

Remove the AOPEN, replace with LITE-ON.

Instead of AS3 go with the Ceramique.

GET HIM BETTER RAM FFS!!! Get him some Corsair XMS or maybe even OCZ Dual Channel.

And instead of crappy Creative speakers, get him some real motherf***ers like some Klipsch Surround speakers (300 bucks).

BWX · Aug 21, 2003, 01:00 AM

I have a Herc. Fotissimo III and it sounds awesome- There is no EAX advance HQ support (or whatever it is called) though- Just be aware of that- If you play SOF2 MP or something like I do- You cannot use EAX- but most games have many other 3d sound choices- anbd Fort II supports them all. That's the only thing to know about that. But the Fort III is only 50 bucks, and you can save a bunch of money right there.

Aug 20, 2003, 04:33 AM	#1
generalstupid Guest Posts: n/a	My friend asked me to put together a comp... not to actually PUT it together but to decide on the parts... i decided on this Thermaltake XASER III V2000+ ( SILVER ) 12-Bay All Aluminum ATX Super Tower Chassis with Locks - Retail --- $148.99 Aopen (BLACK) CD-RW DRIVE 52x24x52 - MODEL CRW5224 - OEM --- $39.00 Zalman ZM80C-HP Cooler for GPU (Graphics Processing Unit, a.k.a. Video Chipset) that utilizes a heatpipe. --- $29.99 Arctic Silver's NEW Premium Silver Polysynthetic Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 3. 3-gram( 1 cc. ) tube --- $5.99 Thermaltake VOLCANO 11+ Xaser Edition --- $32.50 Seagate 120GB 7200rpm EIDE Hard Drive Barracuda 7200.7 ST3120026A - OEM --- $102.00 OCZ DDR RAM 512MB PC-3200 400Hz --- $104.00 ABIT NF7-S --- $115.00 Allied TRUE 450W Power Supply --- $38.00 AMD ATHLON XP 2500 "Barton" 333 FSB PROCESSOR --- $85.00 Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 - RETAIL --- $112.00 Creative Labs Inspire 6600 6.1 Speaker --- $86.00 ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB DVI/TV 8X AGP RETAIL --- $364.00 Philips 19" CRT Monitor Model 109S4074 Beige Retail --- $139.00 Price without monitor: $1,262.47... with shipping its $1,289.47 Price WITH monitor: $ 1,476.47 (including shipping...) does that seem like a good computer for that price? everything is from www.newegg.com (the only site you will ever need!)

Aug 20, 2003, 05:16 AM	#3
Bane the ECF DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 220 Rep Power: 0	I'd forget the Themaltake VOLCANO 11+ heatsink & fan. Instead, get a Vantec Aeroflow, CoolerMaster Aero 7+, or Themalright SLK-800U (no fan included). And forget about the Audigy2. The NF7-s has built-in nForce SoundStorm audio, which rivals the Audigy2. Save the money off the sound card and get better speakers like the Altec Lansing 5100 5.1-Digital Surround Sound. If you have extra cash, I recommend upgrading your power supply to a better brand: Antec. Their True430 and True480 are worth the money invested in the long run. Craig is correct about the hard drive too. Get a nice Western Digital Special Edition 8MB Cache hard drive. They come with 3 year warranties, which are now rarer in the market. Bane __________________ ASUS K8N-E Motherboard Athlon 64 3200+ 10x200MHz Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu Heatsink & Fan 2x512MB Mushkin Black Level 2 PC-3500 ATi Radeon X800 SE 256MB 100GB Western Digital SE 8MB 7200RPM 320GB Seagate 8MB 7200 RPM Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sony 19" E400 Trinitron Thermaltake Xaser III V2000A All-Aluminum Logitech Z-5300 5.1 Surround Sound Last edited by Bane the ECF; Aug 20, 2003 at 06:39 AM.

Aug 20, 2003, 06:54 AM	#7
toddsmack2k It Never..... Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,173 Rep Power: 0	I agree the PSU is def not the place to skimp or chance. Yeah you might get lucky but is it worth it? __________________ [color=blue]*Bleeding From the Inside Pouring Out, The* *DriverHeaven* Spiral, We Shall Never Let Go Of.[/color]

Aug 20, 2003, 07:54 AM	#8
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	I can see why you would get the Volcano 11 if you are getting that case- It does kinda go w. the whole theme- But the Thermalright's are better. __________________

Aug 20, 2003, 10:46 AM	#11
Bane the ECF DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 220 Rep Power: 0	Why? The friggin' nForce Soundstorm sound card is free! And it's just as good! __________________ ASUS K8N-E Motherboard Athlon 64 3200+ 10x200MHz Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu Heatsink & Fan 2x512MB Mushkin Black Level 2 PC-3500 ATi Radeon X800 SE 256MB 100GB Western Digital SE 8MB 7200RPM 320GB Seagate 8MB 7200 RPM Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sony 19" E400 Trinitron Thermaltake Xaser III V2000A All-Aluminum Logitech Z-5300 5.1 Surround Sound

Aug 20, 2003, 04:38 AM	#2
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	Swap the HD for a WD 8MB buffer drive. The 80 gig one should be fine, its hard to use that much space. You can spend the extra money on some slightly better ram. Maybe get 2 sticks of this: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=20-146-836

Aug 20, 2003, 05:42 AM	#4
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	I agree about dumping the audigy 2 for the soundstorm, that will give you some more money to spend. You should get the Thermalright SLK 900A and a vantec tornado.

Aug 20, 2003, 08:11 AM	#9
~~HawK~~ Banned Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,092 Rep Power: 0	If he does need a soundcard (for more in- out -dig) go for the Hercules fortissimoIII 7.1 price around $60 and the aforementioned Altec speaker 5100. what you save on it use it for a Q PSU !!!.

Aug 20, 2003, 09:45 PM	#12
generalstupid Guest Posts: n/a	he wants that sound card so he can have the speakers (6.1)... and guys... the hard drive IS 8 MB buffer... i chose that one on purpose...

Aug 20, 2003, 10:26 PM	#13
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	the SoundStorm does support 5.1 . . . . not enough? __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Aug 20, 2003, 10:33 PM	#14
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	Remove the Audigy 2, replace it wth the soundcard on NF7-S, it ROCKS. Remove the expensive case, change it to a Antec, just like DriveEuro said, knock off like 70 bucks. Allied power supply? Ehh.. I dont think so, get a Enermax or Antec or Sparkle. Heatsink = SLK-800(A), or Swiftech with a Vantec Tornado, get him a nice fan controller too. Add a blue cathode light, a blue neon FAN. Remove the AOPEN, replace with LITE-ON. Instead of AS3 go with the Ceramique. GET HIM BETTER RAM FFS!!! Get him some Corsair XMS or maybe even OCZ Dual Channel. And instead of crappy Creative speakers, get him some real motherf***ers like some Klipsch Surround speakers (300 bucks). __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

Aug 21, 2003, 01:00 AM	#15
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	I have a Herc. Fotissimo III and it sounds awesome- There is no EAX advance HQ support (or whatever it is called) though- Just be aware of that- If you play SOF2 MP or something like I do- You cannot use EAX- but most games have many other 3d sound choices- anbd Fort II supports them all. That's the only thing to know about that. But the Fort III is only 50 bucks, and you can save a bunch of money right there. __________________