First Build Suggestions

Re: First Build Suggestions

Not bad. I assume you already have a decent monitor, keyboard, and speakers... I also assume that you're not gonna OC this...

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Power supply appears to be overkill for your application. Buying a separate case and PSU doesn't make sense if you are on the cheap. What about an Antec case? PSU and case in one.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129155

It sounds like you really like the looks of your original case, though. I'd take the Antec for asthetics and silence, but it's your call.

Re: First Build Suggestions

Good luck getting too the 3 ghz mark,I would also try and get a better GPU if your gonna game with it, the 7600 isnt that spectacular for gaming. I would also
suggest that you get a more dependable brand of PSU if your going too overclock.

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just realize that the cooler master power supply may not let you get that high. just a heads up thats all. remember just because it says its 630 watts or whatever doesnt mean it is. there are lots of really good psu's in that price range that even thou they have a lower wattage rating, they will kick the pants off on that cooler master.

Re: First Build Suggestions

That Antec case he linked to definitely contains a name brand PSU -- Antec. That Sonata case is one of the best selling cases on NewEgg and it is very solid all around. I had mine for about 2 years and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Re: First Build Suggestions

In that case, you'll going to need this and this...

Have fun!!!

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Too hook it up too your Ht system you just need the proper cable/cables from your sound card too your receiver. something like this should work, in the proper length of course!

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.as...2002&sku=29739

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it would work with the appropriate y splitter. I doubt your sound card will have rca connection, thats why you need the mini plug.

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If you want a full size case that you can rely on to work for some time, you should look at the Antec P180. The Thermaltake cooler linked to above isn't bad, but it is very very hard to beat the combination of a P180 with a solid powersupply and a Scythe Ninja cooler. The reason I explicitly mention the Ninja is that it works great even fanless in the P180.

You can see how well it works in the P180 review on Silentpcreview - http://www.silentpcreview.com/article255-page6.html is six pages into the review, but on that page is an image of the case with the huge square Ninja in the top-left corner - right adjacent to two big 12cm fans that move lots of air out of the case silently. That air is drawn directly through the cooler... of course, you can tack another 12cm fan on the cooler if you want but there is no need except if you're going to OC like mad. Even then, the Ninja makes sense since if you add the 12cm fan on it it is a supremely efficient cooler.

Disclaimer: i have both the P180 and the Ninja so I'm biased - but I also know it works incredibly well as outlined above.

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Yeah those cases are a little more especially the P180 Which I had but got rid of when I built up my new system It was too big for to fit in my desk. I am using a COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 now and am very happy with it great air flow, and easy to work with. Not to mention at 45.00 or less with rebates its cheap. Though I think you wanted a full tower and its only a mid tower. If your willing to sacrifice a little space to save some money and maybe put it into a better cooler or PSU it will be worth it especially if you are overclocking. You will be very happy with that Motherboard and processor, I am the Ds3 with a e6400 and overclocked to 2.8ghz it without even changing many settings, and never touching the voltages. I am going to try to push it further eventually. Search the web a bit several forums have good threads with lots of info.

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Bigger isnt always better, a good midtower will be eons better than a cheap ass large tower, its all about how the case is designed.Most good towers with good asirflow will allow you plenty of room for what you want.

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I will second Kimmo's recommendation for the Antec P180B case. NewEgg is offering a $30 rebate this week (it was $50 last week), and if you use PayPal, you can save an additional $10 with the coupon code PAYPAL10. For your needs, the P180B should more than suffice (I think a full tower is overkill): it has 6 3.5" drive bays (i.e. you can hold 6 HDDs) and it has sound-deadening panels (which you'll need for a HTPC-type setup; you want to suppress as much noise as you can). Having just ordered one myself, I can safely say that it's slightly taller than the CM Centurion 534 (which I also ordered), but the internal layout is superior. Also, if you order a P180B now, chances are you're likely to receive a P182 instead (the successor is even better, as it includes external fan control for the top and rear fans and rubber ports, which are handy for those desiring a watercooled solution; here is the product info page)

Even if you do decide to go with an SLI/Crossfire setup, I think a mid-tower ATX case will work just fine. A typical mid-tower should have enough 3.5" drive bays to house at least 4-5 HDDs. If you decide to go with a mid-tower (and based on your wishlist, I do believe it's all you really need), you may want to consider one of the Centurions from CM (Cooler Master). I ordered a Centurion 534 w/ side window for $29.99 from SVC (S&H was ~$21, IIRC) to replace my aging beige mid-tower ATX case; they also have a 531 w/o a window for $5 more; either of these Centurions will suit your needs very well.

If this PC is going to be used as an HTPC, you may want quieter components, particularly the PSU and additional 120mm case fans. Taking into account budgetary considerations, I would likely forego the full tower case for one of the Centurions and use the money towards a better-rated and quieter PSU (the Antec NeoPower NeoHE 550W would be an excellent choice here, as it supports SATA, PCI-E, dual video cards, and dual CPUs, has a high efficiency rating and is significantly quieter than most others with this power rating).

As for heatsinks, you may want to consider one that will support a 120mm fan, as it's more likely to push higher CFMs with lower noise (whether or not the fan is undervolted). Lots of solid choices here: the Thermalright Ultra 120 or 120 eXtreme, Scythe Ninja Plus Rev. B, Tuniq Tower, OCZ Vindicator, Enzotech Ultra-X, to name a few. A couple of these can even be cooled passively, even with the CPU slightly overclocked (although it's safer to have a fan attached and have it undervolted to 5V or 7V). You will need to spend a bit more (about $15-20 more than the Thermaltake HSF on your wishlist), but these will allow you to push your CPU a bit farther without the accompanying increase in noise level.

If you're looking to stay around the $100 range for video cards, an X1650PRO or X1650XT will offer better performance (and IMHO, image quality) than a similarly-priced 7600GS. HIS Hightech and Sapphire are both exceptional ATI third-party manufacturers; as long as you're not upgrading to Vista anytime soon , the Catalyst driver on XP is rock solid.

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Everything looks good on the list, including the 7600GT, which will play all the games with decent frame rates.

Only thing I would consider for the future is one more stick of memory to get to 2GB. But that is not critical or anything.

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Intel will be dropping prices on their current Core 2 Duo processors on or around April 22 to coincide with the launch of three new C2D CPUs (E6420, E6320 & E4400). AMD's price cuts were announced yesterday (link). Some food for thought before you place your order.

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You have almost unlimited options for cases priced $80 or less, if you're willing to consider a mid-tower. Personally, I don't know any PC gamers like myself who own a full tower case. You can get a Cooler Master Centurion case (including S&H) for ~$50, and you can use the $30 you saved towards another component / peripheral.

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Really good (I considered buying one for myself, but there wasn't a rebate at the time, so I bought the 532 instead, and ended up using a 534 in the end )


After a bit more research, I think the Antec PSU in your wishlist should be fine. It's not SLI or Crossfire certified, but seeing as your mobo doesn't support either anyway, it's not really a concern.

If your budget permits, an extra gig of memory (as Dennis suggested) would be a worthwhile investment (if you're a gamer, you'll definitely notice the difference in performance). Again, it's not compulsory, but nice to have (I'm using 1GB myself); otherwise, I think you're set.

Nothing against NewEgg (I'm a regular shopper there as well), but there are other reputable e-tailers with prices, selection and service every bit as good, if not better than the Egg. I understand the convenience of doing shopping at one outlet; just don't overlook its competitors.