My new PC, suggestions/ changes welcome?...

[Caspar]

Thanks to these two threads and more importantly those who replied and helped me make the choices!
Recommend me a motherboard for a P4 3Ghz? , Radeon 9700 PRO 128mb UPGRADE to 9800 PRO 128mb? and Recommend me a 19" LCD monitor?


Here's what I'm planning to buy as my new PC (to replace my old and VERY noisy Athlon 1400 )

• 19" Iiyama ProLite E481S Silver TFT +DVI + speakers (3 yr on-site)
• Intel® Pentium ® 4 3.2GHz (800MHz) Hyper threading 512K cache Retail inc.Fan (3 year warranty)
  (I decided against the Prescott 3.0GHz in the end )
• Asus P4C800-E Deluxe P4 i875P AGP Pro 800FSB +Firewire +SATA/RAID +Intel gigabit LAN +6ch.audio +USB2 Dual chan. DDR +WiFi slot (up to DDR400)
  
• Corsair ® 1024MB TwinX Dual Memory (2 x 512MB) XMS 3200 DDR 400MHz (TwinX1024-3200C2)
  
• SoundBlaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum Pro 7.1 surround sound, Dolby Digital ® EX Retail
  
• 2x 160 GB Maxtor DiamondMax Plus9 SATA 7200rpm UDMA150 8MB Cache
  
• PC Case - Lian-Li PC-6070A (Aquariam, case side panel)
  
• Antec TruePower Quiet 480W Blue Illuminated PSU with Twin Fans
  
• Lian-Li 5.25" Thermometer Silver
  
• Samcheer 3.5" Internal 6-in-One card reader (Beige, Black & Silver Bezels)
  
• Logitech Premium Stereo USB Headset 30

I'm keeping my existing ATI 9700 PRO 128mb g/c, DVD-RW and my MS keyboard and w/l Intellimouse Explorer


First of all THANKS again to everyone who helped me make the hard decisions

p.s. have I missed anything???

Please note: I've updated post#1 as and when needed going on the feedback from this thread

[Jarandco]

You just want a better PC than me dont you! :pp

All looks very very nice Cas!

[Defiant]

Bah just showing off lol

[Tezcatlipoca]

Yep, v nice

[Caspar]

Originally Posted by Defiant

Bah just showing off lol

nah!...I'm not bright enough for that m'larky!

I'm really just checking that I have'nt done something stupid!...or have missed something obvious!

[Bifta]

Topower PSU's? I've never heard of them, but for the price you're paying for the kit I'd go with a known reliable brand, such as Enermax, Antec, Zalman, Aerocool or Vantec (avoid the cheaper models in each of their ranges). Also beward of Maxtor drives, probably just my bad luck but every single Maxtor drive I've had ends up whining after about a week or so.

[Steve H]

With that PC, i'd reccomend against getting a unknown PSU.. dont want everything blowing up, do we

[Semi On]

Originally Posted by Bifta

Topower PSU's? I've never heard of them, but for the price you're paying for the kit I'd go with a known reliable brand, such as Enermax, Antec, Zalman, Aerocool or Vantec (avoid the cheaper models in each of their ranges). Also beward of Maxtor drives, probably just my bad luck but every single Maxtor drive I've had ends up whining after about a week or so.

This man speaketh the truth. I'd avoid Maxtor too, but that's just me.

Some things you can get away with buying cheap or unbranded, but RAM and PSU's are worth spending that little extra on. You're good to go on the RAM, but I'd go for a quality PSU. If quiet is your thing, then Antec's TruePower series are great.

[SOSAGES]

seems like your a boy racer of the pc world - my only issue with it may be noise. while it may be super duper it may soon get on your tits

but thats just me i went from a super loud amd to a very nice and peaceful p4 3.2 with some silent stuff in my box.

[Sipowicz]

I agree with the comment about Antec PSU's. I would also have a look at their cases - I think that they are superb! I have used cases from either end of their ranges (price wise as well) and find them very hard to fault!

Originally Posted by Caspar

p.s. have I missed anything???

The second Mortgage to buy it all ?

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Sipowicz

I would also have a look at their cases - I think that they are superb!

They are, I have one myself, but he's bought a sexy Lian Li .. which in my book outdoes any Antec any day.

[Strzelecki]

I have a Lian Li case (PC7) with the aquarium side panel, it is very cool but does add to the noise (the air pump making bubbles through the water) I recently bought a ThermalTake butterfly PSU to to power it all and very good it is to. You've gone for the asaka case modding kit to that includes some cold cathodes but don't forget you'll already have one to go with the side panel/case. Also just a suggestion but instead of the 250Gb disk why not go for 2 120 or 160Gb disks and make a raid 0 array for a bit more speed seeing as you have no redundacy for backup anyway!

[Semi On]

Originally Posted by Bifta

he's bought a sexy Lian Li .. which in my book outdoes any Antec any day.

If aesthetics are more important, then I'd agree. I'd say Antec's lean towards function over form - a bit more practical. For example, If reducing system noise was a priority I'd take an Antec SLK3700-BQE over a Lian-Li.

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Semi On

If aesthetics are more important, then I'd agree. I'd say Antec's lean towards function over form - a bit more practical. For example, If reducing system noise was a priority I'd take an Antec SLK3700-BQE over a Lian-Li.

The case he's buying is not only exceptionally well manufactured, it's sound dampened and rated VERY highly in a number of reviews. I'd personally take it functionally over any Antec (I currently have an Antec case, and will soon be buying the same Lian Li)

http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=2008&p=1