Case for Beast System?

[imported_fictionised]

G'day guys!

Here's the system I intend on building for a friend who wants a beast. He already has speakers, soundcard, kb, and mouse, so here's the main stuff:

• AMD Athlon? 64 4200+ Processor Retail (939) Dual Core
  ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe nForce 4 SLI Motherboard (socket 939)
  1024MB TWINX-4000Pro DDR RAM Corsair
  1024MB TWINX-4000Pro DDR RAM Corsair
  HITACHI Deskstar T7K250 HDT722525DLA380 250 GB SATA-II 3.0 Gb/s 8MB buffer
  HITACHI Deskstar T7K250 HDT722525DLA380 250 GB SATA-II 3.0 Gb/s 8MB buffer
  Leadtek Nvidia Geforce PX7800GTX-TDH 256MB PCIe w/2xDVI,VIVO
  Leadtek Nvidia Geforce PX7800GTX-TDH 256MB PCIe w/2xDVI,VIVO
  LG DVD16X+- Super Multi DVD Rewriter with Software(Dual Layer)
  LG 16X DVD
  BENQ FP937S+ 19 inch LCD 700:1 Silver/Black monitor 8ms

I'm wondering what case I should get. I'm currently looking at Lian Li, and the Antec Sonata 2 (but the latter only has 450w psu...). So just wondering which case, and how much power I'll need, and if there's a particular PSU you recommend, etc.?

Cheers, guys!

 

[DanDaMan315]

Well this case was $108 when I ordered it last night, but now it's $128. Still a great preforming/silent/and to me good looking, case.

Antec P180

 

[DanDaMan315]

Is that ram going to ran 4x512? Or is it 2x1gb?

 

[imported_fictionised]

4 x 512.

"1024MB TWINX-4000PRO (500 MHz Latency 3-4-4-8) DDR RAM "Corsair", 2x CMX512-4000 DIMMs, Activity LEDs, Tuned pair for new DUAL CHANNEL RAM motherboards, 100% tested to work with Nforce2 and i865, i875 chipsets and below, Integrated aluminium heat spreader with , 184-pin DIMMs, Lifetime warranty, Made in USA."

Also, monitor isn't final. Prob. get Philips or LG. Maybe even Samsung.

 

[PleasurePaulie64]

Very good system.

However, what is your friends main focus for this system? Is it for games? If its for games, the X2 will be great in general applications, but you could get a faster gaming processor in a single core Athlon 64 for a cheaper price.

If you're going to use an X2, AMD themselves don't recommend anything below a 400W PSU. If you're going to use 2x 7800 cards as well, I suggest atleast a 500W.

Not much point these days in having both a DVD burner and a DVD reader. Not many people burn on the fly anyway.

There are better LCD's out then from BenQ. Look at this viewsonic:
http://www.viewsonic.com.au/products/productspecs.php?id=211

Thanks!

 

[imported_fictionised]

Oh, nice monitor.

For games, but since he doesn't want to upgrade for another 3+ years, this is the best way to go, in having a beast now, and again later. Prob. get the 4200 and if need be, clock to 2.7ghz. But I was thinking probably 580w, just to be safe.

The 4200 at 2.7 seemed to come out on top of the single-cores anyway, and will be useful if he wants to listen to music while playing games, or whatever...

 

[tmanXX]

I like the Antec P160. No doors, which can really be a pain when dealing with optical drives. All aluminum, toolless, and has a front air filter. It does not come with a windowed side panel, but one can be had for about $23. It has 2 USB, 1 FireWire, 2 audio jacks, and an LED temp readout with 2 sensors. I have seen it available for $79.99 after rebate.

Pick up a Thermaltake Thunderblade 120mm Blue LED fan (A1926) to replace the clear 120mm fan that comes for the rear, and mount the clear one on the front to improve air flow. This case has 4 external 5.25" bays, 2 external 3.5" bays, and 4, rubber mounted grommed 3.5" hard drive bays.

If you wanted something a little smaller, I would choose the Antec SuperLanboy.

As for a PSU, you should choose one listed as certified by NVIDIA which you can find here: http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build.html (scroll to bottom)

Good luck with your build!

 

[tmanXX]

I like the Antec P160. No doors, which can really be a pain when dealing with optical drives. All aluminum, toolless, and has a front air filter. It does not come with a windowed side panel, but one can be had for about $23. It has 2 USB, 1 FireWire, 2 audio jacks, and an LED temp readout with 2 sensors. I have seen it available for $79.99 after rebate.

Pick up a Thermaltake Thunderblade 120mm Blue LED fan (A1926) to replace the clear 120mm fan that comes for the rear, and mount the clear one on the front to improve air flow. This case has 4 external 5.25" bays, 2 external 3.5" bays, and 4, rubber mounted grommed 3.5" hard drive bays.

If you wanted something a little smaller, I would choose the Antec SuperLanboy.

As for a PSU, you should choose one listed as certified by NVIDIA which you can find here: http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build.html (scroll to bottom)

Good luck with your build!

 

[DerelictDev]

Hmm i think you should save money on the cpu and buy a athlon 64 single core.

In 2/3 years the price will be dramatically less for dual cores and theyll probably be more main stream with applications utilizing them better. Currently if his primary use is gaming a 3700+ Athlon 64 will be much better (Or even higher.) A 4200 X2 only compares to around a 3200+ 64 gaming wise.

If he needs to upgrade in the future hell be able to just buy a dual core for a good price and just stick it in as it also uses 939 socket.
For now i doubt hell require a X2 for most likely basic use.

 

[imported_fictionised]

That's true. Good thinking. I'll check prices now for the single cores.

 

[cbehnken]

Why on earth would you use such a small monitor with a 7800 sli setup? To run 150FPS all day?

 

[ChinaCat]

Why nickel/dime with those comps. I just built two systems using CMO1 Cooler Master TAC Wavemaster Cases along with Enermax 600w Power Supply.

Just used those links, but I'm sure you can do better price wise if you shop around.

The cases rock. Nicest cases I've ever used.

 

[l Xes l]

i'd get one 250gb drive and two raptors in raid0.. and get pioneer or NEC dvd roms..
i'd cut the price on cpu which will be OCed.. most of 3000+ venice users are running in FX-55 speed..
and get a better bigger meaner pimp ass monitor.. =P
i like coolermaster centurion 5 and 530 as cases...

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: tmanXX
I like the Antec P160. No doors, which can really be a pain when dealing with optical drives. All aluminum, toolless, and has a front air filter. It does not come with a windowed side panel, but one can be had for about $23. It has 2 USB, 1 FireWire, 2 audio jacks, and an LED temp readout with 2 sensors. I have seen it available for $79.99 after rebate.

Pick up a Thermaltake Thunderblade 120mm Blue LED fan (A1926) to replace the clear 120mm fan that comes for the rear, and mount the clear one on the front to improve air flow. This case has 4 external 5.25" bays, 2 external 3.5" bays, and 4, rubber mounted grommed 3.5" hard drive bays.

If you wanted something a little smaller, I would choose the Antec SuperLanboy.

As for a PSU, you should choose one listed as certified by NVIDIA which you can find here: http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build.html (scroll to bottom)

Good luck with your build!

i also like the Antech P160.

 

[SrGuapo]

IUf you are getting SLIed 7800gtxs, you definately want a larger resolution (AT least 1600x1200, probably 1920x1440)... An LCD at that resoltution is pretty expensive, so maybe look at a CRT. There is no point running two 7800gtxs at 1280x1024. You will just get 200FPS. What a waste...

 

[QuantumCore]

I agree with krnxpride83 on this one

also I just bought a centurion to basically swap out a family members crappy dell cause they wanted to upgrade and found out dell didn't give them a few things on their board so I agreed to help them with this problem and man is teh centurion nice the ports on top are perfect for my cousins in particular since they have it on teh floor and usually swap out video and photos so the USB and firewire on top just helps their laziness.

 

[imported_fictionised]

Going to get just one 7800gtx, and if need be, grab another later. Also getting the Viewsonic VX924- sweet monitor. Taken out the 250gb, since he only needs 250, not 500, heh. Gonna get the P180, since it's hot, and also grab the Antex 550w Truepower Truecontrol PSU. Replaced the dvd rom with a liteon cd burner, since it's faster for cd burning

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: fictionised
Going to get just one 7800gtx, and if need be, grab another later. Also getting the Viewsonic VX924- sweet monitor. Taken out the 250gb, since he only needs 250, not 500, heh. Gonna get the P180, since it's hot, and also grab the Antex 550w Truepower Truecontrol PSU. Replaced the dvd rom with a liteon cd burner, since it's faster for cd burning

get a new gen 15krpm u320 scsi system drive and then the 250GB storage drive. also, get a single core cpu. enermax 600W

that lcd is only 1280x1024, you won't need 2x7800gtxs for that even with all the eye candy on bf2. your friend has too much $$$ to burn and a machinet that will cost 1/3 that will be 90% as fast.

noobs, read and learn and don't try to build these machines for "future proofing" that is impossible.

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: SrGuapo
IUf you are getting SLIed 7800gtxs, you definately want a larger resolution (AT least 1600x1200, probably 1920x1440)... An LCD at that resoltution is pretty expensive, so maybe look at a CRT. There is no point running two 7800gtxs at 1280x1024. You will just get 200FPS. What a waste...

isn't bf2 capped @ 99fps? more of a waste.

 

[DanDaMan315]

Dell 2405?

 

[gar3555]

I absolutely love this case. I have it, I enjoy it.

 

[Topweasel]

If you haven't ordered the Mobo yet then I would recommend stepping it up to a A8N-SLI Premium, Better overclocker, has a heat pipe that is cool to the touch for the chipset, is a better overclocker, and even has a rear port SATA connector.

 

[CreativeTom]

I like the P160 from antec, I know that the P180 is out now, but you can save some money with the P160.