Quiet, Low-budget Gaming

[LW07]

I really doubt 330w is going to be enough for that system. That 400w Enermax I linked too would be a better choice. There's also a 500W Enermax of that same type on newegg for $100.

Here it is:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194003

 

[acegazda]

not necessarily more wattage, more amps on the 12v rails so that you can get the a64 3200+ and upgrade the video card in the future w/o any problems. The 330w s12 has 8amps on the 12v1 rail and 14 on the 12v2 rail... not a lot. The 380w version ups the ante to 10amps on the 12v1 rail and 15 on the 12v2 rail. The enermax liberty is the same price as the 380w s12 and has 20amps on each 12v rail... don't know what that combines to... its not 40amps... and is modular. The s12 is quieter though. You're choice... either would be great! Happy building!

 

[prestermatt]

I'm sorry, LW07, and I know that I'm new at this, but I find that hard to believe. This is not exactly a high-end system here.

 

[acegazda]

he doesn't need the 500w. the 380w s12 would be sufficiant... for now.

 

[w00t]

if your building a budget system get a socket 939 rig it will be cheaper and a better rig in the longrun also i'd wait for AMD's pricecut and if your going to get a gig get a one gig stick for future upgradablity.

 

[adammthompson]

prestermatt, I have a Dell Dimension 3000 that sounded like a 747. I used the solution here (7th review down) (except that I used a folded-up peice of cardboard instead of a paper towel). See also this picture. It made a big difference. The Dell is now reasonably quiet. I don't know if the Dimension 2100 has the same poor fan duct construction, but it might be worth opening up the case to see.

 

[LW07]

I would still try to go for the 400W PSU, though. Even though this isn't a high-end system, a 330W PSU would be a little stretching it, wouldn't you think? Especially with the 7600GS I recommended, I think the enermax 400W I linked too earlier would still be a good choice.

With insufficient power you could experience instability, BSODS, unexpected restarts(where it restarts by itself), and worst of all, it could fry some critical components.

 

[prestermatt]

Thanks for explaining that acegazda. I'll admit, I need to spend some time looking into the whole amps on rails thing. I'm going to stick with Seasonic, though; I do want a quiet system, and it seems like they're the best for that purpose.

I don't want to be stuck without enough power later on when I do want to upgrade, but I also don't want to pay more for wattage that I have absolutely no use for. I've read the article on power at spcr, and it seems to argue that a lot of people don't need as much power as they think they do.

Any other opinions on this?

 

[prestermatt]

w00t: How would it be cheaper?

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: prestermatt
w00t: How would it be cheaper?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123236
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103537
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820161679

couple things i would change with some extra cash

Get a more known brand of ram corsair or ocz
You might want to get the 3200+ as it's like 99 dollars

actually i messed up on mobo i thought maybe you already had a video card but it looks like it was onboard you were looking at you can still get a cheap socket 939 motherboard with onboard graphics.

suggestion:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123262

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Originally posted by: prestermatt
Thanks for explaining that acegazda. I'll admit, I need to spend some time looking into the whole amps on rails thing. I'm going to stick with Seasonic, though; I do want a quiet system, and it seems like they're the best for that purpose.

I don't want to be stuck without enough power later on when I do want to upgrade, but I also don't want to pay more for wattage that I have absolutely no use for. I've read the article on power at spcr, and it seems to argue that a lot of people don't need as much power as they think they do.

Any other opinions on this?

Yep. Exactly.
the S12-330 is exactly what I would get, and that's with the consideration that you'll get a 7600GT in the future.

edit, just looked at the spcr review of the 330. definitely get that one.

 

[prestermatt]

w00t: Aside from the case, which I've already discussed, how is any of that cheaper than the AM2 stuff that I've picked out? The 939 3000 is only $1 less than the AM2 model! The motherboard is actually more expensive...

 

[prestermatt]

Hmm... $20 price difference between 330 and 380. You may be right, I'll have to think about it.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: prestermatt
w00t: Aside from the case, which I've already discussed, how is any of that cheaper than the AM2 stuff that I've picked out? The 939 3000 is only $1 less than the AM2 model! The motherboard is actually more expensive...

add up the rig i suggested it's cheaper and better than yours

add these up:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813123262
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820227221
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103535

 

[prestermatt]

w00t: Better if I got the AM2 Sempron, but not if I got the AM2 Athlon 3000, as many have suggested. And I really don't like the Sonata case.

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: prestermatt
w00t: Better if I got the AM2 Sempron, but not if I got the AM2 Athlon 3000, as many have suggested. And I really don't like the Sonata case.

this is a budget build this case is better than yours and it comes with a good psu and it's quiet it fits your needs and your building a budget system you shouldn't be worried about the case rather the hardware inside.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

you shouldn't be worried about the case rather the hardware inside.

Um... right. (just nod and smile.)
That gigabyte board is what I would go with, since they had the best s939 6150 board. Is there no AM2 6150 board yet? And BTW I edited my post - S12-330 I think is adequate

 

[prestermatt]

quote:
you shouldn't be worried about the case rather the hardware inside.

Um... right. (just nod and smile.)

OvErHeAtInG: I was going to respond, but your way might be easier.

There's one, a mATX from Asus. The reviews at Newegg show a discouragingly large number of DOAs. I think the 6100 will be fine, though. The integrated will just be to tide me over while I play *really* old games, and see if prices drop a bit. I'll be getting a real card at some point.

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

Good point. By the way I was thinking of the MSI, not Gigabyte... they don't have a 6100 AM2 board out, but they do have a nForce 550:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130050

But the one you picked, I'm sure, is also good. Edit, that MSI has no onboard video, duh

 

[prestermatt]

It also has no firewire. I hadn't mentioned it before, but I want firewire in case I need to connect my powerbook to the PC.