Building a new comp

[Kelsenellenelvian]

ok well im going with all of that but i have decided to get this case

its the most beautiful thing in the world.

then im going with this PS

if its not to hard can som1 please find me a better price for these or free shipping. i would be very thankful.

EDIT: btw this case has way better cooling and great reviews and it looks heavenly:P

OH.. MY.. GOD...

[Zxian]

Actually... the case doesn't have better cooling. The hard drive cage blocks the incoming airflow horribly, and the fan grilles are more restrictive than those on the NSK4480. Side fans are gimmicky and do very little for cooling a system. Front to back airflow with as little impedance as possible is the way to go.

The Ultra PSU is alright... but it's still a low quality PSU by any comparison.

It's one thing for your computer to look nice... but I'd much rather have a computer that looks "ok" and performs well.

[bonestonne]

i second the E2180, fine choice for such little more money.

aside from that, i just want to bring out the fact (and most people here probably already know) that having a plexiglas case window like that is very similar to just throwing a blanket over your rig. it doesn't actually help cooling at all. for the price, the functionality is somewhat lacking. i'm not saying NZXT is bad, but from my experience (because i have a fancy tower case like that) you get much better performance through other things. it also saves money.

[Oziyn]

well ive been reading stuff about psu and i realized that thats all i need because i rarely play games and my old computer is running on 180w easily and its an average computer.

i know that 180 is crap. please dont start posting about how bad it is but im just saying that 400 is enough for the stuff that i do.

as for the case if thats such a bad case then can u guys find me a good looking case(with a front cover) that looks nice but at the same time works great.

im sorry but i just dont like the case that Zxian suggested.

EDIT: almost every review that i have read says that the cooling in this case is amazing.

Edited June 14, 2008 by Oziyn

[CoffeeFiend]

Actually... the case doesn't have better cooling. The hard drive cage blocks the incoming airflow horribly, and the fan grilles are more restrictive than those on the NSK4480. Side fans are gimmicky and do very little for cooling a system. Front to back airflow with as little impedance as possible is the way to go.

That about sums it up.

The Ultra PSU is alright... but it's still a low quality PSU by any comparison.

A single 12v rail that's kind of weak (20A total, the antec has 2x17). It's not 80 plus either (not particularly efficient really). No PFC of any kind or anything (likely no OCP protection, and very little in OVP/EMI filtering, and almost guaranteed to be group regulation too). I wouldn't call it alright -- it's junk (made from an old design, and outsourced to wintech seemingly). Poor voltage regulation with load, high ripple and all. Known to use crappy fuhjyyu caps too. I've seen nicer PSUs for 35$ (like some by FSP) It's not like you NEED a 750w PSU with four 19A rails to run a basic box, but this is the other extreme. Good, stable, clean power is a must for any computer. Extra points deducted for being sold by Tigerjunkdirect!

150$ for a ugly looking case with bad airflow, and a crap psu instead of 70$ for a GOOD combo... Looks over function I guess!

Edited June 14, 2008 by crahak

[PC_LOAD_LETTER]

150$ for a ugly looking case with bad airflow, and a crap psu instead of 70$ for a GOOD combo... Looks over function I guess!

yeah I dont go for the cases with the fancy lights and windows and such. take the money youd spend on that and apply it to a good monitor. thats the part you look at. if your spending enough time looking at the case to justify the lights and windows, you prolly built it wrong that said, if you want to spend that amount on a case go with the Antec Sonata I have a Sonata I and a Sonata III and if Antec stops making them I will buy a few an store them until i need them. it doesnt sound like the deck of an aircraft carrier and it has real metal drive mounting trays with rubber grommets that cut hard drive noise instead of cheap plastic drive rails that rattle around and create more noise. Plus it includes a 500 watt PSU that you can either keep as a backup and get the one you linked or use it instead and save some $$

[Oziyn]

k well thats a good case geek but is there anything with that performance with a clear side panel?

EDIT: if theres nothing like that with a clear thing then this is great. i just watched a video all about its features. im in love. THX!

Edited June 14, 2008 by Oziyn

[Kelsenellenelvian]

NOW Thats a good, solid case!

Good PSU too.

$100 Bucks? Sweet.

I really do hate to say it but those "Pretty" or "Awesome" cases are really not worth it. You'll find after awhile that the tower is reallly only good for things like a place to set your blanks disk spindles on or in my case a handy legrest. (It's sticking out from under my desk while I am rearranging and cleaning right now )

Unless you are always carrying it around for lan parties or always have company go for a good, solid one with losta room and great front-panel capabilities!

Edited June 14, 2008 by Kelsenellenelvian

[CoffeeFiend]

It's a decent case (decent front connectors, decent amount of bays, decent airflow especially if you add the 120mm front fan, etc) and psu too (antec as well, made by seasonic -- can't really go wrong there, no complaints at all), but it comes down to preferences at this point. I HATE them door things in front of PCs with a passion. Their only purpose in life seems to be getting in the way of your DVD writer when you need to change a disc. I used to have a couple cases with such doors, they're currently located in a landfill somewhere. I'd pay extra NOT to have one, but again, that's just me.

Edited June 14, 2008 by crahak

[PC_LOAD_LETTER]

I'd pay extra NOT to have one

yeah antec has some in the sonata series without the door but unfortunately, they must know that because they cost more

also available in black -just not at the OPs store

[bonestonne]

i share that crahak...cases with doors are on my hate list. What about the Antec Solo? as you can see with my sig, i'm using a plain Cooler Master Elite 330 to house my baby...the case cost me $40 at a local computer store, its had one other computer in it before this one.

It may also be worth looking at cases that have dust filters built in if possible. many people say they're worthless, but having used this case for so long, there is a difference, and a lot of dust is kept out of the computer.

another feature that may be worth looking for is a removable motherboard tray, it'll help you if you buy aftermarket heatsinks so you have an easier time getting things apart and back together. avoid cases that have vents on the side panel, they'll obstruct a true front to back airflow, and cases that have vents by the PCI slots are also iffy, but those vents can be covered easily. covering those vents prevents pockets of hot air from forming within the case.

sometimes simpler is just sexier

[Oziyn]

thanks guys

EDIT: LOL im changing my mobo again. basically the same thing with a bit more features for 20 dollars more.

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku...acture=Gigabyte

ANOTHER EDIT: and how about this case? it has the same cooling as the antec. and keep in mind that i have an extra 120mm fan and an 80mm at my house guys.

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku...anufacture=NZXT

Edited June 14, 2008 by Oziyn

[Oziyn]

Ok guys.

Say you had 1200 dolllars to build a new computer, what would you buy?

Im interested to see what you can make with 1200 dollars because i think i just got a job and ive done some math and il be able to spend 1200 on a computer.

POST POST POST!!

[bonestonne]

80mm fans are on the way out....cases still support them, but why bother with the availability of a 120mm fan? you seem to really be itching for a side window...really itching.

but again, if you look at the hard drive cage, its not designed to promote good airflow. putting a fan there would be loud because of back-pressure caused by such a short distance to the cage, and not enough room to spread out.

if you're really bugging for that window, maybe look at a Cooler Master Centurion 5, it has an optional side window that you can get. the front of the case has no door (which will only get annoying if you burn lots of CDs, or do lots of work with your optical drive, and will be one less thing to break not being there), the case also has a mesh front panel lined with removable filters so that dust does not populate your case as fast (but don't think you wont have to clean it out now and then) and it'll have that side window you're itching for. case and power supply are the two things to never skimp out on with a new computer. power supply is most important, its only what keeps your computer running, and without consistent airflow all over, your computer will constantly run hot, thus decreasing its life.

the only thing that i'd like to make you aware of is that cold cathodes are not the greatest thing. i have a 12" cold cathode in one of my computers, and it has to be switched on before i power on the case, or i don't turn it on, because i've found that it shorts the power supply now if i turn it on while the computer is running. i can't really explain why, but it does. its about a year and a half old now, and i can't say i used it much, but that's what happens to me. that's why i don't exactly get any lighted fans anymore, i don't trust them.

i'd also suggest any 80+ power supply that's on the market, possibly one of the new Enermax ones, they're very good, the 425W version would last you years. 80+ power supplies have a higher efficiency and use less energy than other supplies so its in your best interest to get one, for your own wallet through bills, and for the environment. (also buying only RoHS is a step too, but nearly everything is these days..finally)

[Oziyn]

ok well im gonna go with the antec III but what do you guys think about the motherboard