Case Mods

[Guest]

Hello, rather new to the forum though not to the site. I'm a Senior in college and recently come across enough cash that I think I can build a pretty decent system for about $1,100 to $1,200 bucks. Any advice would be appreciated as to what hardware combos really work, remember to take price into account.

This is the cooling forum, and I noticed these on HardOcp.com after following up an old link to Coolerguys.com. Is it overkill, and to what extent will it work in cooling my entire system should I opt to overclock. <A HREF="http://www.coolerguys.com/cpucool/wind3.shtml " target="_new">http://www.coolerguys.com/cpucool/wind3.shtml </A>. I plan on purchasing as a rough generalization the following:

Mainboard: K7T266 Pro2-RU
Processor: AthlonXP 1700
3d Card: Either Asus or Visiontek's GeForce3 Ti 200
Cd/R: Acer 20x12x40x Drive
HD: Seagate 40G 7200 rpm
Audio: Creative Labs Audigy Gamer+
Modem: 56k Either Creative or 3com
Memory: 512 DDR 2100 Crucial (Will it overclock ok in this case?"
Floppy: 3.5" Sony

PS. I'd mod the case myself as I enjoy tinkering like that, however, purchasing the tools would end up costing me just about the same or more. In the future I will design my own after I graduate.

*Will probably add a DVD drive later as cash allows, along with another 40g hard drive to utilize Raid 0 function. Couldn't afford the Seagate Cheetah 15k rpm SCSI Hard Drive just yet.

 

[HonestJhon]

case looks good....and so does the system....you might look into the athlon xp1600+ though because it has a better speed/price ratio...
and were you planning on getting a heatsink, or buying it as a retail cpu?


-DAvid

-Live, Learn, then build your own computer!-

 

[Guest]

From what I've read obviously the standard heatsink/fans don't seem to cut the chase. What suggestions might you have to a feasible (price/performance-longevity ratio) heatsink/fan on this particular processor. To be honest I'm new to AMD, but the stats speak for themselves so I've decided to give them another shot. My processors to date since college have been a Intel P-200, AMD K6-2 350 (took back, not at all pleased with incompatibility issues), Intel P3-450 which I'm currently running. Its about time for another upgrade, but I haven't been keeping up as to do so hurt. I hate window shopping and reading all the reviews is exactly that, seeing what you can't possibly afford. Now if I hadn't purchased my 98 formula firebird with its outrageous insurance (yah yah I know, priorities)... been busting my chops just to afford it. But I'm getting sidetracked. Any suggestions that really do work and don't look to bad as the case will have a window... I'd appreciate.

 

[HonestJhon]

well, i have the volcano 6cu made by thermaltake...and it cools pretty good...and isnt that loud...
looks nice too!
my friend got the 6cu+, which is a tad louder, but cools a few degrees cooler..
what you might want to look for is the volcano 7...
from what i have heard, this is thermaltake's best hsf to date, and is REALLY good...
havent seen any for sale YET...but people have been reviewing them, so they are probably going to hit stores soon.
i am hoping so, because i like what i have read about it...
what i would like, is if it was able to mount to the 4 holes on the motherboard because i would like to be able to move this computer around without worrying about crushing the core...
i dont know any hsfs that use the hole by name...but there are some out there...
i wish i knew them, because then i would buy one...
they mount flush, and dont move...
much better than the clip, but if you carry the computer CAREFULLY, a normal hsf will be ok, and will most likely not crush the core...actually, you would have to bump kinda hard to make a normal hsf crush the core...just make sure that the rubber spacers are still on the cpu, and to be even more safe, you can use a shim...
it is really too bad that amd didnt put a heat spreader on the athlon xp, but maybe they just wanted to keep with tradition, and not look like the pentium4...
but for the most part...the volcano6cu has been good for me...and was not that hard to install...
if i was you tho, i would have someone show me how to install a socket a heatsink, because you have to put it flat on the cpu, and then attatch the clips...
it really isnt that easy, just take your time...
here is a review of the volcano 7 i saw in here..
<A HREF="http:// http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/Tt_Volcano7/index.html
" target="_new">http:// http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/Tt_Volcano7/index.html
</A>
i hope that something in this rant helps...
and i am sorry that i cant give you any names as to what heatsinks use the 4 mounting holes..but if you find one, let me know, because i am kinda interested in one.
and pretty much, anything that will adequately cool an athlon will cool an athlonxp...

-DAvid

-Live, Learn, then build your own computer!-

 

[Guest]

I have recently ordered the Alpha 8045 Heat-sink which uses the holes you mentioned. (about $40)

Heat sinks are getting so heavy, I wanted to give this mounting a try.

This one uses (almost any) 80x80mm fan and they are pretty cheap. (usually around $10 will get you one that is just fine) I opted for one made by Sunon, rated at 40cfm because that was one of the ones offered by the supply house I used. (I didn't want something like a Delta because I have paid a price for the DragonOrb3 I presently use. The "tone" it makes is very annoying and I am not buying another product that will do this.)

while it irks me to have spent nearly $50 on a HSF combo, when I consider what I spent on the rest of this stuff, well then it doesn't look like so much :/

I'll have to wait a few days because the case I also ordered was on back-order and they say they won't have one to ship until 11/5 (that date has already slipped once). But once I get my hands on it, I'll be sure to post and let y'all know what kind of results I got.


<A HREF="http://www.voidyourwarranty.net/review/review.php3?r1=pal8045/index.php3" target="_new">http://www.voidyourwarranty.net/review/review.php3?r1=pal8045/index.php3</A>
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Insidious on 11/02/01 07:42 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[bum_jcrules]

You seem like an overclocker since you bring up OC the memory. You can buy PC2700.(333MHz) Or you can stick with an high performance low latency PC2100 stick. your choice.

For the HSF combo you might want to look into the Alpha 8045, I think someone already suggested it. Buy it with the Delta fan. (80 x 80 x 25.4 mm) <A HREF="http://www.micforg.co.jp/c_pal8045e.html" target="_new"> Alpha 8045 </A> It puts out 40 db's and some people think it is loud. Who cares, that is my opinion, my speakers when I game will make me go deaf first.

Other options for a HSF's are as follows:

1) <A HREF="http://www.est.hi-ho.ne.jp/kanie/eproductsbodysocket.htm" target="_new"> Kanie Hedgehog and Hedgehog W (Wing) </A>

or

2) <A HREF="http://www.thermalright.com/sk6.htm" target="_new"> Thermalright SK6 </A>

All three of these have really good colling capacities.

(see <A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1532&p=2" target="_new"> Anandtech's Results </A> or others for test results)

You probably will want to cool the Northbridge with a HSF as well. (Still asuming you wish to OC) The Orange Orb is a great cooler. It is the new, younger brother of The Blue Orb.

<b>Oh Mrs. Green...I'm looking at you...You wore green so you could hide - Caddyshack</b> :lol:

 

[FatBurger]

Ewww...Creative Labs?
I strongly recommend against any of their products.

<font color=orange>Quarter</font color=orange> <font color=blue>Pounder</font color=blue> <font color=orange>Inside</font color=orange>

 

[Guest]

Why stay away from creative? What would be a good card to use instead?

My signature really sucks.

 

[Guest]

Heh, I have the heart of an OC'er but neither the cash or as much time as I'd like to sit and research reviews. 17 hours upper division and work will tend to strip what little time you have, and lets not forget I'd like to have a life.

I looked into the Alpha 8045, and I was impressed. The mount will come in handy as I've started attending a monthly LAN party.

Have a question on case though for all of you. Do you think the Enermax / Antec, BLACK, 10-Bay, Enermax 330W P-4 PS, Server Tower Case<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=7&manufactory=1400" target="_new">http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=7&manufactory=1400</A> will work, I can mod it later as I probed a friend and he has the tools. But best thing to do is start off with a solid case you can afford, then improve as you have the cash. So... should I go with this pretty slick case with a nice cooling arrangement or go with a ever popular Lian Li? Comments?

History? Irrelevant Excuses? Leave em! Heart? Relevant Skill? Bring it! ~Talon's school of whoop***~<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Talonsharp on 11/02/01 05:18 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Guest]

Which part, the modem or Audigy. The sound card comes highly reviewed of Tom's forum and many others. Do you have alternative suggestions?

History? Irrelevant Excuses? Leave em! Heart? Relevant Skill? Bring it! ~Talon's school of whoop***~

 

[FatBurger]

Creative's products are always crippled hardware and even worse drivers. Your choice.

I have a Hercules Game Theatre XP in my box, and use a Lucent v90 WinModem (in another box). I can't really recommend the modem, since it works great for me and horrible for a coworker. Others can recommend a better one.

<font color=orange>Quarter</font color=orange> <font color=blue>Pounder</font color=blue> <font color=orange>Inside</font color=orange>

 

[Guest]

I've got SoundBlaster Lives in my comps. I think I've been lucky because I haven't had any problems. Er... After I tried about a zillion slot combos to get the IRQ by itself..

I don't really think they are terrible, but I won't buy another either... (I don't know much about the Audigy... I have heard they are decent.... but..... "once bitten" and all that rot!

 

[Guest]

The only time I've had any conflict/IRQ problems with any creative sound card I've owned (which to date, is 8). Is with the AWE32. All the other SB cards I've owned have installed and performed flawlessly. Part luck, part production good batch, who knows -- but when it comes to sound, I'm set on Creative.

 

[HonestJhon]

for me, it would be the diamond mx-300, too bad they arent around anymore to make more cards like it!..same with aureal..they had a great chip with the vortex 2....

-DAvid

-Live, Learn, then build your own computer!-

 

[Guest]

Ya know, after I posted (above) I got curious and did some more poking around. From what I've been reading, I think I would consider an Audigy for a sound card replacement. IF I were making a change.

The IRQ problem I was trying to fix was instability when I installed my Network card and after the slot swaps to get it away from the soundblaster all was fine. The soundblaster itself never complained, just the other PCI card that was sharing with it (I also had a PCI parallel port at the time)

I've never had file transfering problems or poor sound. As to sound.... yep, yep, yep this card rocks the room (SoundBlaster Live X-Gamer)
<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Insidious on 11/03/01 06:55 AM.</EM></FONT></P>