Ordered new machine... what to do with the old one.

[vangvace]

Alright so lets start with a little history. This build is replacing an AMD Athlon 1.1G pre-TBird machine with PC-133 RAM, A7V133 mobo, and FX5500 AGP card. Needless to say it probably won't be until 2015 before my next build.

I'm planning on transferring the DVD drive, keyboard, mouse, and monitor to the new system.


CPU AMD fan but I chose the Q6600 it's the current better quad out there. Plus my wife is starting to get into photo editing more and I multi task when more often than not. I'm sticking to stock cooling because IF I decide to overclock it would be very mild and there's no need for greater.

For the mobo the big things I was looking for was RAID and firewire. Firewire is just so I didn't have to transfer firewire card to new machine. EDIT: there are 2 raid chip options on this board. I one a better option than the other?

P/S I'm not going to be running SLI or Crossfire so I went with a 600 watter in case I add additional disk drives in the future.

RAM went with 8G because I can, I'm going to run Vista64, and might as well get it now and not in a few years.

HDs... I lean towards seagates for preference. 2 are going into a RAID 1 array because I am uberlazy when it comes to backing up stuff. Stuff being pictures in particular. I haven't used film since 3 months into my 4 year olds life and haven't printed many pictures so it's important that I add data security with this build. The third drive is going to be for OS and programs.

Video card... I actually prefer Nvidia because of the way their drivers are packaged. (laptop is ATI) Card chosen seems best bang for buck.

I suck a FPS and really the only games I play are like the following Neverwinter Nights, C&C series, AoE series. But since this isn't really a mainly gaming rig I think it'll do alright. Part breakdown below:

RAIDMAX SMILODON $80
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811156063
GA-P35-DS4 $180
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128064
DIAMOND HD 3850 256MB $170
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814103049
Thermaltake Purepower 600 W Power Supply $90
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817153042
Q6600 $276
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115017
2x G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 Dual Channel Kit $180
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231122
SUPER TALENT INT-AIN1-C All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader $8
2x Seagate Barracuda 320GB $170 (Data RAID 1)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148140
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB $70 (OS and programs)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148262
Vista64 Ultimate $190
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16832116215


Comments, suggestions, beatdowns?

 

[lunyone]

Here's what I'd do a little different.
Case - $110 shipped! It's a little more and is definately one of the coolest (temperature wise) out there for the $. It's only ~$15 more than the one you shipped, remember the $17 shipping on your selection. This one ships for FREE!!
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Mobo - $162 shipped. Might be a little cheaper, but has just about everything one needs, except missing the kitchen sink.
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3P LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Dynamic Energy Saver Ultra Durable II Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128083

Memory - I'd probably just stick with 4 gb's of DDR2, but that is just me. I don't think 8 gb's is going to make that much of a difference, except for the added initial cost.

PSU - $100 - $10 MIR - $10 Google checkout = $80 shipped!! One of the best out there in this price range and has 5 yr. warranty to boot!!
Corsair 520W SLI Certified Modular ATX Power Supply - CMPSU-520HX
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-520w-sli-certified-modular-atx-power-supply/q/loc/101/203270716.html

GPU - ~$200 shipped. I'd get the 512mb version, because if you go to a bigger monitor with higher resolution in the future, you'll enjoy the added memory needed for the higher resolutions.
Gigabyte GV-RX385512H Radeon HD 3850 512MB GDDR3 256-bit PCI-Express Zalman Fan 2xDVI-I / D-sub / HDMI / HDCP
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=AA72524

The rest of the build looks fine.

 

[mlaporta]

You may think about a heatsink: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

 

[IH8U]

With that case, I'll say to pick up a Zerotherm Nirvana.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887011
($50 before rebates)
I know it fits the Antec 900 (I have one), should also fit in the Smilodon case as well.

 

[tjhva]

I think 8gigs of RAM is a really good idea. In a few years DDR2 will be much more expensive and no longer worth upgrading.


Plus:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/Microsoft-Windows-Vista,review-30272.html

Duhz.


I realize you have to stop somewhere, and the 7200.10 drives you selected are a fair price...but if I was building a new system it would be hard for me not to buy the 500gig 7200.11 drives.


250gig:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148309

500gig:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288


Edit:

Case selection is naturally subjective, but this Antec case (or the Antec 900), don't fall into the bad aesthetics of XTREME gamer case that the Raidmax does.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129018&Tpk=antec%2bsolo

 

[mweidler]

IH8U: Did you have a problem installing the nirvana? I have one on my maximus formula and coolermaster 830, with the fan facing the back of the case so it flows out the outtake. If I tighten all four screw i get a cpu init error. so I loosened and loosened, too much for my comfort. what I realized is it seems to hang a little when you loosen it. so i tightened the two top screws down all the way and backed off the bottom two. It seemed to work and got rid of the cpu init error. Im testing it now and the temps seem good. max temp is 47c after 12 hours of prime95. and about 30 at idle

 

[vangvace]

The one thing I like about the raidmax is the removable motherboard tray, but I'm not 100% on the clips. I might change the case, but it does sit inside my desk never to be seen so... gotta think about it some more. mmmm.... gunmetal.

Doing some smart shopping will help to bring save a couple pennies. I like newegg because it's easy to price out stuff, but the downside is because I like in Jersey right now they tax the hell outta me. It's taking up almost $80 of parts money. bastages

Thanks for the research on the video card and it's great that it's through mwave. They did right my me years ago with my last build.

I'm 98% sold on Vista64. If I stay that course (AoE2 incapability bugs me) I'm gonna stick with 8 gigs. However, if I don't then I'll probably drop to two gigs.

Thanks for the hdd links. I saw the .11s but I couldn't fit them into the budget as the build stands now. Hopefully I'll be able to upgrade the 250 though to an ES2. Didn't know it existed.

Thanks all for your help so far

 

[DirtyDrummer]

You could always drop to 4 gigs. Do you really need 8? How much video encoding do you do?

 

[vangvace]

You could always drop to 4 gigs. Do you really need 8? How much video encoding do you do?

Just have a history of freaking systems out because I don't close things or work on too many projects at once so I figured to max out ram now and hopefully forget about it. I found a copy of vista ultimate retail for 208. If I drop down to even just 4 gig then I think I might be able to upgrade all the hdds and maybe even the video card depending on taxes... hmmm...

Side note: don't get the money for two more weeks and already the wife is getting annoyed with my windows shopping. :lol:

 

[mweidler]

get the vista 64 OEM disk for 114 from newegg. OEM is fine. if your building this yourself no need to pay double for it.
I wasnt sold on vista64 either. but after using it I am. seems smooth and handles 8 gigs

 

[bugspin23]

I will second the Corsair Power Supply. I have the 620W version...but I needed it.

I also purchased the same mobo as you the DS4. Not sure if you need that but if you have the budget for it, every review and recommendation was excellent. Also. make sure to get the E version of the Gigabyte boards. save the planet and all...lol

 

[tjhva]

Try Buy.com instead of NewEgg to order from parts from to save on taxes. They generally have better or as good prices - but it goes back and forth.

 

[bugspin23]

I agree with tjhva, I have to admit...I LOVE neweggs customer service. But money is money. I ended up purchasing 75% of my stuff from clubit and my fans and little stuff from axiontech.com They still have the thermalright ultra 120 Extreme... and the scythe fans were about $13 as opposed to newegg at like $26 Just shop around and find those deals.

 

[mlaporta]

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Low to Moderate OC

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - High OC

 

[vangvace]

worked out some pricing. seems like it's going to be $50 over budget but a few suggestions have been used. More details when I wake up later.

Thanks again all.

 

[vangvace]

I'm down to $12.60 in sales tax from $100. Shipping for everything is just under $40. Build grand total is $1,500.69. Only one dollar over my $1500 dollar budget. I was able to upgrade to the hdds that tjhva suggested. Also I've replaced the mobo and GPU with lunyone's suggested choices. I changed the PS to a corsair after reading a hardocp.com review on it. It's not modular but it'll do just fine. Cases... I looked at the raidmax again and decided to go another way. Mainly because I had to open the front panel to turn it on or insert a disk. Right now I'm going with the Centurian 5. I think that's all the changes so here's the build...

From ZipZoomFly ($435.87):
Seagate 250 ES2 drive
2x Seagate 500 7200.11 drive
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

From Mwave ($872.24):
Q6600
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3P
Vista64 Ultimate
GIGABYTE HD 3850 512MB
All-in-one card reader
Cooler Master Centurion 5

From Newegg ($192.58):
2x G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 Dual Channel Kit


I took a look at the Antec cases suggested but I couldn't quite fit it into my budget. The 900 being the cheaper of the three suggested (and a nice case) would add another $50+ that I would need to sweet talk my wife out off.

Questions???

Bare or bulk drives I'm assuming are still covered under manufacture warranty and I shouldn't be afraid or it? I couldn't find any info either way.

I'm beginning to think that I may not need Ultimate and that Home Premium might work just as well for my uses. I only lose automatic backups, windows fancy encryption, remote desktop, and the almighty fax and scan...
If I can get away with Home Premium then I might be able to get the 900... hmmm. Back to the Vista forums I go

 

[mlaporta]

I don't think I saw an Optical drive this is one of the BEST:

Samsung SH-S203B SATA

(Get the "Retail" version of the optical drive in order to get software with it. This will include the decoder you'll need to watch movies on it.)

 

[vangvace]

Thanks mlaporta, but for now I'm just going to transfer my old drives over from the old machine. They're not overly outdated, but if my plans for my old system come together then I'll be needing a new drive.
I'm hoping to turn the old system into a movie player for my daughter, preferably with touch screen interface with all of her movies ripped to the machine. I've still got alot of reading to see if it'll be possible still but here's to hoping.

 

[vangvace]

Ordered for 1,508.78 shipped Here's the final breakdown:

From ZipZoomFly ($88.90):
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

From Mwave ($1,135.35):
Q6600
Arctic Silver 5 (just in case)
GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3P
Vista64 Ultimate OEM
XFX Geforce 8800 gt 512mb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150252
Cooler Master Centurion 5
2x Seagate 500 7200.11 drives

From Newegg ($284.53):
2x G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 Dual Channel Kits
Seagate 250 ES2 drive

From old Comp (Free):
Sony DVD burner DRU-810A
Keyboard
mouse
monitor

thanks again everyone


It'll all be in sometime next week.

*links to newegg products are for nice reference only

 

[vangvace]

I was thinking with the old machine to turn it into a media PC for my daughter. That way she can just click on the movie she wants instead of dragging me back into her room to swap dvds. No tuner card really just ripped movies and playback.

Would it work with the following core components or just be a waste of my time?

ASUS A7V133 V1.4
Athlon 1.13G
1G Kingston RAM
eVGA FX 5500
SB Aud 4
Pioneer DVD-106

 

[amd_fanboi]

it would be a waste of time, IMO; that system is old.... unless it'll only ever be used for watching movies, i say go for something a bit more powerful if budget allows

 

[vangvace]

it would be a waste of time, IMO; that system is old.... unless it'll only ever be used for watching movies, i say go for something a bit more powerful if budget allows

Yup that'd be it. No Antivirus, no internet, and no games. Just the OS and movies.

Edit: But it still could be just a waste of time.

 

[cah027]

use it as a printer server or network storage.

 

[chunkymonster]

I was thinking with the old machine to turn it into a media PC for my daughter. That way she can just click on the movie she wants instead of dragging me back into her room to swap dvds. No tuner card really just ripped movies and playback.

Would it work with the following core components or just be a waste of my time?

ASUS A7V133 V1.4
Athlon 1.13G
1G Kingston RAM
eVGA FX 5500
SB Aud 4
Pioneer DVD-106

Turn that old machine into a NAS and then build a low-end Skt775 celeron based machines for your daughter. Create a folder on the NAS just for your daughters movies and she happily click away at whatever she wants to watch.

Check out www.freenas.org

 

[nachowarrior]

yeah.... linux server sounds like a good idea for the old pc. You could dump xubutu on it to save resources. and if you have not already ordered your parts i would suggest the 3870, prices just droped a bit, you can pick one up for 185 on the egg... good investment