Upgrades for my PC (any help is appreciated)

[Cornholio]

Hello all,
Since it is summer and free time is abundant, as a birthday gift i was given 110€ to buy whatever i wanted for modding my PC.
What I want to do:
Install a new PSU, hard drive, an Aerocool-Touch1000, and a green Antec Tricool.
The problem here is the PSU.
If I want to get a good PSU (OCZ) I will be exceeding my budget.
My questions are:

Is the OCZ StealthXStream 600W worth the 50€?
If not, should I get the 500W?

Are the brands "B-Move""LC Power" and "Skate" any good?
If I get the B-Move or Skate PSU I will be just on my budget. The question is if they are good.

The Hard drive is really not that much of a neccessity, though I have very little space left (30GB) on a 300Gb HD

Should I scratch the hard drive and get a new PSU instead?
If so, which should I get? (Not Exceeding 60€)

Should I scratch the PSU and get the HD instead?

My Specs:
AMD Athlon 64X2 Live! 4600+ @ 2.41 GHz
OEM-Default 300-350W PSU
NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT
2GB of RAM, 2x512MB OEM default, 1x1GB PNY
300GB HDD (I think it's Samsung)
1xDVD Reader/Writer OEM Default
1xCardreader
1 front fan (intake)
1 back fan (exhaust)
1 fan and heatsink (CPU)
All the fans are 80mm

Any healp is GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks to all!

 

[enzo matrix]

If your computer is running everything you have now, there is no reason to get a new PSU unless you are worried about the reliability of the OEM PSU.

If you get a new PSU, the 500W OCZ modxstream will be more than enough for your system.

Are the brands "B-Move""LC Power" and "Skate" any good?
Haven't heard of them so I can't comment. But since I haven't heard of them, that is a bad sign.

I'm a bit confused about pricing. Please tell us the prices of the items you are looking at, as well as the money you have left to spend after the touch1000 and antec tricool. The place you intend to get these would also be useful

 

[blindmanwithskill]

The OCZ PSUs are not all that great. If you truly want quality look into Corsair, and Antec isn't too bad either. Also why would you need to upgraade your PSU? Your power requirements are nearly nothing, 500 watts should suffice (with a good PSU). With only 30GB left on your HDD, a new one would be a good purchase. But really I think it would be best if you wait then get a new processor (+mobo).
But who am I to dictate how your hard earned money is spent?

 

[Cornholio]

Hey,
Thanks for your answer
I'm getting these at a store in Spain
www.appinformatica.com
The touch100 is worth 31€
The antect Tri-Cool is right now optional, but it is worth 6€
The 500GB Seagate hard drive is worth 43€
The StealthXStream 600W is worth 53 and the 500W is worth 48
My budget is 110€ (give or take 10 euros)
I was thinking of changing the PSU because I get a lot of TDR errors while gaming, and I believe that I will run out of power after installing the Touch-1000 or an extra HD
Thank you!
EDIT: If you can't understand Spanish,
This is the PSU page:
http://www.appinformatica.com/fuentes-alimentacion.htm
HD page:
http://www.appinformatica.com/discos-duros.htm
Cases page (includes Touch 1000)
http://www.appinformatica.com/torres.htm
Thanks!

 

[Cornholio]

The OCZ PSUs are not all that great. If you truly want quality look into Corsair, and Antec isn't too bad either. Also why would you need to upgraade your PSU? Your power requirements are nearly nothing, 500 watts should suffice (with a good PSU). With only 30GB left on your HDD, a new one would be a good purchase. But really I think it would be best if you wait then get a new processor (+mobo).
But who am I to dictate how your hard earned money is spent?

Thanks for your reply, but I think that if I get a new mobo and cpu then it would be better to just get a new pc
The problem with antec and corsair is that they are expensive!
Thanks!

 

[enzo matrix]

The OCZ PSUs are not all that great.

Can you back this up? I've been running a modxstream 600W for over a year. They are also among the quality recommendations, albeit below corsair.
What gives you that idea?

 

[Cornholio]

http://www.appinformatica.com/fuentes-alimentacion.htm
Could anyone give me a reccomendation from that page?
and sorry for double posting before, I'll merge it here into one post. Sorry!

Old Post:

Hey,
Thanks for your answer
I'm getting these at a store in Spain
www.appinformatica.com
The touch100 is worth 31€
The antect Tri-Cool is right now optional, but it is worth 6€
The 500GB Seagate hard drive is worth 43€
The StealthXStream 600W is worth 53 and the 500W is worth 48
My budget is 110€ (give or take 10 euros)
I was thinking of changing the PSU because I get a lot of TDR errors while gaming, and I believe that I will run out of power after installing the Touch-1000 or an extra HD
Thank you!
EDIT: If you can't understand Spanish,
This is the PSU page:
http://www.appinformatica.com/fuentes-alimentacion.htm
HD page:
http://www.appinformatica.com/discos-duros.htm
Cases page (includes Touch 1000)
http://www.appinformatica.com/torres.htm
Thanks!

blindmanwithskill wrote :

The OCZ PSUs are not all that great. If you truly want quality look into Corsair, and Antec isn't too bad either. Also why would you need to upgraade your PSU? Your power requirements are nearly nothing, 500 watts should suffice (with a good PSU). With only 30GB left on your HDD, a new one would be a good purchase. But really I think it would be best if you wait then get a new processor (+mobo).
But who am I to dictate how your hard earned money is spent?

Thanks for your reply, but I think that if I get a new mobo and cpu then it would be better to just get a new pc
The problem with antec and corsair is that they are expensive!
Thanks!

End of Old Post

So OCZ's are good?
Should I take that instead of the HD?
or is something else causing my TDr errors?
Thanks!

 

[blindmanwithskill]

I put that wrong. I mean there are better PSUs out there. I got a Corsair PSU because it has some of the best reviews, and a 5 year warranty. OCZ has only a 3 year warranty. I am the type of person that thinks the PSU is the most important part in the PC. By no means is the OCZ PSU a bad one just not as good as the Corsair or (some) Antec PSUs. Proof are the reviews on Newegg.

For your needs get the HDD and the OCZ PSU.


Also, when I was getting part for my current system I originally got the ModXStream 600w for $80. I ended up returning it because I found a Corsair 650TX for $90. I am happy with my choice but it does kinda suck that it is not modular.

 

[blindmanwithskill]

Get the OCZ PSU or the Thermaltake PSU. Either should be fine.

 

[logainofhades]

Do you have any Seasonic PSU's where you are? Some are priced well and still solid quality and efficiency.

 

[Cornholio]

Argh... no Seasonics, and if i order one it comes in september!
so you guys think I should scratch the hard drive or the PSU?

 

[enzo matrix]

Argh... no Seasonics, and if i order one it comes in september!
so you guys think I should scratch the hard drive or the PSU?

If your OEM PSU has managed to last this long without failing, then 10 additional watts from a hard drive won't make much difference. Get the HDD but make sure you will be able to replace your PSU in the future.

 

[Cornholio]

What do you mean without failing? I think that it is just overloaded with so many things, and that that causes TDR errors in my games. With my old 7650GS I didn't get TDR errors...
I was also thinking that there is an old computer lying around in my house with one or two 500GB HDs inside that no one uses. The problem is that I do not know if they are SATA or IDE.
If it is IDE can I buy an adapter to install it in my machine?
Also
are Tacens PSUs good?
If the hard drives from the old PC work, then I have my eye on these Tacens:
http://www.appinformatica.com/fuentes-alimentacion-tacens-radix-iv-500w-pfc-activo.-silenciosa-13.9cb.php
http://www.appinformatica.com/fuentes-alimentacion-tacens-valeo-iii-80-plus-500w-(o-dba).php
Also
is the 600W Thermaltake any good?
Thanks!

 

[hell_storm2004]

How much does a Corsair TX650W cost?? I cant read Spanish!!

Corsair, Seasonic, OCZ, Thermaltake. That would be my order of preference of buying a PSU. When you select one, just check out some review and make sure it is 80+ certified. Bronze, Silver and Gold would be a good bonus!

 

[Cornholio]

Corsair tx650 is lik 100€ i think
What do you guys think about htis PSU:
http://www.appinformatica.com/fuen [...] o-dba).php
Should i really spend 80€ on it?
is taking the HDS out of an old computer and using them worth it or should i get another one?
Which upgrade do i reall yneed most: HD or PSU?
Thanks!

 

[Cornholio]

oh and are the OCZs 80+ Certified?
If the hard drives of my old computer are IDE
can i use them on my new comuter?
thanks!

 

[hell_storm2004]

Sure! The new mobo's do have IDE connectors available. Even if they don't... oyu can always get an external casing and use it as a USB external drive.

About the certification, please check the OCZ website for that.

 

[Cornholio]

Great!
So which PSU should I choose?
No more than 80€ pls
From this list:
http://www.appinformatica.com/fuentes-alimentacion.htm

 

[Cornholio]

About the hard drives
If it is IDE, how should I place the jumper?
Will it be compatible with my existing SATA?
EDIT: I have found out that it is most probably a PATA HDD
is that the same ad IDE?

 

[enzo matrix]

What do you mean without failing? I think that it is just overloaded with so many things, and that that causes TDR errors in my games. With my old 7650GS I didn't get TDR errors...
I was also thinking that there is an old computer lying around in my house with one or two 500GB HDs inside that no one uses. The problem is that I do not know if they are SATA or IDE.
If it is IDE can I buy an adapter to install it in my machine?

A PSU will not cause TDR errors.

If the drive is IDE, your motherboard should have one IDE connector. Most do.

oh and are the OCZs 80+ Certified?
Yes

 

[Cornholio]

So if I add an IDE how will I have to place the jumper?
Can you guys give me reccomendations on this page:
http://www.appinformatica.com/fuentes-alimentacion.htm

 

[Cornholio]

Sorry for bump, i just really need some help pretty quick because of vacation in stores :S

 

[enzo matrix]

Place the jumper in the master position if you intend to boot from it. Put it in the slave position if you will be using it as a slave.

Get the OCZ. I don't trust any other brands on that page.

 

[Cornholio]

So the OCZ 600W?
Any other opinions?
By the way
Is PATA the same as IDE?
Is there any risk in putting in a new HD, new PSU and Fan controller?
Also
While I'm at it, should I put my ram in Dual-Channel config?
Is there any risk in swapping the ram sticks to achieve dual channel?
Thanks!

 

[aznshinobi]

Haha i just browsed through all the psus on that page you posted. I haven't heard of any of those companies except for OCZ. It's to bad you don't got newegg. The XFX psus are really great for the budget. in fact the 650 XFX psu is 4 euros below your budget But in your location if you can find the 650watt XFX psu for 100$ US or 76 euros there great PSUs plus XFX Psus are either bronze or silver 80+ cert. The 650s are bronze and the 750 black edition is silver. Anywho as for HD if you can spare a few more euros i'd go with the 1tb Samsung F3, or even go with the 500gb Samsung F3 I find it to be more reliable and faster than the Seagate, personal opinion though.