Case, Power Supply and Optical Drive
Case and Power : Antec NSK4480B
How much would you pay for a $65 power supply and $65 case combined ? We found the Antec NSK4480B with an Earthwatts EA-380 power supply, both $65 values, at a total cost of $65. That certainly beats buying these parts separately, and we couldn’t find a better combination of separate components for under $100.
The power supply is the single most important component in assuring stable operation and system longevity. The Earthwatts EA-380 has a reputation for quality that should protect our investment over the long term.
Two 17A 12-volt rails and a combined limit of 324W provide more than enough power for our system at stock speed, and we expect our overclock will reach thermal limits before we run out of power supply capacity.
Optical Drive : Phillips SPD2513BM/17 20X DVD Burner
What’s the difference between a top-model DVD burner and a second-rate model ? A savings of around $5 doesn’t seem like much, but it’s 20% of the burner’s price and just enough to keep us within budget.
Peak write speeds of 20X DVD±R, 8X DVD+RW and DVD+R Dual Layer, 6X DVD-RW, 12X DVD-RAM, 48X CD-R and 24X CD-RW might not matter much in a pure gaming PC, but these drives are only around $8 more than similar quality DVD readers. For the price difference, we’d hate to be stuck without DVD backup capabilities.
