Reasonably fast, quiet, cheap - Comments before I buy...

[mikeki]

After several days of research and reading many different sites, I've finally come up with a configuration that should be decently fast, very quiet, fairly inexpensive and includes a DVD burner. The case has some sound dampening built in, the samsung hard drive is much quieter than many of its competitors, yet still has the performance. This system will be used to play games (Everquest, and others), edit videos, photos, and needs to be able to run 24x7x365 reliably. Here is the config:

ANTEC SONATA PIANO BLACK w/380w PSU - $97 - http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=11-129-127
Intel Pentium 4 / 2.4CGHz - $169 - http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=19-116-157
Asus P4P800 Deluxe - $147 - http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=13-131-450
CORSAIR 512MB PC3200 VALUE SELECT - $92 - http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=20-145-026
Samsumg 120GB 7200RPM Model# SP1213N - $110 - http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=22-152-013
NEC ND-1300A/Black/Gen - OEM - $165 - http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=27-152-009
Sapphire Radeon 9600 Atlantis Pro - $153 - http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=14-102-291

Total system cost is $933

Hopefully I haven't forgotten anything. What would you change without putting the price over $1100?

Here are few things I've thought about:
For $40 upgrade to 9600pro ULTIMATE which has no fan and would be quieter.
For $92 go to 1GB of RAM
For $30 upgrade to CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series memory.
For $40 KINGSTON HyperX 2x 256MB Kit DDR400 (PC3200) Model# KHX3200AK2/512
For $87 Sound Blaster Audigy 2

Is the better memory worth the money in this type of system? I haven't found a good thread on that.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[kpxgq]

since youre going for a quiet system, it would be wise to invest in the passive cooler for the video card (although $40 more sounds pricey when i think the standalone zalman cooler goes for like $20)

i would get a single 512mb stick of high quality pc3200 (im not well versed in the stats of which ram is best suited for the asus board so ask someone else) .. 512mb is plenty right now, and you can add another stick later when you get more cash or need the extra ram (plus you;; get DC)

the only thing you left out is the cpu cooler.... you can do alot better than the retail hsf as far as performance and sound is concerned... theres a bunch of options depending on how much you wanna spend...

i think youve done your research well.. the specs look good

[mikeki]

Thanks for the response. The memory question is still lingering, and maybe it just doesn't matter as don't plan to OC.

Hmmmm...

Option 1:
CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, (Twin Pack) 512MB(2 x 256MB) 2x(32MX64) TWINX512-3200C2 With Heat Spreaders - $144 for 512MB

Option 2:
CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, Low Latency 512MB 64MX64 PC-3200LL With Heat Spreaders - $156 for 512MB

Option 3:
CORSAIR 256MB PC3200 VALUE SELECT. DDR RAM - OEM - $106 for 512MB

Does a single super high speed memory make a difference if you don't plan to OC?

How much of a speed difference does dual sticks have over single stick?

These seem like basic questions, but even after searching I can't find a good answer. Even a pointer to an article that discusses would be awesome.

Reading this forum is getting me excited about a new gaming rig. Following the "best mobo combo for $250" is also making me want to upgrade an older PC also.

[Abula]

If you arent going to OC, go for PC3200, XMS C2 is one of the best options right now. But still go with twin modules, So you can have dual channel enable.

Also consider Zalmans 7000Cu CPU cooler, which is very quiet and efficient. You could even change the NB cooler into a pasive one.

[clh61]

Id probably go ahead and switch the video card to an ati 9500 pro but that would be another 50

[mikeki]

Thanks for the replies. Decided to bump the HD to 160GB, go with 1GB of Crucial RAM (since I'm not OC'ing), and stick with standard 9600pro (if it's too loud I'll put it in one of the kids computers).

A couple of other quick questions before I hit the order button.

1. No plans for a floppy drive at all on this system. It seems like I never use one. However, if it makes it far easier to config the system, I may just stuff one in. Comments?

2. Other threads have recommended both a combo drive and DVD burner. Why both? Won't DVD Burner work for everthing?

- Mike

[RaiD_357]

Id go with a Seagate hard drive myself. The 7200.7 model is quieter and more reliable than the Samsungs in my experience. Samsung was never really one of the good names for HDDs...

EDIT - Isn't the radeon 9500 better than the 9600? Someone back me up on this.

[kpxgq]

Originally posted by mikeki
Thanks for the replies. Decided to bump the HD to 160GB, go with 1GB of Crucial RAM (since I'm not OC'ing), and stick with standard 9600pro (if it's too loud I'll put it in one of the kids computers).

A couple of other quick questions before I hit the order button.

1. No plans for a floppy drive at all on this system. It seems like I never use one. However, if it makes it far easier to config the system, I may just stuff one in. Comments?

2. Other threads have recommended both a combo drive and DVD burner. Why both? Won't DVD Burner work for everthing?

- Mike

1... you dont need floppy unless your gonna run RAID
2... i have no idea.. i woould just get the dvd burner

[Mancora]

Originally posted by mikeki
Thanks for the replies. Decided to bump the HD to 160GB, go with 1GB of Crucial RAM (since I'm not OC'ing), and stick with standard 9600pro (if it's too loud I'll put it in one of the kids computers).

A couple of other quick questions before I hit the order button.

1. No plans for a floppy drive at all on this system. It seems like I never use one. However, if it makes it far easier to config the system, I may just stuff one in. Comments?

2. Other threads have recommended both a combo drive and DVD burner. Why both? Won't DVD Burner work for everthing?

- Mike

I'd suggest getting a floppy, for the most part i dont use one since in my case im trying to activly cool the hard drives and i cant have a fan and foppy there at the same time.

Pretty much the only things your goin to use a floppy for that i can think of is updating your BIOS, or on the off chance that someone gives you a floppy wiht a really small file on it.

I've had to reconnect it only around 5 times in 12 months, but those 5 times have made me desperatly wish I had a permant place for my floppy since it can be a real pain to have to find flopy and flopy cables, and to crawl around on the ground trying to plug it in while fighting a mess of cables have it hanging next to your case while you use it.

If memory serves those things are only around 10 bucks or under that now, id say just go ahead and get it.

[EverlastingGod]

Just me, but I'd get the gb of ram for dual channel and the Audigy 2, but that'll be over by $12 .