Poasters Computer Forums

Computer Discussion => System Builds => Topic started by: Bill on October 23, 2008, 13:36 hrs

Title: New system suggestions?
Post by: Bill on October 23, 2008, 13:36 hrs
I am considering a new computer build to replace my 4 year old AMD 1.8 A64.  A preliminary list of components follows and I would sincerely appreciate reviews, suggestions, etc. 

One of the possibilities is to use my present Antec case and upgrade the power supply (now 350W) with an Antec Neopower 500. 
I have been to the antec site and can't find a compatibility chart to see if the Neopower will fit in my existing case.  Is there a way to discover this or are they all compatible?  The present case is a bronze midsize tower (and later I will see if I can find a model). edit: The present case is Antec 3700 AMB


Components:

Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail                                                                                                                 130.00

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail            119.00

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400                                                    164.99                                                                                                                                                                                 

Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2N5K2/2G - Retail   30.00                                                                 

Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive ââ?¬â?? 140.00
                                                                                                                         
EVGA 01G-P3-N959-TR GeForce 9500 GT 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail                                                                                         89.99

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM                                         25.00

Prices are approximate and all from Newegg.

I will be loading XP Pro sp3.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Bill
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: scuzzy on October 23, 2008, 16:31 hrs
I think your selection of the WD Raptor is a good choice. My main system uses the same Raptor as the primary drive, and I am very pleased with its performance. I would, however, recommend a large secondary drive for storage to complement the Raptor (no, not compliment). Consider this WD 500GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL102308&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL102308-_-HardDrives-_-L0C-_-22136073) model from NewEgg. It's currently on sale for $64.99 using this promotion code: EMCBACDCB

As for the case, I would think that it will take any current ATX power supply. However, I now lean toward Thermaltake's 120mm fan models. They are competitively priced and they have performed very well for my system builds.

For my next build, I too want to use a Gigabyte motherboard, with an Intel CPU. But I will wait until the next Windows version. If it REALLY is going to be as lean as MS claims, then I'm willing to give it a go.

EDIT: You can get 15% off on the following power supplies (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010320058%204802%204801%204808%204017&name=%24100%20-%20%24200&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL102308&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL102308-_-MECH-_-EB1-_-PSUS&cm_lm=oak@runc3.com) through NewEgg using the "esave15" promotion code.
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Bill on October 23, 2008, 16:55 hrs
Thanks Scuzzy.

The Antec I have has 2 120mm fans, front and rear.  I was hoping that the ATX psu s are standardized size.  may just give that a shot. 
Edit: Using Antec True Power Trio TP3-550 550W ATX12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply with Three 12V Rails - in my present case represents a $50 savings; I like that.

I presently have 1 sata 80g drive, 4 years old, that is less than half full.  The plan is to move the existing drive into the new system for storage and carry over the existing data rather than copy it.

Might be a long time before you get comfortable with the next ver. of windows!  I also believe nothing is as MS proclaims.

Bill
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: scuzzy on October 24, 2008, 11:23 hrs
Bill,

Did you catch today's NewEgg special (http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/Oct-0-2008/gaming24/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL102408&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL102408-_-email-_-E0C-_-HardDrives&cm_lm=oak@runc3.com)? WD's VelociRaptor 150GB is on sale for $169.99 incl S/H. They also have other deals that may appeal to you.
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Bill on October 24, 2008, 11:31 hrs
Yes, I receive the email flyers.
Thanks,

Bill
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Bill on October 24, 2008, 16:41 hrs
Customer reviews (newegg)_ on the Antec psu are pretty mixed.

Any opinions here on this one (with much better reviews).

    CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX 520W ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Bill
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Chandler on October 26, 2008, 06:00 hrs
My recommendation would be for the Antec NeoHE series, which are extremely quiet and use a simple 80mm fan to cool them (as well as being fairly efficient).  I used to be a fan of PSUs with 120mm fans on the bottom, but I found that they would often "fight" for air with the rear exhaust fan, plus any heat from the CPU gets sucked straight into them, making them run hotter and louder.

Having said that, the Corsair HX series are good, but having gone from the 620HX to a NeoHE 430W I can say that the Antec is noticeably quieter, and cooler running.

edit: I just re-read that you're going for a Sonata III case which comes with a 500W power supply (Antec Earthwatts 500).  In that case, I'd forget about buying a PSU altogether because the Earthwatts is similar to the NeoHE.  Judging from reviews it's not quite as quiet (yet still not even moderately loud), but I'd try it anyway.

As for the hard drive, do you need a high speed drive such as the Raptor?  Western Digital's GreenPower drives are 5400RPM and give similar performance to previous generation 7200RPM drives.  Newer drives use perpendicular writing and higher density which means that whilst I have a 60GB Maxtor 7200RPM in one machine, it is beaten in real-world performance by the 300GB Fujitsu 4200RPM.

I wouldn't have any complaints about your choice of Samsung DVD-RW.  I have the SH-S203B and it's never produced a coaster, and it's quiet.
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Bill on October 26, 2008, 07:40 hrs
Chandler,
I appreciate your thoughts.  The options I am considering are either the Sonata or using my Antec 3700 case with an upgraded psu.  I will definitely check out the Neo HE series.

As for the raptor, I have always believed (true or not) the HD is THE slowest part of any system and would have included a raptor when I built my current system if I could have afforded it.  I am using a WD 80g 7200rpm drive now.  If Flash drives were within reason, I'd do that. 

Thanks.

Bill

Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Chandler on October 26, 2008, 07:47 hrs
Can you stretch in terms of budget to the 150GB or 300GB VelociRaptor?  Not only does it perform even better than the Raptor, but it's higher capacity, cooler running, quieter and lower power consumption.
edit: I just noticed scuzzy has already suggested this.  I would absolutely recommend that over the regular Raptor.  Going from what I've read they are superior in every way.

The Antec 3700 is a good case - so perhaps a good option would be to keep using that with a NeoHE.  I just looked at the Antec site and they don't seem to have the NeoHE 430 but do have the NeoPower 430.  I suspect that the NeoHE is now the NeoPower, since they have a higher efficiency model called EarthWatts.  So, what you were initially considering (NeoPower 500W) is probably what I would have chosen.  :)
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Bill on October 26, 2008, 08:05 hrs
Newegg has an Antec HE 550 which seems to meet all the criteria you mentioned.  And considering the price difference between it and the Corsair, it becomes attractive.  And the difference in cost allows me to go with the better Raptor.  Great suggestions!

Thanks again.

Bill
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Bill on October 27, 2008, 08:39 hrs
To take advantage of the promos over the weekend, I ordered yesterday.  The Sonata case has been replaced with an antec Neopower 550 for my antec 3700. 

The WD Raptor has been replaced with a 150g VelociRaptor.

Chandler- you were right about the Antec name change for the NeoHE series.

Thanks for all the help.

Bill

Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: scuzzy on October 27, 2008, 13:43 hrs
I envy you for getting the VelociRaptor. Excellent choice.
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Buffalo2102 on October 28, 2008, 16:36 hrs
I don't.  I had a raptor fairly recently and the performance gain was definitely not worth the price difference.  You can get similar performance from multiple standard drives in RAID0 and it would still work out cheaper.  It was a hot and noisy beast too.

Personally, I would save my money for one of those lovely Intel SSD's when they come down in price a bit.  ;D

Buff
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: pat on October 28, 2008, 16:43 hrs
Hey Bill,

Good luck with the new system, I'm not really up on the Intel offerings so didn't have much to contribute. Let us know how it goes together.

pat
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Bill on October 28, 2008, 16:54 hrs
Thanks, Pat.  I wasn't either so it took awhile.  But, truth be known,  Scuzzy sort of pointed the way, with a contibution from Chandler, in a poast that was months old.  I followed the lead and upgraded.

Parts don't arrive until tomorrow, so it will probably be the weekend before I get to it.  Like a kid waiting for Christmas.

Bill
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: scuzzy on October 28, 2008, 17:12 hrs
Quote from: Buffalo2102 on October 28, 2008, 16:36 hrs
I don't.  I had a raptor fairly recently and the performance gain was definitely not worth the price difference.  You can get similar performance from multiple standard drives in RAID0 and it would still work out cheaper.  It was a hot and noisy beast too.

Personally, I would save my money for one of those lovely Intel SSD's when they come down in price a bit.  ;D

Buff

Maybe I have been fortunate. I'm sold on my Raptor, even though it's the older 74GB model. The performance has been great, and noise has not been an issue. It does run a little hotter, but properly placed fans resolved that problem.
Title: Re: New system suggestions?
Post by: Bill on November 03, 2008, 17:04 hrs
The V raptor is very quiet, in my opinion.  At the moment the machine is sitting on my desk with the left case side off (waiting for a new exhaust fan) and I cannot hear it.  The 120m intake fan makes more noise.

Ditto for Antec Neopower 550 psu.  To hear the 80mm fan exhaust in the psu I literally have to get within a foot or so.

With no exhaust fan running and the case open system temps. are 39C.

Bill
Title: Re: New system suggestions? Reflections
Post by: Bill on November 16, 2008, 08:21 hrs
The new system has been up for about 2 weeks, closed up and back under the desk.

A few comments on components....

All in all, beyond the difficulty I had with loading the SATA drivers, this was an easy build.
The Gigabyte motherboard is layed out nicely, MB fan headers are all convenient and properly placed.
The Intel pushpin mounting system for the CPU, IMO, was easier to use than the old lever on the last build.  Loading the audio drivers was a bit quirky and didn't load from the Gigabyte DVD. Finally I had to download the drivers from the Gigabyte site and load them separately.

Everest reports current temps as:

Motherboard   33 Ã?°C  (91 Ã?°F)
Aux   41 Ã?°C  (106 Ã?°F)
GPU   50 Ã?°C  (122 Ã?°F)
WDC WD1500HLFS-01G6U0   32 Ã?°C  (90 Ã?°F)
WDC WD800JD-00HKA0   32 Ã?°C  (90 Ã?°F)

Interesting that the raptor and the 80g WD 7200rpm are running at the same temp.

The Antec neopower psu is absolutely silent.  The new Antec 120m exhaust fan is louder than I had hoped but under the desk is tolerable. 

The eVGA 9500 card is solid, crisp and quick.  It has improved the visual performance of my LG flat screens by a noticeable margin.  Having 2 DVI ports helps I'm sure.  My one comment is the nVidia
controls for dual monitors have been scaled back with fewer options than my last card; but they work.

I appreciate everyone's input, it was very helpful.

Bill