What do you usually get with a new case?

[KyleG]

When I buy a new tower case, I know it comes with a power supply and a few wires. But exactly what wires does it have in it? And does it ever come with anything else? (I haven't had much time to look at them.)

[catacon]

If it comes with a power supply, it will come with all the wires for that, of course. The others ones in there are for fans (if there are any) and front USB ports and Power/Hard Drive lights.

[shadowpr]

And just know that not all cases come with power supplies.

[Lespaul20]

Most cases that do come with a Power supply don't come with very high quality ones. Newegg usually has pretty good pictures of the cases and the accessories that are included.

[Alaron]

They also tend to come with a bag of screws. :)

[KyleG]

One more question, you guys think buying my components on ebay is a good idea? (Motherboard, CPU, etc.)

[catacon]

I would say buying more important parts like the Motherboard or CPU from eBay is a bad idea. It's best to get them from a place like Newegg, that way you have a warranty in case something is defective. Plus, you can get all the stuff that would come with a new piece of hardware (ie cables with the motherboard). Spend a few more dollars and rest assured that your getting everything in good condition.

Getting something like a case would probable be OK off eBay. There's not much that can go wrong with a case.

[Lespaul20]

I did my first build many many years ago buying from ebay and it worked but I think you are better off buying from Newegg. They have great prices, easy to deal with and can be trusted.

[shadowpr]

Anytime you buy something off of someone else you're taking a risk of buying their problems.

It's your money, but if it was my money, I would get it from a good retailer. Newegg, mwave, zipzoomfly.

[glfredrick]

I've checked out eBay and Newegg (and a few others like Tiger Direct, etc.) and have found that overall, I can get as good or better a deal buying first rate products from great companies versus some unknown quantity from eBay.

I have taken a risk on a couple things like cooler fans, etc., from eBay and came out OK. For instance, I picked up my Arctic Cooling Pro 7 for $10 on eBay. I figured that the worst that could happen was that it didn't work, and I wasn't out much. I've also bought some software on eBay and did OK with it. Generally, it was last generation stuff -- Word or Office in an earlier version for cheap... I also get my tonor for the laser printer from an eBay seller -- and have for the past sevearl years (same vendor). Works great.

I'd probably never buy anything electronic that way though, unless it was a complete system like a laptop or something... Anything else would be sort of like trusting that used car salesman when he says that his grandmother only drove the car he's selling you to church on Sundays... No one has a grandmother with that many cars... :)

Back to the question of the case -- make sure you actually check it out carefully. Read the specs and fine print. Some come with fans, ports, cables, screws (or screwless accessories) etc., while some are bare cases.

The Rosewill case I used for my build (see my sig) came with a great selection of clips, accessories, fans, etc., that all worked well and helped the build. A great case for the money, BTW. I've used it since May and I'm totally satisfied with the performance. Very cool running, good air-flow, quiet enough, and has filters, which I love 'cause of my kitty cats (one sleeping on my desk right now...).

[KyleG]

Another question, Does the case matter for the motherboard and cpu I get? Obviously there has to be enough room, but that should be it no matter what motherboard and cpu I put in it, right?

[Cricket]

Another question, Does the case matter for the motherboard and cpu I get?Yes, it does matter...if both the motherboard and the case are standard ATX form factor then they'll work together but you can't install a standard ATX motherboard into a micro-ATX case. But you really shouldn't have a problem as most people tend to stay away from micro-ATX cases because they're so small and difficult to work with and have terrible cooling properties.

:) Cricket

[KyleG]

No, I will go with a bigger case. Well I'm just full of questions for you guys...here's another one. I want to build a good, fast, gaming computer...now I was lookin at a core 2 duo 3.0ghz. processor, should be fast enough, I want to get a cpu with about 3.0ghz. My question is, will a Pentium 4, 3.0ghz processor be enough, or should I get the new stuff?

[catacon]

Gigahertz isn't everything. The new Intel Core 2 Duos are dual core which makes multitasking much easier. They also have a much large L2 cache which will improve performance greatly. So I would spend a little more and get a new C2D.

[Cricket]

Well I'm just full of questions for you guys...here's another one. I want to build a good, fast, gaming computer...now I was lookin at a core 2 duo 3.0ghz. processor, should be fast enough, I want to get a cpu with about 3.0ghz. My question is, will a Pentium 4, 3.0ghz processor be enough, or should I get the new stuff?You really don't want a Pentium 4 when you can get a C2D...just look at this comparison between a 1.8GHz E4300 and a 3.0GHz P4 Cedar Mill (http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=882&model2=895&chart=423)...the C2D wipes the floor with the P4. P4s are just no match for the newer C2D processors.

:) Cricket

[catacon]

Hey, my old Sempron 2800+ can still get 49 FPS on that game. I knew it wasn't worth getting rid of yet.

[rwest]

KyleG,
What you realy need to decide on is how much you have to spend, and where you're willing to cut costs if neccesary. You may want to evaluate exactly what your wanting to do with your new unit. This will help you define your build.

It's really not all about speed any more unless your really a serious gamer, and then again if that's the case it's realy mostly about the video card. Any fairly current processor will easily do just about most average tasks with no problems. It'll be your specific needs that will identify your build. The last I've heard, Intells in the lead - but that really doesn't matter if your not looking for latest greatest thing. What Cricket and Catacon are trying to say, is that the dual cores are that much better than any single core for the money you'll spend.

Describe what you want and give these guys a budget, you'll get in the ball park.

This will help also: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=130280

Lastly, I buy off ebay, but I don't buy for my main unit. I've bought multple items from ebay and have been stung only once. If I'm looking for a specfic piece for an older unit it's a great place to look, but there are plenty of idiots running the price up on used items when you can find them cheaper elsewhere... new - and at a lower cost than the bidding is at! Newegg is your friend. :)

[hitchface]

Just to throw a bone in there for Core 2 Duo again, it isn't just for multi-tasking anymore. Crysis has been developed with multi-threading in mind, and benefits from having a dual core CPU. Older games like Call of Duty 2 also have a patch that does the same thing.

[liambl]

Hey, my old Sempron 2800+ can still get 49 FPS on that game. I knew it wasn't worth getting rid of yet.Wow, even that cpu holds a candle to the P4 3ghz.

BTW just noticed that the E6750 is faster than the E6850. Surely thats skewed? The 6850 is a much faster CPU.

[KyleG]

What sounds better for a motherboard/cpu combo? An Intel core2 duo E6850 with an ECS G31T-M motherboard, or an AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000 with an asus board? Or you can just tell me what you would do to build a good gaming computer. My goal is to build a computer better then my bros Dell XPS 600, which just has one mod a graphics card.
Thanks.

[hitchface]

For a gaming rig, I'd go Intel. Go easier on the CPU though, save some bucks for a killer video card. Get your paws on an Asus board instead of ECS as well, and you'll be laughing. Someone else more proficient will give you the details.

[Cricket]

What sounds better for a motherboard/cpu combo? An Intel core2 duo E6850 with an ECS G31T-M motherboard, or an AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000 with an asus board? You can't compare a ECS motherboard to a ASUS motherboard...the ECS is a low budget brand that has poor quality and a very poor track record. ASUS is a high end brand that uses high quality parts and has a very good track record. If you want to make the comparison more fair you have to list either good/good or bad/bad motherboards with the processors.

We can help you spec out a gaming rig, just let us know if you really want a AMD CPU or a INTEL CPU and your budget.

:) Cricket

[KyleG]

Well from what i hear, i think I will aim for an Intel CPU and Asus board. But let me know what to get with an Intel CPU. My budget doesen't really matter, I don't want to get really crazy, but I will building over time, not all at once so I can spend more money on important parts.

[KyleG]

http://cgi.ebay.com/824-Black-Mid-Tower-Computer-Case-w-Temp-LCD-500w-PS_W0QQitemZ270190120676QQihZ017QQcategoryZ51063QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I was just going to order this case...I wanted to ask, will a new Intel core2 duo style motherboard work in this case? It only says a pentium 4 will.

[shadowpr]

A good start for a gaming rig would be the following:

CPU: E6750
MB: P5K

[KyleG]

Sure I wouldn't want to go with a 3.0ghz CPU? OR can I over clock that one with the 2.66?

[shadowpr]

If you want to spend more money, you can get a e6850, but for the slight increase in speed, I don't think it's worth it.

You can also overclock the e6750 to 3ghz if you want to, and know how to.

[flanzig1]

The case you linked from E-bay would be OK as a case only, would NOT use the included PSU. For $25, you are getting a case worth $25 and a PSU that's not worth it's weight in scarp metal.

[Cricket]

Sure I wouldn't want to go with a 3.0ghz CPU? OR can I over clock that one with the 2.66?Don't get caught up in the gigahertz thing...a faster processor isn't always the better performer. I provided a link to a CPU comparison chart in post number 15...didn't you look at it? Most of the C2D processors are under 3.0GHz in speed but they are fantastic performers none-the-less. The 1.8GHz E4300 even outperforms a 3.8GHz P4! Speed isn't everything nowadays.

:) Cricket

[catacon]

Yeah, that case will be fine. As flanzig said, that PSU is junk, so make sure you throw it away as soon as you get it. I would recommend going with the parts shadowpr listed, they are quality and will give you good performance for the money.

[KyleG]

What if I bought a different case, made by the same company, but with a 600w PSU, or should I buy another PSU from Newegg's?

[shadowpr]

Most cases don't come with good psu's.

You can buy a case you like, and a good psu, or look at the Sonata II, or III. I think they come with good psu's.

[hitchface]

I haven't heard a bad thing yet about those PSUs. But it all depends on what you wanna do. Gaming rig? Go with something a little more specialized.

[glfredrick]

I'm not sure why you're arguing with the guys about this -- after all, they've mostly all built quality, good-running systems, and they know a lot about what they are writing.

If budget really isn't an object (within reason) then just go out and get the stuff they're recommending and leave the eBay deals alone...

Also, I run a P4 4 mHz machine at work -- and a C2d machine with a 1.67 mHz rating at home... My C2d machine will eat my work machine for lunch -- while having 4 IE windows open, a full compliment of Office suite applications runnig, Outlook downloading, and any game I want playing in the background... :D

Just go out and get good stuff and get building -- you'll soon see that what we're telling you is true. After all, it is not as if we're asking you to spend your money with us... We have nothing to gain except to bring another one into the happy company of home-builders of quality computers that do what we like, at speeds we like, for prices we like.

[piasabird]

With computer cases they make all kinds of cases for all kinds of people. For high cost gaming rigs the case should have good cooling qualities so that the air flows out of the case and is replaced by fresh air, and not just recirculating the same old Hot air. If you imagine 2 Optical Drives 2 hard drives and 2 video cards in an SLI configuration you could see the need for good air flow to protect all that expensive gear.

Some people like the Antec 900 for a gaming case. It is pretty versatile and has the bottom mounted power supply design. It is a little on the expensive side for a case with no power supply but it is on sale right now from new egg with a $50.00 mail - in Rebate.

Like I said Cases are very individual in taste.