Would like a critique

[Crabcakes]

Well, I'm new to computer building and thought I should post the specs of what I'm looking at buying right now. I'm pretty heavily into gaming and what I have right now isn't really cutting it. Since I'm new to this I would like some help and if this setup won't work at all please let me know. Would also like to know if I'm going really overboard or not enough in any places.

Case-ASPIRE X-CRUISE
Im a little worried about the case because it shows it as supporting ATX but only 11" by 12" and I want to get a 12" by 9.6" mobo and that wont fit right?

PSU-Antec TRUEPOWERII 550W

Mobo-ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe
Little worried about fitting with the case.

CPU-AMD Athlon 64 4000+

HDD- Seagate Barracuda 250GB or I might just stick with the one I have right now. I haven't had any problems with it.(Seagate Barracuda 160GB)

RAM-CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR

Optical Drive-LITE-ON 16x DVD+R

Sound Card- Thinking about sticking to the onboard sound. I use headphones constantly and if I use speakers its only for a short time while a friend is over.

Video Card-Dual EVGA GeForce 7900 GT

I already have a suitable mouse, keyboard, and monitor. I already have my OS as well.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[gtucker329]

The motherboard should fit with no problems. If the case supports an ATX board then it will fit. You can save yourself some $$$ by going down to a 4000 or 3700 processor with the san diego core. You won't notice the difference if your not overclocking. The biggest thing about the processor is the 1MB L2 cache which the 3700 and the 4000 have at half the price. The hard drive can be a big deal. Do you have an old IDE drive or a newer SATA drive? If you are still using an IDE drive you may want to upgrade to SATA.

[Crabcakes]

Yep, I have a SATA drive. It is only 160GB though so I might upgrade it. Thanks for the suggestions.

[freakitchen]

I wouldn't go for two 7900GT cards initially - instead, I'd just get a single 7900GTX, and potentially purchase another in future when more graphics power is needed.

Stear clear of Samsung optical drives, I've not been impressed with their quality. I'd get a Lite-on DVD burner...reliable, and some models incorporate Lightscribe.

If you're not overclocking the system, save cash by dropping to standard Corsair Value Select RAM.

FK

[blue60007]

You may want to consider a dual core, the 4200+ X2 is 20 bucks more.

Look for a 250GB hard drive with a 16MB cache...that'll give you a good boost. WD has some, and so does Seagate I believe.

[MakeYourslf2012]

the X2 4200+ would be a wise choice -

games can't utilize dual-core now, but they sure will in a year. You would most likely see a big difference between the 4000+ and X2 4200+ when games become multithreaded.

[blue60007]

Actually, there are few games now that do benefit from a dual core. I believe COD2 and Quake 4 do, but require patches. There may be more.

[Thackray]

I built two systems this year. One is in a full-tower and the other one is in a mid-tower. The full-tower was a much easer mild and can hold a 4-pound PSU.
With the SLI system you plan on building I advise having a solid place to set your PSU.

I can highly recommend this case. It has good airflow, a removable mob tray, and is almost tool less.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811165008

As for the optical drive I burn on average 100 to 150 cd a month. I have used all kinds of drives, but NEC has come out with a winner.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827152058

If you like silence like I do. This case has great ventilation hence it is easer to silence the components.

Warning on the MOB you can not, I repeat can not install it upside down which is BTX format because of the heat pipes on the northbridge. I have secondhand experience of this.

The MOB is great other wise; I wish I had picked that one. I bought the Gigabyte equivalent. Its class is great for a first build. But correct me if I am wrong, but I think that it will have to go in upside down with the case you currently have selected.

Don't make the same mistake I did. Make sure the HSF on you CPU clears the power supply. The first one I built doesn't so it makes it a real hassle to change anything in the case.

I wish you all the best with this build.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Thackray I built two systems this year. One is in a full-tower and the other one is in a mid-tower. The full-tower was a much easer mild and can hold a 4-pound PSU. With the SLI system you plan on building I advise having a solid place to set your PSU. I can highly recommend this case. It has good airflow, a removable mob tray, and is almost tool less. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811165008

Nice case, but there are less expensive choices that are very similar to that one like the cases from Chenming.

Originally Posted by Thackray The MOB is great other wise; I wish I had picked that one. I bought the Gigabyte equivalent. Its class is great for a first build. But correct me if I am wrong, but I think that it will have to go in upside down with the case you currently have selected.

No, the motherboard will mount in the correct orientation...it's a ATX motherboard going into a ATX case. Besides, how do you install a motherboard "upside down" in a case? The I/O ports would face the front of the case...and the mounting holes won't even match up.

Cricket

[blue60007]

I think Lian-Li has some cases that install it on the flip side, upside down for whatever reason. I'm not sure why they do that.

[Cricket]

Oh...those cases that open from the right side (if you're looking at the case from the front)...yeah, I've seen those...the motherboard mounts so the CPU is near the bottom of the case and the I/O and expansion ports are on the top. Don't know why they started to do that...better cooling? Just looks weird to me.

The Aspire that Crabcakes listed in his first post is just a run-of-the-mill standard ATX case so the motherboard will mount in the standard orientation...CPU close to the top, expansion slot on the bottom.

Cricket

[Crabcakes]

I was looking into the 4200+ X2 but I've read in some places that for now it would be better to go with a single core if I'm heavily into gaming. If games will utilize dual core soon though it might be a better investment to get the dual core?

[MakeYourslf2012]

There are a couple games right now that are multithreaded, by as many predict - if not all, most game will be multithreaded in the future. A dual would probably be your best bet if you have the money to pay for it.

[Crabcakes]

Case:Aspire X-Cruise $70

PSU:Antec TRUEPOWERII 550W $90

Mobo:ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe $220

CPU:AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego that I was thinking about overclocking. I don't really feel like spending the extra money for an X2 right now because I'm not a real big multi-tasker and don't feel I need it for the time being. $215

HDD:WD Caviar 250GB 16MB Cache $95

RAM:Corsair XMS 2GB $165

Optical:LITE-ON 16X DVD+R $40

Vid Card:eVGA Geforce 7900GTX $540

This brings the total to around $1450 w/o S&H and tax.

I already have an OS, keyboard, mouse, and I dont use speakers so I know that takes a little chunk off but for what I want this system to be I feel like I'm cheaping out somewhere. I know I could go for one of the FX series CPUs but when I overclock this 3700 I don't think I'll see much of a difference.

[Alaron]

Your list there looks good to me.

[Staren]

That is a very respectable CPU for gaming. The FX series are not good deals by any means. They are for people who want as much power as is avalible regardless of a balanced cost.

Maybe look at the Abit AN8 32X Moherboard. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813127232 That feeling of cheaping out a little might be your motherboard since it is a little on the high side. I know I'd be really tempted to use more CPU power with that board. The AN8 32X is still a bit new, but looks good so far. Might be worth a little reading. I myself am really tempted to use it for my next build.

[Thackray]

Quote from Newegg.com review of the power supply you selected.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sweet

Pros: superb power, quiet for the size. Nothing beats antec.

Cons: heavy (5lbs) but hey, it is a 550 true power.

Other Thoughts: don't be fooled by off brands boasting 500 or more watts for $forty or less, this is what you need for a machine with multiple drives, sli, and one of those advanced coaster things that pop out when you hit the button.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The current case you have chosen doesn’t have rails to place the PSU on. If you plan on putting a five-pound power supply in there I do not think that it is a good idea to defy gravity with only four case screws. Think of the torque placed on the case!

I have been looking at quiet PSU for a month or so and every one I have looked at weighs at least five-pounds. From my research any PSU over three and a half pounds should sit on something solid.

I suggest a full tower for you first build if your room can accommodate it. Because you have more room for upgrades, cooling is easer, the build is faster, and you will have rails to place the PSU on.

One other potential problem with the case is that I think the HSF from the CPU will hit the power supply. Not a nice problem to work around. Eyeball it for yourself place the MOB in the right place inside the case than put he PSU in there. How much room is there between the CPU socket and the PSU? Not much!

Everything else looks great.

[freakitchen]

he current case you have chosen doesn’t have rails to place the PSU on. If you plan on putting a five-pound power supply in there I do not think that it is a good idea to defy gravity with only four case screws. Think of the torque placed on the case!

Most, if not all power supplies that I've installed sit on the two rails that run the full length of the case. The 4 screws merely secure the power supply in place, and are not relied on to take the full weight.

One other potential problem with the case is that I think the HSF from the CPU will hit the power supply. Not a nice problem to work around. Eyeball it for yourself place the MOB in the right place inside the case than put he PSU in there. How much room is there between the CPU socket and the PSU? Not much!

Using the AMD retail heatsink shouldn't give you any problems with room, since they are square, and the fan doesn't protrude outside the confines of the socket. I think you'd only have problems with the HSF touching the power supply if you were using a large aftermarket heatsink, such as a Zalman.

FK

[Staren]

Freakitchen, look at the pictures of that case though. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Showim...+Case+-+Retail

It is clearly missing at least one of the normal rails. That does look like it might be pushing it a little.

[freakitchen]

Thanks for pointing that out, Staren. Apologies, Thackray, it appears your concerns about weight are justified.

I'd be tempted to choose a different case, rather than a different power supply. High quality units are going to be weighty.

FK

[blue60007]

Weight should not be an issue. I look for some better pictures, and right here, there appears to be a tab sticking in from the bottom of the hole for the power supply. You see what I mean? That, plus the one rail should support the weight just fine. My case is similar to that and I don't think it would ever fall out. In fact it doesn't even look like the power supply is resting on that tab/rail. The screws and the side rail are holing it in their plenty secure. I've got the lighter 430W version of that power supply. I can't necessarily say the same thing for that case though, it's not the same case as mine, but it looks like a similar layout.

BTW, it also looks like they cheaped out and only put an 80mm fan on the rear and it appears a 120mm would fit.

[Crabcakes]

After much thought I've decided that I'm going with a Thermaltake Armor. I know it will be very heavy and I won't be able to move it around with ease but it looks like a good invesment right now. Also, as Thackray said, I think I will have an easier time on my first build because this case has a lot of room.

[glc]

If you are going with a 7900GTX with the idea of possibly getting another one for SLI later, you need a power supply that passes Nvidia certs for 7900GTX SLI. There aren't too many, and the Antec doesn't pass.

Dual GeForce 7900 GTX or Dual GeForce 7800 GTX 512 MB*


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