Second opinions PRIOR to ordering plzzz

[JohnAz]

Hi all,

I'm new here, spent the past several days reading everything I could here and on places people linked to.

Gonna build my own system, probably wont overclock, but I want the ability. I do web and graphics work so stability is absolutely required!!

Here's what I've decided on, have NOT purchased yet, wanted to run it past you experienced users for suggestions, advice, etc. Need advice on the hsf, due to circumstances explained below

AMD 1333 AYHJA
Iwill KK266
hsf....???
Where can I get a good package price with correct chip?? (Newegg has the chip and board, but which chip? Or a better source at decent price?)

Crucial 133 256mb x 2 (512 total)

Things below, I think I'll order from newegg, maybe be a buck or two higher than others, but save on shipping together.
Ati radeon 64mb ddr
IBM 40gb ata100
floppy (only sell mitsumi)
Toshiba 16x DVD
Plextor 16x cd writer (overkill or stay with quality? $175)

Can't decide on case and where to buy it, $100 is ok, don't want to spend much more if I can help it, I've seen good recommendations for the antec 830 and 840. Where to get?

Heat Sink Fan delima...
I live in the desert of Arizona, 117 F yesterday, my house got to 87. So I have to deal with the ambient temp being around 31 C. I hope I can get air cooling to work. Read alot about Millinium Glaciator, Ocz Gladiator, swiftech MC462 any suggestions?? And where to get? Also considering rounded cables from pcnut ($35 + 8 ship) for air flow concerns - not looks!

Hope I've done enough homework here to not look too stupid! I've got about 40 hours investigating into this already. I'm right near my budget of $1200, figuring in estimated cost of chip, board, fan, case.

Appreciate any suggestions, criticism, etc. Thanks all, you've been a ton of help already!!!!

[William]

it all looks good. Stick with that Plextor CDRW, you will be glad. For a HSF get a glaciator or SK6. For a case in that price range get a Enlight 7237 without a PS and get a 400W AMD approved PSU for it, definately get a 400W while you are spending the money. A couple of 80mm case fans is a good idea too.

[Random Horowitz]

Good setup... I like shopping at www.mwave.com and
www.comp-u-plus.com both have excentlent customer service and good prices too.

Instead of Crucial look into Corsair or Mushkin Memory. CompUSA has the 400 watt ANTEC ps for 99.99 retail I'm sure you can find it cheaper on the net. I have the 300 watt verison with no problems.

I'm running

KT7A-Raid
1.113 T-bird
2 128 Ram sticks of Mushkin REV2
Plextwriter 12X10X32
Kenwood 72X cd-rom
1 20 gig IBM deskstar 7200rpm
1 10 gig IBM deskstar 7200rpm

8 case fans 2 fans in hard drive coooler
Swiftech mc462 cooler ( the best 80 bucks I have ever spent.)
CPU idles at 1 degree C over Ambient.

SBlive Value
Geforce 2 Pro
3com NIC

I hope this helps a little.

[JohnAz]

Thanks for the comments!

The enlight 7237 doesn't appear to have as much venting area as the Antec Sx's, and the sx840 has a 400 watt. I'll take another look at it though.

I've seen alot of good comments about the Mushkin memory, is it as simple to select as crucial...PC133 cas 2, 2-2-2?? I don't know enough about quality stuff, always ran cheapest mismatched that would work!!

[Megahurtz]

Buy the SX840. It's got the fine PP403X installed, and is a recommended PSU for the 1.33Ghz T-bird. It is also a relatively easy case to cool.

I think that EMS Computing (http://www.emscomputing.com/) has the best delivered price on the case. $109.00 + 19.02 shipping.

I normally don't make such strong suggestions, but in this instance, I feel that the quality, price and ease of use warrant it.

EDIT: Mushkin RAM is easy to select, but IMHO not worth the price premium. You'll need PC133 CAS2(CL2) unbuffered, non ECC.

T

[JohnAz]

Thanks for the backup on the sx840, I'd seen alot of good info on it: ventilation, PSU, extra fans, etc.

I've been doing some more reading and haven't made up my mind on the mushkin vs crucial.

Anyone know of a place I can get a good price on the 1333, KK266, and the hsf???

Thanks again!

[William]

Antec cases are great, and yes the enlight doesn't have the ventilation, but I have yet to read a review that hasn't gone all out to praise the enlight and that is why i threw it out. For the mobo and the cpu http://www.compuplus.com is a great great site that I have ordered stuff from all the time and never had a problem with. They don't have any hsf's. On the RAM Crucial is every bit as good as Corsair and Mushkin. They are the big three in memory, and just get the cheapest you can find of any of those sticks. I have a stick of 256 crucial that is just great.

[Billvill]

I can tell you first hand that the IBM ata 100 drive is a great choice . I also use a Plextor cd writer and have never had a moments problem from it . I think you have made a good choice.

[silent bob]

Nice puter but in my opinion I would use the Iwin case , it is very sturdy and I bought longer cables for everything (ide ,ata100, floppy) and with a little mod to the case I hid all of my wires behind mobo trayit looks soooooo clean just be creative DONT buy the rounded cables buy a colored roll of electrical tape and fold them into a W and tape them up WAY CHEAP and very effective so you can upgrade some other stuff like your hsf just my opinion>>>>>>here is the link for a good power supply http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=BROWSE&manufactory=1400

[goman]

Just to add my two cents go with the crucial as you can see below it will handle what you give it. All else sound great GOOD LUCK and happy Building.