Building new setup, give advice...Please!

[scoobydoo]

I needed something to do and it was either build another computer or build myself a remote control car:)

Well since it is winter here I thought now wasn't a good time for the car(maybe a remote controlled snowmobile) so I chose the computer.

First off money really isn't an issue, but I like to get "bang for my buck". I don't need to buy the most expensive/newest equipment I feel it just needs to be a great value! Also, since this is basically a "for fun" computer looks are going to be important cause I want to show it off;)


Anyway here is what components I have bought and what I am looking at right now:

CPU

1.0GHz Athlon

Case(already bought):

Lian Li PC-65 with Plexiglass window

Not the cheapest case, but I wanted a good looking, well built case that would last.

Video Card(already bought):

MSI Geforce 3 TI200

The Geforce3 TI200 seems to offer the best performance/price value and this one is a cool red color too.

DVD-ROM, CD-RW, Floppy:

Black Pioneer 16x, Black Plextor 24x, Black Sony.

OK all I want is something to look good in the Aluminum case and black would seem to look best. Since black components are a pain to fine these are what I chose.

Hard Drive

60GB IBM Deskstar 7200RPM


OK, So here is where I need help and advice:)


Sound Card(already bought, but!!!):

Hercules Game Theater XP

I am thinking of moving it to my Home Theater computer so I can use the digital inputs/outputs.

Should I buy another one or should I get an Audigy Platinum? I really want a card with an External Breakout box so it is really between those two.

Motherboard:

I have basically decided on the MSI KT266 Pro 2 board. It matches the color of the video card and with a big side case window looks are important here, but any other suggestions are appreciated.

Memory:

Crucial PC2100 or Corsair PC 2400?

I have Crucial PC2100 now and the performance is fine, but I am hopefully going to be overclocking to 160fsb and want some nice memory that will perform good at these speeds.

Is the Corsair worth the extra $30 for 256MB or should I stick with the Crucial 2100?

NIC

With the overclock I want a nice card that won't poop out at 150FSB?

I heard 3Com was good, any opinions?

Power Supply

I want the Aluminum iCute 420 watt power supply for looks, but they are new and don't have much of a reputation so far like Enermax or Sparkle. Anyone have any opinions of these Aluminum PS's?

If not I make take a shot at it, or just get the Enermax 550 watter.

HSF

Been looking at the Thermalright SK-6. Any better ideas, noise isn't really an issue!


I will also be adding Plycon rounded cables and a few cold cathode lights(maybe red to match the boards and finding a cheap place for those would be helpful.


What else is there, I am sure I missed something!

Damn this is a long thread and I am going to be late for my soccer game now! If you read this whole thing thanks for your time and any help you may have offered:):)

[scoobydoo]

Oh Yeah, I had asked some of these questions in other posts, and had gotten some great answers/advice, but I wanted to consolidate the answers/opinions/advice here cause I am too lazy to look around in a bunch O' different threads all the time:)

[funnyperson1]

get the Epox 8KHA+ unless looks really matter that much to you,many more ocing options to play with....also make sure you get KT266A version and not just KT266, also get 1500+, for like 20 bucks more the performance is lots higher, also i think youre spending too much on the PSU an Enermax 400 watter is mroe than enough....

[Krusty]

If you really just want to build a computer for fun, why not start out completely by scratch? Forget buying components. Go get yourself the building material of your choice and start building the ultimate case! you can do all kinds of stuff to integrate water cooling, peltiers, or refirgeration of some sort!

By the time you have finished building the ultimate case (with cooling system integrated into it), there will be all kinds of new hardware out there to choose from.

One day when I start to have a bit more time and money, I'm going to do this myself.

[scoobydoo]

Originally posted by Krusty
If you really just want to build a computer for fun, why not start out completely by scratch? Forget buying components. Go get yourself the building material of your choice and start building the ultimate case! you can do all kinds of stuff to integrate water cooling, peltiers, or refirgeration of some sort!

By the time you have finished building the ultimate case (with cooling system integrated into it), there will be all kinds of new hardware out there to choose from.

One day when I start to have a bit more time and money, I'm going to do this myself.

That sounds interesting and I wish I could, but I really have no skill with that sort of stuff. I am even paying extra for black drives cause I am that bad of a painter.

Also, If I made one it would probably fall apart in a week and I am hoping the Aluminum Lian-Li will last a few years.



Originally posted by funnyperson1
get the Epox 8KHA+ unless looks really matter that much to you,many more ocing options to play with....also make sure you get KT266A version and not just KT266, also get 1500+, for like 20 bucks more the performance is lots higher, also i think youre spending too much on the PSU an Enermax 400 watter is mroe than enough....

Up until today I was set on the Epox, but after buying the MSI video card I read some reviews of the MSI board figuring I could stay with the same manufacturer and they kinda changed my mind.

Both boards get great reviews and are basically the same price so I am still a bit undecided. In some of the reviews they O/C'ed the MSI up past 160FSB, so I think that would make me happy(for now).

The main reason I am leaning towards the MSI is cause it matches the video card, which is a stupid reason!

The reason for the 1GHz Athlon is because I already have one, but I forgot to put that in the original post, sorry!

Damn It, now you got me thinkin' about the Epox again. I thought I had made my final decision:):)

[Krusty]

Originally posted by scoobydoo

That sounds interesting and I wish I could, but I really have no skill with that sort of stuff. I am even paying extra for black drives cause I am that bad of a painter.


Yeah, so? What better time to attain the skill? You have the time on your hands. You have the money. Go figure out what spiffy cooling system you want, then spend a few weeks designing the ultimate case just on paper. Once you think you get it all figured out, make the thing out of a little wood to see if it basically looks how you want it to. After you know you can do it, go buy some expensive stuff like aluminum or plexiglass (i want that) and start building.

I'll even tell you the basic idea I had for a case I want to build. I wanted the cpu and gpu cooled with a water cooling/peltier combo using a radiator. The radiator intake sucks air from outside the case and also blows it outside the case. Everything else in the case is completely sealed off and the whole inside is refrigerated with a big old freeszer unit of some sort. All of this would be encased in plexiglass that is made with 3 acutal sheets of plexiglass: One for the inside, one for the outside, and one hollowed out to put in some air insulation (like double paned windows). The psus would be seperate from the refrigerated area so they don't contribute to the heat that needs active cooling and the cdrom and floppy things would be seperate so no air escapes through the drives.

If this is done correctly, I think I could manage to build myself a completely airtight, completely frozen computer system that has no need for controlling condensation since the whole system is airtight and has no humidity.