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**Jammrock** · 3 January 2005, 09:35

Re: Thinking of getting this

Originally posted by DentyCracker
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 200GB 7200RPM P-ATA/133 Hard Drive, Model 6B200P0, OEM Drive Only

I'd look at the Seagate 200 GB drive. You may pay a bit more, but you'll get a much more stable drive with a 5-year warranty on it.

Logitech Cordless Desktop MX(tm) for Bluetooth -RETAIL

If you're going to game, you'd be better off going with a Logitech MX1000 and a Microsoft wireless keyboard - I like Logitech mice and MS keyboards, go figure. That's my personal recommendation at least. The only reason you should go with Bluetooth is if you plan on using the mouse/keybaord for PDA's and the like. Otherwise they aren't worth the extra cash.

OCZ Enhanced Latency Series 184 Pin 512MB PC-3200 Platinum Edition - Retail X2

I'd also look into Crucial Ballistix. They are both excellent RAM, but the Ballistix is commonly considered more stable and overclockable at lower latencies. Either one should be very good though.

FOXCONN "755FXK8AA-8EKRS" SiS 755FX Chipset Motherboard For Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL

Foxconn? Never heard of them. I always recommend Asus, MSI and Gigabyte if you can afford it.

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0GHz, 512KB L2 Cache 939-Pin 64-bit Processor - OEM

If this is the 90nm version, good choice

Sapphire ATI Radeon X800 SE Video Card, 256MB DDR, 256-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "102-A26126-00-AT" -OEM

/me drools

Overall looks like it's going to be a killer machine

Jammrock

**RC Agent** · 3 January 2005, 09:42

Re: Thinking of getting this

Originally posted by DentyCracker
ZALMAN Copper CPU Cooler for Socket 775/478/754/939/940, Model "CNPS7700-CU" -RETAIL
FOXCONN "755FXK8AA-8EKRS" SiS 755FX Chipset Motherboard For Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0GHz, 512KB L2 Cache 939-Pin 64-bit Processor - OEM

Just wanted to say, I'm also eyeing this Foxconn motherboard but with the AMD 64 3000+ Socket 939 CPU combo . I just wasn't sure what heatsink to get.

az · 3 January 2005, 09:44

I think the Sony LCDs are overpriced, surely there must be better options. Cordless desktop for bluetooth: Overpriced

(And I think for gaming, the non-bluetooth mice are faster).

AZ

**borat** · 3 January 2005, 09:50

if your going fr the maxtor hard drive, check out the price difference between the 200 gig and 250 gig as the 250 has a 16Mb buffer while the 200 has 'only' 8Meg. Not sure how much real world difference there is between the 2 but if its only 20 or 30 extra pounds its gotta be worth it considering you get an extra 50 gig too.

**ayoub_ibrahim** · 3 January 2005, 10:26

Lite-On 16X DVD Dual Drive, Model SOHW-1633S Black, Retail

Lite-On make great CD burners but their DVD burners are not on par with the competition. Suggest you get either the NEC 3500 or a pioneer 108 DVD burner.

**Liquid Snake** · 3 January 2005, 12:22

I agree, check out the Seagate drives. They're also pretty quiet.

The Zalman 7700 isn't as good as its predecessor, the 7000. I'd go with the 7000AlCu if you want to stick with the Zalman coolers. I'm not sure if this applies to the 7700 also, but the AlCu version of the 7000 is on par with the Cu version as far as cooling goes and is much lighter. Otherwise, the Thermalright XP-120 and a quiet fan like the Nexus 120mm is an excellent choice, if it fits in whatever motherboard you're getting.

az · 3 January 2005, 13:45

Yeah, thermalright for performance (that also means quiet operation at OK temps), or arctic cooling for an unbeatable price.

For PSUs, I'd get a Coba (cheap, good, very quiet) or Seasonic (good, very very quiet).

AZ

**DentyCracker** · 3 January 2005, 14:50

Foxconn board is a) SiS based
b) not nVidia based
c) Rock stable up to 233 MHz
d)Has firewire and Gigabit ethernet
e)A great performer [anandtech] at sub US$100
The processor is 90nm
Maxtor is my HD manufacturer of choice (never had one fail on me)
will consider the 250GB
No problems with the LiteOn (same model) in my cousin's machine that I'm using to write this
Will look into other cooling solutions but quiet is more important than ocability as the mobo doesn't go above 233
The X800SE will cost less than I paid for Parhelia and is not made by nV

az · 3 January 2005, 15:38

The thermalright 120mm (and even 90mm) heatpipe model heatsinks are so very good performers (though pricey) that they only need a slowly rotating fan to cool adequately. If you want to cool quietly, you need a heatsink with good performance - a slow fan on a crappy heatsink won't cut it (while a high-rpm screamer on a crappy HS might cool well enough, it would certainly not be quiet).

BTW, what's the X800 SE?

AZ

az · 3 January 2005, 15:41

Oh, and is "not nVidia" good for a chipset? I thought they (nv) were generally considered good performers, pretty stable, etc - are they not? Or do they need drivers that never leave Beta?

AZ

**DentyCracker** · 3 January 2005, 15:53

Nah, I just don't buy anything by nV if I can help it

**RC Agent** · 3 January 2005, 16:22

Originally posted by DentyCracker
The X800SE will cost less than I paid for Parhelia and is not made by nV

FYI, I read the X800SE has only 8 pixel pipelines instead of the full 16 in the X800 series. I read the article here.

az · 3 January 2005, 17:07

BTW, Cracker, I like the new AV - looks rich already

AZ

**Marshmallowman** · 3 January 2005, 18:35

And if you want to run linux...ati x800 will not be much fun.

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