poota scrounging!!

[TdC]

ewo lads and lasses!

I've managed to scrounge together certain poota parts that seem to be worth building a new system from:

1x pIV 2.4Ghz with fan
1x Asus P4T-e
2x 128mb pc800 rimm
1x 3com 100mbit nic
1x SB128

I still need some stuffe though, and that's where you come in hehe, as I have some questions.

• DVDburner (pioneer 106D? everyone seems to love it heh) no other cdrom-esque devices
• HDD (something like a WB special ed. with the 8mb cache. I have one in my current workstation and I'm quite pleased with it)
• GFX (I currently have a radeon9700pro, I'm inclined to get the 9800proXT (whatever the XT means) as i'm quite chuffed with ATi lately, BUT I can also get a matroxG550 for reasons I shall explain in a sec.
• RAM (or RIMM for the pedants heh) I want more. Two extra 256mb modules to bring me up to 768Mb. Is that possible? Mixed sized RIMMs that is. any tips on how I should place them (small rimms in the A channel or the B? etc. I know you can't mix 'n' match in the same channel)
• CASE I want a small, yummy looking case. Perhaps even a desktop model, with a power supply that packs enough oomph to satisfy the posibility that I *may* get the 9800XT
• TFT I want one. Preferably one that I can play games on (16ms response time I guess), and as big as can be without making my wallet fall into it's own black hole heh. Iiyama has a 17" one that can, Hitachi does too and perhaps others. I know I and H frequently exchange parts (at least on CRTs) so mucho advice needed!

What's that rot about Matrox above ATi? Well, it seems that I'm going to end up with similar workstation systems. I currently have a Barton2800 with 1Gb ram, an 80GBWDse, a 9700pro and 5.1 via the nforce. Screen is a 19" iiyamaVM pro. I want to make the most powerful CPU a gaming rig running....yes, a win32 variant. The less powerful CPU gets to be a "serious" workstation running...FreeBSD naturally. Duh Why? Because I'm sick of dualboot. Bit circumspect I know, but that's where it's at. I have a feeling that the Barton pees all over the pIV but I'm not sure so if anyone can comment I'll be pleased. The "serious" poota doesn't need to have a hotrod gfx card, so it will have a G550 for crystal clear 2d and it will rock at being a development/office machine. If they're more or less evenly matched I'll be inclined to get the 9800XT anyway because I want to, swapping the lesser radeon to the office box. Do tell. Am I missing anything?

 

[Xavier]

• DVDburner (pioneer 106D? everyone seems to love it heh) no other cdrom-esque devices

• It's definately a good drive, can't say anything negative about it - pretty sure it's popular with the other foumites too, so I'd say that was a go-er

  [*]HDD (something like a WB special ed. with the 8mb cache. I have one in my current workstation and I'm quite pleased with it)

  WD1200JB or WD2000JB r teh daddies

  [*]GFX (I currently have a radeon9700pro, I'm inclined to get the 9800proXT (whatever the XT means) as i'm quite chuffed with ATi lately, BUT I can also get a matroxG550 for reasons I shall explain in a sec.

  STICK with the 9700 Pro, both sides are due to release new GPUs quite soon which will mean new high-end options and cheaper XT cards if you're still inclined.

  [*]RAM (or RIMM for the pedants heh) I want more. Two extra 256mb modules to bring me up to 768Mb. Is that possible? Mixed sized RIMMs that is. any tips on how I should place them (small rimms in the A channel or the B? etc. I know you can't mix 'n' match in the same channel)

  Mixing is fine, just keep the like dimms in pairs, as a rule I fit the larger capacities in the first pair and then the smaller in the second.

  [*]CASE I want a small, yummy looking case. Perhaps even a desktop model, with a power supply that packs enough oomph to satisfy the posibility that I *may* get the 9800XT

  How yummeh? Any idea as to budget?

  [*]TFT I want one. Preferably one that I can play games on (16ms response time I guess), and as big as can be without making my wallet fall into it's own black hole heh. Iiyama has a 17" one that can, Hitachi does too and perhaps others. I know I and H frequently exchange parts (at least on CRTs) so mucho advice needed!

  NEC 1760's are where it's at according to Gypsy, I prefer Samsungs 18" panels but that's just me.

 

[TdC]

re CASE: How yummeh? Any idea as to budget?

err..actually I have no idea! um...100eur/60gbp?

 

[Xavier]

Heh, 'yummeh' might be a challenge them from where I'm sitting, I'd personally say yummeh=coolermaster but you wouldn't get one of their decent cases for even double that

 

[TdC]

well, I think the 600/DX1 looks pretty, but I can't find it for sale in holland. I can find the 620C/BX1 though, and that goes for 129eur.

 

[TdC]

well, I found the cbx1 in a shop in arnhem for 149eur, but they're offering me a pabst silent psu with it on the cheap so I think I'll bite.

 

[TdC]

wow!!! I just had the most amazing D'OH!! moment!!! can anyone guess what it is? I'll give you a wee hint.....Asus P4T-e.....Coolermaster 620CBX1.....

that coolermaster case is teh win though. it's beautifully made, like a bit of hifi kit. pity

 

[Xavier]

*chortle*

ye cannae fit a full atx mobo in a micro atx case laddie...!

you've not actually bought it, have you?

 

[TdC]

....well.....I.....errrr.....

 

[Xavier]

ok, so can you get a refund on the case? or is it time to go buy a MATX mobo? heh.

Xav

 

[Xavier]

Actually, now I come to mention it, the latter makes most sense, gigabyte do an awesome micro atx canterwood mobo - and buying that would mean you can use DDR nor RAMBUS - save you some money on memory and give you dual channel DDR and AGP8x in the process. Would also let you install a 3.2/3.4Ghz HT chip in the future.

Xav

 

[TdC]

aye I can refund. getting a different mobo isn't fun though, as I got this one on the cheap off a collegue, with 256mb rimm and a soundblaster :/

 

[FuzzyLogic]

I've just upgraded recently too (not even put the damn thing together yet because the case and motherboard haven't arrived...Well, the motherboard had but the delivery company managed to smash a case of wine all over the parcel, ergo ruined mobo and no replacement yet ).


Bought this case to go with it.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=52911

Doesn't look entirely sucky, and if the plebites who rated it highly are to be trusted (doubtful ) it's a good'un for £40

Edit, oh yes, it comes with a 400w PSU supplied and a spiffy looking side window too