What can I build with this?

Been thinking how to set up HDD once I get the remaining components. I'd like a triple-boot setup with: Win98SE, Vista/Longhorn when it comes out, and Linux. Always been dismissive of XP but the wife likes it, so I'll install that for her until the new one comes out and let her decide which one she wants. I've been intrigued with Linux; I'd like to install it and explore its possibilities. I'm looking at Fedora and SuSE. With 160GB to play with, I thought I'd partition the HDD into 3x8GB drives for the OSs and their program files, then use the remaining 136GB+/- for file storage (photos, book research, etc.). If I need more storage, adding another HDD would be pretty simple. Am I on the right track here? Presently, none of the house computers (98SE and XP) are even close to 10GB used and that includes nominal file storage. Is FDISK adequate for formatting this way? Does Linux pose any special problems?

If you just want to try Linux first there are plenty of Live CDs which you boot from and Linux runs from there and virtual memory instead of installing.A little slower that an actual install but it will give you a taste of what its like.
The like of Knoppix is one of the better known versions and you can also get very small versions that run from mini CDs or Thumbdrives like Puppy Linux.

Anyone familiar with the Rosewill brand? Newegg has a decent price on a 19" LCD monitor and people who have bought it seem to like it, but I'm not sure. Acer was another one I was looking at. All I know about Rosewill is they make monitors, PSUs, etc. and are a Chinese make (heck, what isn't these days...).

They look pretty nice, if they've got good things to offer and are at a good price then why not, whats the warranty length? and do they offer a dead pixel replacement cover plan?


Liam

3 year parts/labor by mfr, and yes. ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824021034) I talked myself into it, had to buy myself another hard drive to make me feel better about it. ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16822144359) :D

Nice buy!, and i know what you mean i do it too,:D did you go with another 80gb?


Liam

Oops....copied wrong s/c, should have been: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144359
The shortcut's been "deactivated temporarily" so if it doesn't work, it's a Maxtor SATA150 300GB for US$131.00. Took a lot to make myself feel good, know what I mean? ;)

:D Nice, did you check the reviews:

Quote:

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mine came with a 15 pin power supply, not a standard 4 pin and I had to order an adapter

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;) just a head's up.


Liam

Yeah, between the PSU and the HDD I already bought (retail) I have enough power and mobo connectors for 4 HDDs. Life is good. :) The SATA power connector looks like a mini version of an IDE connector, see picture--they're the flat, black connectors toward the right.

Cool, just making sure you made sure.:p


300gb ey, should be nice to fill up, i might purchase myself one......if only Newegg shipped internationally and for a good price, $131 is pretty sweet price, imagine it halved and add a £ sign.:)


Liam

Yeah, about 70 quid I think. Wish I could remember how to get the international symbols and accents on the keyboard but I'm tired! Too hot out today. (just got home form work.)

Well, all the components arrived and I'm ready to start assembling everything tomorrow. Already curious about one thing: The Zalman CPU heatsink/fan unit is HUGE, easily weighs a pound or more! Is there any risk of the motherboard bowing one way or the other under that kind of weight? Might it be smart to mount something between the back of the mobo and the case (even with standoffs) to avoid possible contact? I'll probably laugh at my caution later, but this sucker is almost intimidating!

Should be okay, it screws directly into the Motherboard.;)



Liam

If your unsure just post it all to my house :rolleyes: :D :D

No it should be fine as long as you dont go banging the system round.

Finally got it built despite the busy weekend. I'd been asked if I had any photos even before I started, so I took several to post.
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/5...tart0vh.th.jpghttp://img397.imageshack.us/img397/3...ront2av.th.jpghttp://img397.imageshack.us/img397/7...back0ab.th.jpghttp://img397.imageshack.us/img397/5...gfan2ny.th.jpg
All the goodies I've collected; front & back views of the chassis, and the bottom of the PSU. Heard a lot here about adequate ventilation, so there are 120mm fans front and back, and a 140mm fan in the PSU.
(Click on photos to enlarge)

Four more pics....
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/9...togo8xp.th.jpg http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/8...last6jt.th.jpg http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/3...line1im.th.jpg http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/6...ghts9ij.th.jpg
The assembled motherboard (thanks to you all for the great tips and advice about the CPU fan!); the completed tower; first boot, after loading the first OS and firewall/antivirus programs; not even sunset yet and the lights look OK already.
Matter of fact, thanks to all for all the helpful tips, advice, and opinions during this project. Will probably still be asking questions for a month until I get the thing fine-tuned!

Great job there lgbpop ... it's always cool to fire one up that you just built and load it up! Congrats!!!

lgbpop,

Have been following this thread with interest as I am thinking of building my own computer.

What do you think your total cost was? Presumably, you have a better machine than buying off the shelf? Also, can you post a list of the actual components?

Many thanks,

Rex

Rex--funny you should ask. Started a list in Notepad, after I update it with the contents of the last two deliveries I'll post a complete list. BTW, stop thinking about it and do it! :) More fun than you could believe. The possibilities are endless, whether you want to make a bare-bones cheapo or shoot for the moon.

Viewing 98 in all it's glory.:D

Nice internal shot above, nice and tidy, and i need to take mine apart and rebuild it now just for the hell of it, after adding my TV card before i want to do a bit more, i might get a new case just to transfer everything over.;)


Liam

Still working on the component & cost list, should find the rest of the invoices later. Question in the meantime: mobo on-board audio is AC97 codecs, same as on my old HP w/98SE. With the new machine, audio in XP boot mode is fine, about the same as on the HP; but booted up in 98SE the audio is barely audible. Obviously it's a setting in 98SE I'm overlooking but darned if I know what or where it is. Monitor, keyboard and computer volume controls are all @ 100% and nothing's on mute. Any ideas?

Hmmm, so your dual booting (XP/98SE), have you checked Device Manager in 98 to see if it is installed ok on this OS, and if it is try reinstalling the OS specific drivers.


Liam

Thx for pointing me in the right direction. Device Mgr showed driver was there but not installed; wouldn't load, due I guessed to presence of another one somewhere. I rooted around in Program Files and found a program by Via called Vinyl Deck, which turned out to be my missing link. I clicked on the setup icon and it loaded the audio amp/equalizer just fine. Gonna get a sound card someday though, it still lacks presence.

Good, Glad its sort of fixed for the moment, i'd let your credit card have a rest and then splash out on a Creative Soundcard soon.;):D


Liam