What can I build with this?

Do you mean the Antec SLK3700 case, do you like it aesthetically or ergonimically? I like it ergo because it offers loads for the size, don't particularly like the way it looks though.

If the difference in PSU's you have been browsing are not much price wise (I would guess they would be around the same price) then it would give you some futureproofing to get the 450w, so at least you can add what you like and not have to worry, because you have sufficient power for quite a lot of drive/fans/lights/a ferris wheel, whatever you like:D (to a further extent than 350w)


Liam

I have that case and will use it after I get a larger PS. 5 or 6 HDDS and 2 dvd burners. Well that equals a load in my book.

The front and rear 120mm case fans do a real nice job of cooling things.

No if you are wondering about future proofing that setup, check this out.

Ergonomically. Aesthetically it looks like Darth Vader met a bench vise. However, gutting the few innards and some funky airbrush shading could do wonders for the case. Then replace the innards and start filling that thing up. Loads of room to expand! Been boning up on BIOS, think I get the basic working premise now. Makes little sense to me now why it's changed so cavalierly by so many. Unless it's absolutely essential I'd rather leave well enough alone. Starting to look at CD-RW drives now, if I need one quicker I have an old Compaq Prolinea to strip for parts. Same with the FDD.

Forget the cd-rw get a NEC 3520A or newer dvd burner. It takes care of cds also. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827152039

Or browse through what they list here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nufactory=1326

Will keep that under advisement, Train; PSU comes first, and the wife starting to notice the e-mails from supplier :eek: so I guess with my budget I need to prioritize. The DVD burner can wait. Also gonna buy a case; the old radio case needs too many mods, it would destroy the value (besides, the radio works and I can still get tubes for it). I like this case: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...676&CatId=1842
Plenty of room to grow and expand into. Case/PSU combos have so-so PSU's--gonna buy separately. I like the following--especially the Xion, plenty of connectors for future use. Is Xion an OK brand?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...306&CatId=1079 (leaning toward this one)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...225&CatId=1483
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...160718&CatId=0
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...194294&CatId=0

As usual, TIA for the insight and help from all.

Edit/P.S.--here's the motherboard specs while I'm thinking of it:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...8380&CatId=179

I haven't heard of those PSU manufacturers personally(Apart from Coolmax), but that might be because i'm in the UK, so i'm not sure, but if they have an output of 500w+ then they would be a good buy, usually the PSU's purchased with cases, or ones from unknown manufacturers are really cheap and really underpowered, they usually say 500w, but the total output is lower, and you'd be lucky to even run an extra fan without it dying, but these are usually tacky looking and cost about 4 times less than the ones you've found there, so i would say yeah they look worth it, BUT, if you can find a more well known make in the same price range and same output range then i would go for that, because you will more than likely get more life out of if, and maybe a longer manufacturer warranty(should it be needed).

Just my opinion.

Nice board btw........and for $55 its a bargain.

Examples from Tiger: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...184641&CatId=0 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...184622&CatId=0 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...184605&CatId=0

Pretty much the same PSU, but different model, at newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153008

And a 500w Antec: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103937


Liam

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Train

Power supply, 450w minimum and of a good brand. Read fairly expensive because if you upgrade your video card, you will need a molex connector dedicted for the video card. So why by another PS.

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Train, is a dedicated video card connector unusual to find? And is molex just a material or a particular type of connector--# of pins, specific voltage or what?

And Liam, the board and Athlon XP 3000+ came as a combo for US$150 total. Thought it was a good deal myself, but TD is taking their time shipping it. Good thing I'm patient.

Quote:

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And Liam, the board and Athlon XP 3000+ came as a combo for US$150 total. Thought it was a good deal myself, but TD is taking their time shipping it. Good thing I'm patient.

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Still a good price for the combo.


Tran is just stating that new Video cards need more power and have a standard molex cable attached (or included) and it needs extra power from the PS to run.

Example: http://www.ocmodshop.com/xfxgffx5700ultra/molex.JPG (Bottom Right black input)

And installed: http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/4...ntalled3wz.jpg


Liam

Neat pics....love that Zalman! Been reading the reviews on the Xion PSUs, think I'm gonna go that route; but for <$10 more I'll get the 600W unit. Tim the Toolman is my guiding light in that regard! :D

Quote:

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Tim the Toolman is my guiding light in that regard

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:D

That's a good choice, 600w is quite high end at the moment, should last you a while.


Liam

A 600 I would concider as overkill myself. But seeing the price differential is not much. :D

I hope to grow into the need for the power; and when my wife sees what I've already bought, h*ll will freeze over before I can buy another one! :eek:
Actually, she's been pretty good about it, with small exceptions. If I boost her allowance (permanently) she'll tolerate this project (temporarily). And I can drag this project out for years with the room I've got for expansion, hee hee! ;)

:D :D

Well, mine has her own computer and she sees were we need a 4th rig just for some specialty items. So this fall we will whip one out. I will be using a kvm switch to control it. That will keep ours free to do what we want whileit is taking care of the dedicated stuff.

I went with the blue Premium case from TD but decided to get the Xion 600W PSU from Newegg--their product inventory seems to be more stable, had plenty in stock and price was close enough (less than US$90.00). Both are on their way. Should have everything except for HSF and extra case cooler by this Friday.
I just realized, duh, that I need Internet capability. Right now, we have a Linksys 802.11b router set-up, with the main computer on cord and the satellites on wireless. I've read that the 802.11g is backward compatible and works on the same frequency. I will get the newer router eventually, but want to keep it for now. Also read that network components from different mfrs. will work with each other--true? I could save a few dollars buying other than Linksys, but don't want problems. Also, are the USB adapters that look like a flash drive as effective performance-wise as the PCI adapters with the antenna? I'll be flush with USB ports (11), but want to keep the 5 PCI slots for more "important" stuff if possible. Thx again.

Looking at Linksys inparticular, the PCI version seems to have more (better) features, such as better security protocol(s).


Well, the two i looked at were anyway:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...p?EdpNo=628082

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...512146&CatId=0

And the PCI version is cheaper in this case, but then again Networking is not my strong point, so i may have got them totally wrong, and gave you different standards there.:o


Liam