God Box Update: Recommended Power Supplies and Case?

[rhys]

Hi, there.

I posted earlier this month on my next "god box" workstation ideas.
I've narrowed down a few specs and want opinions as to whether I'm on
the right track.

Intended use is as a graphics design (2-D) workstation and file
server, with multi-tasking/multi-threading capacity today, and with an
upgrade path to full 64-bit computing over a five-year work cycle.

All prices current today from my usual assembler and in Canadian
dollars.

Currently looking at:

Tyan Thunder K8WE S2895A2NRF $549 (see
http://www.tyan.com/products/html/thunderk8we.html )


2 x AMD Opteron 242 1.6GHz CPU 2 x $248 (May go for a faster pair)
under Windows 2K to start, then Win XP64 in 2006. Probably will add
Zalman processor fans.

8 x Kingston 1GB Reg ECC KVR400D4R3A/1G 8 x $267

OR
4 x Corsair CM72SD1024RLP-3200/S PC 3200/DDR400 sticks...See a
Canadian price of $180 for these at
http://www.atic.ca/index.php?page=showall&man=129&cat=4 .

If I am running a 32-bit OS for the near term, it's stupid to install
RAM the OS can't see until I go to Win XP64, right? This will save
money, unless anyone thinks there's a reliability problem with
Corsair. Other recommended makes/prices?

Western Digital 74GB SATA 10K $219 I like this model, and that
price is OK. This computer will likely have at least two more drives
and/or be linked via Gigabit Ethernet to my current dualie PIII as a
RAID backup/file server.

ATI Radeon X1600XT 256MB PCIE $169 I like this model, and that price
is OK. This won't be a game box.

Antec Titan Server Case $159 If this case (which I like A LOT)
comes with the True Power 2.0 550 W power supply (TP2-550EPS12V) and
the included HD fan, then I have to do more research on other power
supplies, but that's also a good price. There is currently some debate
over this PS and the Tyan board I favour. Any alternatives that
emphasize QUIET and COOLER will be favoured (Zalman, Silverstone?), as
will alternative case recommendations that can deal with the Extended
ATX form factor.

TIA,
R.

 

[Marc]

Nice, but i have a few things:

Probably will add Zalman processor fans.

The Artic Freezer 64 pro recently came out, and it cools better for less
money.

Western Digital 74GB SATA 10K $219 I like this model, and that
price is OK. This computer will likely have at least two more drives
and/or be linked via Gigabit Ethernet to my current dualie PIII as a
RAID backup/file server.

WD will soon release a newer model of the Raptor, adding another 76 GB,
and replacing TCQ with NCQ for better performance

ATI Radeon X1600XT 256MB PCIE $169 I like this model, and that price
is OK. This won't be a game box.

If you are not going to game, and do a lot of 2d work, you should
consider Matrox. Though the 2D quality of allmost al modern cards is
fine, Matrox does still make the best cards in that area.

Antec Titan Server Case $159 If this case (which I like A LOT)
comes with the True Power 2.0 550 W power supply (TP2-550EPS12V) and
the included HD fan, then I have to do more research on other power
supplies, but that's also a good price. There is currently some debate
over this PS and the Tyan board I favour. Any alternatives that
emphasize QUIET and COOLER will be favoured (Zalman, Silverstone?), as
will alternative case recommendations that can deal with the Extended
ATX form factor.

The Stacker is a very popular case, it has room for 3 120 MM fans (Papst
makes silent ones), and for about 12 HDD's, and some CD/DVD-players.

Marc

 

[nos1eep]

<Nice, but i have a few things:
<
<rhys wrote:
<> Probably will add Zalman processor fans.
<
<The Artic Freezer 64 pro recently came out, and it cools better for
less
<money.

AND they look freaking awesome. I use the Artic Freezer on an oc'd
4800+ Idle temp is right at 30, max temp (after burn-in) that I've
seen with this heat sink is 46. The fan idles along at around 1700
RPM's (2200 RPM max) and is just a whisper, but still manges to push
40 cfm. The thing is huge and weighs in at 528g.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185125R

<
<> Western Digital 74GB SATA 10K $219 I like this model, and that
<> price is OK. This computer will likely have at least two more
drives
<> and/or be linked via Gigabit Ethernet to my current dualie PIII as
a
<> RAID backup/file server.
<>
<WD will soon release a newer model of the Raptor, adding another 76
GB,
<and replacing TCQ with NCQ for better performance
<
<> ATI Radeon X1600XT 256MB PCIE $169 I like this model, and that
price
<> is OK. This won't be a game box.
<If you are not going to game, and do a lot of 2d work, you should
<consider Matrox. Though the 2D quality of allmost al modern cards is
<fine, Matrox does still make the best cards in that area.
<>
<> Antec Titan Server Case $159 If this case (which I like A LOT)
<> comes with the True Power 2.0 550 W power supply (TP2-550EPS12V)
and
<> the included HD fan, then I have to do more research on other power
<> supplies, but that's also a good price. There is currently some
debate
<> over this PS and the Tyan board I favour. Any alternatives that
<> emphasize QUIET and COOLER will be favoured (Zalman, Silverstone?),
as
<> will alternative case recommendations that can deal with the
Extended
<> ATX form factor.
<The Stacker is a very popular case, it has room for 3 120 MM fans
(Papst
<makes silent ones), and for about 12 HDD's, and some CD/DVD-players.
<
<Marc
--

-nos1eep

Q. What's the difference between a brown-noser and a shit-head?
A. Depth perception.

-Scaling up the heights of folly.
-non est ponenda pluritas sine necessitate

 

[rhys]

The Stacker is a very popular case, it has room for 3 120 MM fans (Papst
makes silent ones), and for about 12 HDD's, and some CD/DVD-players.

Thanks for this advice and that of the hard drives. I am just starting
with one HD and don't need a huge number of bays, but I need a solid,
easy to mod case with room to handle the E-ATX form factor and to run
enough big, slow fans to keep all quiet. I don't care if it's the size
of a bar fridge, because it's never going to have 10 disks and 4
DVD/CD-ROMs in it anyway.

I may look at the Matrox cards, but I've had good success with ATI so
far. Fact is, this mobo can take dual PCI-E video cards, and so I have
a lot of room to expand into other areas should I wish to.

I like the Antec case, but I am getting a lot of conflicting reports
on their TruePower 2 PS with the Tyan board.

I am looking at a SilverStone Zeus ST65ZF 650W PS in a SilverStone
TJ03 tower.

Any comments?

R.

 

[Marc]

Thanks for this advice and that of the hard drives. I am just starting
with one HD and don't need a huge number of bays, but I need a solid,
easy to mod case with room to handle the E-ATX form factor and to run
enough big, slow fans to keep all quiet. I don't care if it's the size
of a bar fridge, because it's never going to have 10 disks and 4
DVD/CD-ROMs in it anyway.

Even then, a big case cools better than a small one, and this one has
room for a lot of slow fans.

I am looking at a SilverStone Zeus ST65ZF 650W PS in a SilverStone
TJ03 tower.

That looks like a very expensive PSU, but that could have a reason, but
the case can only use 1 120 MM fan, where the Stacker can have 4 (and
1x80 mm)

Marc

 

[Spike]

Freaking awesome?
How old are you?
Little kids like you should not be telling folks to commit arson.
It's against your isp rules if you check.
Why not check my site here http://www.inpsyte.ca/ before you give out stupid
advice.
See you around,
spike

 

[nos1eep]

It is further alleged that on or about Wed, 28 Dec 2005 12:42:08
-0500, in alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt, the queezy keyboard of
"Spike" <[email protected]> spewed the following:

|Freaking awesome?

|How old are you?
|Little kids like you should not be telling folks to commit arson.
|It's against your isp rules if you check.
|Why not check my site here http://www.inpsyte.ca/ before you give out stupid
|advice.

Oh, yawn, pathetic attempt at a troll. Fact is the sink cools well,
and in a nice windowed case, it looks extreme. As far a checking your
site. It's Canadian, I don't do Canadian, ****lick.
--

-nos1eep

Scaling up the heights of folly.
non est ponenda pluritas sine necessitate