**** Trying to avoid another case of buyer's remorse! :o) ****

[Guest]

Greetings,

I am building a multimedia computer for playing MP3 files and using as
a Personal Video Recorder, or Tivo. That means I want an attractive
system that has lots of storage and runs very quiet.

I have spent many hours reading reviews on different web sites about
each component that I have chosen. The reason that I have been so
picky about the components is because I bought a computer from Dell a
few years ago and spent way too much for too little. I don't want to
experience that king of buyer's remorse again.

The link below leads to my wish list at Newegg.com. I would very much
appreciate any input that you all may have to offer as to how I could
make it better.

One specific question I have is with the motherboard and processor. I
would like opinions as to whether the two that I have picked out are
the best for the type of computer I want. I have even been told to go
with the 875 chipset rather than going with the 865PE chipset on the
ASUS P4P800 Deluxe.

Newegg.com wish list:
http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishR.asp?ID=672309

Many thanks in advance!

~Jim

 

[Russell]

You ordered a second 120mm case fan for the Sonata case, but it doesn't
mount in a very good location (must mount on the inside side of the hard
drive cage) and has been reported to cause excessive turbulence when
installed in that particular case. It is a good case, but has a flimsy
plastic front bezel door and in order to maintain safer CPU temperatures,
the CPU heatsink will need to be cleaned regularly to get rid of dust
bunnies that collect from unfiltered air getting into the case from all the
side panel holes forming the Antec logo. The motherboard tray is not
removable, and you may have some "issues" when connecting all of the
assorted case wiring if you're not experienced.

You ordered an OEM 2.8E Prescott processor. Two things about this choice:
First, the 2.8E actually performs slower than the previous 2.8C non-Prescott
version. They should never have even offered this incarnation of the
Prescott CPU at 2.8 GHz. You'll get better performance with either the
non-Prescott 800MHz FSB version, or if you want Prescott, go with 3.2 GHz or
higher. Secondly, an OEM processor only comes with a 30-day warranty, if
that's important to you. The retail boxed version will have a 3-year
warranty.

Also, since noise is a consideration you've mentioned, a Seagate or Samsung
SATA drive would probably be quieter than the IBM. Just my 2 cents.

Hope this helps,
Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

 

[BP]

:
:
: Greetings,
:
: I am building a multimedia computer for playing MP3 files and using as
: a Personal Video Recorder, or Tivo. That means I want an attractive
: system that has lots of storage and runs very quiet.
:
: I have spent many hours reading reviews on different web sites about
: each component that I have chosen. The reason that I have been so
: picky about the components is because I bought a computer from Dell a
: few years ago and spent way too much for too little. I don't want to
: experience that king of buyer's remorse again.
:
: The link below leads to my wish list at Newegg.com. I would very much
: appreciate any input that you all may have to offer as to how I could
: make it better.
:
: One specific question I have is with the motherboard and processor. I
: would like opinions as to whether the two that I have picked out are
: the best for the type of computer I want. I have even been told to go
: with the 875 chipset rather than going with the 865PE chipset on the
: ASUS P4P800 Deluxe.
:
: Newegg.com wish list:
: http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishR.asp?ID=672309
:
: Many thanks in advance!
:
: ~Jim

I've got the Sonata case and like it. It is well built and has the features
I was looking for: 120mm fan, front USB, firewire, and audio. A removable MB
tray might be helpful, but there was plenty of room to work so I wasn't
sorry it didn't have one. The quick snap in drive trays are a big
(unexpected) plus, and the rubber grommets really do keep it quiet. I can't
tell if my HD is running without looking at the LED. The manual that comes
with it is helpful. You won't need a second fan unless you are going to do
some overclocking or other weirdness, there is plenty of ventilation w/o it.
Antec actually recommends NOT installing one in the manual for noise
reasons.

Can't speak for any of the other parts.

 

[Ed_]

Greetings,

I am building a multimedia computer for playing MP3 files and using as
a Personal Video Recorder, or Tivo. That means I want an attractive
system that has lots of storage and runs very quiet.

I have spent many hours reading reviews on different web sites about
each component that I have chosen. The reason that I have been so
picky about the components is because I bought a computer from Dell a
few years ago and spent way too much for too little. I don't want to
experience that king of buyer's remorse again.

The link below leads to my wish list at Newegg.com. I would very much
appreciate any input that you all may have to offer as to how I could
make it better.

One specific question I have is with the motherboard and processor. I
would like opinions as to whether the two that I have picked out are
the best for the type of computer I want. I have even been told to go
with the 875 chipset rather than going with the 865PE chipset on the
ASUS P4P800 Deluxe.

Newegg.com wish list:
http://secure.newegg.com/app/WishR.asp?ID=672309

Many thanks in advance!

~Jim

I have a Sonata on the bench that I'm building for a friend and another in
Memphis, that should arrive tomorrow. That one is for me and will be my fourth
Sonata build.

I would lose that second Antec fan and replace it on your wish list with this
one, which will be much quieter:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-999-614&depa=0

I would also suggest removing the power supply until you mount the motherboard
in the case. This will give you some room to manuever. Also, wait to install
the second fan until then.

If you are concerned about dust from the Antec holes, cover them from the inside
with clear plastic packaging tape. I covered them in one of my builds and left
them open in another and can't notice a difference in either heat nor dust
buildup. That said, I am covering them in the two new ones that I am building.

Ed

 

[louise]

You ordered a second 120mm case fan for the Sonata case, but it doesn't
mount in a very good location (must mount on the inside side of the hard
drive cage) and has been reported to cause excessive turbulence when
installed in that particular case. It is a good case, but has a flimsy
plastic front bezel door and in order to maintain safer CPU temperatures,
the CPU heatsink will need to be cleaned regularly to get rid of dust
bunnies that collect from unfiltered air getting into the case from all the
side panel holes forming the Antec logo. The motherboard tray is not
removable, and you may have some "issues" when connecting all of the
assorted case wiring if you're not experienced.

You ordered an OEM 2.8E Prescott processor. Two things about this choice:
First, the 2.8E actually performs slower than the previous 2.8C non-Prescott
version. They should never have even offered this incarnation of the
Prescott CPU at 2.8 GHz. You'll get better performance with either the
non-Prescott 800MHz FSB version, or if you want Prescott, go with 3.2 GHz or
higher. Secondly, an OEM processor only comes with a 30-day warranty, if
that's important to you. The retail boxed version will have a 3-year
warranty.

Also, since noise is a consideration you've mentioned, a Seagate or Samsung
SATA drive would probably be quieter than the IBM. Just my 2 cents.

Hope this helps,
Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

Definitely a Seagate for a quiet drive. I've replaced IBMs
and Maxtors because they whine - either right away or in
short order. My Seagates stay quiet forever.

I have the Sonata case, but I didn't build it myself - had
it built by endpcnoise - I'm quite happy with it, but it is
new and I don't know how things like dust will evolve. It
does have a removable, washable front filter which Antec
suggests you clean on a monthly basis.

I got the Nexus 120mm case fan and it is very quiet.

Louise

 

[Russell]

I did a custom build for someone who wanted this case last July, and the
customer is very happy with it, but dust does definitely accumulate; the
environment you house your system in is also a relevant factor. The
customer called me up last month as his motherboard's CPU temperature alarm
was going off when he was encoding home movies on DVD. It was running at
50-55C idle and 70C and higher under full load. We troubleshooted for a few
minutes, then I instructed him to clean out the CPU heatsink fins with
canned air. He told me he was amazed at the amount of dust in there that
wasn't visible to the naked eye. After doing this, his CPU temperatures
dropped down to 32C idle and 45-50C under full load, great temperatures,
especially with this case, a 3 GHz Pentium 4 and the amount of Raptor
drives, memory and add-on cards he had in his system. I'm sure you'll be
happy with this case, but definitely set up a regular dusting maintenance
schedule, perhaps every three months or so, to keep thinks quiet and cool.
The customer had been cleaning the air filter monthly, and had opened up the
case to wipe things down, but that pesky accumulated heatsink dust can
easily slip detection...that is, until your CPU temp alarm starts squawking
at you.

Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

 

[Guest]

Hey,

Thanks to everyone that responded to my post!

I do have one more question for you all though. What kind of RAM do
you all recommend? I have been told to go with either Kingston HyperX
or Corsair XMS Extreme Memory.

I appreciate your input. Please provide a hyper link along with your
recommendation so that I can easily find it.

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[Russell]

Hi Jim,

The Corsair memory in your wish list should be fine. In my opinion, Corsair
and Mushkin are the premium tier one memory guys. Crucial and Kingston are
tier two and also sell quality memory at slightly lower prices than Corsair
and Mushkin. If you're an enthusiast who is constantly benchmarking your
memory just for the hell of it, lower latency modules are for you. For most
users, however, you'd never notice a performance difference in real life
applications.

Russell

 

[BP]

:
: Hey,
:
: Thanks to everyone that responded to my post!
:
: I do have one more question for you all though. What kind of RAM do
: you all recommend? I have been told to go with either Kingston HyperX
: or Corsair XMS Extreme Memory.
:
: I appreciate your input. Please provide a hyper link along with your
: recommendation so that I can easily find it.
:
: Thanks again,
: Jim

My feeling is that it is most important to get memory that matches the MB. I
only looked at modules that matched exactly what was listed on the MB
manufacturers site, then I only looked at Corsair and Kingston modules
because I picked up in this group that they were reliable brands. I bought
Kingston ValueRam because the module numbers matched exactly and I don't
plan on overclocking my box or "pushing the envelope" in any other way. If
you've got applications that are extremely memory intensive the extra $$ may
be worth it. But the impression I got from months of lurking in this group
is that for the "average" user the low latency stuff is just pissing your
money away.

 

[Guest]

My feeling is that it is most important to get memory that matches the MB. I

only looked at modules that matched exactly what was listed on the MB
manufacturers site, then I only looked at Corsair and Kingston modules
because I picked up in this group that they were reliable brands. I bought
Kingston ValueRam because the module numbers matched exactly and I don't
plan on overclocking my box or "pushing the envelope" in any other way. If
you've got applications that are extremely memory intensive the extra $$ may
be worth it. But the impression I got from months of lurking in this group
is that for the "average" user the low latency stuff is just pissing your
money away.

I am taking your advice and will do what you suggested. I went to the
ASUS web site for the P4P800 Deluxe board and picked the Kingston
ValueRam that matched exactly with what was on the QVL.

Thanks for the suggestion! )

 

[cpliu]

I ordered the same CPU and motherboard (refurb for $69) from newegg
yesterday. I have 2 old PC2100 DDR RAM from my dead system. Asides from
slower speed, is there any problem running it on this sytem (P4 2.8C/Asus
P4P800 Deluxe)? I plan to wait for better deal on PC3500 DDR later.

Is it OK?

Thanks a lot for your help,


cpliu

 

[Wooducoodu]

for a quiet hard drive go with the samsung P80s, seagate would be next best,
all but the older slower baracuda IVs are louder than the samsung.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-152-015&depa=0

unless you plan to use ECC RAM there's absolutely no reason to choose an
875p board over an 865pe.

the only significant difference between the all copper zalman and the copper
aluminum is the extra weight, they perform just about identically.

for truly queit fans try the nexus real silent case fans. you won't find
them at newegg and they're a little expensive but if you're concerned about
noise they're worth it.

 

[Guest]

the only significant difference between the all copper zalman and the copper
aluminum is the extra weight, they perform just about identically.

I'm assuming that the all copper version is heavier. Am I correct?
)