I decided to play around a bit to build another computer for my office, just curious if anyone has any suggestions or comments. Specifically if the cooling is going to be enough for the processor (never built an athlon machine before).

Specs:

MAXTOP CSX "Cool Case"
AOPEN AK75 Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 1600+
KINGSTON 256MB PC2100 DDR RAM
IBM 40GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
ATI RADEON 32MB Video Card W/TV Out
Zoom 56k Modem
AOPEN 52x CDROM
SONY 1.44MB Floppy

I also threw on a power supply and a couple of flat cables and the total I got is $395.99

Not exactly feature-rich but easily upgradable :). Here's a link to the case: Case Pictures (http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=11-150-017-09.jpg/11-150-017-10.jpg/11-150-017-13.jpg/11-150-017-14.jpg/11-150-017-15.jpg/11-150-017-12.jpg/11-150-017-11.jpg)

Originally posted by comphosting
I decided to play around a bit to build another computer for my office, just curious if anyone has any suggestions or comments. Specifically if the cooling is going to be enough for the processor (never built an athlon machine before).

Specs:

MAXTOP CSX "Cool Case"
AOPEN AK75 Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 1600+
KINGSTON PC2100 DDR RAM
IBM 40GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
ATI RADEON 32MB Video Card W/TV Out
Zoom 56k Modem
AOPEN 52x CDROM
SONY 1.44MB Floppy

I also threw on a power supply and a couple of flat cables and the total I got is $395.99

Not exactly feature-rich but easily upgradable :). Here's a link to the case: Server Pictures (http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=11-150-017-09.jpg/11-150-017-10.jpg/11-150-017-13.jpg/11-150-017-14.jpg/11-150-017-15.jpg/11-150-017-12.jpg/11-150-017-11.jpg)

that's not a bad deal, but how much RAM do you get??? also, you can probably add a cd burner for another $50 or so, a necessity these days. as for cooling, in my experience, athlons require a lot of cooling mechanisms (did i spell that right?), in my old one, i had 3 fans and a heat sink: 1 on top of the cpu, 1 out, and 1 in that did the trick for me....

....in my friend's new computer (still on order), he's got a liquid cooling system - basically rubber pipes inside ur computer that run everywhere to cool it down...pretty nifty idea...

doh... that was stupid... 256 megs of ram. The fans are top and side fans and a heat sink of course. I was kinda wondering whether or not to slap on a third fan but I don't want the thing to sound like a 747 taking off :D.

I already have a burner on the old machine that I'll probably put in the new box. And a keyboard, mouse and monitor...

Originally posted by comphosting
And a keyboard, mouse and monitor...

you need those too??? :eek:

seriously now, the third fan does add some noise, but a little background music drains it down, and you block it out after a few days ;)

Nope... god I'm being really retarded... I don't need those, this machine is going to replace my older machine (much older...), so the CD-RW, Mouse, Keyboard and monitor are NOT needed :p...

I read on a review that a guy was able to run an XP 1800+ at 31C so I'll probably just keep an eye on the heat, and add another fan if needed.

I run an original Athlon with a heatsink and twin cpu fan. My case came with a chassis fan (cool air in) but I disconnected it becuase it was too loud. :)

I've heard (read?) that fan on the top is bad for air circulation but that may've been more opinion than fact or case-specific.

I would suggest getting a slightly better video card (or one with 64 or 64 mb ddr ram) but having said that if you dont need it for graphics, why bother :D

nope don't need graphics. My main machine has a GeForce3, and I don't do much gaming anymore anyway :).

If me, I prob would get more ram. Cant hurt :)

That would be serious overkill. THe system is going to be used 99% for techs to come in and answer emails and such.

haha if it's for techs only theN I think you should get the ECS motherboard with a built in duron 900m processor, onboard lan, audio, and video for only CAD $128.

128mb of SD ram is enough, I don't think outlook or endura will require that much ram!

When I build computers for people, I ask them what it's for. Mostly they say a bit of everything, but sometimes they just say they want it for the internet and not games

ex. computer for a coffee shop $1.50 an hour and I would just get them a LCD monitor to attract customers, nice computer case, the ECS motherboard with onboard everything, use the speakers built in the LCD monitor, and realy nice keyboard and mouse (NOT CORDLESS so people can't slip the mouse in their pocket).

ex #2. computer for home theater.
I built for that guy a computer with the ATI all in wonder with the HDTV out for high resolution video output; Sound blaster Live 5.1 with the optical out to connect to his receiver; wireless keyboard with a touchpad mouse on the keyboard, black computer case with 1 fan that changes the RPM when there is a change in the temp, VIA 633mhz for stealth cooling (no fans on heatsink), 20gb hard drive fluid bearing, pioneer slot-load 16x dvd and sprayed paint the cover black to match the case, and no monitor because he's using his 60" HDTV as a monitor. I made the computer so he doesnt pay for the stuff he doesnt need and so that the computer will be very silent. The only noise generated are the 2 low RPM fans on the power supply and case. The fan on the case isn't needed but the noise generated from the computer won't be hearable from the sofa.

may I ask where you ordered your parts from.. pretty good pricing

i've had real hard times with ECS motherboards. Bought three of them and after trying for weeks and weeks i gave up. I like abit, asus and gigabyte. Easy to work with.

Originally posted by prelude785
i've had real hard times with ECS motherboards. Bought three of them and after trying for weeks and weeks i gave up. I like abit, asus and gigabyte. Easy to work with.

What troubles have you had with ECS boards?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by comphosting
[B]I decided to play around a bit to build another computer for my office, just curious if anyone has any suggestions or comments. Specifically if the cooling is going to be enough for the processor (never built an athlon machine before).

Specs:

MAXTOP CSX "Cool Case"
AOPEN AK75 Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 1600+
KINGSTON 256MB PC2100 DDR RAM
IBM 40GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
ATI RADEON 32MB Video Card W/TV Out
Zoom 56k Modem
AOPEN 52x CDROM
SONY 1.44MB Floppy





Do yourself a big favor, STAY AWAY from the IBM drive. I suggest a Western Digital With 8MB of cache. It is reliable and it's the fastest ATA100 7200 drive out there currently. A big difference over the 2MB cache drives.
The XP1600 is an excellent choice, it overclocks extremely well, but it does run HOT and you will need a good heatsink and CPU fan.
I would go with 512MB of DDR-Crucial Ram
I would also suggest an ABIT Motherboard - KR7A-Raid

If you need help go the AMD Motherboard Forums (http://www.amdmb.com)

Denny,

Yes I agree event he setup I have is overkill for a tech computer. But like I said it's "supposed" to be a tech computer but who knows what it'll be used for :rolleyes:.

Web Docta - I may go with Crucial Ram (it is the best) however, 512 megs and a Raid mobo would be way way too much for this kind of setup.

The entire system is from newegg.com, and at only $33.00 shipping it's a steal :).

Originally posted by comphosting
Denny,


Web Docta - I may go with Crucial Ram (it is the best) however, 512 megs and a Raid mobo would be way way too much for this kind of setup.



OK, But for about $80. @ Newegg it's almost a no brainer to get the Raid board for the money. Gives you the option to add RAID or additional drives in the future.

Originally posted by comphosting

MAXTOP CSX "Cool Case"
AOPEN AK75 Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 1600+
KINGSTON 256MB PC2100 DDR RAM
IBM 40GB 7200RPM Hard Drive
ATI RADEON 32MB Video Card W/TV Out
Zoom 56k Modem
AOPEN 52x CDROM
SONY 1.44MB Floppy


Let me play with this one :)


Maxtop CSX
ECS k7s5a
Amd Athlon XP 1700+
Micron 256MB Pc2100 DDR
Ati Radeon 7500 64MB
Western Digital 40GB 7200 RPM
Cyber Drive 36x12x48x CD-RW
Rockwell v.90 Modem
Sony 1.44MB Floppy
Rounded Cables :)

$350

Very impressed, I through this one together but didn't expect someone kicking my butt that bad :). I'm assuming you did that at newegg.com? You may have just made my day :D

Ouch :p only 1GB of RAM on that mobo :(.