Let another PC critique Request....

[CubicZirconia]

Hey, I'm building a new system and I'd like to get anyone and everyone's views of it. Thanks.

Case: Lian Li PC-65 USB
Motherboard: Epox 8kha+
CPU: Athlon XP 1800+
CPU Heatsink: Cooler Master HCC-001
Memory: 512 MB PC2100 DDR
Hard Drive: 7200 RPM 40 gig maxtor
Video Card: Geforce 2 gts 32 MB (I'm using my old one until I find a good reason to upgrade it)
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live 5.1
Power Supply: Enermax 400 watt
CD ROM: Sony 56x Max
Monitor: 17" Flat Screen Viewsonic
Speakers: Klipsch Promedia 5.1 4 speaker set up

Might seem pretty standard I guess...

I plan on putting in an extra 92 mm exhaust fan in the back to bring so I have 4 case fans. I also have 2 pci exhaust fans. Round IDE cables are nice, so I have a couple of those too. Then there is the required keyboard/mouse combo to finish it off. The whole thing will cost me just over $1000 shipped. What do you think?

 

[Ionizer86]

Where's the Audigy or Turtle Beach Santa Cruz?

 

[AndyCunningham]

If it were me, I'd get a cordless keyboard and mouse - my Logitech iTouch combo is one of the best things I've bought, and there's not many components which get to 18 months old and are still pretty much as good as you can get.

For the hard disc, I'd be tempted on a 60 GB drive if your budget will stretch. In England, I've found that in fact the £/GB for 60 GB is higher than for 40 GB drives. I'd save the money on the case. A nice aluminium case may help cooling (I'm not yet convinced) and may look nice in pictures, but when you get it and put in your beige drives it'll lose a lot of its aesthetic appeal. My personal favourite is the black Chieftec case. It comes with a 340W Antec PSU which is one of the best quality you'll get, and should be enough for your machine. Plus it's well under half the price of your case/psu, and it has a door, to hide away the fact that you've not splashed out on black bezel drives

Other than my personal opinion it looks like good choices all round

 

[CubicZirconia]

Is a different sound card really going to change much?

 

[MistaTastyCakes]

I'd definately go w/ a newer sound card, even a SBLive. The onboard sound of the 8KHA+ is pretty crappy and will NOT do your speakers justice. I'd suggest a Hercules GTXP, Santa Cruz, or an Audigy. If you're on a budget, you could try an SBLive! but be prepared to do a little troubleshooting with it. A sound card's going to give you a clearer, full, crisper sound and is gonna include some nice features for games such as EAX. With your processor it doesn't matter too much, but using a sound card takes up less CPU cycles than using onboard sound. The Audigy comes with a FireWire port as well, which is nice.

edit: Oops didn't see the SBLive ya had on there, hehe. Either way.. for those speakers I'd go get something nicer. Via and SBLive aren't much fun to mess with.

 

[AndyCunningham]

Is it just me or has he already got a SB Live! in the specs. It's not the latest one anymore but that means that the cost has dropped substantially and it's still 95% as good as the best out there.

 

[fallingace]

They Live series of cards can be cpu hogs. Get an audigy or herc gametheater XP

 

[Epsil0n00]

I really think that there is something lacking in the optical drive department. Where's the DVD? You can get a Pioneer Slot loading DVD for $65! What about the CD-Burner? Pick up a 16x PlexWriter for $100!

Everything else looks great! Nice case! What monitor are you going to use? I also think that now, or soon at least, is a good time to jump on the GeForce3 Ti-200 deals. They are really getting affordable!

Good job!