Asking for desktop PC advice - again

Post by **Ivo** » Mon May 12, 2008 5:58 am

I *FINALLY* am going to get a new desktop. I already have some parts:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 8200
Memory: 2x2GB Mushkin XP2-8500 DDR2-1066
Graphics Card: Gainward Bliss 8800GT 512MB

And I got Vista Home Premium 32 bit (ok, no hissing, please - I need Vista for DirectX 10, basically).

I need advice on the rest.

I'm fairly decided on:
1. the mobo (by Asrock)
http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?M ... -P35&s=775
2. the HDD (by Seagate), SATA 2, 500 GB, 32 MB cache
3. the cheapest SATA DVD writer (a bulk LG drive) - is there a reason I shouldn't go for the cheapest here?

I'm puzzled by power options, the tower and fans. I was planning on using the cooler / fan that came with the CPU; the source is going to be something like this:
http://www.lc-power.de/htm/products_det ... 3&a_id=109
Now, should I get a box with fans to keep the thing cool during summer (here it can get a bit hot in the summer...)? I saw a Tacens Audeo, that I don't like the looks so much, but comes with 2 fans that only make 16 dB already included for a perhaps reasonable price.

EDIT: Also, advice wanted on a TFT monitor. I was thinking a 20'' one due to the resolution supported, 22'' perhaps as I think it supports higher resolution than the others. I think 24'' is too expensive and too big right now, but once again there may be a resolution jump with a 24'' ? If there is unanimous support for "Get a 24'', it is totally worth the extra dough" I will certainly consider it.

Ivo.

Post by **Mozgus** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:12 am

Why do you need Direct X 10? Do you need your performance cut by 30% with no visual improvement? That's all that DX10 offers.

Post by **Ivo** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:46 am

Well, I know you strongly advocate pirating Windows, but I didn't want to do it. If I bought XP it wasn't significantly cheaper than Vista, so I got Vista. I want to (eventually - not when they get released) play games that are released now or a bit later on this machine (the graphics card should handle it, I hope), and I expect DirectX 10 to be *needed* - I think Microsoft won't be supporting XP with further DirectX versions or anything, in order to force people like me to get Vista.

Maybe I'm just wrong and misinformed, though. I can truthfully tell you I didn't get Vista for the special FX in the desktop (Aero, is that what it is called?). I want to stay able to play Windows games down the line, in the OS I got now (perhaps as long as in 4 years time, my laptop is over 4 years old now and was basically what I have until I get this machine running).

I knew I was setting myself up for scorn saying I bought Vista, but anyway. Can/will you help with the other info?
I'd like to buy the parts today or tomorrow, to have them delivered this week and assemble it at the latest in the weekend.

Ivo.

Post by **retro_gammer79** » Mon May 12, 2008 6:09 pm

Mozgus wrote:Why do you need Direct X 10? Do you need your performance cut by 30% with no visual improvement? That's all that DX10 offers.

Agree 210%!!!!!!!

Post by **Droid party** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:05 pm

Only one thing I can say is. For your cooling and power, go for as much Zalman as possible. I can't get enough of that brand.

Post by **Mozgus** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:09 pm

Also, I suggest getting two hard drives instead of one. First drive is for windows and all installed games and software. 2nd drive is for your documents, downloads, music, and page file and everything else. Getting that page file off your main drive makes a big difference, and keeping your documents and such off that drive makes it much easier to keep your installed games defragmented.

Post by **Droid party** » Mon May 12, 2008 7:51 pm

Mozgus wrote:Also, I suggest getting two hard drives instead of one. First drive is for windows and all installed games and software. 2nd drive is for your documents, downloads, music, and page file and everything else. Getting that page file off your main drive makes a big difference, and keeping your documents and such off that drive makes it much easier to keep your installed games defragmented.

That's a good idea. But what the devil is page file and how do I get (and keep) it on the other drive?

Post by **Mozgus** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:04 pm

Droid party wrote:
Mozgus wrote:Also, I suggest getting two hard drives instead of one. First drive is for windows and all installed games and software. 2nd drive is for your documents, downloads, music, and page file and everything else. Getting that page file off your main drive makes a big difference, and keeping your documents and such off that drive makes it much easier to keep your installed games defragmented.
That's a good idea. But what the devil is page file and how do I get (and keep) it on the other drive?

Windows Key + Pause/Break, Advanced, Performance Settings, Advanced, Virtual Memory Change, turn off page file for system drive, enable it for another hard drive and make it 2048MB or more.

Post by **marurun** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:53 pm

Stick with Seagate drives. I don't know that they are necessarily better, but the consumer drives (non-OEM) have 5 year warranties, and I consider that a must-have considering most other companies only offer 1 year warranties.

Also, I suggest buying a GOOD motherboard. The motherboard is effectively the nervous system of the computer. Don't skimp there. Also make sure to buy a good, heavy power supply.

As for cases, try to get something that will support at least 1 120 mm fan in the front and 1 120 mm fan in the back. The larger 120 mm fans push more air and are quieter. They still make noise but it's lower pitch and not as whiny. A heatsink/fan combo with a larger fan is also recommended. Once again, larger fans can spin at slower RPMs and push more air with less noise.

It would be good to get a combination of mobo and multi-speed fans that will work together to modulate fan speed, and thus power consumption and noise, according to case temperature. When it's cool they'll run more slowly. When it's hot they'll speed up and push more air.

Post by **Ivo** » Tue May 13, 2008 2:48 am

Mozgus wrote:Also, I suggest getting two hard drives instead of one. First drive is for windows and all installed games and software. 2nd drive is for your documents, downloads, music, and page file and everything else. Getting that page file off your main drive makes a big difference, and keeping your documents and such off that drive makes it much easier to keep your installed games defragmented.

I hear 2 7200rpm HDD in the same case make a bit of a racket... I originally thought about doing that with 2 HDDs, but just 1 seems to be a cheaper option (by a good bit). I suppose the 2nd drive is meant to be a cheap, not so fast one that is large and the other one a fast, small one?

To Marurun: Is that mobo not good? I was thinking of an Asus board:
http://www.asus.com.tw/products4.aspx?m ... 3=534&l4=0

That one perhaps. It's not much more expensive than the Asrock one, is it actually better though?

Ivo.