First Build, Power?, Cooling?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Muammar
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Muammar

Intel P42.8Ghz (prescott)- retail
ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe
Seagate ATA 120GB 7200RPM
ATI Radeon 9200 ($69 on newegg)
Corsair XMS 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200

1. Is this a balanced config.? I am not a gamer, but I am looking for
a totally decent and capable box.
2. How much power will I need to run the above config.?
3. I hear that the 'prescott' core runs hot, do I need a post
manufacture HSF? Or will the stock do just fine? What about case fans,
I see some people who say they have 8 and even 10, this seems excessive?
Also I have no need to OC but I want to do it, just to learn how--
nothing excessive, strictly as a learning experience. What cooling
considerations should I take into account?
4. Finally, how important is the case design? Airflow? Aluminum or
steel? etc...? In other words, what is the functional difference
between a $20 case and a $200 case?

Thanks in advance for the info.
 
Hi "Muammar",
Everything looks fine EXCEPT the 2.8 GHz Prescott. It'll run hotter and
have worse performance than the 2.8C (800 MHz FSB non-Prescott.) If you're
hell bent to go for a Prescott, you should go above 3 GHz, but frankly, the
best price/performance ratio right now for a Pentium 4 is the 2.8C. If
you're not a hardcore gamer, just use the retail Intel heatsink/fan combo
that comes with the CPU. Intel's maximum spec for the weight of a heatsink
is 450 grams, and most after-market ones are almost twice that. The Intel
fan/heatsink is actually pretty good, and you'll lose the CPU 3 year
warranty if you don't decide to use it.

These days, you should plan for the future, so although a good 300W PSU may
be OK for your current components, why not get a decent 430W or higher PSU
from a respectable manufacturer like Antec or Enermax? A decent intake fan
in the lower front of the case and an exhaust fan in the upper rear near the
CPU should be fine, unless you're planning on running RAID 5 with 4 Raptor
drives and dual DVD burners. I'd get ball-bearing 120mm fans for longer
life and less noise if you have a choice, and if you end up getting a cheap
case, definitely don't use the piece of $%^# power supply that'll likely
accompany it.

Despite all the hype regarding better cooling with an aluminum case opposed
to steel, the main benefit of an aluminum case would be that it wouldn't be
as heavy, perhaps half the weight of a similar steel case. Everyone has
their own idea of what their ideal case would have, but if you're going for
a tower/mid-tower, you should be sure that it can handle upgrades down the
line with ease (enough drive bays.) Removable motherboard trays are nice
for the initial installation, and thumbscrews and rolled edges are always
convenient. You can find perfectly decent cases for around $40. Just get
one that appeals to you aesthetically, has the extras that are important to
you, and has enough interior space and unrestrictive air inlet/output areas
to keep things cool. Some of the extremely high-end cases are overpriced,
and you're paying for a premium finish more than anything else. A good
mid-range manufacturer to check out is Kingwin. Their KT-424 series
aluminum cases are excellent, and can be had for around $85. A lot of folks
like the Antec Sonata, and it already comes with a decent and quiet power
supply and a 120mm exhaust fan at around $110.

Russell
http://tastycomputers.com
 
Intel P42.8Ghz (prescott)- retail
ASUS P4P800-E Deluxe
Seagate ATA 120GB 7200RPM
ATI Radeon 9200 ($69 on newegg)
Corsair XMS 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200

1. Is this a balanced config.? I am not a gamer, but I am looking for
a totally decent and capable box.
Click to expand...

Them's the basics... you should buy from a store that
also stocks OEM WinXP Pro (usually $135 or so). I know
MWave.com does, possibly Comp4Sure or NewEgg.
2. How much power will I need to run the above config.?
Click to expand...

400W? (big SWAG), get a good quality quiet power-supply
and you won't have as many worries.
3. I hear that the 'prescott' core runs hot, do I need a post
manufacture HSF? Or will the stock do just fine? What about case fans,
I see some people who say they have 8 and even 10, this seems excessive?
Also I have no need to OC but I want to do it, just to learn how--
nothing excessive, strictly as a learning experience. What cooling
considerations should I take into account?
4. Finally, how important is the case design? Airflow? Aluminum or
steel? etc...? In other words, what is the functional difference
between a $20 case and a $200 case?
Click to expand...

A good case will have lots of room for expansion,
designed for airflow and/or quiet operation, be built
out of thicker steel/aluminum, and will basically last
through a good amount of abuse. (My current fav case is
the Antec p160, for instance.)
 
As another poster suggested, I'd also go for the C processor because
prescott runs too hot IMO.

Despite the fact that you will only be using about 170 watts power, I'd
start at 300 watt, 400 is overkill, but if it makes you feel better, go
ahead and spend the extra money. I highly recommend Fortron Source.

As for CPU cooling, the retail boxed (3 year warranty) 3.0Cs will have a
better heatsink that is made using aluminum + copper base and fins. It
is heavy and has a nice quality feel to it (the 3.2Cs use copper too,
but aluminum fins, also very nice).

Don't bother with aftermarket coolers, the Intel coolers, even the
cheapest ones are usually very good. Only go aftermarket when doing
extreme overclocking. The 2.8c's don't use copper. It's possible that
the 3.0Cs may start to use the cheaper heatsinks, so watch out. I'd go
with a 3.0C instead of the 2.8 and save by buying a good 300/350 watt PS
instead of a 400 watt.

Case cooling: there is usually not a big difference when it comes to
airflow. One fan in the front, and one in the back should be more than
adequate for what you're using. I recommend these fans because you can
spin them as fast as you need and are quiet regardless of speed:

http://www.directron.com/uc8fab.html

However, they do not accurately report their RPMS at about 1900 RPMS or
lower, which can even cause problems with certain motherboards. The
solution is to not connect them to the motherboard fan headers, instead,
use the standard connectors from the PS.

Prices on cases do not always reflect quality. But do expect to pay at
around $50 for a good case with out a power supply.
 
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