New computer time!

[Flash]

I've actually just placed the order adn the computer should be here by then end of the week; this is what I ended up getting:



Linkworld 313B P4 full ATX; 4+2 Bays; MIDI Tower built-in 2 front USB w/cable; 300W lifetime wty. $36



The total is $1168.4 CND ($850 USD,

Everything is ok, except one thing - Linkworld case.


Linkworld PSUs is pure trash - missing filters, crappy protection. It can burn and kill whole computer when overloaded or by network surge, i.e. lightning, welding transformers etc. !!!

I saw 9 PCs dead with their crappy PSUs - two of them with dead mobos, three - with hdds, and four - completely burned out - mb dead, cpu, hdds, memory, everything. When i've measured voltage on +5v line ... it was 28 v
And it's with only one resistor burned.
And there was no AC problems, all PCs was killed after adding new HDDs, videocards (so it was just overload)

When i've replaced it with same, but 0.5W instead of 0.125 - i've got 4.98v.
Nice .... :-(

Good PSU will simply shut down if overloaded (if it's overloaded by AC you may to have to resolder fuse (if it's not removable), but some of new PSUs have semiconductor fuse, so you will probably never mess with soldering iron
and even open PSU'S case (except cleaning, but it can be done with vacuum cleaner through fan hole)

So when you get your PC, go to nearest computer store and buy a good PSU
(you don't have to replace case, it's just a piece of stainless steel )

Good PSUs:

Addtronics
Delta
HPC (High Power)
Powerman
Seventeam (very good but extremely rare)

Delta and PowerMan is the best but all of them are very good (although Addtronics made loud name by HP servers it's not the best of them and it's
a bit overpriced, anyway)

There's also some good PSUs but they're too expensive for home PC.


And about cases.
Very good and not too expensive cases
is :

ChiefTec
InWin
PowerMan

And of course used case from good server is excellent solution if you don't have too much money.

There's also many good cases such as ASUS and Thermaltake but they not better and a bit expensive, so if you like alien design and have money to waste
go and get them...


BTW you can't get good case with good PSU for $38 CND (if USD - maybe, bought PM6004 250W case - simplistic but have good design (have enough place for hdds, i have six of them and was only need to make additional power connectors.) - it's the price of middle-class PSU (such as CodeGen)

And here's my PC w/ real 250W PSU and 6HDDs plus Voodoo5 6000
(look at +5v and +12v )

 

[Malcolm]

Well, with this inmind, I contacted the store manager to change my order. After a nice long 35min talk we decided that I would grab a Elitech 6070, it has a nive 5 year warrenty and has a $5000 insurance policy; I'm happy.


Thanks for the info Flash.

 

[Flash]

Well, with this inmind, I contacted the store manager to change my order. After a nice long 35min talk we decided that I would grab a Elitech 6070, it has a nive 5 year warrenty and has a $5000 insurance policy; I'm happy.

Five years warranty and $5000 insurance policy for entry-level case ? Good.

Thanks for the info Flash.

No probs.

 

[Malcolm]

actually the case isn't really entry level anymore, its costing me $105 CND. On the bright side it does have 3 internal fans and a whole wacky load of internal lights; I'll never bump into stuff in my room at night ever again!

 

[Flash]

actually the case isn't really entry level anymore, its costing me $105 CND. On the bright side it does have 3 internal fans and a whole wacky load of internal lights; I'll never bump into stuff in my room at night ever again!

3 internal fans ? Enough for a small server.

And about servers. I've got Supermicro CSE-742S-600 server case for $10 USD yesterday :happy: :happy: :happy:

One friend called me and said "I have some a bit ugly, big but new computer case, grab it or i'll throw it away, and if you'll give me some money it will be nice"
I had P166MMX machine for old DOS games in mind, so i've said "How about $10" ? "Deal"

So i've got big box. But when i came home it was real shock, i thought it's full tower atx case (good for $10 anyway)
but it was $730 server case ....

I've changed my mind. I have AthlonMP 2800+ CPU and very good dual cpu MB,
so i have only to buy CPU ($280 USD buy memory (2Gb, this can be a bit expesive), soundcard. I've already have
extremely powerful videocard but it will wait this new PC as it Requires AGP Pro slot

And i'll replace my current PCs MB with even better one but with three ISA slots (one for AWE64 and another for PSX dev... oops, yes i have this thing )
This machine will be for legacy games
and hadware, i have also 3DO Blaster. (but i have FZ-10 too, but to go in another room everytime when i want to play old good Captain Quazar, Gex or Star Fighter is not too good idea as my parents can watch TV, and since plans for massive upgrade i probably won't buy new CRT for TV in my room... again )

 

[AlphaWolf]

Envision 910E ENVISION 910E 19IN.26MM 1600X1200@75HZ = $215 CND

Thats a good monitor, if its CRT is as good as mine, it can actualy do 2048x1024 res at 59hz :happy:

My monitor is almost the same as that one, only mine is the 980E. I spent $150 on it last year. It even has a nice anti-glare coating on it.
http://www.envisionmonitor.com/products/specsheets/en-980e-specs.html

No. Most of integrated sound is crap, same shit as software modems or network
cards. When cpu gets loaded you'll get this "hick, hrrr, hr" If not anyway overall sound quality is like rusty oil drum.
And SB Live have one thing called "compatibility" it's compatible with everything - from antique DOS games from late 80s to newest games. And there's no reason to buy Audigy OEM - SB Live w/ hacked drivers is same thing because same DSP chip (Audigy 2 have different revision and it's 24bit/96kHz capable, you're not a musician, right ? So it's useles s for games, and many games still use 16bit 22kHz sound, none - 24bit )

I wouldn't only stick with creative, theres no reason to anymore. Back with the real mode drivers in the dos days you did want compatibility, but now with protected mode drivers there is VDMSound. If you truely want good sound, get any sound card that has an SPDIF out port, and get a surround system that has a built in DAC with a digital input, not those $150 PC surround speakers that plug in to the analog 1/8" stereo ports, they sound like crap and are overpriced.

With analog outputs, the quality of the sound cards DAC is what you are relieing on, which is also the most expensive component on the card. Not only that, but your sound is susceptable to interference from the hard disk or cdrom drive or other components. With digital outputs, you don't even use the sound cards DAC, and there is no interference. In this scenario, a $30 aureal vortex would sound every bit as good as a $150 SB Audigy.