Need Advice On Build

[ericlikeseatin]

Hi guys,

]H[ardforum members have always been helpful in the past and I have no doubt that you guys will pull through for me yet again

I am building a SFF system for my girlfriend as a gift to her but need advice on some of the components (I dont have any experience with SFF's). She mainly uses her computer for microsoft word, winamp, email, surfing, so I wasnt looking to make a beastly machine. Plus, I am a poor college student. Here is what I had in mind:

Shuttle ST62KS

GeIL Value 512MB

Western Digital Caviar 80GB

Sony Combo Drive

Now for the uncertain part:
I dont know which Socket478 processor to put in the Shuttle. Im looking at either the intel Celeron D 320 Prescott or the intel Celeron 2.0 Northwood. I know the prescott is probably faster but if its anything like the P4 precotts, runs hot as hell. they are the same price though.

suggestions and advice? thanks!!

 

[IdiotInCharge]

3 things:

Seagate for the HD- far more quiet, and generally more reliable (longer warranty to boot)

NEC drive for optical (best all around, period)

and most definitely the Prescott based Celeron (any of them), OR, a discounted Northwood P4 should you choose to afford one.

On the processor, the Prescott based Celeron was the first one that could be considered alive and kicking- the Northwood based one was worthless, and there was none based on the Willamette (though one might consider the Willamette itself to be a Celeron).

 

[Aldoria]

Hiya,

Nice of you to build a system for your girlfriend

Here are some of mine suggestions. Even though I know that it's not a fancy system or anything but I would really stay away from celeron and instead just put in a few dollars for something a bit better. I don't know why but even my friend's 2.2ghz celeron seem sluggish when I have 2 to 3 tabs in firefox open.

I suggest instead the Intel Pentium 4 2.4A 533MHz FSB Socket 478 Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116178

For hard drive, there's much better deals out there for example, you can get a 160gb Western Digital for only $39. Also, I'm a big fan of Western Digital from a reliability standpoint even though I currently own all 3 Maxtors which I like as well hehe

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...1&id=1051826249503&skuId=5524373&type=product

it's $119 - $70 (Rebate) - $10 (Best Buy's save $10 when purchase over $100 deal)

You can follow that step here.

http://www.dealmein.net/#10081

As for the burner, I agree, the NEC is the best priced and the best performer. Here are the NEC's, same spec just different color!

Beige Colored NEC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152039

Silver Colored NEC

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152040

Anyways hope that helps and just my suggestions. Good luck on building the SFF.

Ald

 

[IdiotInCharge]

Liking hard drives has nothing to do with it- having used all of the hard drives mentioned above, I know that Seagate has the better technology- Maxtor has caught up on the high end, and WD is starting to catch up (ever so barely), but for right now, and expecially in smaller sizes (and inherently older designs), Seagate has the quieter, cooler, more reliable technology. This is something that you shouldn't ignore, most especially in an SFF, because it's size will amplify both heat and noise output compared to a full tower.

I agree on the alternative CPU- the Prescott Celerons do work, however, it IS worth it to spend a few extra dollars on a P4- the difference is most definitely there.

 

[ericlikeseatin]

Thanks for all of the advice guys. I will definitely go with everything you guys have mentioned here, the P4 northwood 2.4, NEC combo drive, and seagate HD. If I assume correctly, all cooling equipment (fans, heatsink, etc) come with the Shuttle?

 

[Aldoria]

Yep, I think it comes with all the fans and cables you need.

Ald