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Yet another SFF build

Y

yarrumc

n00b
Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
7
Hi All,

I guess you can tell xmas is getting close, since more of us are building a new PC..haha.

I want to include my list and have anyone jump in with any thoughts about it. I will say that I am not sure what mobo to get and if anything, that is what I want the advice on the most. It is either between the P5K-VM or the G33M-DS2R. I am not really an overclocker, but I may dabble in it a bit with this new setup. I am a weekend gamer at most, yet I still want a solid system to handle most tasks and play the latest games. I will also add that I already have the vid card which is a BFG 8800gt 512mb OC.

Wish list thus far:
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersio...?WishListNumber=5167834&WishListTitle=new+sff
 
You are paying too much for your fans. Buy it from somewhere else, preferably for around $10. Or you can just get Yate Loons from somewhere for like $3 each.

P5E-VM HDMI/DS2R/P5K-VM: All the same stuff, all the same price. I'd get the P5E-VM HDMI just for the black PCB though.

Floppy: Necessary? (guess it doesn't matter, if you take it out for the final build)
HDD: Are Hitachi's any good? I'd get a WD5000AAKS for $105.
 
2nd the western digital HD sugestion, they are reliable and apparently cheaper

I like both of the Motherboards, personally i'm going with gigabyte but i think you would be happy with either. I think the gigabyte gets somewhat better feedback at least on the egg, if that matters to you.

in this day and age who needs a floppy?

I have a rig posted in these forums somewhere but I could just as easily have bought what you are buying and be just as happy. (Provided i can keep the dang lanbox cool :) )
 
The 7k1000s are performance leaders (if you're not using Raptors) according to storagereview.com. However that particular model is the A7k1000 which means it's the server variety and may have firmware logic optimized for server use. Which means it might not be as good as a regular 7k1000 for desktop use. I may be wrong on this so feel free to correct if anyone has more detailed info.

Anyway, for these reasons I've decided on the WD.
 
shing said:
The 7k1000s are performance leaders (if you're not using Raptors) according to storagereview.com. However that particular model is the A7k1000 which means it's the server variety and may have firmware logic optimized for server use. Which means it might not be as good as a regular 7k1000 for desktop use. I may be wrong on this so feel free to correct if anyone has more detailed info.

Anyway, for these reasons I've decided on the WD.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are correct, I didn't catch that. I meant to get the 7k1000 and I also did the research and saw that these drives were one of the best in it's class, so that is why I picked it. To answer some of the above posts... I guess I like to use and have version 8 of Ghost and it is on floppy, so it was just easier to have a floppy around versus create a bootable cd and making it work with Ghost. I also know that is easier to use a floppy for updating vid card firmware, etc. where there is no Windows based bios update. As for the fans.. is it too much? It is 2 for $30... If it is a matter of a few bucks cheaper somewhere else, I'd rather just keep everything together through Newegg.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.
 
I prefer the P5K-VM over the DS2R but thats just me. Its usually cheaper and no 1:1 divider issues. It doesnt have RAID though. The P5E-VM HDMI sounds like a better mobo though. I'd get one of those two ASUS mobos.

I got a NT06-Lite cooler in my SG03 and I'm not happy with its cooling performance. I pretty much got the same type of set up OP has. I reset the NT06 but load temps still high in upper 60s. Looking at the AS5 I had a good seating the first time. I'm thinking I need to try a fan mod on the NT06 to get those load temps down. That or find a heatsink that also has a fan that'll fit in the SG03. The SG03 just screams for needing a rear exhaust fan IMO. Great case otherwise. Modders take note there is room for a 120mm fan and blowhole ontop of the SG03 in the back.

Unless you are going to run XP 64 bit or VISTA 64 I wouldnt bother running more than 2Gb RAM. Its kinda a waste IMO even if the RAM is dirt cheap. Just my opinion about that anyway. Others may disagree.
 
I'm buying four of the middle speed S-flex fans myself. You could go with yate loons but
I've read at silentpcreview.com that their quality varies. So I'm sticking with s-flex.
asus boards have a windows based bios update utility(they did on my 4 year old p4c-800e) assuming it's Vista compatible so you might not need a floppy but I have an extra on my existing machine if I need it whereas you might not. I'm getting the p5k-vm as it's been around longer then the p5e-vm hdmi so most of the bugs should be worked out of it by now although the p5e-vm was tempting. The SG03 was darned tempting but I want to overclock a Quad core and there just isn't enough air output in the case.
Went with a Cooler Master Elite 340 instead. Which fits an Ultra 120 Extreme heatsink.
 
Not only is updating through Windows flawed and sometimes risky, but most motherboards now support updating through a connection to a storage medium (flash disk, HDD).

Gigabyte sure does, and I'm sure ASUS does as well.
 
Done it on many, many Dell machines and several times on 2 Asus machines. Never had any problems.
 
shing said:
Done it on many, many Dell machines and several times on 2 Asus machines. Never had any problems.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you are right, I probably just have to give in. I do find it on a rare occasion to have a floppy drive is handy, but in the end, it is just taking some power and an extra cable to clutter up things.
 
Well, I pulled the trigger and it's on the way. I did a few changes on the list, but for the most part was what I had posted. I guess we'll see what happens. I still never did find a picture or anyone that had done some type of rear ventilation with a fan on the SG03? If there is, can you link me to the post/picture.

Thanks.
 
yarrumc said:
Yeah, you are right, I probably just have to give in. I do find it on a rare occasion to have a floppy drive is handy, but in the end, it is just taking some power and an extra cable to clutter up things.
Click to expand...

A floppy drive flash of anything (bios, DVD-ROM, etc.) is more likely to go wrong (from bad floppy) than a flash in Windows or flash from USB drive. I'd highly recommend you pack up your floppy drive. I did it 2 years ago and have not looked back since.
 
yarrumc said:
Well, I pulled the trigger and it's on the way. I did a few changes on the list, but for the most part was what I had posted. I guess we'll see what happens. I still never did find a picture or anyone that had done some type of rear ventilation with a fan on the SG03? If there is, can you link me to the post/picture.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have yet to do it but from what I understand its done basically like this. Place the fan under the heatsink fins. Have the fan blowing upwards. Then using either paper clips (used in place of wire) or twisty ties and secure it to the fins of the heatsink on all four corners. Make sure the fan is snug up against the under side of the fins. It doesnt have to be super tight. Just secure enough so it doent move around on its own. Shouldnt harm the fins or anything. Have the fan blowing upward. I highly suggest you do this before putting the mobo into the case. It'll be easier to do it when you put the NT06 onto the cpu and mobo instead of after installing the mobo. Then just put the whole set up into the case. Then connect the fan pin to the power supply connector and you should be good to go.
 
Skott said:
I have yet to do it but from what I understand its done basically like this. Place the fan under the heatsink fins. Have the fan blowing upwards. Then using either paper clips (used in place of wire) or twisty ties and secure it to the fins of the heatsink on all four corners. Make sure the fan is snug up against the under side of the fins. It doesnt have to be super tight. Just secure enough so it doent move around on its own. Shouldnt harm the fins or anything. Have the fan blowing upward. I highly suggest you do this before putting the mobo into the case. It'll be easier to do it when you put the NT06 onto the cpu and mobo instead of after installing the mobo. Then just put the whole set up into the case. Then connect the fan pin to the power supply connector and you should be good to go.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan, thanks for the tip. I will make sure to do this before getting the board set in the case.
 
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