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Latch · 01-31-2006, 07:00 AM

Hi Guys,

Thanks very much for your comments! I scaled back a bit after reading your suggestions and realizing I went a bit crazy with stuff I *really* didn't need.

After the RAID5 comments (I was using software raid5, hated the slow speeds, thought hardware raid5 would be fast, but it doesn't sound like it [without a special card]), I ditched the need for a mobo that had RAID5. I'm now getting a Asus A8N-SLI for $122. I'd still like some sort of redundancy, so I may just mirror. Not as efficient as RAID5, but faster, I suppose. I used to have over a TB (I think it was 1.3tb alltogether) of data, but then I lost a hard drive (and the way I had it set up (lvm2 on linux) meant I lost ALL data). Because of that, I'm real cautious about redundancy. I also re-thought-out my hard drive strategy based off what you guys said. I ended up with:
[ul]
[li]1xWestern Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM for main OS. - $155
[li]4xWestern Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM for data. - $103/each.

I also downgraded my video card to a XFX PVT70GUDE7 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail. A 512 was just too expensive for me to rationalize.

I left the CPU as is, as it has 2x1MB lvl2 cache. The 4200+ doesn't. I may not even notice it, but it's a placebo thing

The case I chose (and sounds like it's an OK choice for the price according to plaid) because of cooling features and the amount of drive bays it has all the way down the front of it. I usually end up with many hard drives

I'll invest in a new 120cm fan (and a 80cm one) too.

I have no plans of overclocking. I changed the RAM to Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model KVR400AK2/2GR - Retail. It's $165ish.. cheaper by almost $100.

Logitech Media Elite 967559-0403 Black USB + PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail is what I ended up with for the keyboard. A bit nicer, and has all the stuff I need. I skipped the mouse as I already have one (one of the few things I'm salvaging from my old machine). I went with a logitech because I tend to stay away from MS as much as possible. I stayed away from the "ergonomic" design because I have my own (faster) typing style which has my fingers traveling over to the other side of the keyboard at times, which ergonomic stops/hassels.

So.. I've saved a few hundred, and gotten a system that better meets my needs/tastes. Thanks for the suggestions guys, they've been very helpful/useful!

01-31-2006, 07:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
Latch In Your Dreams Location: City of Lights	Hi Guys, Thanks very much for your comments! I scaled back a bit after reading your suggestions and realizing I went a bit crazy with stuff I really didn't need. After the RAID5 comments (I was using software raid5, hated the slow speeds, thought hardware raid5 would be fast, but it doesn't sound like it [without a special card]), I ditched the need for a mobo that had RAID5. I'm now getting a Asus A8N-SLI for $122. I'd still like some sort of redundancy, so I may just mirror. Not as efficient as RAID5, but faster, I suppose. I used to have over a TB (I think it was 1.3tb alltogether) of data, but then I lost a hard drive (and the way I had it set up (lvm2 on linux) meant I lost ALL data). Because of that, I'm real cautious about redundancy. I also re-thought-out my hard drive strategy based off what you guys said. I ended up with: [ul] [li]1xWestern Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM for main OS. - $155 [li]4xWestern Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM for data. - $103/each. I also downgraded my video card to a XFX PVT70GUDE7 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail. A 512 was just too expensive for me to rationalize. I left the CPU as is, as it has 2x1MB lvl2 cache. The 4200+ doesn't. I may not even notice it, but it's a placebo thing The case I chose (and sounds like it's an OK choice for the price according to plaid) because of cooling features and the amount of drive bays it has all the way down the front of it. I usually end up with many hard drives I'll invest in a new 120cm fan (and a 80cm one) too. I have no plans of overclocking. I changed the RAM to Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model KVR400AK2/2GR - Retail. It's $165ish.. cheaper by almost $100. Logitech Media Elite 967559-0403 Black USB + PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail is what I ended up with for the keyboard. A bit nicer, and has all the stuff I need. I skipped the mouse as I already have one (one of the few things I'm salvaging from my old machine). I went with a logitech because I tend to stay away from MS as much as possible. I stayed away from the "ergonomic" design because I have my own (faster) typing style which has my fingers traveling over to the other side of the keyboard at times, which ergonomic stops/hassels. So.. I've saved a few hundred, and gotten a system that better meets my needs/tastes. Thanks for the suggestions guys, they've been very helpful/useful!