Wipb-2010/1

[Radical_Edward]

What started as this....



Is slowly changing...







Next step.... RAIDMAX SMILODON Mid Tower Foldout MB Case

[Radical_Edward]

Ordering these tomorrow to finish up this build...





I already got some SATA cables recently thru a contact. For a whole $1.00 each. Sadly I want to have all black ones. (Silly thing to be OCD about, I know.) I only got two black SATA cables and have to order a third. : /

I think I might order my new mouse tomorrow too, not sure.

[digibucc]

if you are into gaming at all i'd go with a new card. you can get a 5770 1gb for like $30 more than you are paying for a 9800. they are still powerful, but you'll miss out of a lot of new features going with a card that old, even though it's powerful.

once you start upgrading, it's hard to stop :-) beware!

[Radical_Edward]

I'm still running a 9500 GT right now. >.<

What would you recommend for my setup? (Check my system specs.) I'd rather stick with NVIDIA over ATI. But if there's a vastly better ATI card out there for me in the under $180ish range.... I wouldn't complain.

[(FIH) The Don]

go with a 5750 or 5770, the 5750 can be overclocked to 5770s speed, and that should be more powerfull than that old 9800

maybe this case + psu combo http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.326229

and this 5770 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-447-_-Product

[Radical_Edward]

I'm not going with a different case. I'm happy with the one I choose.

However, I will take a look at that 5770. (I'm currently looking at a few other cards as well.)

[(FIH) The Don]

thats up to you man:-D

but those smilidons are heavy as freaking elephants man!

but good build quality though

what other cards do you have in mind?

maybe you should go for a used gtx-260?
they go for around 100+$

[Radical_Edward]

I don't plan on moving this setup. I'm fine with it being a tad on the heavy side.

I'm looking at a few used GTX cards. (Sadly the ones I keep finding are a tad pricey.) I may just keep the 9500 GT until I manage to snag one for a good price.

[(FIH) The Don]

wait until nvidia releases their new cards in a month or 2, then the gtx prices will drop i think

[Radical_Edward]

Will do.

[(FIH) The Don]

maybe a used 4770/4850? they are very cheap and has great value for the money

[Radical_Edward]

So I ended up not ordering my new stuff thanks to some issues with my CC.

But, I was watching criagslist and someone posted a decent case for a price I couldn't turn down. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow. (It also comes with the PSU, although I'm rather sure mine is better than the one it's coming with. I'm pretty sure it's an older Raidmax, but I'm not 100% sure.)





Edit- I think it's a Raidmax Scorpio 868, looks like it's missing the front cover, the guy I'm buying it from said he had all the covers... I guess I'll know tomorrow. Er. Later today.

[Radical_Edward]

So, I got the case today. It had a Raidmax 420W PSU, but I'm planning on using it on another build after I clean it out. Whoever built in this thing before me never cleaned out anything, the two 80mm fans in the front were practically made of dust.

But, after some cleaning out, and a transfer of all my stuff into this new case... My rig now looks like such.







2 front 80mm intake fans, 1 side 80mm intake, 1 rear 80mm exhaust, and my PSU's 120mm exhaust.

Managing cables in this thing was tons easier than my last case.

Anyways, what I ended up getting for $20 was...

Raidmax 420W PSU
3 80mm fans, two no name ones, and a blue LED cooler master. (Gave it to my brother as I'm moving away from blue.)
2 UV sleeved IDE cables. (Used one for myself, gave the other to my brother.)
The case itself.

Today is a good day.

[Radical_Edward]

Next up on the order list....



Later on down the road I'm thinking I'll get 2 more HDDs and a SSD drive, as well as a Modular Corsair PSU. Maybe one of the new Nvidia cards if those turn out to be any good.

[(FIH) The Don]

not the prettyest case i've seen, but most def an upgrade from before man! gratz,

[Radical_Edward]

I like it.

In about 4 months or so I plan on building a new setup anyways and making this a full time cruncher/LAN computer. So I'm glad to have a different looking case that didn't cost me much.

[(FIH) The Don]

lol yeah you're right man!

so are you planning a SFF case or just a regular?

[Radical_Edward]

For my next build for myself I was planning on this case.

But when the time comes for that, it'll get it's own thread.

[(FIH) The Don]

thats a nice case bro! lian li is very good quality

have you looked at the CM 690 II advanced?

you get sooooo much for the money in that case, + they made a big sidewindow panel for it

[Radical_Edward]

I have looked at it.

But I tend to like cases that most people I know don't have. I only know one person in my area that has a Lian Li, and that's my brother.... Damn him and his awesome I7.... : /

Anyways. Does anyone know what model my new case is? All I know is that it's a Raidmax and Newegg doesn't have it.

[Radical_Edward]

Got a ASUS SATA DVD-RW/CD-RW Lightscribe drive today for $4.99 at my local thrift store.



Just saved myself the hassle of having to order one off newegg. Yes, it works fine.

[Radical_Edward]

Well, I ended up ordering only my new fans. I was going to get my CPU cooler but I have to move in a few weeks so I have to pinch my pennies a bit. It'll have to wait until next month.

New fans should be here Wednesday at the latest.

[Radical_Edward]

Geez guys. Way to make me feel like I'm talking to myself here.


Anyways, I was watching modding guides on youtube today and had the urge to modify things. This happened.





Thanks to the way the case front is, it doesn't matter if I put mesh or anything in front of them, it's not like anyone can see it.



My temps before....



My temps after....

[Radical_Edward]

New fans today!





With my system on...





My temps are about the same, but my system is alot quieter, thanks to replacing some junker fans.

Next up is....

[Radical_Edward]

Changed the fans around a bit, I like it this way better.







What's left on the list... (I already have a new CPU cooler coming next week.)