Confused by new PC options

poshniallo

So, I'm getting a new PC, as below. I live in Japan, so the following is from a shop's website here. I don't know what the details really mean, beyond 'big numbers good'. I know it isn't impressive, but it's a lot more powerful than my old one.


Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E8400 (DualCore/3GHz/L2 Cache 6MB)
NVIDIA GeForce 9500GT (512MB / PCI Express)
4GB Memory (DDR2 SDRAM PC2-6400 / 2GB×2 / Dual Channel)
1TB Hard Disc (Serial ATA II)
DVD Super Multi Drive
Intel G31 Express Chipset ATX Motherboard

My main problem is the case. My old PC was in a low-profile case, which I ended up hating. One of the things I hated was how bad the cooling was and how noisy the fans were. The one I want to get comes with fairly crappy case as standard, so I was thinking of an Antec 900 (stats copied from website):


* Advanced cooling system:
- 1 top 200mm TriCool fan with 3-speed switch control
- 1 rear 120mm TriCool fan with 3-speed switch control
- 2 front 120mm special black TriCool blue LED fans with 3-speed switch control to cool HDDs
- 1 side (optional) 120mm fan to cool graphic cards
- 1 middle (optional) 120mm fan to cool CPU or graphic cards
* 9 Drive Bays
- External 3 x 5.25"; Internal 6 x 3.5" for HDD, or
- External 6 x 5.25"; Internal 3x 3.5" for HDD, or
- External 9 x 5.25"
* Compatible Motherboards: Mini-ITX, microATX, Standard ATX
* 7 Expansion Slots
* Top mounted I/O ports
- Power and reset buttons
- 2 x USB 2.0
- 1 x IEEE 1394
- Audio In and Out
* Unit dimensions:
- 19.4" (H) x 8.1" (W) x 18.4" (D)
- 49.3cm (H) x 20.6cm (W) x 46.7cm (D)


Is that overkill? I just want it to run quietly, but there seem to be far too many bays and slots for what I need, and it is a bit huge. On the other hand, lots of lovely fans.

My second problem is simpler - Is there anything obviously wrong with the parts I've chosen for the PC? I can have it customised, but I've no idea how much of a difference a better CPU, for example, would make. The most demanding thing this PC would ever do is play MMOs such as COH or LOTRO.

Brief version:

Is that case overkill? If so, what's a better idea?
Is there anything I should change in the basic setup?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

PeregrineFalcon

1. Computer Build Thread in Moe's. Post, listen, enjoy.
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=90217

2. That 9500GT is shit and you will be greatly upset by it, change that out for a better one as will be suggested in the thread above.

Count Funkula

Most of your choices are good, except for the case and the video card.

If you want a quiet case, look at the Antec Sonata or Performance One lines.

A better choice for a powerful but effiecient video card would be an ATI Radeon HD 4870.

Dunadan019

poshniallo wrote: »

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E8400 (DualCore/3GHz/L2 Cache 6MB)
NVIDIA GeForce 9500GT (512MB / PCI Express)
4GB Memory (DDR2 SDRAM PC2-6400 / 2GB×2 / Dual Channel)
1TB Hard Disc (Serial ATA II)
DVD Super Multi Drive
Intel G31 Express Chipset ATX Motherboard

CPU - Good
Graphics - BAD unless you aren't planning on playing games
Memory - fine
HDD - why do you need 1TB? unless you store movies or media?
DVD - fine
Mobo - G31 chipset is old, I suggest something slightly newer like the P43 or P45

poshniallo

Of course the graphics could be better, but I'm not sure what to choose that isn't much more expensive. I'm trying not to spend much more than the price of the PC I described above.

Prices are very different in Japan, but if, for example, a better card is 10% more expensive in the USA I'm sure it will be similarly priced here.

So is there something better that's not too much more expensive than the 9500GT?

I'll post this in Moe's too, thanks for the idea.

Iceman.USAF

I have an Antec P180 (or P182, I always forget, its the silver one) and I love it. Whisper quiet when you want it to be, or turn those fans up to high for some intense gaming. Awesome versatility, great space inside. Be careful though. The PSU is on the bottom of this case, meaning you might need an extender to connect your mainboard power. They run about $3.00 or so.

Dman

Looking around online the 9500gt is indeed bad for gaming. You could probably get an 8800gts (512mb) cheaply and it would be far superior. I got a 9800gtx and I'm very happy with it but that was last year so there might be something better for the money now.

If you can splurge a little though the graphics card is the place to do it for gaming.

elfdude

9500 is very bad. You could probably get a 9800/9600/8800 that are better for about the same price though it's difficult to find 8800's.

9500 are around 40-50$ here 8800's 60-100$ 9600's 50-100$ 9800 80-140$.

You want a graphics card with a fast (as fast as you can get for what your paying) gpu (higher the mhz the better), you also want it to have a large amount of ram 512+.

9500 is not worth the price drop of 10 bucks, you get double or better performance from a 9600 and double a 9600 from a 9800. If you can afford to spend roughly double for your card get a 9800 it's gona be several times better. Unfortunately for the most part computer parts are established so the best bang for your buck is usually around 100$ a part. If you can afford around 3x the cost go for a 200 series card I don't know how they stack up though cuz the changd the naming system slightly. I would assume 260 or a 280 would be ideal. If old motifs hold true a 260 should be double the performance of a 9800 and 280 should be double that.