Acreo Aeneas

I think you misunderstood me. I was talking about NEC. Sony drives are fine. In fact I used to buy just Sony optical and floppy drives. They were a bit heavy than other brands and usually could take a beating (few drops and still runs like new).

I'm just skeptical as to the quality of the one you linked to: Sony NEC. I don't like it when I see more than one known company/brand name on the same darn product. Makes me question how reliable that product is especially if one of the companies has some issues in the consumer market.

Of course, I'm not saying NEC isn't trustworthy. They could have very reliable products in commercial use and industry, but I wouldn't know since I'm not industry or a commercial user.

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Acreo_Aeneas
Former 9th MID Member

Bamboo

I have no experience with NEC.
About the DL, it is Dual Layer, which means you can fit 8+ gigs onto 1 dual layer DVD.
Dual Layer blank disks are a lot more expensive than single layer. Last time I bought them I got them on sale like a 10 pack for $14.99, but that was a while ago.
Comes in handy for something like backing up a soon to die DVD or backing up your My Photo file.
As rare as you will probably use DL, it doesn't matter too much on speed.
Sucks about VAT. We usually pay around 6% sales tax, and if you buy it on the net from a company that doesn't do business in the state you live in, they don't charge sales tax.
That 6% or so can really add up when you are buying $1,500 worth of gear, so glad newegg doesn't charge me in Virginia.
And yes to March (but probably more like April) for the GTX. More like May till the prices come down to a reasonable level too.

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jmaker

Nah, the NEC dual layer dvd writers are excellent. I believe I have the 3550 and it's been a champ now for almost 2 years.

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Buckets

Just a few thoughts:

1. Maxtor was bought out by Seagate about a year ago and their reliability has improved greatly. I still wouldn't get one. Buy a Seagate 7200.10 instead.

2. The 9800GTX is rumored to be nothing more than a fast G92 chip. By the time summer rolls around, ATI will have released the HD4000 series which is supposed to be a beast. Even if you were building right now, I'd get a 3870X2 over an 8800GTX for $30 more. Bottom line: Nvidia makes great cards but ATI is back in the saddle as well. Consider looking into an ATI card.

3. Don't mess with water cooling unless you plan on overclocking the hell out of that thing.Those Intel chips will go pretty fast on air and leaking water in a computer case is never good news.

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The artist formerly known as "pecker"

Bamboo

Yeah, news is slipping out about the HD4000 series, and I hope we get some firm news from CiBit

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Rincewind

It's not "water leaking" that's the consideration here, it's the fact that the intel chips do just fine under air cooling.

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Long Bow

Well after reading through that X-bit labs article on the new quads I don't know if the new quads are all that great a choice for overclockers. Looks like the low multiplier coupled with the current mobos and high fsb settings can cause issues. In the end the q6600 and the dual core 8 series seem to perform better and OC higher.

Now I'm even more confused because it looks like an OC'd q6600 might be better, heat and power not wistanding.

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SharinganTH1422

Yh Acreo my bad, when I said the Sony, I meant the Sony/NEC one.

OK, the Sony/REC is almost certain, let me just take a few more looks at the ASUS drive before I confirm it.

Yh I always planned on taking a look at the ATI's, and will, especially if the 9800GTX is not what I want from it.

I was fine on the CPUs until your post Long Bow. I'm not nearly knowledgeable enough on OCing to comment on this...

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If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
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And treat those two impostors just the same...

Sarcoma

Just for grins: If you had to buy today Q6600 or E8400?
With the price almost the same on each.


Sarcoma

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Sarcoma.

Bamboo

I would still buy the Q6600, which is what I did do.

That is just me though.

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Rincewind

It depends on what you want to do. The E8400 will be more stable at the same/higher overclocks than the q6600. It's also a new architecture (meh) but some people care about that

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<---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are.

Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

Long Bow

Well that article on xbit labs showed that the OC'd 8500 pretty much dominated no matter if the app was multi threaded or not. Yet I still would be apprehensive about not getting a quad at this point. I guess I just worry about software coming out in the next 2 years that will really fly on a quad vs. mediocer resulsts on a dual.

I'm really glad I haven't switched from single core yet as things just keep getting better and better for less cash.

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SharinganTH1422

Now, my biggest problem is airflow. One of the earliest problems that was addressed by Bamboo was airflow, and the fact that the built in computer desk/unit thing might not have any place to let the air out. This was my biggest worry before I posted the build, and after Bamboo posted on it, it confirmed my fears.

The tower is not completely isolated in its little cubby; it has small holes to let wires in and out of the back. However, these holes are very small. Roughly 9cm in diameter and filled with wires.

Some pictures:











Note: there is an identical hole on the other (left) side of the space, of the same size.

Do you think I still need to search for a case with front exhaust airflow?


Also, another problem is installation. I'm not sure how I managed to plug everything in last time when this was fitted here, but it looks like a problem. When I plugged my new USB mouse into the back a while ago, I didn't disconnect any wires, and the furthest I could take it out wasn't long enough for me to see the back of the case. I had to feel around for the USB port.


I'm seriously considering ignoring the cubby and just putting it next to where I put my feet (right side of the 1st picture).

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Anger is a gift - Malcolm X

...If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same...

Bamboo

The hacker in me would tell you to cut a new hole near the back that exhusts on the other side of where you feet go and install a small fan there. That would suck the hot air from the area around and behind your computer and blow it out to that other opening, so you don't end up with sweaty feet.

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SharinganTH1422

Heh, I was thinking of a new hole (in fact I was thinking of getting out my sledge hammer and decimating half the wall) and an intake fan outside the computer itself; but I didn't think of the opposite side bit, and I see your point here actually. The only problem when considering this is whereabouts to put the fan?

Edit: Actually I have the perfect place...

I'll post more pics, but there are kind of 2 platforms on that side, both of which are sliding. I can just put the fan on the top level.

Well that sounds pretty good to me, but the way you said it in your post, you made it seem like I could actually put the fan in the hole, which would obviously be more efficient than putting the intake fan next to the hole to take out the air.

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Anger is a gift - Malcolm X

...If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same...