[Jim45]

Now I have another friend telling me I should get a smaller SSD, like 80GB, for the OS and maybe some other important software, and a Terabyte Seagate for storage. I could live with 500Gb though, but still, I get the logic.......SSD for faster booting of the OS and other stuff, and a secondary mainly for storage. That would definitely makes the budget take a nice hit, but it would be nice. My buget may change a little for the better....and I'm really shopping my list pretty carefully, looking at Amazon to save sales tax, the rebates, etc. and I may have a few more dollars to spend, but not quite sure yet.

This is where the list is currently at right now
http://secure.newegg...Number=18357525

Like I told iammykyl, there may be a difference of opinion on the current HDD issue and maybe the RAM, as far as brands or whatever, and maybe my GPU is a little overkill, but I believe all this stuff will fit n that case, and work, which is my main concern.

I've read a few people saying they had some issue with that case and bigger GPU's and with cable management, but I don't think I have anything serious enough that it won't all fit. Again, this is all brand new to me. I did read that it comes with two fans, a 120mm, and a 140mm, and it can hold 5, I believe. I was going to order at least one more 120mm Antec fan. I guess you can't "overcool"

The one other thing I think it might not hurt to do is step down a tad on the CPU to this one on this page
http://promotions.ne...der-_-ClickHere
simply because it would save me another $30, and I doubt I'd notice the difference with what I do, but I could be wrong. Might free up a few bucks to maybe do better with the HDD situation. Just throwing that out there.

Edited by Jim45, 30 January 2012 - 11:36 AM.

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Suggestions. if you find the Hitachi drive not satisfactory and want to install a new Boot drive later and keep the old one for backups.

After you have installed the OS, programs and updates, including drivers and you have a stable system, create a backup partition, create and store an image in the backup partition. You can also save the image to USB or DVD. This will give you options to clone the Boot drive when you get a new HDD.

There are plenty of how to clone using free or paid for software, This page from a Google search.

https://www.google.c...l2547l2-5.4l9l0

Info you may find useful.

All about TIM, tutorial thanks to Digerati, http://www.geekstogo...rface-material/
How to Build, http://www.diy-gamin...ild-a-Computer/

Download you Mobo user manual from the Manufacturers website as it may be more up to date than the one enclosed in the box.

Pleas let us know how the build performs. in the box.

[iammykyl]

Suggestions. if you find the Hitachi drive not satisfactory and want to install a new Boot drive later and keep the old one for backups.

After you have installed the OS, programs and updates, including drivers and you have a stable system, create a backup partition, create and store an image in the backup partition. You can also save the image to USB or DVD. This will give you options to clone the Boot drive when you get a new HDD.

There are plenty of how to clone using free or paid for software, This page from a Google search.

https://www.google.c...l2547l2-5.4l9l0

Info you may find useful.

All about TIM, tutorial thanks to Digerati, http://www.geekstogo...rface-material/
How to Build, http://www.diy-gamin...ild-a-Computer/

Download you Mobo user manual from the Manufacturers website as it may be more up to date than the one enclosed in the box.

Pleas let us know how the build performs. in the box.

[iammykyl]

Forget the SSD, It will boot the system in maybe 10 seconds, open some files quicker. It will make absolutely NO difference to gaming.

The Antec Three Hundred Illusion comes with 4 fans with variable speed control pre installed, you do not need another fan, Cable management is challenging but with patience and a little care most seemto manage.

If you want to change the CPU, you need to do some research on performance comparisons, then it will be an informed judgement call.

My advice would be to leave the system as is, it's pretty good gaming build. All it requires in the way of upgrade is a storage drive.

I would save for a couple of months and get a matching monitor, then you can game across 2 screens.

[Jim45]

I appreciate all the input very much. I will remind you though, that I'm not a gamer....at all.Doubt I ever will be either. You say cable management is challenging in that case, but most manage.......would I be better off with a bigger case? I know the one on my list is pretty popular, but I want this to go as smooth as possible. "Challenging" I can handle, PITA, I don't want. Everything should fit fine in this case, correct?

Edited by Jim45, 30 January 2012 - 10:53 AM.

[Jim45]

The Antec Three Hundred Illusion comes with 4 fans with variable speed control pre installed, you do not need another fan,

Ah......I see where I was getting confused. The Illusion is on my list and does come with 4 fans, the regular 300 is the one I saw in the promo ad, and I didn't notice the word "illusion" not being there, just the sale price!
http://promotions.ne...der-_-ClickHere

and that only comes with two fans, so a person would likely add a fan or two, putting it at the same price as the Illusion.

[iammykyl]

but I want this to go as smooth as possible. "Challenging" I can handle, PITA, I don't want.

Everything should fit fine in this case, correct?

Most Mid towers at this price are not perfect. This case has excellent cooling but is not the best for cable routing. I have not seen a review where the case has been returned because cabling was impossible.
Yes your parts should fit in the case.

..would I be better off with a bigger case?

A full tower is easer to work in but you have to take into account the cost.
There are cheap ones, which I have not used so can"t give an opinion on how they perform, this is the cheapest one I have used and can recommend, http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811119160.
Some points to watch for when researching.
Many case now come with USB 3.0 sockets on the front of the case. Your selected Mobo does not have a USB 3.0 header on the board so you would need a pass through cable to connect to the rear I/O USB 3.0 socket.


Chect that the cables on the selected PSU are long enough.
Read user and professional reviews to get an idea of the case performance.

[Jim45]

but I want this to go as smooth as possible. "Challenging" I can handle, PITA, I don't want.

Everything should fit fine in this case, correct?

Most Mid towers at this price are not perfect. This case has excellent cooling but is not the best for cable routing. I have not seen a review where the case has been returned because cabling was impossible.
Yes your parts should fit in the case.

..would I be better off with a bigger case?

A full tower is easer to work in but you have to take into account the cost.
There are cheap ones, which I have not used so can"t give an opinion on how they perform, this is the cheapest one I have used and can recommend, http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811119160.
Some points to watch for when researching.
Many case now come with USB 3.0 sockets on the front of the case. Your selected Mobo does not have a USB 3.0 header on the board so you would need a pass through cable to connect to the rear I/O USB 3.0 socket.


Chect that the cables on the selected PSU are long enough.
Read user and professional reviews to get an idea of the case performance.

How would I know if the cables on the selected PSU are long enough, until I actually get it, and the case?

I actually called Antec today, and the guy also explained about the USB 3.0 header, so that isn't a big deal. Cable management is probably my bigger concern, and the guy at Antec said the Three Hundred Two is the newer version
http://www.newegg.co...hreehundred two
and has better cable management, a better access to the HDDS, I think he said, and a USB 3.0 port on the front, and thought it might make my first build a little easier, so have to think about that one. It also comes with only two fans, where the Illusion comes with 4, so I'd have to buy at least one more fan with the Three Hundred Two, so not sure if the "better" cable management is worth the extra expense. That case just came out, so hard to tell. It's the exact same price as the Illusion right now, but with Newegg, that could change tomorrow with a promo code, for either of them. Sounds like I could make either work, but my OCD come into plkay here, wondering which to get.

Correct me If I'm wrong, but a rear USB socket on the motherboard isn't such a bad thing, as I'm assuming I can simply do something like this later
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811998095
yes? Maybe a different brand or whatever, just used the first one I found to ask my question.If so, having a front USB 3.0 port on a case doesn't make or break the deal.

[Jim45]

Also, for $18 a pop, isn't it better just to pick up two dvd drives? I know you don't need two to copy and whatnot, but it's still just faster, correct? Plus, if one dies or whatever, you have a second one to use. Just curious how popular having two is anymore.

[Jim45]

And, the GPU that was selected for me......I got the impression that you thought maybe it was a bit overkill......and if so, will that hurt anything? Reason I ask is, if you feel that card will work well, it's even cheaper at Amazon right now. http://www.amazon.co...d=1G1K1BUEASM6S
Beats 149.99! But,is that strictly a gaming card? I can't say I'd NEVER play a game, just highly unlikely, but the GPU helps out with HD video and online graphics and whatnot too, correct? I hate to ask what I'm sure seems like a dumb question, but I simply don't know some of this stuff.

Edited by Jim45, 30 January 2012 - 07:51 PM.

[iammykyl]

but I want this to go as smooth as possible. "Challenging" I can handle, PITA, I don't want.

Everything should fit fine in this case, correct?

Yes, that is an good solutions, and simple to install.

How would I know if the cables on the selected PSU are long enough, until I actually get it, and the case?

Most good named brands are usually a decent length and are Ok for mid towers. cheap ones are often short. It can be quite hard to find the cable lengths, you have to search, manufacturers website, ready reviews, site reviews, as a last resort, do what you did and ring them up.

Just curious how popular having two is anymore.

not popular, your software has to support disc at once, better to have the file you want to burn, on the PC, then you can save it as you may want to born another copy later, or edit the file.

And, the GPU that was selected for me......I got the impression that you thought maybe it was a bit overkill......and if so, will that hurt anything? Reason I ask is, if you feel that card will work well, it's even cheaper at Amazon right now.

http://www.amazon.co...d=1G1K1BUEASM6S

Beats 149.99! But,is that strictly a gaming card?

The card isn't strictly a gaming card, just is a good gaming card and will do everything else you want without hurting other parts of the build, not overkill, just more powerful than you strictly require.

[Jim45]

Thank you again......sounds like I'm in decent shape overall, for the most part then?

Correct me If I'm wrong, but a rear USB socket on the motherboard isn't such a bad thing, as I'm assuming I can simply do something like this later
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811998095
yes? Maybe a different brand or whatever, just used the first one I found to ask my question.If so, having a front USB 3.0 port on a case doesn't make or break the deal.

[Jim45]

O.k.......serious question here. I was talking with my friend in Chicago, and showed him my list, because he builds computers......just for the heck of, wondering If I really wanted to get another opinion to make my head spin more, lol! He said, "solid build" except I'm an NVIDEA fan, not AMD. He said AMD makes the GPU for my card, and he hates the "catalyst software" that you HAVE to install, but he said, "that's me". I do hear a lot of good things about NVIDEA, and I didn't pick this card, but he suggested maybe going with this
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130625
Just a suggestion he said.......and he said I'd most likely be fine with the Sapphire, but now I'm curious what you think, I really am. Which of the two would you pick, or do you think is better?

[iammykyl]

<br style="color: rgb(13, 41, 117); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); ">

Correct me If I'm wrong, but a rear USB socket on the motherboard isn't such a bad thing, as I'm assuming I can simply do something like this later

<br style="color: rgb(13, 41, 117); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); ">http://www.newegg.co...N82E16811998095<br style="color: rgb(13, 41, 117); font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); ">

yes? Maybe a different brand or whatever, just used the first one I found to ask my question.If so, having a front USB 3.0 port on a case doesn't make or break the deal.

That would be a good solution, less messy than fitting a pass though cable. also gives you the card reader as a bonus.

Which of the two would you pick, or do you think is better?

The Sapphire, it is the better card,

http://www.videocard...orce GTX 550 Ti

[Jim45]

Only because it was in the email sale from Newegg today.........just curious if I'd be just as well off with this RAM(it's 27.99 after the rebate)
http://www.newegg.co..._-20145324-L03A
as the RAM currently on my list
http://www.newegg.co...820120131074316
which seems to be geared at overclockers, which I'm not....but that's just my assumption, from what I read. I'm after the $20 savings, but don't want to give up any noticeable performance for $20 either.

[phillpower2]

O.k.......serious question here. I was talking with my friend in Chicago, and showed him my list, because he builds computers......just for the heck of, wondering If I really wanted to get another opinion to make my head spin more, lol! He said, "solid build" except I'm an NVIDEA fan, not AMD. He said AMD makes the GPU for my card, and he hates the "catalyst software" that you HAVE to install, but he said, "that's me". I do hear a lot of good things about NVIDEA, and I didn't pick this card, but he suggested maybe going with this
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130625
Just a suggestion he said.......and he said I'd most likely be fine with the Sapphire, but now I'm curious what you think, I really am. Which of the two would you pick, or do you think is better?

IMO a better card and has a 3 year warranty as opposed to a 2 year warranty http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814121435

Take the time to check the Newegg feedback tab for all intended purchases before ordering.