this is why it's considered a file server:

[quote]# Removable Drive Cages for 3.5â€

Mm, k...I'll keep the case under consideration for now then. I don't mind it being big, nor the lan parties, but if I could get equal cooling performance from a cheaper and smaller case I wouldn't say no, of course.


@ the mobo...point taken, I'm going for the slightly more expensive, nforce AMD asus mobo. http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socket7 ... erview.htm is going to be it then. That's even nicer than that other one.


@ CPU sockets. Alright, thanks. So no 939 for me and my wallet, but 745. There it's between the Ahtlon 64 3200+ and 3400+...mm. The difference is 'only' 30€, so I guess I'm going with the latter. That will set me back about 244€. Together with the mobo that's 350€. (424 bucks) I'm willing to spend up to around 500€ to the whole deal, but 150€ for a good case/good cooler should fit just right. (180 bucks)


So, summarized:

mobo: K8N-E Deluxe (see link)
CPU: Ahtlon 64 3400+

Any complaints about that yet? If not I'll move on and focus on case and fans.

Back again...looked around a bit for reviews of the cooler I'm looking to get, the Zalman CNPS7700b-CU. ( http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/vie ... =141&code= ) I found some Tom's hardware reviews and benchmarks and they were all pretty darn positive.

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20041213/index.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/2005060 ... er-29.html


So that's going onto the lists unless someone has a serious problem with it.

I've did some more research on the case and well, looks like it's just what you said Satis: a freaking big case. I don't mind, and I don't those 20€ I spend more either. I get a nice and stylish case, a 400w power supply (I'll need it) , a lot of fans (I'll get two more installed I guess) and last but not least: enough space to see wtf I'm doing when installing/taking out hardware. I've seen enough of the horror of bending my hand in inhuman positions to screw loose a HD or something.

So now the case, mobo, CPU and primary CPU cooler are done. Any more criticsm is welcome, tho I feel I've got the primary goods all worked out.

So basically deciding by your mobo in some distant future you are going for two gpu's. Its wise to take into consideration that if it is your plan you really need a psu atleast 500W, and as i remember reading you have extra hdd(s) its worth a thought.

SLI? Nah, I'm not thinking of that or Ati Crossfire. Why would you think that? And ati cards don't suck as much power as nvidia.

Besides, my next pc will probably be an entirely new one...with PCI express and the new CPU sockets I won't be able to salvage my gfx card etc. anyway.

fyi, nvidia does SLI also. But anyway, SLI isn't a requirement. I'm cool with your choices thus far, myself.