Day 3
Today I am researching a case, audio, and video. There are probably many cases to go with that are good quality and have good features so it might take a while to find the perfect one. Even though the motherboard I selected already has onboard sound, I want to go with a separate sound card because the quality will end up being better. As for a video card, I just want the best one out there.
I want a case that has a good number of drive bays (at least 4) so that I will have room for expansion if necessary. I also want a case that assists in cooling the components really well. This doesn't necessarily mean that I want a liquid cooling system in it, but I do want a fair number of fans and maybe some other features that will keep the components cool and running in optimal performance. I looked through about five different sites for the perfect case today. Many of the sites had the same brands of cases and many of the same models. Most of those cases were ok; they looked cool, but did not really have any special cooling features. Then I went to one site that has the case I was looking for. The Lian-Li cases are made from aluminum which is supposed to cool three times faster than a normal steel case. The particular case I want even has two front 20mm fans and one back 80mm fan to keep the case well ventilated. As a plus, the case even has front mounted USB ports for easy connections without having to reach around back for them. The anodized finish helps protect against corrosion, abrasion, and helps control heat and insulates the case from outside electricity. In all I found that this case was a perfect find.
Sites used for reference:
http://www.gideontech.com/reviews/alum_case_roundup/
http://www.pcmods.com/details.asp?ProdID=231
Even though the motherboard I picked comes with on board sound, I decided to go with a separate sound card for better quality. There are a few companies that make sound cards out there right now, but nothing stands out more, to me, than Creative. They have the whole line of SoundBlaster products that have become the leading cards in terms of performance, and their latest product is no different. The Audigy Platinum is the latest SoundBlaster product and it has a whole range of features. Other than the 5.1 surround sound capabilities and the Advanced HD, the card also comes with a separate drive bay that allows you to plug in stereo receivers and other external devices from the front of the case! This makes connections easier to use. This is a great product and looks to be the best audio solution out there right now.
Sites used for reference:
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigyplatinum/
Since I will most likely be using an advanced CAD program in college for my major in mechanical engineering, I need a video card that will support a program like that. This is why I have decided to find the best video card available to use in my new machine. I had previously used an ATI card in my computer and it worked great for me. I would have gone with ATI again, but they have not come out with a new card in a few months. The newest chip set has been produced by Nvidia with the GeForce4. There are a number of different kinds of this chip set. First there is the MX series and the Ti series. From the performance data I decided to go with the Ti series because MX performed even lower than older cards. The Ti series has three types, 4200, 4400, and 4600. Seeing how the 4600 is the best, I decided to go with that one. This card is the top of the line right now and there may be no equal to it until August. So, with this I am sure that I will not need another card until I am out of college (or unless I have enough money to buy the next best thing when it comes out). From the tests the best card with this chip set is the Visiontek card, so I decided to go with that one (plus it has a lifetime warranty).
Sites used for reference:
http://www6.tomshardware.com/graphic/02q1/020206/index.html
http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?PAGE=geforce4ti
Today was a very successful day. I found a great case with features like front panel USB ports and great thermal management. I also found an audio and video solution that will make my computer the top of the line. Again, I read some reviews that helped me pick out which component was best for me. In some cases, though (such as with with the video card), you just know that one product is the right one for you.