Cliffhucker
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Here's the most killer case deal I've seen lately ($69.95)
http://www.frozencpu.com/cas-178.html?id=2FDmx4Lp ... I bought one from Antec a year ago, their "package" with TrueControl 550 (nifty, if you want to tweak mobo 3v, 5v, 12v dead nuts) along with the Antec noise elim kits for two 120mm fans, and one of their 120mm fans ... all + shipping for ONLY $309.95!
😳 Aaarrrrgggh! Don't bother with the noise killer kits, although "nice" in theory 'ya can't use one on the Antec case front fan ... it'll only accept a 25mm thick fan and the noise kit adds another 2-3mm, so it'll rip the noise killer "gasket" right off when installing the fan into the case. Fact is, I replaced the optional rear Antec 38 x 120mm I bought with a low speed 25 x 120mm at 1800 RPM ... still moves MORE THAN ENOUGH hot air out (remember, a PS unit also has a substantial fan as well), but now I'm 8-10db lower in total noise level ... aaahh
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As for CPU, why buy whatchya really don't now need ... dual core? If, in the future you discover you REALLY need multitasking speed then get a dual core 939 and swap. Now, here's a killer Newegg deal ... Athlon 64 3800+ Venice (2.4GHz) for $282
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103531 OR you could opt for Newegg's Athlon 64 3800+ Venice 2.4GHz for $349
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103570 WHILE the ONLY difference is the part number: ADA3800BPBOX (cheap) or ADA3800BWBOX (expensive) Newegg cannot offer any "reason" why the pricing difference, but there IS ONLY ONE 3800+ Venice core AMD produces!! Also, both are boxed retail packages, so 'ya don't have to worry about what HSF is used ... 'ya got a three year AMD warranty on either!
At this point I want to recommend Crucial for memory ... retail unit of Micron, the ONLY American PC memory manufacturer left ... if you buy direct from Crucial 'ya get a lifetime warranty! Over the years I've had several Micron sticks croak for whatever reason, but Crucial ALWAYS honored their warranty. (My operative modality here is "don't TELL me what you'll do SHOW ME... and Crucial has
😀 ) Crucial Ballistix DDR runs with the best of 'em (read the reviews at Crucial's site)
http://www.crucial.com/ballistix/store/listmodule.asp Although Crucial, OCZ, Kingston, etc. all offer several "speed steps" (DDR400/466/500/etc.) they ALL USE the SAME raw manufacturer's chip ... just tested & binned by speed test results. Now, the hook here is EVERY mem chip mfg'r (just like CPU's) strives mightly to improve wafer yields (quality) so, odds are that any given individual chip is 99.9% as 'good" as any other! Therefore, buy the cheapest speed and loosen the timings to the fastest speed spec (i.e: 2-2-2-6 PC3200 to 2.5-4-4-8 PC4000) and you'll more than likely run just fine
😀 In the case of Crucial Ballistix, it's only a $7/GB difference in initial cost PC3200-PC4000!
As for PS power draw, unfortunately the answer is yes, you'll have a constant power dissipation load, or no load
🙁 The PC power supply designers (?) haven'y yet discovered "downtracking converter" circuity ... it controls the power dissipation by adjusting the output as a function of the load, so no excess heat is generated and efficiencies are improved markedly.
As for blowing the case out vs. vacuuming ... well Dude, where do 'ya think all the sh*t blown out goes? Would ya' THINK that all the junk "floating in the room atmosphere" just MIGHT be sucked right back in??

Trust me, or better yet your own experience, and shop vacuum 'da sucker
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