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I'm worried about how loud the 10k is. I would like to keep my PC as quiet as possible without compromising performance. And I'm not sure if the slight performance boost will outway the noise increase I would incur from it.
 
This looks to be my final draft:

<b>Case</b> <A HREF="http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20030428/case_review-03.html#atcstek_mro16" target="_new">CoolerMaster ATC-201B-SXK</A>(Retail)
<b>PSU</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=17-104-974" target="_new">Fortron 400w</A>(Retail)
<b>Mobo</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=13-131-450" target="_new">Asus P4P800 Deluxe</A>(Retail)
<b>CPU</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=19-116-161" target="_new">P4 2.8c w/800fsb</A>(Retail)
<b>Memory</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=Corsair+PC-3500+silv" target="_new">(2)512mb Corsair XMS PC3500</A>(OEM)
<b>Video Card</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=14-102-281" target="_new">Sapphire 9800 Pro 128mb</A>(Retail)
<b>Hard Drive</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=22-148-017" target="_new">Seagate 120gb SATA 7200rpm</A>(OEM) & <A HREF="http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=34_89&products_id=383" target="_new">SATA Cable</A>
<b>CD-RW</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=27-106-184" target="_new">Lite-On 52x24x52</A>(Retail) w/<A HREF="http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=103_130&products_id=388" target="_new">Silver CM face plate</A>
<b>DVD-Rom</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=27-131-113" target="_new">Lite-On 16x</A>(Retail) w/<A HREF="http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=103_130&products_id=388" target="_new">Silver CM face plate</A>
<b>Sound Card</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=29-102-158" target="_new">Audigy 2</A>(OEM)
<b>Speakers</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=klipsch+2.1+thx" target="_new">Klipsch 2.1 THX</A>(Retail)
<b>Mouse & Keyboard</b> <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?description=23-126-124" target="_new">Cordless Mx Duo</A>(Retail)
<b>MousePad</b> <A HREF="http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=53_90&products_id=386" target="_new">RatPadZGS</A>

<b>Total</b> = $1925.81(Everything but the Case, CD drive faceplates, and Mousepad are from Newegg.com)

Would you suggest I change anything by middle of September? I figure nothing major will be released between now and September so I can just watch the price on this setup fall come purchase time. Then I will be able to upgrade to Prescott in H2 2004 when Tejas is released.

I'm guessing this setup will be around $1500 by the time I purchase it. Or is that being too optimistic?

--

"<i>I'm seriously you guys.</i>" - Cartman
 
Hey Hardware. Yea, the reason I'm going with Seagate is because the Raptor's are a little more pricey and I'm not even sure they have a 120gb SATA drive. We will see what happens between now and September.

I'm mostly excited about building my first computer. The PC I have now is a Compaq. Don't get me wrong, it's done it's job well. But I hate not being able to mess with the BIOS, and I want to be able to upgrade components which is hard with my current setup. I'm gonna do as much research on building that I can so I hopefully won't have to noob it up come "go" time.

--

"<i>I'm seriously you guys.</i>" - Cartman
 
I will try to get my point across without sounding like a moron or seeming to disprove my point. As a user of a no-name 2.1 speaker system for my PC, I felt that you were spending too much money on your speakers, but you could be an audio freak, which is perfectly acceptable. Then, when someone said that you were missing out without the 4.1 or 5.1, you said you weren't too interested. That seemed to disprove audio freak part.

I feel that if you are going to upgrade your speakers, don't spend the money on the same type of speakers (2.1). Either keep your current speakers and pocket the cash (or spend it on something else), or get a nicer (more speakers) setup then you have now. I understand that the Klipsch are wonderful speakers, but with the 2.1 setup, they can only go so far in surpassing your current setup. Additionally, in games such as HL2 or UT2003, there isn't much time to stop and listen to the sound.

Finally, speakers are easy to upgrade in the future. That money could go to extra handfuls of HDD space, or to the next case model up, or to the 480W PS, or that stand alone DVD drive, something that isn’t practical to upgrade later.

Basically, I know that the Klipsch will be better speakers then your current ones, I just don't know if they will be $170 better.

However, if you feel that the Klipsch is what you want, then by all means buy them. I won’t think you any less of a person.


What's a signature? Oh, those words that show up after all my comments? I don't need one of those!
 
If you want to reexamine your choice of harddrive hardwarezone <A HREF="http:// www.hardwarezone.com/articles/articles.hwz?cid=10&aid=788 " target="_new">http:// www.hardwarezone.com/articles/articles.hwz?cid=10&aid=788 </A> has just done a little review.
 
If it was up to me, I'd just use the on board sound. Save the $78 for the time being.

I'm surprised that he 201a(no window) is only $12 cheaper than the 201b, so not much of a savings there. But, I've seen the Lian-Li PC-60 for less than $100, but that was on sale.

I'd also take an 9700 AIW over a 9800 pro. I save a measly $10, but I get all that nifty DVI capability and TV (the Remote Wonder is nice, too-- comes with)

But, that's just me. I'm not intending to rain on your parade. I value utility over raw performance. I guess I'm to computers what Alton Brown is to kitchen needs.

Dave

PS Good luck with that system.

__________________________________________________
<b><font color=red>Three great virtues of a programmer are: laziness, impatience, and hubris.</font color=red><b>
 
I also for got to say. I got a chance to play around with those Seagate SATA drives, and they're pretty nifty, too.

Dave

__________________________________________________
<b><font color=red>Three great virtues of a programmer are: laziness, impatience, and hubris.</font color=red><b>
 
Thanks for all the replies guys!

You make a valid point jef. I myself have wondered if $170 for 2.1 speakers are worth it. But after reading every review, I know I wouldn't be making a mistake.
I understand that the Klipsch are wonderful speakers, but with the 2.1 setup, they can only go so far in surpassing your current setup.
Click to expand...
This couldn't be further from the truth. Right now I'm using some $40.00 creative labs 2.1 speakers. They are ok but by no means the sound quality I'm looking for. I want a powerful sub and the one I have now just doesn't cut it.

Also keep in mind that money is not really an object. I have until the middle of September to save up enough money and I don't plan on skimping in the features dept.

If it was up to me, I'd just use the on board sound. Save the $78 for the time being.
Click to expand...

So you don't think the audigy 2 would be worth it? I have to believe that there would be a significant sound quality increase with the audigy 2 as opposed to on-board. Plus don't you think it would be a waste of good, quality speakers to just run them with on-board?

Thanks again for all your suggestions guys!


--

"<i>I'm seriously you guys.</i>" - Cartman
 
As I said, no criticism for purchasing Klipsch speakers. It would be like giving someone a hard time for buying a Mercedes. Same with the Audigy. We aren't going to criticize it, but we wouldn't buy it with that setup. If you want it, go for it.

What's a signature? Oh, those words that show up after all my comments? I don't need one of those!
 
Well, I already did about 4 days ago. Ordered sunday night, recieved the speakers wednesday afternoon. Thanks NewEgg!!!The sound quality is pretty stunning. Movies sound brilliant. I am not disappointed.

Although I definately need a new sound card as my SB Live! just seems to be holding these speakers back a little. I'm not quite happy with the bass distortion at higher volume. I've heard about how the smaller cable may hinder performance also. But in order to upgrade to bigger wiring, I would have to solder. Don't know about all that business.

Would I see a noticeable increase in quality/perf. upgrading to an Audigy 2? Or is cable size just as important or more?

Appreciate the responses guys.

--

"<i>I'm seriously you guys.</i>" - Cartman
 
I don't think cable Size will make any difference as that only becomes important when the wire is transferring high Currents. However if the Cable appears to be of low quality this may be causing distortion, although I doubt Klipsch would use such a low quality cable. Anyway, even if you were to change the wire your amateur soldering (any manual soldering in fact) would be likely to weaken the signal so much as to male the replacement pointless.

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=5467618 " target="_new">Almost Breaking 12k!!</A>
 
They in-fact appear to be low-quality, and I've read reviews about this being one of the few negatives of the Klipsch 2.1 THX.

Would the quality of the soundcard then be the only variant in getting the best out of these high-quality speakers?

I guess I just feel like I need reassurance that my current setup is slightly hindering speaker performance.

--

"<i>I'm seriously you guys.</i>" - Cartman
 
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