Case, PS and Vid Card Recomendations

[lobo_pac]

need a little help on a new system. i built my first system using an amd 1500+ and and ecs k7s5a. i know some people love the board and others hate it, but i've had no problems with it. i did use an enermax 350w whisper. i'm getting ready to build a new one and i picked up a fry's deal for a 1800+ and ecs k7s5a for $69 the amd is retail so it comes with hsf. the new system is for my in-laws (i like them so it has to work!). aside from the peripherals, drives and ram, i'm thinking of ordering the following case with power supply as well as a cheaper vid card. they won't be doing any serious gaming, but when i'm visiting, it would be nice to be able to do some light gaming. has anyone built a k7s5a with a cheaper power supply? that's one of the tricky parts of the board.....maybe a bad idea? also, i know tiger direct is kinda sketchy for some people, i personally haven't ordered from them....kinda like ecs....some people have no problems, others can't stand them. any other suggestions would be appreciated. i'm planning on salvaging their old floppy and cd-rom from their old system. any other thoughts appreciated.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...p?sku=P56-2633

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?sku=A450-3000

also, for my system....i'm going to add a cheaper sound card and a firewire card....think these are ok? pluses and minuses appreciated.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...u=GL3-AU8820B2

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...p?sku=TC1-5020

[Omardeth]

as for the case . go look at amamax.com for cases they are pretty cheap and they include shipping in the price of teh case . as for that video card i can't see where you will go wrong on that for 20$ and i am sure your inlaws don't game so that will be fine . if you get that combo you won't need sound cause the frys combo is the k7s5a pro that they use in the combo has built in sound . and as for firewire why ? do they plan on useing it ? if not why get it .

[daveleau]

It all sounds good for the prices. I would be suspect of a video card without a fan, but you can mount one later on that HS, I bet. The only thing would be the sound card. For $10, it is worth a gamble, but I have had many problems with sound cards and it might be a nightmare to set up.

[lobo_pac]

the sound on my ecs is not that great and there's no power to the headphones jack...i have to hook them up through the powered logitech z-340s. as for firewire, i do some digital video editing. i had it on my old vid card (radeon aiw 8500dv) but got a new one (aiw 8500 128mb) and it doesn't have firewire. i do need it. those were just a few i saw from tiger and thought i could add them to the order pretty easily. they're not going on this current build.

what about this budget vid card? http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp...44896211522946 thought against it because i'm pretty sure it wouldn't run america's army which is the only fps game i play....and that would happen on this machine very rarely. but it would be nice to do it occasionally. my friend plays the game on a geforce 4mx and it runs decently.

any success/horror stores with amamax? i did see thier cases on another forum. doesn't look bad for the prices. think the ps on them compared to these will be any better?

[Omardeth]

as for the ps not i don't . it will be a generic ps so it is a hit or miss thing if you undderstand what i mean . as for firewire i thought u said it was for your inlaws so thats my bad sorry . and i would stay with you first pic on the video i think the mx will do just as good a job . like daveleau said you might want to mount a fan on the heat sink but thats about it . as for amamax i ordered a case from them . it came yesterday but no body was here to receive it so i should get it today . i can let ya know what it is like late tonight when i get home from work or tomorrow . i have the ecs board on my sons pc . i will have to try headphones on it and see how it sounds . but as far as sound goes it isn't to bad . he listens to mp3's all the time in his room but his speakers are powered. i will have to check it out with headphones and i can get back to ya on that .

[lobo_pac]

yeah definatly let me know how the amamax case turns out. did you get that one shipped for $17? it was on a few days ago, but seems to be gone now. there's a black one that doesn't look too bad for $28 http://amamax.com/amamax/csspecial500wnmecca.html .

let me know on the headphones thing too. i thought it was strange that i couldn't get any sound out of the card.

the confusion on the firewire is understood. the pc build was for them, but the firewire was for me. maybe i threw too much info into one post

[lobo_pac]

anyone know if the k7s5a has front usb headers? i'm not at home and don't have access to my manual. thanks.

[Omardeth]

the case i got was 23$ shipped .

[lobo_pac]

which one did you get? i don't see one for $23 shipped.

[Omardeth]

this is what i ordered http://www.amamax.com/cspwma161grsatx713d.html

i got an email the next day saying they were out of it and they offered me this one instead http://www.amamax.com/cspwma161slvatx714c.html

so the second one is the one that just got delivered as i was typing this . i gotta go to work now so i can't really tell ya about it now . i took some pics of it and i will post them tonight when i get home from work . it is knda flimsy but for a cheap case it don't look to bad . i don't trust the pc in it but when i get it all put together i will let ya know about it .