Order the PCU PSU before the end of the day so you can save 3 more bucks with that coupon code. That'll pay for the price of the internal USB cable.

 

EDIT: Whoops, PSU, not PCU.

Thinking about ordering the Asus M5A88 motherboard for $110 because it has onboard graphics. As opposed to the original idea of Asus M5A97 for $99 with no graphics.

 

Edit: the Asus M5A88 is available on Newegg for $100.

 

Thoughts? Thanks!

The M5A97 seems to be slightly newer but if they're the same price you could just go for the 88. The one thing to consider is how many drives you think you may eventually add. The 97 had an additional PCIe 16x running at 4x so you could add two SAS cards for a total of 16 additional drives vs. only one SAS card for 8 additional drives in the 88. Granted the 88 also has two 1x slots that would be good for 2 port SATA cards each.

 

But if that much future expandability doesn't matter to you then just go for the 88.

The M5A97 seems to be slightly newer but if they're the same price you could just go for the 88. The one thing to consider is how many drives you think you may eventually add. The 97 had an additional PCIe 16x running at 4x so you could add two SAS cards for a total of 16 additional drives vs. only one SAS card for 8 additional drives in the 88. Granted the 88 also has two 1x slots that would be good for 2 port SATA cards each.

 

But if that much future expandability doesn't matter to you then just go for the 88.

Great input. I don't think I need this box to support that many drives. If I get beyond 6ish I will probably be looking at my next build and a more monster box. Thanks for the great feedback... Sounds like the M5A88 should fit my needs.

Are you set on wanting USB 3.0? If not, you can get MB's far cheaper that support pretty much everything else you want.

Are you set on wanting USB 3.0? If not, you can get MB's far cheaper that support pretty much everything else you want.

No I don't require USB 3.0. My main search feature was for 6 Sata III ports on the board, so as to not require a separate PCI/PCIe card.

 

You have suggestions?

Forgot about that stipulation, the asus you chose is probably the best deal with sata III.

Here is current purchase list...nothing bought yet.

 

Case: NZXT Source 210 ELITE ($50) or NZXT TEMPEST 210 ($55, mesh grill)

CPU: AMD Sempron 145 ($37)

Mobo: Asus M5A97 ($99) Will need a video card for install.

RAM: ALready own 4GB DDR3.

PSU: Antec NEO ECO 400C 400W ($33)

SATA cables: monorprice

USB adapter inside case: monoprice

 

FWIW I have the non-elite version of the NZXT you list.  Biggest difference: no USB3, no toolless clips included for the drives, and no top exhaust fan.  I also personally have the white one.

 

In short, Love it.  I especially love the white inside as it makes working on it so nice.  As for the Elite vs non-elite ... I already had fans to use so I didn't need the included one.  But for $10 there is no reason to skip the Elite (it wasn't available when I bought mine) just for the tooless bits if not the extra fan and USB3 if you ever repurpose the case. 

 

Either way you'll front fans for the drive cooling.  With your CPU choice, and a low power video card, you can likely save $$$, power, noise and ingested dust, by only using two fans in the front and ignore extra exhaust fans.  With all that grating up top you should be fine with natural convection / the positive pressure created by the front fans. 

 

My final thought: as much as I love the Source for its overall internal design, I think the front bezel restricts airflow through by virtue of the design.  The air is being pulled through a gap between the central plastic peice (white on the white version) and the outer frame (black on the white version).  The gap is deceptively smaller then you might think from first impressions because it is further choked off deeper inside by strengthening ribs.  I'm basing my airflow conclusion on a comparison with and without the front bezel in place.  The fan speed and sound both noticably increase with the bezel in place. 

 

So ... NZXT in general internal design 100%.  For the front bezel concerns I say go TEMPEST all the way.  If they have it in white all the better bcause man it is so nice  being able to really see inside a case without a flashlight!!!

 

This case seems to be the winner for me. Has the cleaner lines of the Source case but with the mesh grill. $60.

Gonna need a few 120mm fans too.  Yay toys.

I'd add an additional 140mm fan on the top of the case and possibly one of those 120mms you bought on the side. You always want more exhaust than intake.

Is this the right cable/adapter I want to power the SATA drives?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10226&cs_id=1022604&p_id=8800&seq=1&format=2

That will work fine however your PSU has 4 SATA power connectors already and it looks like you're only using three drives.

According to newegg it actually has 5. Keep in mind it doesn't have the power cord, you'll have to have your own. It's the standard 5 side 3 prong power cord so they are pretty common, most TVs use them as well as all power supplies. Should be able to get one from a pc/tv repair shop for pretty cheap.

Here is current purchase list...nothing bought yet.

 

Case: NZXT Source 210 ELITE ($50) or NZXT TEMPEST 210 ($55, mesh grill)

CPU: AMD Sempron 145 ($37)

Mobo: Asus M5A97 ($99) Will need a video card for install.

RAM: ALready own 4GB DDR3.

PSU: Antec NEO ECO 400C 400W ($33)

SATA cables: monorprice

USB adapter inside case: monoprice

 

FWIW I have the non-elite version of the NZXT you list.  Biggest difference: no USB3, no toolless clips included for the drives, and no top exhaust fan.  I also personally have the white one.

 

In short, Love it.  I especially love the white inside as it makes working on it so nice.  As for the Elite vs non-elite ... I already had fans to use so I didn't need the included one.  But for $10 there is no reason to skip the Elite (it wasn't available when I bought mine) just for the tooless bits if not the extra fan and USB3 if you ever repurpose the case. 

 

Either way you'll front fans for the drive cooling.  With your CPU choice, and a low power video card, you can likely save $$$, power, noise and ingested dust, by only using two fans in the front and ignore extra exhaust fans.  With all that grating up top you should be fine with natural convection / the positive pressure created by the front fans. 

 

My final thought: as much as I love the Source for its overall internal design, I think the front bezel restricts airflow through by virtue of the design.  The air is being pulled through a gap between the central plastic peice (white on the white version) and the outer frame (black on the white version).  The gap is deceptively smaller then you might think from first impressions because it is further choked off deeper inside by strengthening ribs.  I'm basing my airflow conclusion on a comparison with and without the front bezel in place.  The fan speed and sound both noticably increase with the bezel in place. 

 

So ... NZXT in general internal design 100%.  For the front bezel concerns I say go TEMPEST all the way.  If they have it in white all the better bcause man it is so nice  being able to really see inside a case without a flashlight!!!

 

This case seems to be the winner for me. Has the cleaner lines of the Source case but with the mesh grill. $60.

 

Indeed.  If they had a white one I'd swap cases just for fun!!!

 

As to fans ... seriously ... try it out with just taking the included fans and putting them upfront.  With only those during a full parity rebuilt, my 4 green drives and CPU are cool as cucumbers.  You're running a cooler CPU than I am too.  If you find the temps start climbing then you can consider extra case fans.  Its worth it to keep the dust, noise, and even power use down. 

 

EDIT: looks like they include 1x120 and 1x140 ... so you only technically need one more 120.  That single 140 will be plenty, and like I said, you can live without it to save dust buildup.  I'd unplug it until you see that you need it for sure.

According to newegg it actually has 5. Keep in mind it doesn't have the power cord, you'll have to have your own. It's the standard 5 side 3 prong power cord so they are pretty common, most TVs use them as well as all power supplies. Should be able to get one from a pc/tv repair shop for pretty cheap.

 

I was looking at the specs of the one in his original post, not the one I told him to get haha

 

Yes the Antec does have 5.

 

$1.26 cents on monoprice for a 3 foot if you don't have any around the house. http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10228&cs_id=1022801

nearly identical to my HSF but doesn't come with a PWM fan, just a two speeder.  but for $10 after $20 MIR it is worth trying since the point is to see if you can get away fanless, or with adding an ultra slow PWM fan ($11 from newegg) if you can't

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181012

All my hardware should be arriving today!! I haven't ordered any drives yet, so I won't be fully operational for a while. But at least I can start putting it together this weekend. I'm going to try to do it as patiently and methodically as possible, as I want really clean looking cable management. I hope to take pictures of the process and create a build thread.

 

BTW, which version of OS should I use? Which rev of v5 is most stable?

Anything past b14 but I'd go with one of the rc6 versions. I've been using it since it came out, rock solid

yeah 5.0-rc6-r8168-test2 here and all is well.

yeah 5.0-rc6-r8168-test2 here and all is well.

Awesome, thanks. For my own reference, 5.0-rc6-r8168-test2 can be found here.

Current status:

Current status:

 

insert jealousy emoticon

Does Amazon really need to put the PC case inside another box? What a waste of cardboard. Newegg just ships you the case in the box it comes in.

Gotta see the smile!

 

It maybe a waist of cardboard but I like to see the package when I come home from work.  It might disappear if it looked like something electronics - even in  the daytime.  A car across the alley had a side window broken out in the middle of the day.  Cops think it was the same kids painting the gang graphiti on the neighbors garage.