my new build scratch pad thread

[Caliga]

Thanks, might pick it up.

Next question: PSU--conventional vs. modular?

[Grey Fox]

Modular unless it's way more expensive. It's a fun thing to have but not necessary.

[viper37]

Antec has a new TruePower with an integrated blue led.  Don't  know if it's modular, don't know the price but it sure looks cool

[Scipio]

I like modular power supplies.  Keeps inside of the case fresh and clean.

[Caliga]

I've never had one before but unless anyone can think of any significant drawbacks I'll pick one up this time.

[Grey Fox]

I have one. Imo there's no drawback. Someone will probably say that the connectors will wear out quickly but it's a PSU, how often do you plug & unplug things in it?

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

I have one. Imo there's no drawback. Someone will probably say that the connectors will wear out quickly but it's a PSU, how often do you plug & unplug things in it?

That, and the connectors on the supply itself won't wear out any faster than the ones that plug into the boards and drives.

[Barrister]

I've never had one before but unless anyone can think of any significant drawbacks I'll pick one up this time.

I'd never heard of a modular PSU, so I googled it.  Supposedly the only downside is the connectors can add some extra resistance to the system.

A modular PSU sounds nice, but I'd be more concerned to get a high efficiency PSU (and hopefully a quiet PSU) then worry about cable management.

[grumbler]

I've never had one before but unless anyone can think of any significant drawbacks I'll pick one up this time.

I'd never heard of a modular PSU, so I googled it.  Supposedly the only downside is the connectors can add some extra resistance to the system.

A modular PSU sounds nice, but I'd be more concerned to get a high efficiency PSU (and hopefully a quiet PSU) then worry about cable management.

I looked at modulars myself, but it wasn't the (infitesimally) lower efficiency/greater heat that turned me off, but the price.  I'd say "go modular" unless the price differential is prohibitive.

[Caliga]

Yeah, I have kind of an upper limit in my mind as to what's reasonable to pay for a PSU.  If I can't get a modular in that range, I won't be getting one.  Reducing clutter would be nice but I usually just shove all the excess cabling into one of the empty drive bays without much difficulty.

[grumbler]

I am following this, Cal, in part because I am looking at upgrading myself, as soon as my publishing side business make enough profit to pay for a nice rig.  That's the reward I have promised myself, and I like your thinking in all of this.

[Caliga]

Yeah, like I said I am gifting this to myself because I made a nice profit on a stock sale. 

[Caliga]

Looking at this motherboard:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/04/07/gigabyte_890gpaud3h_motherboard_review/1

[grumbler]

Looking at this motherboard:

http://www.hardocp.com/article/2010/04/07/gigabyte_890gpaud3h_motherboard_review/1

I like it.  Since I am a drive collector, 6 SATA 6GBs connections is a plus.  USB 3.0 is a nice future-proofing capacity.  This seems to be very well-priced for such an advanced board, though its performance is right about where you would expect it to be based on the price (i.e. not bleeding-edge, but rather "just good enough").  Seems like a great buy for the system you are thinking of.

[Caliga]

Yeah, I'm fairly certain about this board, and pairing it with a 1055 or a 1090T AMD Phenom II x6.