My £550 Budget 'OC' Rig, views?

Mr Jones

Mr Jones

Mr Jones

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Basically, I'm on a very very tight budget but I want to get my hands on a first try on overclocking, everything is needed from base up inc monitors, mouse and keyboard. (already got speakers and Sound card)

I reckon I've got an idea rig there, I know the GPU isn't anything powerful but I'll not need a powerful one yet - when my finance is better, I'm sure a 8800GT or an Ati 3850 (Crossfire perhaps?) will be in there.

Please share your opinion and especially on the OC abilities, is the RAM too slow to help push the CPU further on air? I'm sure the PSU is good enough for OC and enough room left for a decent GPU to go in in a couple of months...

This system is also gonna be used as my room's media system, so hopefully the case (and components) are good at keeping it quiet as well?

Thanks :)
 
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Spec looks spot on, I'm using 6400 ram on my spare pc with the Intel 2180 overclocked to 3.0 gig.

Rob
 
Any obvious reason you are going for a black DVDRW and what looks like a white/silver case?

You could drop the AS5 if you really wanted since I'm pretty sure the Tuniq Tower comes with paste pre-applied.

You could also save a shade more cash by going for an E2180 since it will probably reach the same sorts of speeds as the E2200 but it isn't likely to save you enough to be worthwhile overall.

The Ram is easily sufficient for any normal overclocking, you've got to be taking it pretty far before PC6400 becomes a limitation, particularly from an 800mhz FSB CPU.
 
RJC said:
Spec looks spot on, I'm using 6400 ram on my spare pc with the Intel 2180 overclocked to 3.0 gig.

Rob
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Is that on Air? And with what heatsink?

I've read into the 2200 but not the E2180, so unsure of its clocking abilities, will save quite a few quid if I go that way... (edit: I thought you said E2160, which is like £10 cheaper) Woops.

Also, the black optical is because the White/silver case comes with front bezel to mask it, so it's fine :) If I do go a black case, I won't have a silver / beige optical to switch over, will I?

As for the Sonata Piano, I think it's butt ugly and I don't really fancy a case door. The Sonata Designer version is much nicer looking and pleasing to the eye - can sit next to my Aego M White speaker base under my desk too :)
 
I'd go for e2160 it'll save you some money and it's a sure overcloker. Dont know anything bout this new e2200 myself. Why dont you get OcUK P35 mobo? Its less than £3 extra to your P31. ;)
 
got an e2180 @3.2ghz here with the stock cooler ....... Although it is temperatures that prevent me from possibly going further
 
bayo000 said:
Why dont you get OcUK P35 mobo? Its less than £3 extra to your P31. ;)
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Because there's a chance I'll dual boot with a nix system and I've read the review, some user can't find all parts of it to work - the Chinese / Taiwanese company they're using don't have everything online for us end users. safer to stick with the Gigabyte (more main stream and seasoned veteran (in the C2D field, in terms of OC)
 
Dr Jones said:
Is that on Air? And with what heatsink?

I've read into the 2200 but not the E2180, so unsure of its clocking abilities, will save quite a few quid if I go that way... (edit: I thought you said E2160, which is like £10 cheaper) Woops.

Also, the black optical is because the White/silver case comes with front bezel to mask it, so it's fine :) If I do go a black case, I won't have a silver / beige optical to switch over, will I?

As for the Sonata Piano, I think it's butt ugly and I don't really fancy a case door. The Sonata Designer version is much nicer looking and pleasing to the eye - can sit next to my Aego M White speaker base under my desk too :)
Click to expand...

Hi, thats on air with the Arctic freezer pro, with Orthos ruuning the max temps are around 55c.
I'm using my old DFI Infinity 975x/g, I have not bothered to go any further :).

Hope tge above helps

Rob
 
Well im running a E2140 @ 3.2ghz and would say thats a pretty good saving over a E2200. Im using a tuniq tower too, and at almost non audible leves my chip only runs at 60c load.

Id suggest a p35 board though, as most lower E2**0 temperatures are seen on these, think they run cooler on p35 boards, and the motherboards one of the few things i wouldnt skimp on.

As said the Tuniq comes with a small tube of thermal paste. What are the extra 92mm fans for ? Id replace them with sharkoons imo, but then i dont see what there for anyway.
 
Get this case
Antec NSK 4480 Mini Tower Case (Silver) - 380W Earth Watts PSU
£54.04 inc VAT

Loose the Tuiq tower and get a better gfx card

I work that out as roughly £90 for gfx
 
Well, I don't necessarily need the crossfire so no worries on that front. I don't need a powerful GPU as yet, thus my option in the list - they can be updated end of March (Big payday) if there's any offers or new GPUs.

I don't mind going for a lower / cheaper good OC E2xxx chip and put in more on the Mobo, what's a decent P35 one - the other Gigabyte one?

Also, the 2 92mm are for the case, it's intake and will be set on minimum for noise / performance. The case is by far the best and most valued (inc a 500watt PSU :o)
 
WotDa said:
Wait a month and save the cash? :)


You know this thread is full of blasphemy too, right? :p
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I know:(:o But I this works out better for my pocket until I have enough for a Mac Pro - until then, my mate's gonna sell me his Mac Mini to tide me over whilst I flog my MacBook away to help fund this kit. (also getting a cheap laptop to help mess around with other *nix system, learn and play around :p)

Anyway, my big pay day at end of March is enough for me to warrant a 8800GTS (if not better), so I'll be happy. I think.

Besides, the GPU doesn't affect the overall OC capabilities of this system, so that can be on hold with a cheapo passive till a better one runs along.
 
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