Considering building first rig

Kua

Kua

Kua

Associate
Joined
21 Jul 2008
Posts
512
Location
Lancaster
I have a Nvidia GTX 260 which I'm happy enough with. Also I think I'll salvage the DVD/CD and 550W Power from my old rig. May also continue with the 2*2GB RAM I have for the time being also.

Otherwise how is this looking?

rigwithram.jpg
 
dacads said:
What is the make and model of your PSU?

I assume your current RAM is DDR3?
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Thermaltake Toughpower.

I'm glad you asked. I assumed it was. Actually its DDR2 lol. (Been due an upgrade a long long time!)
 
Actually ... Intel prices REALLY suck at the moment and tbh I've been looking at AMD more and more over the past few days....

Check these benchmarks out ....

http://browser.primatelabs.com/geekbench2/search?utf8=✓&q=78LMT-USB3+fx-8350

ie

Basic motherboad : http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-415-GI&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=1481

+

FX-8350 : http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-336-AM

= Pretty damn fast for under 200 quid (yes it's a carpy motherboard but maybe an AMD expert could suggest something ?)

wazza300 said:
intel = happiness?

8gb dual channel memory?
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Yep this is the problem.... AMD have the SMP benchmarks but the memory is letting them down
 
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wazza300 said:
its hard,i don't know enough about amd cpu's:(
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LOL me neither we've been blinded by Intel for far too long :D I'll keep myself subbed and see if I can counter an Intel offer with an AMD alternative.

I'm thinking probably a semi decent AM3+ board with a mid ranged CPU but the fx-8350 @ £150 represents pretty good value for money.

OP what do you intend to use the machine for ?
 
Hopefully the AMD CPU's start to shine when the new consoles are released. Intel really need some competition to push them on again.
 
Subliminal Aura said:
LOL me neither we've been blinded by Intel for far too long :D I'll keep myself subbed and see if I can counter an Intel offer with an AMD alternative.

I'm thinking probably a semi decent AM3+ board with a mid ranged CPU but the fx-8350 @ £150 represents pretty good value for money.

OP what do you intend to use the machine for ?
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In terms of gaming, I play a lot of Civ 5, Trackmania and Skyrim. Nothing very demanding. Am something of an audiophile so should really consider a sound card, though in the past I had a DAC (a Beresford) which was way better.
 
Oh well that was short lived .... apparently AM3 is as dead as a dodo.

Dear me .... straight back to Intel as it'll give you an easier upgrade path without having to overclock an AMD chip

YOUR BASKET
1 x Samsung 128GB SSD 840 PRO SATA 6Gb/s Basic - (MZ-7PD128BW) £113.99
1 x Intel Core i3-3225 3.30GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (55W) - Retail **High Performance IGP** £109.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-DS3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £76.99
1 x Samsung Green (MV-3V4G3D/US) 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz 30nm Dual Channel Kit £49.99
1 x **B Grade** BitFenix Shinobi USB3.0 Gaming Windowed Case - Black £39.95
Total : £405.01 (includes shipping : £11.75).

 
 
That looks decent for the dosh...

And say we upped the budget slightly to £500. What would you add next? CPU cooler? I'm not too clued up about other cooling and whether its worth it...

Also, should I have everything I need there?

Idleman said:
YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3330 3.00GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £149.99
1 x **B Grade** Intel 330 Series 120GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive - Retail £83.99
1 x **B Grade** Asus P8Z77-V LX Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £74.99
1 x **B Grade** BitFenix Shinobi USB3.0 Gaming Windowed Case - Black £39.95
1 x Adata XPG Gaming v1.0 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (AX3U1600GC4G9-2G) £35.99
Total : £399.00 (includes shipping : £11.75).

Click to expand...
 
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Kua said:
That looks decent for the dosh...

And say we upped the budget slightly to £500. What would you add next? CPU cooler? I'm not too clued up about other cooling and whether its worth it...

Also, should I have everything I need there?
Click to expand...

If you don'thave them, The extras you need,
DVD drive.
HDD.
Power supply.

For a slightly higher budget, get a 3570K, a CPU cooler, and maybe a better motherboard. Also, no B-grade, get the right stuff.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £179.99
1 x Plextor M5 Pro 128GB Extreme Series Solid State Drive - (PX-128M5P) £99.95
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £82.99
1 x Zalman Z9 Plus Tower Case with Fan Controller - Black £49.99
1 x Adata XPG Gaming v1.0 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (AX3U1600GC4G9-2G) £35.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £493.00 (includes shipping : £11.75).

 
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olivier renault said:
If you don'thave them, The extras you need,
DVD drive.
HDD.
Power supply.

For a slightly higher budget, get a 3570K, a CPU cooler, and maybe a better motherboard. Also, no B-grade, get the right stuff.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £179.99
1 x Plextor M5 Pro 128GB Extreme Series Solid State Drive - (PX-128M5P) £99.95
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £82.99
1 x Zalman Z9 Plus Tower Case with Fan Controller - Black £49.99
1 x Adata XPG Gaming v1.0 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (AX3U1600GC4G9-2G) £35.99
1 x Alpenföhn Matterhorn Pure Edition CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £29.99
Total : £493.00 (includes shipping : £11.75).

Click to expand...

What is wrong with "B" grade items, especially when you are on a tight budget. As he has upped his budget by all means get the GB mobo, but the LX is still a good board. The 330 ssd for £83 is a good buy.

This.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £179.99
1 x **B Grade** Intel 330 Series 120GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive - Retail £83.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £82.99
1 x Corsair Carbide 300R Mid Tower Case - Black £64.99
1 x Adata XPG Gaming v1.0 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (AX3U1600GC4G9-2G) £35.99
1 x Cooler Master Hyper 612S CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £32.99
Total : £495.04 (includes shipping : £11.75).



Or this with a hdd. Although you would need to check with OCUK on the condition of the case.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £179.99
1 x **B Grade** Intel 330 Series 120GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive - Retail £83.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £82.99
1 x **B Grade** Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 32MB Cache - OEM £45
1 x **B Grade** Corsair Carbide 300R Mid Tower Case - Black £37.19
1 x Adata XPG Gaming v1.0 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (AX3U1600GC4G9-2G) £35.99
1 x Cooler Master Hyper 612S CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / 1366 / 2011 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £32.99
Total : £510.73 (includes shipping : £10.50).

 
YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £179.99
1 x Plextor M5 Pro 128GB Extreme Series Solid State Drive - (PX-128M5P) £99.95
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £82.99
1 x Zalman Z9 USB 3.0 Midi Tower Case - Black £54.98
1 x Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-15000C9 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit (PV38G186C9K) £41.99
1 x Thermalright True Spirit 120 REV A (BW) Performance CPU Cooler (Socket 775 / 1155 / 1156 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3 / FM1 / FM2) £24.98
Total : £484.88 (includes shipping : FREE).



I'd take the Z9 U3 over the Z9 Plus (which I own), both chassis come with loads of kit. Under the £500 budget so you can up the cooler if you wanted. I'd buy a 19pin adapter for the mobos USB3 header but I can't find them on here. The SSD is great with a firmware update to improve the speeds. RAM is priced well against 1600mhz kits, it overclocks well so is good for more than the 1866Mhz on the sticker.
 
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