a few questions and choices before i order conroe rig

tap_and_unwrap · 23 Jul 2006 at 14:15

afternoon all....

i'm building a rig for my father, and i have to make a few decisions before i can splash the cash. techincally there is no "budget", so if something is worth the extra, then we can stretch to it. he doesn't play any games to speak of, but would like a relatively future proof machine that will handle vista with no trouble. He won't be overclocking, but would like a decent quality machine.

so far i have the following choices made:

CPU: Conroe e6600 2.40ghz (w reference hs & fan)
Ram: G.Skill 2GB DDR2 NR PC2-6400 (2x1GB) CAS5 Dual Channel Kit
Case: Antec SLK3000B (no psu)
DVDRW: samsung shw163 SATA drive
HDD: 250gb samsung spinpoint p

still undecided: (as i'm not sure what offers best value and quality)

PSU - doesn't have to glow, be pretty or modular. what will be reliable?
Motherboard - BadAxe, Asus or gigabyte?
video card - must be vista compatible, and prefrerably quiet(ish).
cooler - should i look for a 3rd party cooler, especially if im not overclocking?

can anyone help with my undecided bits. or see any problems with the stuff i have chosen so far?

thanks in advance guys!

Ricochet J · 23 Jul 2006 at 14:22

Right. The only input I can recommend for the Vista Video Card requirement is this.
Build yourself the machine with a cheap £20 PCI-E video card. Now, when the Vista Cards come out, buy a low end Vista Card with DX10. That, should cost you around £80 - £100.

tap_and_unwrap · 23 Jul 2006 at 19:00

okies, so i think i'll go for a cheap gfx card for now, probably a passively cooled one.

can anyone suggest a PSU that's up to the job, and a conroe MB?

many thanks

BfZ · 23 Jul 2006 at 19:12

965 boards are designed for conroe they're in general cheaper than the 975x ones too. everyone seems to want the gigabyte ones.

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

that might help when i asked for my build people said fsp/enermax/seasonic/tagan/ocz for branding dont know if this helps but it's what i was advised.

TheVoice · 23 Jul 2006 at 19:18

If he doesn't play games, a cheap graphics card will do fine. As far as I can tell, DX10 won't be needed just for Vista, and even slow graphics cards seem to be managing the Vista Aero Glass interface without problems.

For the PSU, you could just go with one of the Antec cases that comes with a PSU. Probably works out cheaper (the SLK3800BUK, for example). The Sonata II is a very nice, very quiet case too.

tap_and_unwrap · 23 Jul 2006 at 19:21

ok, so long as the psu is up to it, i'll add the extra £3 to the case.

cash isn't an issue with motherboard, i'd just like the most stable, cool, quiet?(ish) board, that's gonna potter along happy. it's the only thing i am not so familiar with at the moment.

thanks for all the suggestions so far

shodan · 23 Jul 2006 at 21:42

If you're not overclocking you don't need to change the reference heatsink and cooler.

I've read that the build quality of the Intel Badaxe is great, made to last. I would buy one myself if I didn't lust after the extra bits and bobs on the Asus P5W DH deluxe.