Advice on Build

Sharlaw

Sharlaw

Sharlaw

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Joined
4 Jul 2008
Posts
806
Location
UK - Maidenhead
This is what I'm looking to get.

Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB 10000RPM SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (WD3000GLFS)
LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM Serial ATA Drive - Retail
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 LGA775 'Wolfdale' 3.16GHz (1333FSB) - Retail
Coolermaster RC-1100 Cosmos S "Sport" Silent Full Tower Case
Tagan TG1100-BZ 1100w Modular BZ Series PSU
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-Bit - OEM (66R-02034)
Asus Striker II Extreme nForce 790i Ultra SLi (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard
OCZ 4GB DDR3 PC3-10666C6 1333MHz ReaperX (2x2GB) Dual Channel DDR3 (OCZ3RPX1333EB4GK)
Asus GeForce GTX 280 1024MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail


As well as a pretty good system for the money, I'm looking for something pretty future proof which will be upgradable and expandable as I go.
I'll be loooking go SLI and Watercooled down the road, but not from the very begining.

Cheers
 
What will the system be used for?

Couple of immediate opinions:

I wouldn't bother with Vista Ultimate unless you specifically want the extra items that come with Ultimate. The other more better option would be Home Premium.

The price difference between a E8400 and a E8500 CPU is astronomical for what you gain, I would just go with a E8400 instead and save yourself the cash. All you get is 9.5x multi over 9x multi, and an extra 166 Mhz. It's totally not worth the extra £40.

Don't bother the GTX 280. It is insanely high priced for the power you get. I understand you do want to go SLI down the line, but in this instance I would just go with a ATI 4870 for the moment (or even a 4870 X2) and wait for Nvidia's next line then think about SLI. Their GTX 200 series is really highly priced - probably because they didn't expect ATI to be able to compete and thought they could charge what they wanted, but that went pointy bits up when the 4000 series from ATI came out.
 
The system will be mainly used for gaming dvd's and some work as well.

I've changed the spec, thanks for the advice.

So it now reads:

Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB 10000RPM SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (WD3000GLFS)
LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM Serial ATA Drive - Retail
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 LGA775 'Wolfdale' 3.00GHz (1333FSB) - Retail
Coolermaster RC-1100 Cosmos S "Sport" Silent Full Tower Case
Tagan TG1100-BZ 1100w Modular BZ Series PSU
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-Bit - OEM (66R-02034)
Asus Maximus Extreme Intel X38 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard
OCZ 4GB DDR3 PC3-10666C6 1333MHz ReaperX (2x2GB) Dual Channel DDR3 (OCZ3RPX1333EB4GK)
Asus ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail
 
If you're going to be using 4870's in crossfire then you don't need such a powerful PSU. A Corsair TX650 would scrape by, the 750 for more comfort.
Vista Ultimate is somewhat pointless, Vista Business is what I'd go for.
If you're in no rush then wait for the 4870x2 which will be faster than 2x4870's.
DDR3 is a waste of money, it's not needed at the moment.
 
I'd kinda agree on the PSU - it is a bit of an overall, but it will last you a good while and into your next PC when you upgrade again.

The revised system looks nice - it's not really what I would have picked myself but if you are happy with those bits then I can see no immediate problem and it will make a fine system, there isn't anything I would definitely change (such as the E8500 -> E8400 change was a definite).

Just reiterating on Vista Ultimate though, I noticed you kept it so I'm assuming you want the extra's that comes with Ultimate over Home Premium.
 
Yeah I've gone for the ott PSU again more for future proofing rather than immediate need. The same goes for the DDR3. My only real hang up is the ati/nvidia and which mobo to go for, not only now, but long term.
 
DDR3 won't future proof you mate, you could buy both 4GB of DDR2 now and 4GB of DDR3 when there are systems that actually make use of it and still pay less than what you'll spend on DDR3 now. DDR3 mobos are also more expensive.
 
Western Digital VelociRaptor 300GB 10000RPM SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (WD3000GLFS)
LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM Serial ATA Drive - Retail
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 LGA775 'Wolfdale' 3.00GHz (1333FSB) - Retail
Coolermaster RC-1100 Cosmos S "Sport" Silent Full Tower Case
Tagan TG800-BZ 800w Modular BZ Series PSU
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-Bit - OEM (66R-02034)
Asus ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail
Asus Maximus Formula Intel X38 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 Dominator PC2-8500C5 TwinX (2x2GB) Supplied with Airflow Fan (TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF)

Ok so I've taken on board what ppl have suggested. Changed mobo and ram for DDR2 and also downgraded the PSU a bit as well.

So How's this looking now
 
Ok another revision lol,

Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 Dominator PC2-8500C5 TwinX (2x2GB) Supplied with Airflow Fan (TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF)

Coolermaster RC-1100 Cosmos S "Sport" Silent Full Tower Case

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-Bit - OEM (66R-02034)

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 LGA775 'Wolfdale' 3.00GHz (1333FSB) - Retail

2 x Asus ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail

Asus Maximus Formula Intel X38 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

Tagan TG800-BZ 800w Modular BZ Series PSU

Samsung SpinPoint F1 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103UJ)

And all for £1,355.22. Bargin :P
 
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