Are These Components Good?

Ambro · 3 Apr 2007 at 22:34

This is what I am going to buy from overclockers, except maybe the monitor from somwere else. Does this system seem like it would be a good choice. I am also going to upgrade the GPU to a directX10 card and the CPU to a quad core when they cost less.

(1) Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.86GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
(2) Abit AB9 Quad GT (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
(3) Western Digital Raptor 36GB WD360ADFD 10,000RPM SATA 16MB Cache - OEM
(4) OcUK GeForce 7900 GS 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
(5) Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Edition DVD - OEM - 1Pk (66I-00788)
(6) Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU
(7) Lian-Li PC-V600 Aluminum Mid Tower - Black
(8) Sony DDU-1615 DVD-ROM (Black) - OEM
(9) Sony AW-G170AB2 18x DVD±RW x12 Ram Dual Layer DVD-Writer - (Black) OEM
(10) Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
(11) Dell Ultrasharp 2407WFP 24" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Midnight Grey

I know memory is missing, but this is where I am stuck. Is it worth paying the extra for high performance memory because I don't mind overclocking if it is worth the extra money, but I don't want to spend to much.

Also can anyone give me a reccomendation on what fans i'll need for overclocking. Also noise reduction is a priorty so does overclocking cause a lot of noise.

skanky · 3 Apr 2007 at 22:41

you're obviously going to be paying a lot of this already so why not get a 8800gts/x off the bat, instead of a 7 series stepping stone?

and also, all you've spec'd is 36gb, seriously? i dont care if it is a raptor, 36gb will install you squat

Ambro · 3 Apr 2007 at 22:50

skanky said:
you're obviously going to be paying a lot of this already so why not get a 8800gts/x off the bat, instead of a 7 series stepping stone?

I cant really afford the extra £150.00 for the card at the moment, although it is somthing I considered, but for the extra money I didn't think I would get a worthwhile increase in performance as the stuff I use is mainly CPU intensive.

skanky said:
and also, all you've spec'd is 36gb, seriously? i dont care if it is a raptor, 36gb will install you squat

36GB is quite a lot isn't it!

Seriously though I dont think i'll need that much as I can always delete or backup. I think the next GB up is quite a lot more ££ also.

Will_3rd · 3 Apr 2007 at 22:58

Get a proper HDD, forget the Raptor

Twinblade · 3 Apr 2007 at 23:09

Vista alone is going to take up 20gb of your hard drive. So your going to need a lot more than 36gb.

jackassuk56 · 3 Apr 2007 at 23:17

raptors, crap for the money!!!

just buy a 160gb one for less, you might not see any difference, (except in your wallet)

36gb is nothing today, i have my os and a few programs on a 40gb harddrive, and i have an 80gb one for my files,

and with my new computer i will be having even more storage.

sure raptors are fast and look good, but who cares, i want as much bang for my buck as i can get!!!

jackassuk56

mishima · 3 Apr 2007 at 23:48

I would alter the case/PSU to something cheaper. Get a budget case and an Akasa Ultra Quiet 500W PSU and then you might be able to squeeze in an 8800 GTS would offer much better value and performance.

-Nick- · 3 Apr 2007 at 23:50

or wait a few weeks and get a 8600gts for around the same price as 7900

mishima · 3 Apr 2007 at 23:52

Thats another option, good suggestion.

Ambro · 4 Apr 2007 at 00:18

Aren't the raptors a lot faster than standard hard drives though?

Plus can't I just buy another and pair it up if I run out of memory, with the motherboard I listed I think it makes it even faster with two.

stigggeh · 4 Apr 2007 at 00:57

Ambro said:
Aren't the raptors a lot faster than standard hard drives though?

Plus can't I just buy another and pair it up if I run out of memory, with the motherboard I listed I think it makes it even faster with two.

I have a raptor (74gb) and yes they are good....BUT they are not 'a lot' faster (in my experience).

I would also put your money on a larger hdd at the moment... and buy a raptor later if you feel the need to.

If i had the choice again i would take a larger drive over the raptor.

xirokx · 4 Apr 2007 at 01:02

I'd consider going for the 8800 368mb as opposed to your chosen gfx card

also the raptors are loud if you didnt already know that

Id get the NEC dual layer dvd rw also as its a personal preference

Id also have to get a gigabyte ds3 mobo as opposed to the abit because I believe the ds3 can withhold higher overclockers...

also Id have to go for the e4300 cpu

what about the RAM??

To make it a little more future proof if I could afford it I would go for a 600w PSU the antec or hiper kind...

good luck

skanky · 4 Apr 2007 at 05:53

Ambro said:
Aren't the raptors a lot faster than standard hard drives though?

they're "faster" sure, but would i get one at the cost of having literally zero hdd space available to me? hell no!

also you dont need a dvd rom and a dvdrw, thats just wasting money imo.

mp260767 · 4 Apr 2007 at 13:17

maybe look at a 1950 pro gfx card for about the same price as the 7900.

wouldnt worry too much about the memory the geil/ocz cheaper should do ok if you're not a massive overclocker.

would agree about swapping the raptor iirc the 36gb are even nosier than the 74gb ones, seagate or samsung in my experience are decent and quiet.

motherboard wise gigabyte ds3/ds3p or the asus p5n-e would be worth a look.

fan wise seen decent things said about the noctua 1200rpm's and scythe s-flex 1200/1600.

cooler would be one of the titans, scythe or noctua's.

i would say see how you go with the supplied ones first and see how the setup handles.

overclocking will only add noise once you start to increase the temps so the fans have to run faster/noiser to keep the temps decent.

p4radox · 4 Apr 2007 at 13:26

Get a different case. If you like Lian Li (most of us do

) then how about a PC7+ or a PC-A05? Neither are particularly large but will be much easier to work in than the V600.

weringo · 4 Apr 2007 at 13:47

p4radox said:
Get a different case. If you like Lian Li (most of us do) then how about a PC7+ or a PC-A05? Neither are particularly large but will be much easier to work in than the V600.

Whats wrong with the V600?

p4radox · 4 Apr 2007 at 14:44

weringo said:
Whats wrong with the V600?

The position of the PSU makes the use of big CPU coolers impossible, and any internal upgrades or modifications very troublesome. PC-A05 for the win: small - and has a fantastic internal layout.

Ambro · 5 Apr 2007 at 00:15

Thanks very much for all the advice. I am almost convinced to swap the hard-drive now for a cheaper and more quiet one, mainly down to the extra noise you say the raptor makes, but also you say vista takes up 20GB!!? Is the raptor really that much more noisy than a quiet version?

(EDIT) I just had a look and saw this hard-drive which seems pretty decent; Hitachi Deskstar 7K160 NCQ 80GB SATA-II 8MB Cache OEM. Would this one be a lot more quiet without making to much difference to performance? (EDIT)

The main reason for choosing that case though was cause I preferred the design over the others, plus my dads computer already has the other style Lian Li case so I dont want to get the same!!

With the CPU and GPU, they are both easy to sell, and will not loose to much value either. Also the 7900gs did well for the price in benchmarks for supreme commander, which is the game I am using it for. Also I bought a £220 CPU in a system before and it went down to £100 after a few months so I don't want that happening with this one!

Also isn't it necesary to have two DVD drives for copying some DVD's. I had one that I tried to copy from the Hard-Drive direct and it just went all crackly! :confused: