Building My Own Computer.

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8 May 2011
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Portishead.
Ok. So I've never done this before and I have no clue as to where things go inside a case and how good components are. I've posted on a few forums and spoken to a few mates as to get a few ideas. I've been told this is the best place to get opinions and suggestions on this sort of thing, so that's why I'm here. ;)

My budget is around £600. Although I can go to around £750 at a real push. I don't really want to spend much more than that if I'm completely honest.

So far the build I've come to is this:

gQAd4.png


I know it needs an OS and a DVD drive. Windows 7 64 bit OEM Home edition is around £70/80? Add around £20 for a DVD R/W drive, so it should come to just over £700 after I've looked around for price comparisons.
 
stulid said:
I was bored, so re-done it,

Untitled-101.jpg


Everything is in stock too.
Click to expand...

Ok guys, I don't want to multi-quote every post, so I'm just going to reply every couple of replies.

As for the above image, does everyone agree on everything but the power supply bearing in mind my price range. His new check-out is just within my max budget and includes an OS and a DVD R/W drive.

For the Power supply debate, would anyone suggest this? http://overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-046-OC

The graphics card he suggested is the value range, but I found this for £5 extra, is this any better? Would it provide with better cooling? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-222-AS&tool=3
 
I've been told to notify you all that the resolution I'm running at will 1680x1050 on a 22" iiyama monitor. Should I stick with the 560ti as it is newer, quieter and cheaper without the all of the cooling that the 480 requires?
 
stulid said:
Everything is compatible and works fine.

Are you 100% on the case? its rather old now and at £50 is knocking on the door step of better cases.

for example,

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-221-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-000-XG&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1572

Good choice on the graphics card, with the possibility of making a 6970 out of it.
Click to expand...

23JMZ07 said:
Take the Antec 100 over the Antec 300 (or the HAF 912 if you wanna spend that money)
Use the money to go for a 1TB drive instead of the 500GB

Get this GPU instead
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-255-AS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1752

At your resolution you really are not going to use 2GB of VRAM.
Click to expand...

Nvidiot said:
Nice choice on the graphics card OP:) dont get the 1GB version:) you can afford the best so why not have it.
Click to expand...

A few things.

Case wise:

A friend is going to help build this. It was his first build and he used an Antec 300, do case-layouts change and how drastically?

What will the newer slightly more expensive cases provide/cater for?

GPU:

If I am running at 1680x1050 is it worth getting the 2GB version when I can save £30 and get the 1GB which sould be fine?

Also: I have no need for a 1TB harddrive, my current one is 320GB and I've only used 184GB in three years.
 
Right guys, I'm off to bed. Will consider the case more carefully, I am going to stick with an Antec, just because my friend who is going to help me used one, and also because I hear their cooling is very good. What actually is the difference between the 100/300? Are they the same physically inside? I know they look slightly different comsmetically outside and the front layout is different.

Still undecided on the 1/2GB version of the GPU. I've also been told I don't need so high cooling on my CPU.

What do you lot make of it?

Night. Cya tomorrow. Thanks for the help.
 
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Buchanan0204 said:
Nah, they don't really change. They are all a standard size. The motherboard always goes in the same place and is always fixed in the same way. The PSU is sometimes at the bottom rather than top. But it makes no difference, you wouldn't get confused by this. It's not rocket science.

Optical drives and HDD's always go in the same way... there's not much else to it really. So regardless of what case you get. It will still be built the same way.

However as mentioned. The more expensive models offer better cable management, this helps for improved airflow, which keeps temps down and of course it keeps it all looking nice and tidy.

With regards to the cooler question. I thought you had decided on the stock cooler that came with the CPU? That's not overboard is it?

The cooler you can keep the CPU the better. Even if you're not overclocking I would always opt for an aftermarket cooler as they keep things cooler, are far less noisy and once again, they always look better. Not to mention sometimes easier to fit than the stupid Intel stock coolers. I can never seem to click the 4 pegs into place, takes me like 5 goes. AMD stock coolers are much easier to fit.

Sort of went off topic there... sorry.
Click to expand...

Haha, no worries. Well as stated in my op, I am literally clueless about the majority of this stuff. I'm posting on 2-3 forums to get a general idea and a few opinions on this. However, this is by far the most help out of all the forums :P. But anyway, that cooling question was brought about by "as far as a CPU cooler goes you don't really need to spend that much on one unless your planning to overclock it". I have no idea whether the cooling is good or not.
 
Buchanan0204 said:
Ahh. You first had selected an OEM version of the Intel 2500K. This one didn't come with a cooler. It's been changed to the Retail version, which does. As much as I hate them. They do the job obviously, otherwise it wouldn't be provided with it. Like said, if you don't overclock, it'll be fine.

If you do plan on overclocking in the future. Then an aftermarket cooler is required as these are much larger and offer a lot better cooling. Usually made out of copper, which is an excellent conductor of heat.

Do you plan on overclocking?
Click to expand...

Not for awhile to be honest. I'm VERY nervous of just putting all of this together haha. I don't think I will need it at least for a few years.

I'm currently running an Interl Core Duo E8400 @3.00GHz (x2), a Nvidia 8500 GT with 2GB of RAM and it's also three years old. I can play most of the games I play on min spec with no problems. Med spec becomes a little laggy with a slight frame rate drop. So with what I'm buying now I hope should last AT LEAST 3 years before I even consider doing anything to it. Would you agree?

I've got a bit of spare cash and have started gaming on PC a bit more recently. So I decided this would be cool and a bit of fun. Although it seems a lot more nerveracking than fun at the moment. I've been told to wear an anti-static wrist band, as well as touching a radiator and wearing powder-free latex gloves. That should rid me of any static I have. But I'm literally bricking it at the thought of breaking a £200 piece of equipment just buy touching it, let alone trying to get it into the ports.
 
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Ok, So I've switched to the Antec 100, I'm staying with 2GB of VRAM and keeping my processor with the stock cooling system. As I'm not going to overclocking it for a couple of years. However, when I do, I will look into a fan.
 
stulid said:
Good choice on the case, so just swap it into your basket in post #42, and you have a great PC.

P.S, just noticed where you are, if you get stuck, just give me a holla, im always passing by.
Click to expand...

Haha, cheers mate. Your help is much appreciated, as is everyone elses. Probably look at buying later tonight.
 
Just wandering what the longevity of this system should be? How long before I need a new one/it needs upgrading. I mean I would only think about upgrading once it almost useless.
 
Just going to order the set up on reply #42. But swapping the Antec 300 for the 100. Although the GPU seems to have gone up by £20 :(.
 
stulid said:
Yes, you may have to wait a while for them to come into stock, the parts dont even have a ETA like other parts that are due in. you may get offered crap alternatives etc.
Click to expand...

Well that's ****ing bs. First of all my GPU goes up by £20, now I don't have a ****ing case.
 
Got everything today. Apparently they stopped stocking the XFX power supply, so I had to go with the OCZ StealthExtreme. Going to make it either tomorrow or Sunday. Will let all of you know how I got on ;) Thanks again.
 
So guys, I have encountered a problem - the computer won't start. We're not sure why, we followed the guide and as far as we are aware, everything is in the correct place. The PSU seems to be working as a light is on, on the top of my GPU. But when we press the power button, nothing happens.

I have a few pictures of the case with everything in it, if that would help. Just say so and I'll upload them.
 
Yeah, both 4 pins are in the CPU socket. Graphics card has 2x6 and 1x2 overall 14 pins. They are all in. Didn't want to do the third option as I have no idea what I'm doing.

This is an overall picture of the computer at the moment.

http://img135.imageshack.us/i/dscf0452c.jpg/

This is what we're not sure if we've done properly.

http://img171.imageshack.us/i/dscf0462a.jpg/

(image tags didn't seem to work.)

Also, "Phase LED #4" Flashes when we press the on button, but then won't re flash unless we switch the plug off.
 
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