Check my Spec...

tcody · 4 Jun 2009 at 02:05

Hi I've been lurking around the forums for a while trying to understand computers, and finally have enough of a grasp to build my own and replace my macbook.
I started a thread a few days ago, with an initial spec, which through some help has been changed to this.

Can you please advise me further to what I may need

I'm a product designer, use Adobe suite frequently, and many high duty CAD programs. Wouldnt mind being able to play the odd game.
Am interested in longevity and the upgrade ability of the machine.

I lack hard drives as for now I can do without. I dont need an OS, shall use windows 7 RC, and I have a cintiq (diy) so dont need a monitor.

Budget 1000 - 1300 absolute max if worth it!
All help will be highly appreciated!

user1453 · 4 Jun 2009 at 02:26

looks good, only thing I'd suggest is a thernalright ultra 120 with a noctua p12 for cpu cooling, better cooling and quieter but a buit more expensive

how are you going to do without hdds do you have some already?

I'd recomend western digital 640gb black hard drive personally, I've got two of them in raid 0

tcody · 4 Jun 2009 at 02:47

Thanks for your reply...

I thought these titan things were the new coolers (i'm simply going by reviews) but I do see most builds with the noctua's, if they're better than yeah I'll definitely get it instead!

I have a dilemma with hard drives. I have a couple. All pretty slow. But I want to Raid 0 SSD's, but can't afford it. For the time being I dont really want to fork out a load of cash on an alternative. But not really sure. I could be waiting a long time for SSD prices to fall!
One question, can you partition a Raid 0 set-up? I know its risky, but i'd like two OS's without compromising on speed and having four hard drives.
So how strongly would you recommend your raid set-up? worth going for raptors?

tcody · 4 Jun 2009 at 03:45

Revised list. A little over my max budget

but after reading reviews and such I've decided to put my OS' on the corsair SSD as well as main apps, and then all data as well as games and other apps on wd black. Not sure how this is going to work out, so if anyone has any better suggestions please share!

Im not very clued up on computers, and hard drives read and write speeds etc, so sharing would be quite caring

in this situation.
Cheers,
Tom

tcody · 4 Jun 2009 at 03:47

wow OCuk... Just gained another free game if order this week.. insane...
You knock off almost 10 pounds and add a game... to something most would get anyway... impressive!
Do you do game requests, as i'm pretty sure my motherboard would like a game too

hp7909 · 4 Jun 2009 at 04:30

2nd spec looks good, though if you don't plan to go Crossfire (dual GFXs) then drop down the PSU to 650W to keep within budget

Also, sure you don't need a copy of 64-bit Vista? I see you'll be using the PC for work & hence need the guarantee everything will work, right?

EDIT: Are you keen on that case? Recommed this & see here why:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17982540
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17992382
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17996975

tcody · 4 Jun 2009 at 09:16

hp7909 said:
2nd spec looks good, though if you don't plan to go Crossfire (dual GFXs) then drop down the PSU to 650W to keep within budget

I think I eventually will go down that avenue, as when the first card is not able to handle my needs, Ill just kick in a second. When they're done, replace I guess

hp7909 said:
Also, sure you don't need a copy of 64-bit Vista? I see you'll be using the PC for work & hence need the guarantee everything will work, right?

For now I don't have the cash, and the kind of work I'll be doing over this summer is not of high importance (portfolio and few freelance flash sites). Until September I am sure that Windows 7 can handle it! no?

hp7909 said:
EDIT: Are you keen on that case? Recommed this & see here why:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17982540
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17992382
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17996975

Wow that's pretty compelling with the case.... All I can say is I hope the lian li will be that neat/easy! I would go for a case that a lot of people have done to make it easier but I have my heart set on a few of the lian-li's. I need it to have a door and to just look plain. Not into over the top things (I know the silverstone's aren't). The lian-li looks perfect (originally chose the much more expensive x500, but common sense kicked in and I bumped it down to this one and the blue ring one... The a71 got the girlfriends seal of approval!). I will search around for build logs to hopefully help me out!

Just done a google search and found very few so far

hp7909 · 4 Jun 2009 at 12:51

tcody said:
Until September I am sure that Windows 7 can handle it! no?

It should, but better to be sure that all your work tools (software & or hardware) are compatible & won't have any issues in what is essentially an under-construction OS

I also had my heart set-out for a Lian-Li, got my wish only to discover its a case which without constant cleaning is prone to rattling

Though, TBH mine is on the lower end of the price scale therefore could be (very) different from the one you want to get but, I'd research further.

Oh & forgot to mention that the rest of the spec looks good & do keep us posted with a build log/pics once you get the parts

wbc1 · 4 Jun 2009 at 13:11

Just install the windows 7 RC for now, and if any compatibility issue arises, then get vista.

tcody · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:19

Thanks for your replies guys, gonna be ordering things come monday I think, just need to iron out last things. Need to find out if everything will fit in the case and what the corsair ssd is like. Anyone able to clue me in? Reviews are good for ssd all over the net. Case must fit 4890 surely?

hp7909 said:
It should, but better to be sure that all your work tools (software & or hardware) are compatible & won't have any issues in what is essentially an under-construction OS

I also had my heart set-out for a Lian-Li, got my wish only to discover its a case which without constant cleaning is prone to rattling Though, TBH mine is on the lower end of the price scale therefore could be (very) different from the one you want to get but, I'd research further.

Oh & forgot to mention that the rest of the spec looks good & do keep us posted with a build log/pics once you get the parts

I've been researching Lian li's for a good month now, they have pretty good anti vibration pads apparently. They also make building a pc for the first time easier... I hope! They let you take out the motherboard side of the case to build out of the case.
I will make sure I post a build log, thanks for encouraging it, I will undoubtedly require a little bit of assistance at some point!

wbc1 said:
Just install the windows 7 RC for now, and if any compatibility issue arises, then get vista.

Aye, sounds wise! Can't imagine an issue with CS4 or would have heard about it. But may not support some of the CAD programs, as they often take a long time to update their software (complacency I'm sure).

Thanks for your help

tcody · 4 Jun 2009 at 19:47

Briefly can anyone tell me which cpu thermal compound I should be using, and whether it comes with my heatsink or not?

hp7909 · 5 Jun 2009 at 04:31

tcody said:
I've been researching Lian li's for a good month now, they have pretty good anti vibration pads apparently.

Because Lian-Li's are made (almost) completely out of aluminum hence the rattling problem. But if they've found a way to take care of that issue in that particular case, then well & good.

The Thermalright comes with thermal compound. See here

FaceplantSi · 5 Jun 2009 at 06:23

Your second spec looks very good, but I agree about changing the case to the Silverstone Fortress as they are very good indeed. Also using the SSD for OS & Apps is bang on but I would have though you could get a few games on there as well, just keep the Tb HDD for data as so forth. The TRUE is a top notch cooler but I would suggest getting 2 of the Noctua P12 fans to run it in push/pull

Minty-Linty · 5 Jun 2009 at 10:22

thernalright ultra 120 for the win q6600 3.3ghz temp 35c

tcody · 5 Jun 2009 at 11:45

FaceplantSi said:
Your second spec looks very good, but I agree about changing the case to the Silverstone Fortress as they are very good indeed. Also using the SSD for OS & Apps is bang on but I would have though you could get a few games on there as well, just keep the Tb HDD for data as so forth. The TRUE is a top notch cooler but I would suggest getting 2 of the Noctua P12 fans to run it in push/pull

So right now I have one fan, which pulls it out of the heatsink? Sorry, I'm not great at computers... So if I were to add another on the opposite side of the heatsink which pulls air in. It would remove heat from the cpu faster.... Think that's what you're saying, and if it is, makes perfect sense!

Shall add another fan

hp7909 said:
Because Lian-Li's are made (almost) completely out of aluminum hence the rattling problem. But if they've found a way to take care of that issue in that particular case, then well & good.

The Thermalright comes with thermal compound. See here

Guessing that there's little difference between thermal compounds, and this one will suffice then

?

Thanks for continued advice guys, I'm going to look into changing the case... Just really want a lian li, it has the look that I want. (I originally come from Mac background, now everything must be aesthetically pleasing before functional

).
Anybody able to spec me a case with a door... or are door ones just awful? Preferably brushed aluminium, black and looks pretty much like a Lian Li