Critique this rig please :)

Plethora

Plethora

Plethora

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24 May 2007
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gearoc8.jpg

PC to be used for gaming!
Main things I'd like to know are the following

Quite interested to what you have to say on motherboard choice, reckon the 680i chipset is a better alternative?

Seems to be a lot of debate about raptors not being value for money, reckon I should maybe get some SATA-II drives and set up raid-0 or something?

Is the faster ram worth it? If not, why not?

Is the case okay for cooling, I'd prefer a quiet system but would still like it to run at a decent temperature, is the PSU that it comes with okay?

How do the Auzentech sound cards measure up, reckon the new X-Fi one will be worth it? I have Z-5500 speakers, however good performance with a headset is also important as I'm a CSS addict.

I am looking to blow around the £1k mark (excluding that keyboard and mouse) + some more if you think a little extra will be value for performance So if you can spec me better please go for it...

Lastly the keyboard/mouse is to replace a G15/G5, reckon this'd be a worthwhile investment or am I just getting frivelous :P

Oh, as a point of information, I am not an experienced overclocker, though this is something I want to learn in the future. Apologies for the barrage of questions, I'm armed with cash and am hyped over the new rig prospect!
 
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pumaz said:
Isn't the BFG 8800GTS the same price as that would be a better buy.
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Right'o, noted the opinions on the graphics card, probably not the best choice, how bout the other aspects? Cheers for replies :D
 
You dont need the transparent covered Raptor.... 2x 250GB Seagate Barracudas in RAID 0 are faster and cheaper... use the extra money from that save to get a BFG 8800GTX and get a Noctua NH-U12F for the CPU not the Scythe
 
MAJOR POINTS :

Overpriced RAM : Get the Crucial Ballistix PC5300 if you want some overclocking ram, otherwise the 2x2gb OCZ looks a nice buy if you're happy very mildly clocking.

Keyboard and mouse : Thats a lot of money for a keyboard, and razer products tend to be gimmicky IMO. Have you ever used a Razer mouse before ? They are very uncomfortable IMO, so make sure you like them first, Logitech and MS make far superior mice IMO, so long as your right handed ;)
 
I would cut out the Raptor as well. Get two 250GB's and RAID them (as suggested - not difficult) or just get one big fast drive. Have a look at the AAKS range for either, very nice drive.

I recently sold 2 74GB Raptors (16mb) and was pleased with the money I made on them. The money for a new rig can be spent elsewhere, even though the 'Ooh' and 'Aah' of the 10,000rpm spin cycle is always tempting at first. :)
 
You don't need PC8500 ram, Ballistix PC5300 is brilliant, and cheaper.

Get cheaper hard drives. I'd recommend Seagate 7200.10 drives.

Definitely try and get an 8800GTX.

I don't think much to Antec's current cases: I'd get a Lian Li or an Akasa Mirage/Eclipse.

Do you really need such an expensive motherboard? An Abit QuadGT would be a cheaper option, as would a Gigabyte DS3P, Asus P5N-E or Asus P5B.

You may want to invest in a VGA cooler like a Thermalright HR03 to make the system silent.

Hope that helps :)
 
Don't get the Raptor and do *not* go RAID 0 on a home rig. Check out this Anandtech conclusion on RAID 0:

http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=2101&p=11

I went RAID 0 in the past (because it sounded great and because I hadn't read the above article) and it wasn't impressive. I use the two disks now in RAID 1 and feel better for it.

Put the money you save on not getting the Raptor towards getting an 8800GTX, which will have a much more noticeable effect on (gaming) performance.
 
Interested in the outcome of this thread, going to be doing this myself soon, agree with the suggestions above. Apparently that Crucial RAM is some of the best value around at the moment.

aaazza
 
aaazza said:
Apparently that Crucial RAM is some of the best value around at the moment.
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Insane stuff. 1000MHz @ 5-4-4-12 at the moment and it's looking very solid... Still tweaking it though. I think I'm gonna stay at 1000MHz and just find the best timings. Will post full results when done.
 
hp7909 said:
Asus P5N32-E
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No No No No No!

Never buy this board. A crock of absolute s**te.

Get the Abit QuadGT or one of the cheaper P35 boards.

p4radox said:
I don't think much to Antec's current cases: I'd get a Lian Li or an Akasa Mirage/Eclipse.
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Good advice.
 
All the specs look pretty good, but here's mine to complicate things even more!

PC.jpg


Great overclocking board with great overclocking ram with great cooler, coupled with one of the best GFX cards, a sound card, a mouse, a mat, a keyboard, etc.

I tried to fulfil all your needs with this one.
(P.S: That keyboard is fine for gaming, i have one myself and the key press is really crisp and nice, even my mate who had an expensive tarrantula preferred this :P
P.P.S: I only included that case because thats the one you chose, i couldnt personally recommend it but still, cases are mainly a matter of preference.)
 
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keep the g15/g5 combo long as they are working fine you wont notice any real change.

sound card i'd just get the x-fi xtreme gamer, unless u really want the front panel from the fataility version.

Case wise the lian li pc7-plus is a very nice looking case and matching to the 520 or 620 corsair will help get the most from you're system when you start to overclock.

motherboard wise you could go for the p35 version of the ds3p.

as mentioned noctua cooler will work nicely as well.
 
Oh, v. Sorry, didn't realise you didnt need a new mouse and keyboard,

In which case you can save yourself nearly 50 quid on my spec :D

Any keyboard / mouse change on a G15 + G5 would not be an upgrade imo.
 
*Chris said:
In which case you can save yourself nearly 50 quid on my spec :D
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can save a bit more by dropping the corsair psu off ya spec antec 500W psu should be ok.

nice idea with spec'ing a mousemat :D
 
I think you should get the raptor if your spending £1000 anyway, i've got one and I think it is really good, as long as you get an enclosure to stop the noise they are great, if I was buying again though I would have spent the extra £10 and get the clear covered one because it is actually a bit faster than the others.

The corsair 520W PSU would be adequate and is an excellent psu also. For the memory and motherboard the crucial ballistix pc5300 is the best memory at the moment and i'd get the Abit QuadGT motherboard as it has some useful features which the others don't have and also is great for overclocking. Don't get the Noctua enless you have space limitation and can't fit the Thermaltake 120mm!! Or if your building a silent PC! Although the noctua is a nice heatsink the thermaltake cools about 3/5 degrees less.
 
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