Final decision - any thoughts before I order?

ajf

ajf

ajf

Soldato
Joined
30 Oct 2006
Posts
3,067
Location
Worcestershire, UK
Finally decided to go with the following:
Does it all look OK -as my other posts said I haven't built one for over 10 years!
No requirement for graphics as have adequate card already for my needs.
Not added a cpu cooler as not sure which to go for. Other than that anything else I have missed? I assume all required cables come with the case and/or motherboard?

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 LGA775 'Wolfdale' 3.16GHz (1333FSB) - Retail
Asus P5Q-E Intel P45 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
GeIL 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Black Dragon DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GB24GB6400C4DC)
Samsung SpinPoint F1 320GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD322HJ)
LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM Serial ATA Drive - OEM
Antec Three Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case £29.99
Corsair VX 450W ATX PSU (CMPSU-450VXUK)
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (66I-01939)


Thanks
Andrew
 
ajf said:
No requirement for graphics as have adequate card already for my needs.
Not added a cpu cooler as not sure which to go for. Other than that anything else I have missed? I assume all required cables come with the case and/or motherboard?

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 LGA775 'Wolfdale' 3.16GHz (1333FSB) - Retail
Asus P5Q-E Intel P45 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
GeIL 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Black Dragon DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GB24GB6400C4DC)
Samsung SpinPoint F1 320GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD322HJ)
LG GGC-H20L Blu-Ray Reader & HD-DVD ROM Serial ATA Drive - OEM
Antec Three Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case £29.99
Corsair VX 450W ATX PSU (CMPSU-450VXUK)
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (66I-01939)
Click to expand...

1. What gfx card are you currently using and what will the PC be used for?
2. All cables come with the motherboard.
3. I would go for an Freezer 7 - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-017-AR
4. Spec looks fine but i would get a P5Q pro and a 520w corsair, i can't comment on the blueray drive as ive never used one. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-005-CS
5. 2 fans for the case as alreaddy mentioned.
 
If you aren't planning on overclocking and your existing GPU is either PCI or PCI-E then your spec is fine apart from one silent fan for the front of the case (may as well use the free CPU cooler)

If you are planning on overclocking I would do the following:

Upgrade the cooler to a Xigmatek HDT-S1283 (Unfortunately for some unknown reason OCUK don't stock these despite them being the best value cooler you can get).
Upgrade the RAM to some PC8500 spec stuff so you can max your overclock easily.
Downgrade the CPU to an E8400 to save a few quid as you should get a similar overclock regardless.

Unless you are using a monster of a graphics card, there is no way a system with a 45nm CPU, 1 Hard Disk, 4GB RAM and 1 DVD Drive will need more than the 450W PSU planned. Please feel free to add up the usage of the components and I would be surprised if it tops 200W. A quick calc here (allowing for a Radeon X800PE) rates the required supply as 212W allowing for PSU inefficiency and the system running at load:

http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

Why all Overclockers have this obsesion with spending a fortune on unnecessary PSU's is beyond me.
 
get 2 extra 120mm fans for the antec three hundred case as they are needed to keep the hdd's cool. Also look into getting a CPU cooler like the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler, got it in my machine and works a charm;).. Also remember to buy lots of ties, (100x for like £1)...
 
Meloco said:
get 2 extra 120mm fans for the antec three hundred case as they are needed to keep the hdd's cool. Also look into getting a CPU cooler like the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler, got it in my machine and works a charm;).. Also remember to buy lots of ties, (100x for like £1)...
Click to expand...

The Freezer 7 is OK (I am using it in my machine in fact), but if I was getting a new system I would go for one of the vastly superior options that have appeared since it's release. The best value on (about £20-£25) is the Xigmatek HDT-S1283, the Tuniq Tower and Thermalright Ultra 120 are both excellent too, but cost more like £40.

Also why would he need 2 fans for 1 hard disk at the front of the Antec. All it is doing is causing more noise and expense if it is not needed.
 
sibeer said:
The Freezer 7 is OK (I am using it in my machine in fact), but if I was getting a new system I would go for one of the vastly superior options that have appeared since it's release. The best value on (about £20-£25) is the Xigmatek HDT-S1283, the Tuniq Tower and Thermalright Ultra 120 are both excellent too, but cost more like £40.

Also why would he need 2 fans for 1 hard disk at the front of the Antec. All it is doing is causing more noise and expense if it is not needed.
Click to expand...

they're only about a £1 for each fan, and they aren't too loud. I've got 2 xilence installed and the only fan I can hear is that coming from my gpu.. Just complete's the build off.
 
Thanks all - looks like I should be OK then with the items :)
Graphics is an X800XT or alternatively basic X1300.
I have had PCs in the last 10 years but all pre-built.
Using for photo editing so looking more for general performance than graphics.
Will get a cooler and case fans then also.

Andrew
 
In my system the 2 "silent" 120mm fans (1 front, 1 back) are the second noisiest item next to the 4850 GPU. The op hasn't mentioned his existing GPU yet, but other than that he has a pretty quiet system there if he plays his cards right. I just don't see the point in putting in unnecessary items to fill the gaps. They will always add to the noise and cost, no matter how little.
 
ajf said:
Thanks all - looks like I should be OK then with the items :)
Graphics is an X800XT or alternatively basic X1300.
I have had PCs in the last 10 years but all pre-built.
Using for photo editing so looking more for general performance than graphics.
Will get a cooler and case fans then also.

Andrew
Click to expand...

You will be made up with how much easier they are to set up now than ten years ago. Oh and cases are far nicer to work with now too :D
 
Oh yer and just a side note...


I found when building the comp with the three hundred case that installing the mobo (with cpu, NOT COOLER, and ram sticks) in first was easier than my first try, when i tried installing the psu/hdd/dvd first.
 
Thanks again everyone.
System purchased AND running :) :)
I am amazed how easy it was - keep waiting for something to go wrong!
Minor problem with delviery so ended up collecting from shop - when I finally found it. Stoke is NOT an easy place to drive round!
Finally went for:
E8400 - decided to save a bit here on the assumption I can overclock a touch
Asus P5Q Pro
Changed memory to 4Gb PC8500 Corsair Dominator
2x 320 Samsung 320Gb which I have set as RAID 0
dropped the HD Optical drive and just went for standard DVD
Upped the PSU to a Corsair 520w modular supply
Freezer Pro
Antec 300 case - very nice.
Vista 64 bit

Just got to get my head round the whole overclocking thing now!

Andrew
 
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