First Build - Spec Check :)

Jaaay · 7 Mar 2007 at 22:05

Hey, im new here, just got my account validated

I am hoping to build my first new computer.
Looking forward to it loads.
Need it to be pretty cheap, as i don't have the biggest budget.
Not really in to gaming, maybe a bit of The Sims 2 here and there

Mainly going to be used to stream movies from the pc to my tv, and general browsing, downloading, msn, and encoding movies etc.
Just a quick spec check before i order bits and bobs;

Intel Core 2 DUO E6400
Gigabyte GA965P-DS3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
GeForce 7600GS 256MB DDR2 SLI, DVI, VGA, PCI-E
Akasa AK-ZEN-01-BK Zen Black Case
OCZ Modstream OCZ52012U 520W
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus21 160Gb 2Mb Cache SATA II Hard Disk Drive <11.0ms 7200rpm - OEM
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC)

Will be using optical drives from this current (old) pc im on atm.
I guess i won't be able to use my 250GB IDE hdd with the DS3, so that's got to go, might add another hdd later on.

Comes to £556.54 all in all.
So its not that bad, any recommendations? Do's and Dont's will be greatly appreciated.

Jay

semi-pro waster · 7 Mar 2007 at 22:15

Welcome to the forums. I'd change the graphics card to a 7600GT, you might not play many games but it isn't much more expensive and it is a better card plus a 7600GT doesn't use DDR2.

You should be able to use your existing hard drive as IDE can support two devices on one chain (there only being one port on the DS3) but I'd still get another hard drive anyway. Probably not a Maxtor though, although I have 3x200gb drives from Maxtor they have started clicking on occasion and it isn't an isolated case. Take a look at Seagate, Samsung and Western Digital as all have decent offerings and try to get an 8mb or 16mb cache version.

If you are thinking about overclocking then I'd suggest an aftermarket cooler, the Arctic Freezer 7 is good but cheap.

//edit I'm not sure about the name of the graphics card since it is a competitors product, maybe just edit it so it reads as a Geforce 7600GS as they are all built to a reference design anyway.

Will_3rd · 7 Mar 2007 at 22:16

Looks good part from the HDD, Maxtor are unreliable get any by Seagate, Hitachi, Western Digital or Samsung

Jaaay · 7 Mar 2007 at 22:28

Thanks guys, ill probably invest in a 250GB+ Hdd, probably a Samsung spinpoint one, as i heard they are quite quiet. Also i will probably purchase a 80GB hdd for Windows, programs etc.

Does the RAM and everything fit?
Because ill probably end up ordering it on the weekend.

I will also look into getting a 7600GT, any reasons why it would benefit me as i dont really do much gaming etc...

Thanks,
Jay

semi-pro waster · 7 Mar 2007 at 22:36

Jay™ said:
I will also look into getting a 7600GT, any reasons why it would benefit me as i dont really do much gaming etc...

You might not game much at the moment but the 7600GT would allow you to do so in the future more easily than a 7600GS and from what I can tell the difference in price is only around £15 which is a pretty small price to pay for a lot more power. If you are sure you won't be gaming any more then the GS will be fine but it was just a thought.

All the parts are compatible so no worries there. Best advice I can give you for building is allow yourself plenty of time and don't force anything too hard, most parts very obviously fit one way only and don't require much pressure.

Jaaay · 7 Mar 2007 at 22:50

Intel Core 2 DUO E6400
Gigabyte GA965P-DS3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
******** GeForce 7600GT PCI-E 256MB DDR3 DVI/TVO SLI
Akasa AK-ZEN-01-BK Zen Black Case
OCZ Modstream OCZ52012U 520W
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC)
320 Gb Samsung HD321KJ Spinpoint T, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 9 ms, NCQ
80 Gb Samsung HD080HJ SpinPoint P80, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 8MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ

TOTAL = £617.29

So far, so good. A tad over £600 though

Will this one IDE chain on the DS3 be able to support my 250GB hdd, my Pioneer 111D DVD-RW drive, and my DVD-Rom drive?

tsj · 7 Mar 2007 at 23:00

Jay™ said:
Intel Core 2 DUO E6400
Gigabyte GA965P-DS3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
******** GeForce 7600GT PCI-E 256MB DDR3 DVI/TVO SLI
Akasa AK-ZEN-01-BK Zen Black Case
OCZ Modstream OCZ52012U 520W
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC)
320 Gb Samsung HD321KJ Spinpoint T, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 9 ms, NCQ
80 Gb Samsung HD080HJ SpinPoint P80, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 8MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ

TOTAL = £617.29

So far, so good. A tad over £600 though
Will this one IDE chain on the DS3 be able to support my 250GB hdd, my Pioneer 111D DVD-RW drive, and my DVD-Rom drive?

have u considered the ram on offer atm? ocz 6400
also what about a 520w corsair hx instead of ** current psu

semi-pro waster · 7 Mar 2007 at 23:06

Jay™ said:
Will this one IDE chain on the DS3 be able to support my 250GB hdd, my Pioneer 111D DVD-RW drive, and my DVD-Rom drive?

Nope, afraid not, it will support 2 drives but not 3 so I'd suggest the hard drive and the Pioneer 111D. You could also consider getting an IDE controller card, they shouldn't be all that pricey for a basic one.

That system looks fine, good luck with the build.

Jaaay · 8 Mar 2007 at 18:34

semi-pro waster said:
Nope, afraid not, it will support 2 drives but not 3 so I'd suggest the hard drive and the Pioneer 111D. You could also consider getting an IDE controller card, they shouldn't be all that pricey for a basic one.

That system looks fine, good luck with the build.

Right Ok

Thanks anyway

As it stands at the moment

Intel Core 2 DUO E6400 1066FSB SKT775 Retail
Gigabyte GA965P-DS3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
GeForce 7600GT 256MB DDR2 SLI, DVI, VGA, PCI-E
Akasa AK-ZEN-01-BK Zen Black Case
Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-520HXUK)
500 Gb Samsung HD501LJ Spinpoint T, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ
OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK)

TOTAL = £654.90

IDE Controller - PCI Ultra ATA133 / 100 IDE Controller Card = £18.80 inc. VAT

NEW TOTAL = £673.70 inc. VAT + P&P with all items.

Still a bit out of my range

EDIT: Is it worth getting the GA-965P-DS3P over a GA965P-DS3 for my needs?

Jaaay · 8 Mar 2007 at 22:49

UPDATE:
Instead of using various sites i chose wisely, and am now getting the majority of my parts from OcUK

GPU - GeForce 7600GT PCI-E 256MB DDR3 DVI/TVO SLI
IDE Controller - PCI Ultra ATA133 / 100 IDE Controller Card
Sub Total = £103.39

Grand total = £633.17

masslac · 9 Mar 2007 at 01:46

I'd personally get

Although the Corsairs are very good, the 7600GT is by no means a hungry card so you'll save some money in that area.

melbourne720 · 9 Mar 2007 at 10:00

For the price of a IDE controller, you could get a new SATA DVD writer!

Jaaay · 9 Mar 2007 at 17:30

I reckon i will probably go for this set up, ordering today or tomorrow.
If you have any last words of advice please do contribute

masslac · 9 Mar 2007 at 17:32

Although very nice, the PSU is overkill tbh. The 400W FSP sparkle will easily do the job for £45. Everything else looks spot on.

Also, don't forget the thermal paste.

Edit - If changing the PSU, consider spending the difference on http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-054-LL&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=187

Jaaay · 9 Mar 2007 at 18:34

Thanks for the reply.

I will think about dropping the PSU down to 400W, will 400W do the job with ease? Or just about manage?

Also another question; what thermal paste is the best?

Cheers
Jay

semi-pro waster · 9 Mar 2007 at 19:16

You get thermal past pre-applied to the bottom of the heatsink or at least some supplied with it, I wouldn't bother changing it since Arctic Cooling make some of the best thermal pastes on the market anyway.

The 400w should be fine although if you are going to be overclocking much I'd be tempted to go for the Corsair for the extra reassurance of a larger PSU.

Jaaay · 9 Mar 2007 at 19:23

semi-pro waster said:
You get thermal past pre-applied to the bottom of the heatsink or at least some supplied with it, I wouldn't bother changing it since Arctic Cooling make some of the best thermal pastes on the market anyway.

The 400w should be fine although if you are going to be overclocking much I'd be tempted to go for the Corsair for the extra reassurance of a larger PSU.

Cheers mate.
Shall i stick with the
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 775)
or go for something like the
Scythe Ninja Plus Rev.B Heatpipe CPU Cooler (478/754/939/940/AM2/LGA755)
Or will that be a bit overkill?

Cheers
Jay

PS. Im looking forward to building my first pc

masslac · 9 Mar 2007 at 19:25

The Scythe is awesome and also silent at stock. Good choice.

semi-pro waster · 9 Mar 2007 at 19:25

It depends on how far you want to overclock (assuming you do) and how much room is left in your budget, the Arctic Freezer 7 is a decent heatsink at a good price, the Scythe Ninja is however better but costs about double. I also don't know if it comes with thermal paste or not, if not Arctic Silver 5 is recommended.

masslac · 9 Mar 2007 at 19:26

semi-pro waster said:
It depends on how far you want to overclock (assuming you do) and how much room is left in your budget, the Arctic Freezer 7 is a decent heatsink at a good price, the Scythe Ninja is however better but costs about double. I also don't know if it comes with thermal paste or not, if not Arctic Silver 5 is recommended.

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