First PC In 5 Years (Help w/ Spec!)

[stinka]

That looks like a very very nice spec! If you want to save some cash but not compromise, maybe change the case to Lian-Li PC7 to save £40 or so, maybe look at some slightly cheaper RAM (Maybe 4x1GB sticks of the Crucial Ballistix 5300 which will clock as well as that Geil will), but that will use up all 4 memory slots instead of just 2. That said, 4GB RAM will not need to be upgraded for a pretty long while.

Other than those changes, that is a great spec for the money. The best GFX out, great monitor, loads of storage, exceptional processor, fast RAM.

op that is a very nice spec and i would stick with chosen ram as my crucial balistix 5300 purcaced from ocuk 2 weeks ago tops out at 930 5-4-4-15 @2.25 volts (higher volts caused memtest errors after 10%)

my old geil pc6400 ull did 898 4-4-4-12 so chances are the new black dragon stuff will rock

 

[Noc0de]

Sounding good then.

It's strange, it's the first time I almost want my holiday to speed-up so I can get back and order this

Is the mobo ok though? Is there a better P35 one I could get?

Also, bit of a newbie question here - but what tools do ppl use to build their PC's these days? I've obviously got screwdrivers kicking around the flat, but they're probably magnetised which I'm guessing isn't the best

Is it worth buying a PC tool kit from anywhere?

 

[supernova9]

Magnetised screwdrivers will never be strong enough magnets to damage components. If you've got a no. 2 Philips and maybe a couple of small flat-blades as well, you'll be set.

The Mobo's probably the best one of the Gigabyte P35 boards, the only other one I'd look at is the Asus P5K Deluxe, but that won't give notable gains over the Gigabyte board, plus the one you have specced gives DDR3 compatibility as well.

No need to bother with a PC tool kit.

 

[Noc0de]

The Mobo's probably the best one of the Gigabyte P35 boards, the only other one I'd look at is the Asus P5K Deluxe, but that won't give notable gains over the Gigabyte board, plus the one you have specced gives DDR3 compatibility as well.

I'm always a bit concerned with the mobo's that have got heatpiping surrounding the CPU socket. I'm wondering whether I would have problems trying to fit something like the Noctua NH-U12F?

Also, whats the main argument for something like the Asus P5K Deluxe vs the Gigabyte P35C_DS3R? I quite like the idea of the Asus with the WiFi as where I place my PC is unlikely to be close to my router, and I'm not sure the gf wants me running cabling around

 

[supernova9]

I'm always a bit concerned with the mobo's that have got heatpiping surrounding the CPU socket. I'm wondering whether I would have problems trying to fit something like the Noctua NH-U12F?

Also, whats the main argument for something like the Asus P5K Deluxe vs the Gigabyte P35C_DS3R? I quite like the idea of the Asus with the WiFi as where I place my PC is unlikely to be close to my router, and I'm not sure the gf wants me running cabling around

From what I can see the WiFi is the only significant difference. There is no DDR3 support with the P5K deluxe either, and it's £50 more expensive. It's cheaper to buy a PCI/USB WiFi adapter and the Gigabyte board.

Personally I'd go for the Gigabyte, I just threw it in for variety's sake, to show you how the Gigabytes stack up against another manufacturer.