Help on a first custom build please

Darkst4r · 9 Oct 2009 at 12:31

I am thinking of starting my first custom build in the near future and am just looking for a bit of general advice on parts and compatibility really.

After squeezing 4 years out of my Compaq pressario p4 3.06GHZ I think it's more than time to move on and build something better.

I'm looking at an AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition 3.20GHz (Socket AM3)

Does it sound like a decent CPU to base a good system on ?

I will be using the new rig mainly for gaming and a bit of photoshopping.

What would be the best mother board for this processor , could I use a Corsair H50 water cooling system with it and how much RAM could I install in Windows 7 to make the system fairly future proof ?

I'm thinking I'd like between 4 and 8 gb just so I dont have to mess about putting more in at a later stage.

If the processor doesnt sound ideal I'd appreciate it if someone could spec me a water cooled bundle for around the same price range.

I have looked at the Titan Nero system already but would really like to build my own PC from scratch based around the Corsair Obsidian case.

Cheers in advance

Kennysevenfold · 9 Oct 2009 at 12:49

Budget?

Darkst4r · 9 Oct 2009 at 12:50

Kennysevenfold said:
Budget?

Hmm , for mobo , cpu , ram and cooler about 400 quid ?

Darkst4r · 9 Oct 2009 at 12:53

Maybe 500 at a push

Kennysevenfold · 9 Oct 2009 at 12:54

ahh right kool. I would just stick to 4gig of ram just now mate for gaming, unless you use specific programs that use more.

For them...how about something like this?

Product Name Qty Price Line Total

AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 965 Black Edition 3.40GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £159.99
(£139.12) £159.99
(£139.12)

Asus M4A785TD-V Evo AMD 785G (Socket AM3) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard £70.99
(£61.73) £70.99
(£61.73)

OCZ Obsidian 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 Dual Channel (OCZ3OB1600LV4GK) £65.99
(£57.38) £65.99
(£57.38)

Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme Rev.C (Socket 1366 / 775 / AM2 / AM2+ / AM3) £42.99
(£37.38) £42.99
(£37.38)

Noctua NF-S12B FLX Ultra Quiet 120mm Flexible Cooling Fan £15.99
(£13.90) £31.98
(£27.80) Sub Total : £323.41 Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £9.50 VAT is being charged at 15% VAT : £49.94 Total : £382.85

Darkst4r · 9 Oct 2009 at 12:59

Looks pretty good and well within budget. Just a few questions though :

Is OCZ ram overclockers own brand and is it high performance ?

What exacly is that Thermalright ultra Rev c thing ? :confused:

It looks like some kind of massive heatsink

Kennysevenfold · 9 Oct 2009 at 13:02

Darkst4r said:
Looks pretty good and well within budget. Just a few questions though :

Is OCZ ram overclockers own brand and is it high performance ?

What exacly is that Thermalright ultra Rev c thing ? It looks like some kind of massive heatsink

Okayyyyyyy

1 - OCZ is a ram manufacturer, OcUK just sell them

Clicky And you get a Lifetime Warranty.

2 - The thermalright is a massive heatsink you attach to your cpu and use those 2 fans on each side of it in a Push-Pull Motion to cool the cpu

Darkst4r · 9 Oct 2009 at 13:05

Kennysevenfold said:
Okayyyyyyy

1 - OCZ is a ram manufacturer, OcUK just sell them Clicky And you get a Lifetime Warranty.

2 - The thermalright is a massive heatsink you attach to your cpu and use those 2 fans on each side of it in a Push-Pull Motion to cool the cpu

Ahh I see. Could I not use the Corsair water cooler system ? Those fleshy pink and brown fans look hideous ! Seeing as ill be using the Obsidian case with a window I want the internals to look the business too. Call me shallow

Kennysevenfold · 9 Oct 2009 at 13:08

Could always just strap on any nice, fancy, flashy led fans to that cooler. :cool:

But the

Corsair H50 High-Performance CPU Watercooler (Socket LGA775/1366)

Wouldnt fit an AM3 motherboard

Darkst4r · 9 Oct 2009 at 13:11

Kennysevenfold said:
Could always just strap on any nice, fancy, flashy led fans to that cooler.

But the

Corsair H50 High-Performance CPU Watercooler (Socket LGA775/1366)

Wouldnt fit an AM3 motherboard

Bah , I wanted the cool little Corsair pirate boat staring at me through the window

Thanks a lot for your help though.

Kennysevenfold · 9 Oct 2009 at 13:13

Darkst4r said:
Bah , I wanted the cool little Corsair pirate boat staring at me through the window

Thanks a lot for your help though.

lol would have to go I7 for that dude, which would take you over £500 and just for the cooler, not worth it.

The Thermaltight will give about the same cooling efficiency as the Corsair.

Darkst4r · 9 Oct 2009 at 13:18

Kennysevenfold said:
lol would have to go I7 for that dude, which would take you over £500 and just for the cooler, not worth it.

The Thermaltight will give about the same cooling efficiency as the Corsair.

I've had a look at the Thermaltake fitted to a mobo and it's a beast ! Is there an equivelant to the pink bendy fan I could use that would be just as quiet and vibration resistant ? Or could I fit a silencer gasket between any fan and the cooler to the same effect ?

Kennysevenfold · 9 Oct 2009 at 13:58

How about THESE fans? very quiet yet push a great deal of air about.

Darkst4r · 9 Oct 2009 at 14:01

Kennysevenfold said:
How about THESE fans? very quiet yet push a great deal of air about.

Awesome , I think we have a system ! Cheers for all your help chap , going to make a post on my first build with pictures once I recieve all the parts.

Kennysevenfold · 9 Oct 2009 at 14:12

Darkst4r said:
Awesome , I think we have a system ! Cheers for all your help chap , going to make a post on my first build with pictures once I recieve all the parts.

Niceeee

Will look forward to seeing it up and running. :cool: