How is my build?

Mike45450 · 31 Aug 2007 at 13:24

I'm putting together my first self-built PC, and I was just looking for some feedback on my choice of components, and just a double check of whether or not everything is compatible:

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4ghz
Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-6400C5 TwinX (2x1GB)
Asus ATI Radeon X1950 Pro HTDP 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
320 Gb Samsung HD321KJ
Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-520HXUK)
Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower Case
Pioneer DVR-112D 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter

Altogether it comes to about £560 (w/o shipping). I also need a 19" monitor for about £100-130, so any recommendations for them would be greatly appreciated too.

truebluecfc · 31 Aug 2007 at 13:28

Yeah everything looks good but you could get a E2160 which will easily overclock to E6600 speeds and beyond probably hitting 3-3.2GHz fairly comfortably, this would save you a £100 which you could spend on getting a 8800 GTS.

Kyle009 · 31 Aug 2007 at 13:39

personally id spend a bit more and get the Q6600. Worth it for the future

Kirth Gersen · 31 Aug 2007 at 13:44

Yes - a nicely balanced spec:

Small tweaks possibly:

Gigabyte GA_P35C_DS3R can be had for a few quid less, but has the DDR3 option just in case.

Crucial Ballistics 5300 can be had for £20 odd less than the Corsair, and is said to clock nicely.

b3mor · 31 Aug 2007 at 14:24

Very nice. You could get the OcUK 512MB 1950PRO for less money though or for nearly the same price as yours at the moment the 512MB Sapphire version. May be better suited if you are getting a WS 19" monitor.

What OS are you using? If Vista, maybe worth trying to stretch to a DX10 card?

The GeIL ram on this week only is cheaper than the Corsair as well.

Mike45450 · 31 Aug 2007 at 16:04

Thanks for the comments so far.

I've just noticed there is also an E6750 2.66GHz @ £130, whereas the E6600 2.40GHz is @ £150. Could anyone shed any light on why the E6600 would be more expensive than the faster E6750??

What OS are you using? If Vista, maybe worth trying to stretch to a DX10 card?

I don't think I'll be using Vista, think i'll just stick with XP for now. But that was the other dilemma I had. I'm thinking of doing a dual boot between XP and Linux Ubuntu, but i'm unsure of the hdd configuration. Should I just go for the one 320Gb Samsung hdd for everything, or is it better to get two hdd's, one dedicated to the OS's and the other for programs/files?

truebluecfc · 31 Aug 2007 at 17:14

Mike said:
Thanks for the comments so far.
I've just noticed there is also an E6750 2.66GHz @ £130, whereas the E6600 2.40GHz is @ £150. Could anyone shed any light on why the E6600 would be more expensive than the faster E6750??

Probably because the E6750 has a FSB of 1333Mhz, where as the E6600 would be 3GHz if it had that FSB so in theory you have less headroom for overclocking with the E6750. Either way their both a waste of money, get the E2160 or fork out for the Q6600.