How is this for a new spec PC?

Phunky Phish · 21 Mar 2007 at 13:49

This is for a new build PC for a PC'less home!
I am planning to OC it some, but not to madly!
Price is a small issue, hence not all the greatest components but should do.
Any advice on maybe better puschases would be gladly recieved!

Gigabyte DS3
C2D E6300
AC Freezer 7 Pro
2GB G.Skill DDR2 NR PC2-6400 Cas5
BFG 7900GS OC 256MB
Hitachi Deskstar 320GB SATA-II
Corsair HX 520W PSU
Asus VW192S 19" wide screen
NEC DVD-RW Lightscribe
Thermalltake VB1000SNS Case
Windows Vista 64bit premium home edition

It will be used for general Word,Excel,Internet useage and some gaming.
I was thinking about 3GHz CPU overclock, and hopefully OC the graphics card some more. Should I get a better cooler for it as well?

Cheers for your help guys

Alexrose1uk · 21 Mar 2007 at 14:23

Not bad at all, although I'd perhaps look at an x1950pro over the 7900GS (except for a HIS version) as its a bit faster and similar price

Think there might be a couple of slightly cheaper widescreens around too, ie the Viewsonic's.

---->ALSO IF YOU WANT TO GAME, FOR NOW, STICK WITH WINDOWS XP<----.

Sorry, really cant stress that enough right now, Vista is quite poor right now for drivers etc, WindowsXP isnt as flashy, but is far more mature, and you can upgrade to Vista in 6-12 months when drivers mature and SP1 arrives.

Phunky Phish · 21 Mar 2007 at 14:36

Thanks for the note regarding the monitor and graphics card, will check that out.

As for the Vista vs XP route, I told my friend that it would be better to stick with XP but he wont have any of it! Regardless of me building him this spec, or him buying one from Dell or someone he wants Vista, the muppet!!

Chris Beard · 21 Mar 2007 at 14:38

You could get the DS3 from clearance: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-067-GI&groupid=595&catid=597&subcat=643

and some of this clearance ballistix RAM: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-078-CR&groupid=595&catid=597&subcat=639

Arctic 7 should be fine

Phunky Phish · 21 Mar 2007 at 14:51

Hey, good call on both counts, but ram is same price! I like to have alternatives mind!
That will save a little more money.

Might even have a spare Lanboy2 case so could save him a little more!

Chris Beard · 21 Mar 2007 at 16:45

Phunky Phish said:
Hey, good call on both counts, but ram is same price! I like to have alternatives mind!
That will save a little more money.

Might even have a spare Lanboy2 case so could save him a little more!

The RAM I linked to is better RAM.

Alexrose1uk · 21 Mar 2007 at 16:51

Phunky Phish said:
Thanks for the note regarding the monitor and graphics card, will check that out.

As for the Vista vs XP route, I told my friend that it would be better to stick with XP but he wont have any of it! Regardless of me building him this spec, or him buying one from Dell or someone he wants Vista, the muppet!!

Tell him lots of his games might not work, and he wont be able to pick up and run everything off a pc store shelf, as most of its not written to work with Vista. Not to mention its slower, and he really ought to wait for Vista. If hes gonna be gaming, you really do need to try and convince him, otherwise hes going to be quite dissapointed in the performance, because simply put, he wont be able to get out all his hardware can provide; Vista's not ready for performance/gaming usage yet. Show him this forum if need be, and how many people arent going to Vista yet!

Phunky Phish · 21 Mar 2007 at 18:07

I have now convinced him that if wants any chance of getting me in BF2142 he needs XP, an it worked!

Thanks for the tip with the graphics an RAM. New spec should be £700 ex VAT, an as I am putting it through my company thats not an issue

Roll on the BF carnage!!

Oh, one last thing. Would an e4300 be better than an e6300?
We have already agreed to drop the sound card to drop the price, and can always upgarde the CPU at a later date.

Alexrose1uk · 22 Mar 2007 at 12:42

Errr,yes and no. They have a higher multiplier so you dont have to push the ram so much to get a nice overclock, however Im hearing they tend to require more volts to reach the higher overclocks, and that ofc is going to impact on temps. If you stick with the e6300, it's 7x multi will still let you go straight to 2.8Ghz with your pc6400 RAM if the chip will do it with whatever voltages. E4300 could technically reach 3.6Ghz at the same RAM FSB but ofc, you have to have a chip that can do it, and probably the extra voltage and cooling it may require. The e6400 is a nice balance as 400FSB gives it 3.2GHz, due to the 8x multi which is respectable, but less of a push on the system and voltages!

All in, I'd say as you have fairly decent RAM, and didnt want an excessive overclock, stick with the e6300.

spb251272 · 22 Mar 2007 at 13:26

If you got one of the nvidia boards - 650i or 680i, you can run the RAM unlinked. This removes it as a limitation from your overclocking completely, and may allow you to reach a higher overclock. Also may be worth spending the extra to get the 6400 with an 8 x mult. for a bit more headroom

Chris Beard · 22 Mar 2007 at 13:35

As you're not hard core overclocking go for the 4300 (unless your friend intends to run virtulisation software)

Phunky Phish · 22 Mar 2007 at 21:21

To be honest my friend is not bothered about overclocking at all!
Its me thats setting his system up so I may as well set it up to overclock so he gets a lot more for nothing!
If he buys a Dell he will be stuck at 1.8GHz or so and crap gfx!
I can give him a PC to knock a std e6800 for far less money than Dell!!

So I have advised on change to ATI X1950 XT card, and will prob stick with e6300 an go for nice 3 - 3.2GHz OC, I mean.... I cant OC his better than mine!!!