My first build :D Comments please!!

paniK

paniK

paniK

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8 Jan 2007
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208
Hi all, my first post in this forum so hello to everyone.

I am building a computer for the first time and would like some comments on my chosen specification (all from OcUK). Dont really have a budget in mind but wouldnt like to deviate a lot from my current total price of i think £470.

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4200+ 2.20GHz

Motherboard: Abit KN9 Ultra nForce 570 Ultra (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

RAM: OCZ 1GB (2 x 512MB) PC2-6400 Dual Channel Special Ops XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2SOE8001GK)

Graphics Card: Sapphire X1600 Pro 256MB DDR2 AVIVO TV-Out/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail

HD: keeping my existing

Optical Drive: Sony AW-G170ASV 18x DVD±RW x12 Ram Dual Layer DVD-Writer - (Silver) OEM

Fan controller: Akasa All-In-One 21 Function Panel (Silver)

Sound: integrated sound as using my HIFI through AUX connection to sound conenctor

Monitor: OcUK Digimate L1531W 15.4" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black


Apart from the casing and the cabling, thats essentially my build. Any comments or advice (positive or negative) much appreciated.

Thanks a lot :)
 
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What are you planning on doing with your PC? Games (which type etc), office / web use or video editing / photo editing.

Also - what's the resolution of your monitor (sounds silly I know, but if you have low spec monitor then you can skimp on the GPU a bit or vica versa).
 
The consensus -at the moment- is to go for Intel Core 2 Duo processors. For price/performance they can't be beaten, and even the cheap entry level 6300 conroe will clock to around the 3ghz mark.
 
It's just plain silly to go AMD at the moment. Core 2 Duos decimate everything AMD has to offer on the consumer end.

Think more like an E6300 paired with a Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3
 
thank you for the quick responses, much appreciated.

i will be playing games but im not a heavy gamer thats why its not a really top end graphics card. i think it is adequate but im flexible with graphics cards. may go for the 512MB version of the sapphire pro or possibly the HIS ICEQ Excalibur Turbo version. I will be using the PC mainly for work but i do heavily multitask. Games I play are like NFS (all), serious sam, Halo, Metal Gear Soild, Half Life, you get the idea. Shooters/Racers/Adventure/RPG

the monitor i think can go up to 1280x800, is this enough or should i go for a better one?

I'm totally in a mess now because i originally opted for a Core 2 Duo, the entry level one then I read the following article http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10442_7-6389077-8.html?tag=lnav

and veered away from Intel to AMD. It seems from what I have read on here that Intel is the way to go. Firstly, is the CPU I have chosen X2 4200+ worse than the entry level E6300 1.86GHZ Core 2 Duo? Should I really go Intel or AMD? I do plan to overclock once I get everything up and running
 
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i just upgraded to a conroe 2.4ghz from an amd 4600+ @ 2.5ghz. even with the conroe at stock speeds it is miles quicker. I can't see any reason to go AMD at the moment. As far as I know the cheapest core2duo (1.86ghz) matched my 4600+ near enough so the answer would be yes :p
 
paniK said:
I'm totally in a mess now because i originally opted for a Core 2 Duo, the entry level one then I read the following article http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10442_7-6389077-8.html?tag=lnav

and veered away from Intel to AMD. It seems from what I have read on here that Intel is the way to go. Firstly, is the CPU I have chosen X2 4200+ worse than the entry level E6300 1.86GHZ Core 2 Duo? Should I really go Intel or AMD? I do plan to overclock once I get everything up and running
Click to expand...

That review is old. It compares AMD x2 to Pentium D, not exactly fair as there are no Core 2 Duo processors involved.

As for deciding between AMD and Intel, it depends in you're overclocking or not. I'm not sure how good the E6300 is at stock, but it overclocks very very well. So if you're overclocking it at all; definietly go for Intel.
 
i am now looking at this

DFI Infinity 975X (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

with the E6300 Core 2 Duo. Is this a better choice over the AMD 4200+?

If i end up not overclocking, at stock I'm guessing the Intel would be better??
 
paniK said:
i am now looking at this

DFI Infinity 975X (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

with the E6300 Core 2 Duo. Is this a better choice over the AMD 4200+?
Click to expand...
Very very yes.
 
paniK said:
i am now looking at this

DFI Infinity 975X (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard

with the E6300 Core 2 Duo. Is this a better choice over the AMD 4200+?

If i end up not overclocking, at stock I'm guessing the Intel would be better??
Click to expand...

Yeah it's a better choice, definietly better if you overclock.

If you're going for the E6300, may I suggest a 965P board instead. DS3, DS4, P5B series come to mind.
 
Better off pairing your E6300 with a DS3/DS4,i would have thought,most will get up to at least 450fsb,so you should see 3Ghz with ease ;)

Rob
 
WOW. again thank you all very very much. this has been an excellent opening experience on this forum.

I searched for a comparison between AMD X2s and Intel Core 2 Duo and Intel just smacked it completely. It absolutely kicked AMD's arse into the next century. The E6300 entry level one smacked every AMD including the 4600+ and in one area the 5000+!!! :eek: imagine if you overclock the Intel still :eek: :eek:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2014650,00.asp check this out for the comparison. In conclusion, the Intel chips absolutely smash the AMDs and its literally no contest. i am totally won over to Intel!!

and thank you for the motherbaord recommendations :D
 
Yeah go Core2Duo, i was always AMD, had AMD in my first ever machine, and always upgraded to AMD's, my E6600 is my first ever Intel chip, and your right they do smack the AMD's all over, they just can't compete, even on price. :D

Also as said above thats a cracking motherboard and CPU your going for there now, much better than the AMD ones, have you not got a budget in mind for the graphics card, as the x1600 pro's are terrible in all honesty, and welcome to the forums as well. :)
 
what would you recommend if not the x1600s? i was originally planning to get X1300 HIS excalibur turbo ICEQ with the fat cooling system. Is this a wiser choice although less performing than the x1600 pro?

i cant really afford a X1900 by the way or something £80+ (its not that i cant, its because i dont want to)
 
why is the x1600 crap by the way, core speed and clock speed seem good to me? and the pipelines and pixel shading seem ok too? just a bit confused
 
right have taken all advice on board and have modified my spec to the following

Intel Core 2 Duo 1.86 GHz E6300 (i have read this can easily see 3GHz from 1.86 right?) processor

Gigabyte DS3 965P motherboard

OCZ Dual OPS 1GB RAM

BFG 3DFuzion GeForce 7600 GS 256MB DDR2 TV-Out/DVI or possibly if i can stretch to it BFG GeForce 7600 GT OC 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail

HD: keeping my existing

Optical Drive: Sony AW-G170ASV 18x DVD±RW x12 Ram Dual Layer DVD-Writer - (Silver) OEM

Fan controller: Akasa All-In-One 21 Function Panel (Silver)

Sound: integrated sound as using my HIFI through AUX connection to sound conenctor

Monitor: OcUK Digimate L1531W 15.4" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black


note: does the graphics card, CPU and RAM that i have chosen overclock well

thanks again :)
 
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