My first real build.

[Acid90]

Ok, so I've upgraded some older computers and classed them as mine..buying new parts etc so I know a little bit about what I need to do. But this was when I was 13, so...its going back awhile.

Its my 18th Birthday in 7 days and I am after building myself a new system.

I'm interested in an E8400 but unfortunately low stock at the moment so if there isn't any stock by the time 11th-12th April rolls round, I need to decide what the hell I'm gunna get instead!

Its a mix up between E8200 or the Q6600. My system is going to mainly used for gaming and I haven't OC'd before but I am interested so I'll be buying myself a Tuniq Tower to cool my CPU down.

My budget is around £600 no more than this at all and here is what I currently have (this is gunna be vague without brands etc, just approx!):-

E8400
8800GT 512mb
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R
Tuniq Tower 120mm
Western Digital 250gb HD 16MB Cache
2x OCZ 2GB (2x1gb) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2
Coolermaster CM-690 Dominator / Coolermaster Real Power 520w Modular Power Supply - Bundle

Probably missed something off but thats all I can remember haha! If anyone can give me some advice etc specially on CPUs, that'd be awesome.

Thanks in advance, my first post so be gentle.

EDIT: Possibly to bring the price down abit more, I could change the Tuniq to an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro.

 

[Acid90]

Thank you very much for the replys and the welcome. I have an optical drive here at home, so thats no problem!

But yeah, I am hoping a good graphics card will join the sale around my birthday!

I am pushing more towards the E8200 atm and overclock it (hopefully success because I havn't done it before!)

So far, Its under my budget and did a quick change of the PSU and Case to that bundle (due to better PSU and nicer looking case!). I can push it even more with the Arctic Pro.

Anymore positive things about the Arctic Pro??

Thank you for the advice so far and I will definitely bump it nearer the time.

 

[Acid90]

Would I get the same performance out of having 2x2gb sticks? At the moment, its just getting the price down so it costs me less!

Haha, I get the bargaining hunting off of my mother.

That G.Skill PC8000 would raise me over my budget..lowest is £44.64 for 2x1gb or £58.74 for 2x2gb but the same speed as the OCZ.

 

[Acid90]

Thank you very much for doing that...I was looking at the EVGA or the BFG 8800 'cause they were slightly faster than OcUK I think?

Would I honestly see the difference, its been awhile since I ever played FPS on a PC...I'm a fan of MMOs really!

Hence where an extra £20 went and I went over budget!

I appreciate that mate, thank you.

 

[Acid90]

Thank you for the replys.

Just noticed in another thread that someone mentioned this:-

Antec Sonata III Piano Black Quiet Case - EarthWatts 500W PSU

Anyone know anything about this case and PSU and if its better than the Coolmaster PSU and Case mentioned in my original post. Possibly £30 savings for a better graphics card !