New build advice

Ewok

Ewok

Ewok

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Joined
6 Apr 2003
Posts
251
Current PC is overheating (pretty sure its the mb). I have a core2 6600 (2.4ghz not overclocked), asus commando and 8800GTX. All of which I am assuming is now quite dated and slow compared to the latest stuff.

I havent looked at new hardware in over a year so no idea whats the best at the moment.

I will be running 3 monitors, and possibly 4 at a later date so it seems some sort of dual/sli graphics card is needed. I want huge raw power without overclocking the nuts off it and having it dead in a year (I will overclock as far as NOT altering voltage will allow me, i dont want it dying). I am also considering the possibility of watercooling.

So looking for recommendations for the following bits of kit

CPU (is it worth an 920 D0 stepping, will it clock to 950 level without upping the voltage? seems pointless getting a 950 for more than double the price if it will)
Graphics cards (3-4 monitor support required)
motherboard - top quality board, good for overclocking
memory (im thinking 4gb of whatever is fastest to go with the MB and cpu)
BD player and recorder
New case (mid tower or full tower, good support for watercooling needed), looks do not matter to me, practicality and quality does
Watercooling - would like to watercool the cpu and gpu's if practical if there is a relatively hassle free solution, would like the PC to be very quiet (or silent!)

I have monitors, a velociraptor and a 600w corsair psu so not looking to replace that unless i have to. I plan on getting an SSD but not yet, they are still too slow for my liking for the price.

I want a huge beast of a PC thats going to last me a good 2 years of gaming and general use so budget is no object within reason.

All suggestions appreciated, at least it will give me a starting point for more reasearch if nothing else.

Thanks
Wok
 
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Update

am considering the I7 920 overclocked to 4.2ghz and Gigabyte EX58-UD5 with Patriot Viper 6GB DDR3 PC3-12800C8 bundle that ocuk are doing (*note is this done with high voltage? it doesnt specify*, I want the 4.2ghz version but not if its done with voltage being rammed up its butt thatll kill it in 18 months time). can this be beaten or are they about as good as it gets at the moment?

Assuming thats a done deal, the Case, graphics cards and watercooling wil be more difficult choices i think.
 
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nah i might have done that at one time but just cant be bothered now, rather just have it guaranteed at 4.2ghz out of the box all set up for me so i can use the thing instead of spending a month trying to tweak it. only question is the voltage used to get 4.2ghz. i dont want the thing unstable on hot weather like today, and i also dont want the thing dying after a year because the voltage has slowly killed it.

ill probably go with that bundle for the chip/mb/mem/heatsink unless someone has any better ideas for any of the parts.

so for the other bits im looking at maybe the Coolermaster RC-1100 Cosmos S "Sport" for the case as it seems high quality and is watercooling-ready.

Watercooling seems to be the Swiftech H2O-220 Apex Ultima kit

Total cost for all that from OCUK comes to £1128

now assuming all that is the best, that leaves bdrw which is pretty easy, and the graphics cards which is always a pain in the arse to choose hmmmmm
 
tbh the premium for the 4.2ghz bundle is not worth it, and you can overclock that CPU urself on stock volts to 3.6ghz

you probably wouldnt even need to overclock for a couple of years:D

trust me:D
 
graphics wise it seems the gtx 295 is the only card to get. looking on toms roundup seems a fair bit ahead of the radeon HD 4870 for about £100 more which is fine by me. although i heard mention of new dx11 cards comming out, perhaps i need to wait for that (depends how long thats going to take).
 
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