New build advice

hartshill

hartshill

hartshill

Associate
Joined
20 Nov 2010
Posts
7
Hi overclockers, I've followed these forums for a while and never got round to posting. I'm looking to build a new PC and I'm just looking for advice on a couple of points before I decide what I'm doing.

Firstly, I would like to enjoy building this PC and make a little project out of it; I've got no interest in messing about with over clocking myself though, so I'd be looking for pre over clocked or easy to over clock hardware.

Secondly, the last few builds I've done I've ended up with a lower spec than I originally intended, I'd like a nice future proof build this time.

I've noticed there's a massive difference in price between AMD and Intel, my system will be mostly used for gaming but I'd like it to include desirable features such as hex core and triple channel memory and a solid state drive. My budget will probably be £1000-1500. I was thinking about building it over Christmas, or should I wait until the new year for christmas sales and sandybridge?

To sum up:
Now or new year.
Intel or AMD (or why there's such a price difference)
Suggested spec for my budget (helpful but not necessary)

I know a lot of these topics pop up on the forums often, but they never seem completely in context for me.
 
Ok, what is the main use of this pc? Do you do any rendering or is it soley gaming?

Triple channel memory will limit you to Intel I7 route.
A solid state drive is a good choice if you want a responsive system.

Do you have a pc you can use in the meantime or is it a an immediate project?
 
Mainly gaming, some rendering from time to time but it's hardly a real use of the computer for me. I do have a computer I'm using at the moment so I can afford to take some time over this.

I noticed that a lot of the threads here asking for builds often get recommended an i5. I'd definitely want to be looking at a higher level than that but intel's prices jump quite steeply.
 
They do when you consider your paying for another 2gb ram. A CPU with hyperthreading and 16x 16x bandwidth on the x58 motherboards.

For a gaming machine I would usually spec an I5 760 as they are the best option for price v performance. The benefits of going i5 760 for you mean that you would eb looking at a higher spec graphics card over that of which you might achieve with the i7 option.

An i7 9 series would suit your requirements if your set on I7. However Sandy Bridge is on the horizon and this will offer something new and faster due to how it is put together.

The I7 (1366 socket) will not offer much more by way of hardware and the I5 (1156) is in the same situation.

Basically an I5 760 or I7 9** would be good for 3-5 years if your needs remain roughly the same (unless you undertake hardcore rendering).
A Sandy Bridge option will be longer although pricing may be proportionate to this.

Regardless I would be inclined to wait to see how prices shape up and what SB offers.
 
A part of me regrets settling on an AMD processor and motherboard...but it still gives me the "tingly feeling".

You know what you want in your system when you see it. It's the peice of hardware that really makes you think "Wow. I NEED this".

Don't really know the point I'm trying to make. But yeah. If I could go back I'd definately get the i5. I just dont need the six cores!

You could make a totally awesome system with that budget. Have fun. Lots of it.
 
In which case, I would then be looking to the I7 now or mainstream SandyBridge.


I5:

Something like this plus a case of your choice:

Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6870 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £194.99
(£165.95) £389.98
(£331.90)
OCZ Vertex 2E 120GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-2VTXE120G) £177.99
(£151.48) £177.99
(£151.48)
Intel Core i5 760 2.80GHz (Lynnfield) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail £139.99
(£119.14) £139.99
(£119.14)
MSI P55-GD65 Intel P55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 Motherboard with Free USB 3.0 PCI Controller Card £99.99
(£85.10) £99.99
(£85.10)
Antec TruePower New Modular 650W Power Supply £69.99
(£59.57) £69.99
(£59.57)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £65.99
(£56.16) £65.99
(£56.16)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103SJ) £43.49
(£37.01) £43.49
(£37.01)
LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £15.99
(£13.61) £15.99
(£13.61)
Sub Total : £853.97
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.00
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £151.19
Total : £1,015.16
 
I7: Add a case and a quiet cooler

Intel Core i7 930 2.80GHz (Bloomfield) (Socket LGA1366) - Retail £219.98
(£187.22) £219.98
(£187.22)
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6870 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £194.99
(£165.95) £389.98
(£331.90)
OCZ Vertex 2E 120GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-2VTXE120G) £177.99
(£151.48) £177.99
(£151.48)
Asus X58 Sabertooth TUF Intel X58 (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard £159.99
(£136.16) £159.99
(£136.16)
Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Triple Channel (CMX6GX3M3A1600C9) £99.99
(£85.10) £99.99
(£85.10)
Antec TruePower New Modular 650W Power Supply £69.99
(£59.57) £69.99
(£59.57)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103SJ) £43.49
(£37.01) £43.49
(£37.01)
LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £15.99
(£13.61) £15.99
(£13.61)
Sub Total : £1,002.05
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £177.20
Total : £1,189.75
 
no coolers skyline?

i would vouch for the Sabertooth. i built my new rig a couple of weeks ago and droped the lot into it at once and it booted first time ready for win7. dont think im gonna have any trouble at all with this board
 
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The above builds would be very strong for gaming and pretty much every other use you can think of. If you want a quiet system I would add aquiet cooler in I found the stock intel cooler a bit loud.

They both can be overclocked very very easily. Enough walkthroughs under the cooling and overclocking subsection of the forum to help you.

you also have a wealth of choices to make regarding your case as well plus OS if required.
 
Thanks for the replies guys!

I think I would be set on an i7 if I went the intel route, I'm not too impressed with what i've read about sandybridge so far, especially if its only the lower end ones getting released in January.

mikkyh said:
A part of me regrets settling on an AMD processor and motherboard...but it still gives me the "tingly feeling".
Click to expand...
Thats interesting, one of the reasons I made this post was so I wouldn't end up regretting buying something :P. Why exactly do you regret it versus the i5?

I was looking at graphics cards earlier and the nVidia cards seem more attractive but I'm not such which to get.

EDIT:

What do you guys think of:
basketv.jpg
 
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i reckon for £50 more the 6870s are the better option for you. Mind you 900W is total overkill for dual 460s.

I have a 750 Watt psu ready for when I decide to SLI my 460. The antec True power 750 is what I have and I have had no problems so far with it. I feel the 900W you have specced is total overkill for what you need.
 
Yeah I wasn't sure about the power requirements for dual graphics cards. Not sure if it's better to get the 2 cheaper cards or just go for the single expensive one!
 
You really can't futureproof, but if you want to give it your best shot, dont buy an EOL platform like 1156/1366, wait for SB. Though not the premium platform to be released, the new 1155 SB in january will feature 32nm quad core i5/i7s with unlocked multis that will probably clock to ~4.5Ghz no problem. A gamer wont need anything more for years.

If you dont want to wait till the new year, at least wait a few weeks for the new high end ATI GPUs - 69xx.

If you must buy now, Skyline's i5 dual 6870 spec would be my choice stuck in a white NZXT phantom :). The two i7 specs below that are no faster in games, but hey if you want an i7 go ahead.

Out of interest, do you already have a decent 24"+ monitor, and do you need an OS in the budget?
 
You really can't futureproof, but if you want to give it your best shot, dont buy an EOL platform like 1156/1366, wait for SB. Though not the premium platform to be released, the new 1155 SB in january will feature 32nm quad core i5/i7s with unlocked multis that will probably clock to ~4.5Ghz no problem. A gamer wont need anything more for years.
Click to expand...

I think what you're suggesting is probably the most sensible thing to do, I can probably save some more money up too in the meantime....
Its so tempting to buy it now though, but I think thats kind of what I did wrong the last few times!

So in January I'll be looking for the new sandybridge quad and one of the new ATI cards? Are there no new nVidia cards?

Out of interest, do you already have a decent 24"+ monitor, and do you need an OS in the budget?
Click to expand...
Yes I have a monitor and no OS/Case etc is needed.

Thanks for all the suggestions skylineboy it's appreciated, even though it seems a better idea to just have some patience for a month or two.
 
sounds like a good bet.

No worries. I find it helpful myself to work the forums but also others find these helpful and they do inform decisions for those who maybe aren't in a position to wait.

Wish I could wait like you can. I'm impatient with technology. Let us know what you think when its launched.
 
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