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Hi Guys

Been reading through the forums for the past few weeks but this is my first post, and its another one of those 'help me with my spec please!' :D

I am trying to put together a resonably priced good performance system that will see me going for the next few years - mainly for games and watching movies.

I already have a graphics card, After a recent review in CustomPC magazine I then saw the Connect3D X1950 in the offers of the week a few weeks back ago and so snapped this up at £135.11 including vat :) (I know its not DX10 but I thougt I could always upgrade later or even add a 2nd card when prices drop further)

I am fairly happy with the following list of components but would welcome any comments: -

CPU: Intel E6600
Motherboard: Asus P5B Deluxe
Hard Drive: 320GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
PSU : Corsair HX 520W
CPU Cooler: Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro

Then i start to get a bit stuck: -

RAM : 2GB DDR2 6400 - What brand?

Case: I like the look of the Lian-Li PC7B but cant find the plus II version (with 2x120mm fans)

I was considering the Akasa Eclipse but by the time you add the cost of fans in its a bit more than I wanted to spend!

I also like the look of the Thermaltake Tsunami Dream but am worried that the build quality might be a bit plasticy!

OS: I was going to go Vista but having read so many bad things recently I am now leaning towards XP Media Centre?

Other: DVD/Monitror/Mouse/Keyboard - Suggestions please

Anything else I have forgotten?

Having already spent £135 on my graphics card I would like to spend £800-900 tops on the rest!

Thanks
 
Welcome to the forums, for the Ram I'd probably pick the Geil PC6400 C4 or the OCZ PC2-6400 if you don't want to spend too much.

DVDRW - I'd pick a SATA model, I like NEC myself but I'm not sure how important the brand is any more, the Samsung gets a few recommendations.

Monitor and case-wise I'd take a look in their respective sub-forums as they contain the best information.

For keyboards I've always like the action of Microsoft keyboards but it doesn't suit everyone. Mouse is pretty much personal preference, if wireless then the Logitech G7 is worth a look however but try before you buy if you can as the shape doesn't agree with everyone.
 
Looks a good setup, I would choose either the OCZ or GeIL c4 PC6400 that is currently just over the £100 mark. DVDRW like Semi-pro says should be SATA similar price to IDE and gets rid of the big ribbon cable. I have a Samsung myself.
 
Thanks for the quick response

DVD: I have penciled in the Samsung Super Writemaster S182M as this got a good review in on old Computer Shopper mag i had lying around!

Memory: Noticed the prives have gone up since yesterday when the OCZ, GuIL and G.Skill were all £117!, I will pencil in the OCZ as at £119 is the middle ground ;)

What about OS is it worth getting XP Media Center now or should I bite the bullet and go for Vista?
 
Many people don't have problems with Vista, but I have heard some terrible ones too. I personally am waiting for the service pack and then I will move to Vista, I'm not up for being a microsoft labrat :)
 
Thanks for the feedback

I am still undecided on the Vista/XP issue but apart from that how does this look, its slightly more than I wanted to spend but I dont want to skimp on anything and then regret it later!

CPU: Intel Core 2 DUO E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail (£191.51)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB ST3320620AS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (£61.09)
RAM: GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) (£117.49)
MOBO: Asus P5B Deluxe (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard (£122.19)
PSU: Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-520HXUK) (£70.49)
COOLER: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 775) (£16.44)
DVD: Samsung SH-182MRSMN 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer Lightscribe ReWriter (Beige,Black,Silver) - Retail (£22.31)
CASE: Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower Case - Black (£58.74)
SCREEN: Samsung SM-226BW 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Silver/Black (£270.24)
 
NiteMare said:
Thanks for the feedback

I am still undecided on the Vista/XP issue but apart from that how does this look, its slightly more than I wanted to spend but I dont want to skimp on anything and then regret it later!

CPU: Intel Core 2 DUO E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail (£191.51)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB ST3320620AS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (£61.09)
RAM: GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) (£117.49)
MOBO: Asus P5B Deluxe (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard (£122.19)
PSU: Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-520HXUK) (£70.49)
COOLER: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 775) (£16.44)
DVD: Samsung SH-182MRSMN 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer Lightscribe ReWriter (Beige,Black,Silver) - Retail (£22.31)
CASE: Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower Case - Black (£58.74)
SCREEN: Samsung SM-226BW 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Silver/Black (£270.24)


That is pretty much exactly what I'd buy for those amounts.

Good job. :)
 
Thanks for that masslac, gives me a a bit more confidence as ive seen your comments in a few other posts and your opinions seem to be well regarded :)

What are your thoughts on OS should I go with XP Media Centre or Vista Home Premium?!
 
OK just about ready to press the order button so last chance anything I should change or anything I have forgotten!

I already have gfx card
havent decided on a keyboard or mouse yet so im gonna use my old ones for now and put my old old ones back on my old system!

Intel Core 2 DUO E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £162.99 (£191.51)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB ST3320620AS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM £51.99 (£61.09)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) £99.99 (£117.49)
Asus P5B Deluxe (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £103.99 (£122.19)
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 32-Bit Edition DVD - OEM - 1Pk (66I-00715) £63.99 (£75.19)
Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-520HXUK) £59.99 (£70.49)
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 775) £13.99 (£16.44)
Samsung SH-182MRSMN 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer Lightscribe ReWriter (Beige,Black,Silver) - Retail £18.99 (£22.31)
Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower Case - Black £49.99 (£58.74)
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (3.5g) £5.99 (£7.04)
Samsung SM-226BW 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Silver/Black £229.99 (£270.24)
Sub Total : £861.89
Shipping : £12.95
Vat : £153.10
Total : £1,027.94
 
Nitemare, Iam going to get a similar setup soon. Have you considered the the Gigabyte GA 965P DS3? a lot off good reviews tops for overclocking aswell.
 
oh god just decided on Vista over xp and now I gotta choose between 32 and 64 bit!

I thought that the lack of drivers and lack of 64bit software meant that the 32bit version was the better option for your average joe like me?

Also forgot to ask, is the Asus onboard sound going to be good enough, at least short term or should I add a sound card to that order and what would you suggest?
 
To be honest the mobo is the area that I have found the most confusing and so I picked that one because after a lot of web browsing because it has a lot of good reviews (still top choice in custom PC although the Abit AB9 QuadGT close in this months review!) and seems a popular choice with the E6600 so at least im not treading new ground!

Any particular reasons why you thing the Gigabyte might be a better option?
 
NiteMare said:
To be honest the mobo is the area that I have found the most confusing and so I picked that one because after a lot of web browsing because it has a lot of good reviews (still top choice in custom PC although the Abit AB9 QuadGT close in this months review!) and seems a popular choice with the E6600 so at least im not treading new ground!

Any particular reasons why you thing the Gigabyte might be a better option?

No not really, iam not an expert :o its just from what ive read on here both seem very good DS3 is cheaper though.
 
64bit os mate ... make the most of the 64bitnes :p or if u dont wanna go 64bit yet... stick to your existing os?
 
The more I search the more I read bad things about vista and games so i'm swaying back to XP, I can always upgrade to vista in a years time when they get all the drivers sorted and the games being realesed will be designed with it in mind!
 
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