New PC Build Spec Help/Advice?

[Phil_D_UK]

Hi there,

I looking to buy/build a new PC and have only just started looking into hardware again as have not built anything since my ASUS A7V333 mobo with a single core AMD Athlon XP2100+ and a lot has moved on since then!

This is what I have in mind so far...

• Abit IP35 Pro XE Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
• Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) – Retail
• Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX (2x2GB)
• Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX (2x2GB)
• Samsung SpinPoint F1 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103UJ)
• Pioneer DVR-216DBK 20x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) – OEM
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (66I-01939)
• Antec 900-2 Nine Hundred Two Ultimate Gaming Case - Black (No PSU)
• Corsair TX 650W ATX2.2 SLi Compliant Power Supply

I'm stuck for a graphics card? I would like to be able to run and play the latest PC games, but don't want anything too expensive as I have an Xbox 360 and play games on that, so a good mid range 1GB PCI-Express DDR Card maybe, any suggestions/recommendations?

Power Supply? How do you judge what power supply you need? is 650W ok?

Do the retail processors still come with a heatsink fan? & are they generally good enough? do they still have thermal pad at the bottom or is it still best to use some artic silver

& finally i would welcome any suggestions/improvements that you think could be made that don't make much difference in cost

Kind Regards

Phil

 

[VARDY]

• Abit IP35 Pro XE Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
• Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) – Retail
• Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX (2x2GB)
• Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX (2x2GB)
• Samsung SpinPoint F1 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103UJ)
• Pioneer DVR-216DBK 20x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) – OEM
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (66I-01939)
• Antec 900-2 Nine Hundred Two Ultimate Gaming Case - Black (No PSU)
• Corsair TX 650W ATX2.2 SLi Compliant Power Supply

i dunno if you wrote the RAM in twice or are planning on getting 8GB. but 4GB is enough for todays and future titles. have a look for cheaper alternatives to 2x2GB, maybe 4x1GB. but thats my personal preference, fill all the slots. someone else mayb suggest keep the 2x2GB sticks.

PSU is sufficient enough for what you are building. i doubt it will be stressed or near capacity.

for a GPU, try an ATI 4850. theres some very good ones out there and i know many people are preferring these over the 4870 because of their low cost and good graphical power. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-096-PC&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

all Intel (Retail) processors still come with a heatsink which has thermal paste on it already. if you are planning on overclocking then you will most likely have to buy a CPU cooler to do this. i know some people who use the stock cooler when running at 3GHz without going over 60C load.

with the CPU, i would suggest you dont go for the energy efficient version if you do plan to overclock, to my knowledge these cant get as high clockspeeds (anyone cofirm?). but if you are sticking with stock then it shouldnt be a problem.

 

[95thrifles]

Youd be better getting a different mobo tbh, look at gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L, gfx card wise it depends on your monitor, 20" get a 4850 above get a 4870
Yeah that PSU is fine dont worry
The CPU's do come with HSF, far as I know the OEM versions do too, theyre OK if youre not planning on OC'ing, if you are look at an aftermarket one like the artic cooling freezer 7 pro
Why have you gone for a quad CPU? do you do encoding/editing/modelling? If not you'd get better price/performance with a dual core, like the E8500, same price and much quicker at stock
All in all looks good though

 

[Phil_D_UK]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies...

@VARDY...

Yes I did mean to put it in twice for 8GB but the prices seemed to have jumped up, so will stick with 4GB, is there much difference between the Corsair I have chosen and the OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Vista Gold Series DDR2 (OCZ2G8004GK) as the OCZ seems to be abit cheaper?

Thanks for you suggestions for the GPU, think I will go for one of these..

Asus ATI Radeon HD 4850 1024MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail (90-C1CL55-L0UAY00Z)

or

Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 4850 PCS Extreme 1024MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-Express) - Retail (AX48501GBD3-PPH)

I chosen Retail CPU so that it comes with a heatsink because i don't think the oem ones do & chose the energy efficient one for less heat & have never overclocked and wouldn't know how, don't really need to at that speed!

@95thrifles

Why do you suggest the gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L as a better mobo? reviews don't look too good so far?

Monitor - I have a Belinea 19" Widescreen so ill go for a n 4850, although I do have a wall mounted 37" Panasonic Viera LCD TV with PC Input - is there anyway do getting a good output on that?

Gone for quad because it wasn't too expensive and thought it would be quicker at proccessing with double the amount of cores

 

[PCDave]

go for the asus 4850 unless the sapphire card comes back in. if you don't pplan on ocing the stock cooler is fine