New to self builds.. Spec check and advice please.

adrian117

adrian117

adrian117

Associate
Joined
11 Sep 2011
Posts
14
Main uses/needs:
-Gaming- most intensive game will probably be something like Crysis
-Video streaming
-Downloads
-Dvd copying and burning
-Light photo editing
-Multi-tasking
-Web browsing
-University essay writing

Proposed components:

1) Processor:

Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail with FREE TrackMania 2 Canyon PC Game

2) Motherboard:

Gigabyte GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 Z68 Socket 1155 7.1 Channel Audio mATX Motherboard

3) Operating System:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium - Retail (GFC-00025)

4) Monitor:

Asus VE228H 22" Widescreen LED Multimedia Monitor - Black

5) Case:

Lian Li PC-B25FB Aluminium Midi Tower Case - Black

6) PSU:
OCZ ModXStream Pro 600w Silent SLI Certified Modular Power Supply

7) Ram:

Corsair Vengeance Blue 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B)

8) Storage Hard Drive:

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 32MB Cache - OEM (ST31000524AS)

9) Operating System Hard Drive:

OCZ 120GB Agility 3 SSD - SATA-III - Read 525MB/s Write 500MB/s 85,000 IOPS

10) Optical Drive:

Sony Optiarc AD-5260S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM


Total : £977.50

Random questions

1) Could someone please double check that these are all compatible? Alternatively, if you have any suggestions regarding better quality components or better value components these would be much appreciated!

2) What would you recommend as a graphics card that meets my requirements and that can be powered by the psu?

3) Can I run linux and windows 7 on the same pc, one installed on an ssd and the other on a regular internal hard drive? How would I do this?




Thanks in advance guys and sorry for the noob questions!
 
Change the PSU. The Mod xtremes aren't very good... very short cables and sort of defeats the point of modular (speaking from experience in using one, not from a review)

OCZ SSD's arent great. The Crucial M4 seems to be the "in" drive at the moment, doing better in all tests... was a thread about it the other day.

Why do you want a M-ATX mobo?

Get the XMS3 Corsair ram... It doesn't have huge heatsinks and wont block any cpu cooler you may use.

Brings me to the next point... You never listed a CPU cooler. If you want a decent overclock on the 2500K you will need to use a third party cooler. Something around the 30 quid range will be excellent and look cool too :)
 
Buchanan0204 said:
Change the PSU. The Mod xtremes aren't very good... very short cables and sort of defeats the point of modular (speaking from experience in using one, not from a review)

OCZ SSD's arent great. The Crucial M4 seems to be the "in" drive at the moment, doing better in all tests... was a thread about it the other day.

Why do you want a M-ATX mobo?

Get the XMS3 Corsair ram... It doesn't have huge heatsinks and wont block any cpu cooler you may use.

Brings me to the next point... You never listed a CPU cooler. If you want a decent overclock on the 2500K you will need to use a third party cooler. Something around the 30 quid range will be excellent and look cool too :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply!

What would be a good alternative modular PSU?

I'll check out the ram and ssd that you suggest.

No reason really. I just thought that as its smaller it might make putting it all together easier... Is it a rubbish motherboard then?

I wasn't planning on overclocking initially so I wasn't planning on getting a cooler. Do you reckon I'll need one even if I'm just running on stock speeds?
 
adrian117 said:
Thanks for the reply!

What would be a good alternative modular PSU?

I'll check out the ram and ssd that you suggest.

No reason really. I just thought that as its smaller it might make putting it all together easier... Is it a rubbish motherboard then?

I wasn't planning on overclocking initially so I wasn't planning on getting a cooler. Do you reckon I'll need one even if I'm just running on stock speeds?
Click to expand...

If you don't want to overclock at all. You may as well ditch the 2500K... the "K" refers to the unlocked multiplier on the CPU which allows for excellent overclocking. You could get a non "K" version and save a few quid. Again with the board. If you don't plan on overclocking... take a look at some of the H67 boards. These are perfect for the non "K" version cpu's and if you don't plan on overclocking, which the H67 boards don't really do at all. Then you will also save a good few quid.

No idea whether or not that board you originally chose is any good. a quick google of it with the word review at the end will soon tell you. :)

The RAM I suggested is widely used by most people and doesn't get in the way of heatsinks... however as you wont have that issue... get whichever you like... however, the XMS3 is still the best choice IMO... cheapest and practiclar without compromise of performance.

With regars to a PSU... Antec, Corsair... There always top of my list for PSU's.
 
Buchanan0204 said:
If you don't want to overclock at all. You may as well ditch the 2500K... the "K" refers to the unlocked multiplier on the CPU which allows for excellent overclocking. You could get a non "K" version and save a few quid. Again with the board. If you don't plan on overclocking... take a look at some of the H67 boards. These are perfect for the non "K" version cpu's and if you don't plan on overclocking, which the H67 boards don't really do at all. Then you will also save a good few quid.

No idea whether or not that board you originally chose is any good. a quick google of it with the word review at the end will soon tell you. :)

The RAM I suggested is widely used by most people and doesn't get in the way of heatsinks... however as you wont have that issue... get whichever you like... however, the XMS3 is still the best choice IMO... cheapest and practiclar without compromise of performance.

With regars to a PSU... Antec, Corsair... There always top of my list for PSU's.
Click to expand...

I definitely want to overclock at some point, so I may as well stick with the 'k'- it isn't that much more expensive anyway. I'll grab some of the ram that you recommend and I think I'll find a better motherboard. I may as well get a full atx one if it gives me more features and upgrade options for the future.
 
adrian117 said:
I definitely want to overclock at some point, so I may as well stick with the 'k'- it isn't that much more expensive anyway. I'll grab some of the ram that you recommend and I think I'll find a better motherboard. I may as well get a full atx one if it gives me more features and upgrade options for the future.
Click to expand...

Wise words :D
 
google "windows for students" and do some digging. i ordered several copies for all my family :)

btw, my uni (edinburgh) actually offers windows downloads absolutely free. i didn't find out until after i'd bought mine :(. it's worth checking with your uni if they do something similar. you probably would have to be doing some informatics/computer - related degree
 
YOUR BASKET
1 x Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6950 TOXIC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE DIRT3 & Deus Ex Games £239.99
1 x Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail with FREE TrackMania 2 Canyon PC Game £167.99
1 x Crucial RealSSD M4 128GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive £134.99
1 x BenQ G2222HDL 21.5" Widescreen LED Monitor - Black £107.99
1 x Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard ** LOWEST UK PRICE ** £99.98
1 x Antec TruePower New Modular 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £53.99
1 x BitFenix Shinobi Gaming Case - Black £49.99
1 x Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) £47.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 32MB Cache - OEM (ST31000524AS) £47.99
1 x LG GH22NS70 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
1 x BitFenix Spectre Plain BLACK 120mm Fan £5.99
Total : £996.79 (includes shipping : £19.10).



Total £1K. Can change bits around, you seem to have a big budget (1K without GPU). If not, can ditch the SSD for a 64GB and improve the rest. Or the Toxic for a regular 6950, that leaves room for the case + PSU or a Gen3 motherboard at a stretch.
 
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YOUR BASKET
1 x Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6950 TOXIC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE DIRT3 & Deus Ex Games £239.99
1 x Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail with FREE TrackMania 2 Canyon PC Game £167.99
1 x Asrock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £154.98
1 x BenQ G2222HDL 21.5" Widescreen LED Monitor - Black £107.99
1 x Crucial RealSSD M4 64GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive £73.99
1 x OCZ ModXStream Pro 600w Silent SLI Certified Modular Power Supply £59.99
1 x BitFenix Shinobi Gaming Case - Black £49.99
1 x Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) £47.99
1 x Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £33.98
1 x Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366) £22.98
1 x Samsung SH-S222AL/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA Lightscribe ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
Total : £999.78 (includes shipping : £19.10).



Nice little build !!
 
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