Hi folks.
Please can you have a look over this and see if it looks OK. This is my first upgrade in 7 years so been a bit of nightmare - whole technologies have been and gone while I've been dithering
My main priorities are I want it to boot up and run Windows super fast, hence SSD. And I like to play FPS games. Other than that just normal light Windows usage.
I've already bought:
Sapphire 5850
Crucial M225 64GB SSD, Windows 7 Home Premium
Samsung F3 500 GB
Sony Optiarc AS-7241S (Black)
Samsung SM2433BW 24" monitor
keeping from existing system:
Samsung SM2253LW 21.6" monitor
BT Voyager 1040 PCI wifi card - hope this works OK with W7!
So now just need case, PSU, CPU, cooler, m'board, RAM, this is what I've come up with:
Eventually decided on i5 750 because can't justify the >£100 extra cost of 920, especially as gaming performance seems similar on both and I'm only going to have 1 graphics card so don't need massive bandwidth etc.
Chose the Asus m'board because I've been using them for years. The standard P7P55D because it has more power phases than the LE, whatever that means! Don't need the SLI and other features of the more expensive versions.
Considered Ripjaw or OCZ Gold/Gold low voltage RAM but have selected the Corsair because it's in stock, and also because it's used in a lot of the OCUK bundles so must be good.
Chose the Freezer 7 cooler because it's cheap, and also looks easy to install with preapplied paste etc. Don't really want to spend 50+ pounds on a cooler because I won't be aggressively overclocking. In fact I'll probably leave it at stock at first anyway, with the turbo boost- should be a lot faster than my pentium 4!
bit confused about the RAM speed though. If I just plug it in will this RAM run automatically at the lower speed of 1333MHz (133 BLCK x10)- without requiring me to do anything to the BIOS? Can have a go at getting it to run at 1600 later I suppose once I've researched how
I chose the Be Quiet PSU because of the low noise and good reviews. It's out of stock though
My other choice would be the Corsair HX 650W Modular. I suppose I could get away with a 550W PSU with this spec? But the Be Quiet 550 is also out of stock.
With the case, the black interiors look cool. I currently have LianLi PC-7 which is stylish aluminium but not particularly quiet, so I'll try steel.
Fractal Design case looks nice but it's unclear when these will be available? Also looked at Silverstone Raven RV02 but I think it's too deep to fit under my desk! Was leaning towards Antec 902 at one point but I get the feeling that Lancool cases are slightly better quality? Also looked at Coolermaster CM-690 Pure Black Dominator but a bit boring maybe with no window? nice to have a change - I figure the Lancool will look good with the blue(ish) mboard & blue LEDs.
But with the Lancool presumably I would have the PSU normal way up with the intake fan underneath - will it be OK sitting on carpet? Or was thinking of shoving a plank of wood under it
many thanks for any guidance - I suppose mainly I just want to be sure it will all fit together OK
Edward
Please can you have a look over this and see if it looks OK. This is my first upgrade in 7 years so been a bit of nightmare - whole technologies have been and gone while I've been dithering
My main priorities are I want it to boot up and run Windows super fast, hence SSD. And I like to play FPS games. Other than that just normal light Windows usage.
I've already bought:
Sapphire 5850
Crucial M225 64GB SSD, Windows 7 Home Premium
Samsung F3 500 GB
Sony Optiarc AS-7241S (Black)
Samsung SM2433BW 24" monitor
keeping from existing system:
Samsung SM2253LW 21.6" monitor
BT Voyager 1040 PCI wifi card - hope this works OK with W7!
So now just need case, PSU, CPU, cooler, m'board, RAM, this is what I've come up with:
Eventually decided on i5 750 because can't justify the >£100 extra cost of 920, especially as gaming performance seems similar on both and I'm only going to have 1 graphics card so don't need massive bandwidth etc.
Chose the Asus m'board because I've been using them for years. The standard P7P55D because it has more power phases than the LE, whatever that means! Don't need the SLI and other features of the more expensive versions.
Considered Ripjaw or OCZ Gold/Gold low voltage RAM but have selected the Corsair because it's in stock, and also because it's used in a lot of the OCUK bundles so must be good.
Chose the Freezer 7 cooler because it's cheap, and also looks easy to install with preapplied paste etc. Don't really want to spend 50+ pounds on a cooler because I won't be aggressively overclocking. In fact I'll probably leave it at stock at first anyway, with the turbo boost- should be a lot faster than my pentium 4!
bit confused about the RAM speed though. If I just plug it in will this RAM run automatically at the lower speed of 1333MHz (133 BLCK x10)- without requiring me to do anything to the BIOS? Can have a go at getting it to run at 1600 later I suppose once I've researched how
I chose the Be Quiet PSU because of the low noise and good reviews. It's out of stock though
My other choice would be the Corsair HX 650W Modular. I suppose I could get away with a 550W PSU with this spec? But the Be Quiet 550 is also out of stock.With the case, the black interiors look cool. I currently have LianLi PC-7 which is stylish aluminium but not particularly quiet, so I'll try steel.
Fractal Design case looks nice but it's unclear when these will be available? Also looked at Silverstone Raven RV02 but I think it's too deep to fit under my desk! Was leaning towards Antec 902 at one point but I get the feeling that Lancool cases are slightly better quality? Also looked at Coolermaster CM-690 Pure Black Dominator but a bit boring maybe with no window? nice to have a change - I figure the Lancool will look good with the blue(ish) mboard & blue LEDs.
But with the Lancool presumably I would have the PSU normal way up with the intake fan underneath - will it be OK sitting on carpet? Or was thinking of shoving a plank of wood under it
many thanks for any guidance - I suppose mainly I just want to be sure it will all fit together OK
Edward
