Please help total newby pick components for new PC (£1000 budget)

[Oswald]

Hello ,

I've been reading all through these forums and this is my first post. I want to build a new PC from scratch, however I am bewildered by what order I should choose the components, and in which part of the forums I should ask for help .

It seems to me that the motherboard is central to the PC, so I've decided that maybe I should pick this item first before I start looking at the rest of the components? I will be using an AMD CPU, most probably dual core (not 100% on exact model yet) and I think I will be using a (high end) nVidia graphics card (undecided on model etc). I want 2GIG matched RAM (but don't fully understand timings/latency etc so don't know which make/model yet). I have no experience of overclocking, but DEFINATELY want to learn and have a go. My PC will be used mainly for video editing/encoding etc, and gameing. I have a total budget of around £1000 (excluding monitor).

With this in mind and by what I have read on here, I have provisionally selected from the Overlockers catalog:

ASUS A8N32-SLI DELUXE NFORCE SLI X16 (MB-118-AS) £135-07 INC VAT

Is this a good choice? I also looked at the PREMIUM version (model number MB-111-AS) which comes in at £105-95 inc VAT but I can't really see what the difference is? Would I be better going with the cheaper version?

I would appreciate any help/comments. Please bear in mind I am a computer numpty. Previously, my mate has always built/fixed my PC's, but I want to get more involved myself. Also, you lot seem much more up to date with whats good and whats crap

Cheers!

 

[Oswald]

Wow, thanks for all your replies

I've been looking through and trying to understand your recommendations

One thing I don't really understand too well is memory. I have a question about this suggestion:

• DFI LanParty UT CFX3200-DR RD580 Crossfire (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-019-DF) £129.95
• G.Skill 2GB DDR HZ PC4000 (2x1GB) CAS3 Dual Channel Kit (F1-4000USU2-2GBHZ) (MY-008-GS) £124.95

When I click the spec link on the Overclockers catalog for the above motherboard, you get these details

Under the "memory" section, it says it "Supports PC2100 (DDR266), PC2700 (DDR333) and PC3200 (DDR400) DDR SDRAM DIMM"

Surely this means it won't work with the above G.Skill memory as its PC4000? Or have I got it all wrong?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but just when I think Im starting to understand something I get all confused again.

Cheers

 

[Oswald]

Anything above PC3200 will run just fine. e.g. the PC4000 G.Skill specced will run at PC3200 (DDR400) until it is overclocked to PC4000 (DDR500).

But if the motherboard only supports up to speeds of PC3200 (DDR400), then isn't using PC4000 (DDR500) memory a waste because it can't take advantage of its extra speed?

What do you mean by "until it is overclocked to PC4000 (DDR500)"? Until whats overclocked? The memory? But the memory already runs at PC4000 (DDR500)

 

[Oswald]

No, the memory will run at DDR400 stock, until it is overclocked to DDR500. The CPU speed will also go further with the faster memory speed. Did that clear up the confusion?

But the memory is listed as "Speed : DDR 500MHz (PC4000)". There is no mention of needing to clock it to get to that speed. If it only runs at DDR400 out the packet then surely it should be listed as that. Its like advertising a car saying it has 150BHP only to find it has 120BHP, and that you need to chip it to get 150BHP.

Also, the motherboard specs say the fastest memory it will accept is "PC3200 (DDR400)". So I don't understand why they would say that if you can actually use PC4000 (DDR500)

Sorry, but I just don't get it

 

[Oswald]

In any case, I dont feel having PC4000 ram in an AMD system is worthwhile.

Why? I'm trying to learn. I said I'm a PC numpty and I meant it.

 

[Oswald]

Doesnt bring much benefit, with there being a memory controller on the CPU. the CPU thus had direct access to the ram and high ram speed hasnt shown much of an improvement, given the costs of the "overclocking" kits. Personally, I'd just get a regular Corsair\Crucial 2GB kit (or 2 seperate 1GB modules of the same part number if this works out cheaper). The money can go on faster graphics, bigger hard drive etc..stuff which makes a difference.

Thanks

When you start overclocking, do you need to tinker with the RAM or is it mainly all to do with FSB speeds and CPU voltages? I've read through some of the guides on here but I got a bit confused. Before I looked on here I would have just bought two 1GIG matched sticks (2GIG total) of Corsair as I thought you should stick with "well known" makes. I would have just gone for the highest speed within my budget. All this about RAM latency and timings is confusing the hell out of me, I didn't realise there are so many variables to consider. I want to learn but just deciding on components is a real headache.

Thanks for your reply, and thanks for all the other spec suggestions from everyone else, its much appreciated

 

[Oswald]

Theres a ram divider to allow you to keep the memory within its limits, and still allow overclocking of the CPU.

I'd just stick with the Corsair Value, you can tighten the timings a little anyway with increased vdimm (ram voltage). CAS2.5-3-3 isnt really hugely slower than the kits that do 2-3-2, but much cheaper.

Keep in mind DDR2 works slightly differently, my comments are about socket 754\939 DDR systems. The value DDR2 kits can clock much better

Sorry, but what/where is the "RAM divider? Is this something in the motherboard BIOS? What are the memory limits, are they limits in terms of its speed? How do you know what the limits are and how does this relate to clocking the CPU?

When you say "you can tighten the timings a little anyway with increased vdimm (ram voltage)" what does this mean? Are the timings those numbers associated with the memory, like 2-3-2?

I'm trying to narrow everything down so I can make a definative component selection. I'm definately going for 939, I just need to decide between AMD X2 3800+ and AMD X2 4400+. I'm tempted to save the 70 quid and go for the 3800+ and attempt to overclock it. I think I will go for one of the suggested LanParty motherboards as they seem well speced and good for overclocking. The only thing that is putting me off them is the disclaimer saying they have to be sent direct to Holland if they go faulty. I'm still confused about the memory. I'll keep reading through these forums (have been for days ). Could you give me the part number for the Corsair please? Is "value" RAM like the Tesco "value" baked beans, ie your better off with Heinz? I don't mind paying more for superior (assuming they are) components as long as they all fit within my budget (or near as possible).

Again, thanks for all your continued help

 

[Oswald]

Just to clear it up a bit: Yes, the motherboard says it supports up to PC3200 (DDR400) but you see what's been happening is that people have been overclocking NOT only their processors out of spec but also memory (RAM). The latter produces very good results than just overclocking the processor alone. What the marketing people at companies like G.Skill did is picked up on this and started making and selling RAM advertised & guranteed to to run at up to 250MHz (DDR500 ~ PC4000) meaning that you are guranteed to get the RAM running at that speed. There is a rough guide on this here You'll also find other good guides as stickies at the top of most of the sub-forums under Hardware

Thanks for that mate, I'll have a read through those links. One question though, if the motherboard will use higher speed RAM, why don't they say so? Its like Ferrari saying one of their models does 160MPH when it actually does 200MPH. I can't see why you would hide that?

Thanks again

 

[Oswald]

Not every PC4000 kit would run at PC4000 in every motherboard. Its a good idea to check compatibility on the memory manufacturers site.

I think we have gone full circle .

A few posts back, hp7909 recommended some components, including:

• DFI LanParty UT CFX3200-DR RD580 Crossfire (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-019-DF) £129.95
• G.Skill 2GB DDR HZ PC4000 (2x1GB) CAS3 Dual Channel Kit (F1-4000USU2-2GBHZ) (MY-008-GS) £124.95

What I asked then, but I still don't seem to get, is that the motherboard is capped at maximum RAM speed of PC3200 (DDR400) (according to the manufacturers specs). How is it then possible for it to work with the G.Skill PC4000 (DDR500)?

I get the fact that you can clock a CPU and clock the RAM (albeit that I don't yet fully understand HOW, but I'm reading up on it ), but if the motherboard is limited to DDR400 then what difference does it make if you've got DDR500 or DDR800 or DDR12000? Surely the motherboard is the limiting factor? Or is the DDR400 limit a lie?

Sorry if Im missing something obvious but I really don't get it.

Thanks in advance

 

[Oswald]

The motherboard's not exactly limited to DDR400, please refer to manual for DFI LanParty UT CFX3200-DR RD580 Crossfire here as an example. Might help answer your questions. Also have a look at this at the same time

Also don't just refer to the specs given - they are just a reference (if i can call them that). If you search here or Google for any component/part you come across you might see what is really achievable!

Thanks for the links, I'll have a read through . I wasn't aware the manufacturers specs are just a reference.

I never expected that building a PC from scratch would be such a headache!

Cheers

 

[Oswald]

NOT MANUFACTURERS, SELLERS You can't really expect the likes of OcUK to give a componet more webspace just to describe what its capable of

OK, thanks

But the manufacturers specs for the LanParty motherboard you recommended, and found here, states that its memory "Supports PC2100 (DDR266), PC2700 (DDR333) and PC3200 (DDR400) DDR SDRAM DIMM." It doesn't mention the DDR500. I wasn't refering to the info given on the Overclockers Catalog. In fact they are the ones who provide the link to the manufacturers site.

Cheers