Possible new spec to build on

[.Lethal]

Thinking of replacing my entire PC with a new one.

The problem is I haven't bothered with hardware for lets say 3 years and during that time a lot has changed (yet when you follow hardware news it feels like nothing ever changes ).

Here is a build I have came up with, please throw your questions at me, tell me what is bad, great, over priced and so on.

And thanks for taking a look at the thread.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-018-CS
Lian Li PC-B10 Tower Case - Black (No PSU)
Samsung SM2494HM 24" Widescreen LCD Monitor
Asus P6T SE Intel X58 (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard
Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66Ghz (Nehalem) (Socket LGA1366) - Retail + Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Game
Corsair Dominator 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 (1600MHz) Tri-Channel (TR3X6G1600C8D)
Asus ATI Radeon HD 5870 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
Corsair Performance P128 128GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (CMFSSD-128GBG2D)
Corsair HX 750W ATX Modular SLI Compliant Power Supply (CMPSU-750HXUK)

Total : £1,644.75

Questions I have about this:

1. Should I get better memory? or is this a good balance/dont need anything faster (wont notice anything?)
2. Is the PSU to high? Would a 5/600w PSU do the same job? I don't like the idea of having high w PSU's if I never need it all.
3. How is the monitor compared to the rest on OcUK?
4. The motherboard, I prefer ASUS but is gigabyte miles ahead here on the current technology?
5. How is the intel CPU compared to the rest of the i7 range? I figure price/balance this is perfect before getting into silly price ranges?
6. The HDD is for the OS and installed programs only, I have 2 regular HDD's for storage. Is this SSHDD worth the extra money?
7. Anyone have any opinions on the case? I like simplicity and quietness.

Quite a lot to ask, but its not often I spend so much money on a new build.

 

[cmndr_andi]

1) Actually, I would go for cheaper RAM, picking this stuff over the dominator will drop your performance a tiny amount and save you a lot of money.

2) You can indeed go for a lower watt PSU and still be fine. A decent 550W should see you through with no problems at all. However, there are benefits to getting a bigger PSU than you need:
-You can add a second graphics card in crossfire at some point in the future.
- Most PSUs have their maximum efficientcy at around 50% load not 100%, so if you get bigger PSU than you need, you may save some money in energy bills and produce less heat.

3) If you are going to spend this much money on a PC, I emplore you to look at getting a non-TN panel monitor. The other monitor technologies are IPS and VA and usually make for far superior viewing experiences than with TNs (such as the samsung you chose). Here is an explanation of the technologies. For example, this Dell is an absolute beauty. If you don't mind going down to a 22in, this one is fantastic and a great price.

4) That ASUS motherboard is good. I wouldn't say the gigabyte is miles better, and at that price the ASUS is hard to beat.

5) Unless you plan on very high-end overclocking, then the i7 920 is the only chip of the i7 range worth getting. It overclocks to 4GHz without much trouble (and a good cooler) and is all-in-all a fantastic performer for not too much money. If you plan on overclocking at all, make sure you get a good cooler (it really is essential). I would recommend either this or this (with some good fans).

6) Yes, it is worth it if you have the money to spend. Everything should feel a lot snappier. If this isn't a big issue to you, then maybe it isn't worth it for you.

7)Sorry, not aquainted with that case. Looks nice tho.

 

[.Lethal]

1) Actually, I would go for cheaper RAM, picking this stuff over the dominator will drop your performance a tiny amount and save you a lot of money.

Agreed and replaced on the shopping basket.

2) You can indeed go for a lower watt PSU and still be fine. A decent 550W should see you through with no problems at all. However, there are benefits to getting a bigger PSU than you need:
-You can add a second graphics card in crossfire at some point in the future.
- Most PSUs have their maximum efficientcy at around 50% load not 100%, so if you get bigger PSU than you need, you may save some money in energy bills and produce less heat.

You know, of all the years I have spent looking at PSU's in the past, picking and choosing I had never known that the efficentcy is best at around 50%, that is something I wish I knew years ago! I have always tried to get the lowest possible with the assumption that it was the best way to go. Thanks for letting me know, thats definately something to remember in future.

3) If you are going to spend this much money on a PC, I emplore you to look at getting a non-TN panel monitor. The other monitor technologies are IPS and VA and usually make for far superior viewing experiences than with TNs (such as the samsung you chose). Here is an explanation of the technologies. For example, this Dell is an absolute beauty. If you don't mind going down to a 22in, this one is fantastic and a great price.

That is one expensive monitor! I am familiar with the panel debate, in the past I would always ask Baddass for his opinion as he has always given sound advice. The reason I don't want a 22" is because I dont want to compress the picture when watching 1080p pictures with the correct resolution, unfortunately the 22" monitors just don't fit as intended. I removed my monitor but I didn't add the Dell one because thats going to take some serious thinking over. You make a good point though so that is why I will think on that.

4) That ASUS motherboard is good. I wouldn't say the gigabyte is miles better, and at that price the ASUS is hard to beat.

Thanks for clearing that up

5) Unless you plan on very high-end overclocking, then the i7 920 is the only chip of the i7 range worth getting. It overclocks to 4GHz without much trouble (and a good cooler) and is all-in-all a fantastic performer for not too much money. If you plan on overclocking at all, make sure you get a good cooler (it really is essential). I would recommend either this or this (with some good fans).

I've built and messed about with PCs for over 10 years but the one thing I have absolutly no interest in it overclocking, I guess I'm missing out but I buy items to use as they are intended.

6) Yes, it is worth it if you have the money to spend. Everything should feel a lot snappier. If this isn't a big issue to you, then maybe it isn't worth it for you.

As long as the extra cost (in this case being double over the slower SSD's) is worth it then I can justify the cost.

7)Sorry, not aquainted with that case. Looks nice tho.

No problem



I guess the rest is fine and it looks pretty solid, will leave it tonight/tomorrow for any other feedback.

Again, I have to thank you on the PSU thing, its a small thing perhaps, but its big news to me!

EDIT: I added the Asus Xonar Essence STX Sound Card as this appears to be aimed at people who use headphones a lot. 95% of my time on the PC is by using a pair of (expensive) Bose headphones.