Self Build Virgin Take 3

kenej2005

kenej2005

kenej2005

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Joined
4 Sep 2008
Posts
36
Credit cards finally paid off and I can afford my first self build.

I need the machine for High Definition video editing and Photoshop work.

My current 5 year old machine (Athlon FX-53 2.4GHz processor, 2GB RAM, and a Radeon X800XT GPU) struggles to keep up.

Hope to see improvement with the spec below:

CPU: Core i7 920 retail
Cooling: Akasa Nero AK-967
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 or UD3
RAM: OCZ Gold 6GB DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600Mhz
GPU: no clue - advice appreciated. Must drive dual monitors for video / photoshop work (one monitor will be full HD). Unlikely to game much but I may have the odd session (like the look of some of the new games e.g. COD MW2).
SSD: Kingston 40GB SSD (to hold OS and applications such as Photoshop & Sony Vegas only).
HDD 2 & 3: 2 x WD VelociRaptor 150GB 10,000RPM SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM
DVD Drive: Pioneer DVR-S18L 22x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer Labelflash ReWriter - Black (Retail)
PSU: Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 550W ATX2.2 Modular SLi Compliant Power Supply
OS: Windows 7 Home premium (already bought on the cheap advance purchase scheme)
Case: no clue - prefer something sedate (no flashing lights or windows) but easy to work with for a first timer. Also, preferably should have filters on all air intakes. Ideally less than £ 100 - suggestions welcome.

Questions:
1) MOBO - UD5 or UD3? Fifty quid difference and I don't understand enough to judge if the extra spend is worth it. Only difference I could see is the supported RAM (24GB v 16GB) and I think my OS (Windows 7 Home Premium) is limited to 16GB anyway.
2) PSU - I presume 550W leaves me enough headroom should I wish to install another few hard drives or should I got to 650W?

All advice genuinely appreciated on any aspect of the build.

Cheers

BigLad.
 
Pretty sweet setup. If your editing HD content you're probably going to want more than 340GB combined storage though, personally I'd ditch the raptors, get an 80GB Intel SSD and 1 TB storage drive. I'd get the UD3 in terms of RAM you'd be crazy to be fitting over 8GB unless you do some really hardcore work or run about a billion VMs :P Antec 300/900 range cases are the best bang for buck in my eyes. If your not gaming geting a proper workstation graphics card might be useful if your into HD editing (FireGL - I think that's what the AMD one is called or a Quatro by Nvidia). 550W should be fine.
 
Cheers.

I do have a 1TB samsug that will be going in aswell. I was planning to use the raptors for current projects, archiving files to the 1TB, and keeping the raptors fairly clean. But I'll have a think on that one.

The editing software I use isn't GPU accelerated so the dedicated video editing cards aren't going to work for me I'm afraid.

Thanks for your input mate.

Cheers

BigLad.
 
kenej2005 said:
Cheers.

I do have a 1TB samsug that will be going in aswell. I was planning to use the raptors for current projects, archiving files to the 1TB, and keeping the raptors fairly clean. But I'll have a think on that one.

The editing software I use isn't GPU accelerated so the dedicated video editing cards aren't going to work for me I'm afraid.

Thanks for your input mate.

Cheers

BigLad.
Click to expand...

In that case I'd certainly swap out the raptors and go with the 80GB Intel MLC SSD. If you positive your editing software has nothing to gain from a high performance GPU and your not gaming, then something simple (like the 9800GT I have or similar ATI model) should be fine but obviously no DX11 support.

That setup with be fast for general windows use (in fact blazingly fast for that) but very misbalanced for gaming.
 
Ben-Irvine93 said:
The ssd you have chosen is a waste of money for a start mate, and so are the raptors.
2 Samsung f3 500gb in raid 0 will be faster than the raptors
Click to expand...

Hi mate,

I've already decided to nix the raptors - is it just the model of SSD I've chosen or SSD's in principle you're not keen on?

Cheers

BigLad.
 
dangerstat said:
In that case I'd certainly swap out the raptors and go with the 80GB Intel MLC SSD. If you positive your editing software has nothing to gain from a high performance GPU and your not gaming, then something simple (like the 9800GT I have or similar ATI model) should be fine but obviously no DX11 support.

That setup with be fast for general windows use (in fact blazingly fast for that) but very misbalanced for gaming.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate.

There's a £ 110 price differential between your SSD and the one I've chosen - is the performance difference worth the extra ££'s?

Also, I'm not averse to the odd game but don't want to spend a huge amount on a gaming card (no more than around £ 140). Something that can drive two HD monitors and cope with COD would suffice. What GPU would make the system more balanced for gaming (and therefore also keep my little brother happy)?

Cheers
 
Well, there are a whole load of gpus out there just 2 play cod and got 2 monitors. But for best price and performance, I would go with the ati 4890.

EDIT* I thought the quote you did was about my ssds untel i seen u did quote me :p
 
kenej2005 said:
Thanks mate.

There's a £ 110 price differential between your SSD and the one I've chosen - is the performance difference worth the extra ££'s?

Also, I'm not averse to the odd game but don't want to spend a huge amount on a gaming card (no more than around £ 140). Something that can drive two HD monitors and cope with COD would suffice. What GPU would make the system more balanced for gaming (and therefore also keep my little brother happy)?

Cheers
Click to expand...

IMHO the Intel 80GB are *the* SSD to buy, if you've ditched the raptors you should certainly have the noodles to buy one. Performane in seek and read are outstanding. But ultimately it is upto you, post in the hard drives section for views by those that use the drives in home systems.

Well it's swings and round abouts with respect to the GPU, my 9800GT runs pretty much everything okay and drives the dual 19" widescreens I have via dual DVI ouputs. A moderate upgrade is the GTX260 (agian I only really use Nvidia cards but I guess the equiv is one of the ATI Radeon 49XX series cards).
 
Thanks folks - okay will take your advice and go with the Intel 80GB and look a little deeper into the GPU.

Thanks for your input guys.

Cheers

BigLad.
 
Biz.Kid09 said:
I would go with the 5770 as it will run 2 monitors and is dx11 so if you want to be gaming in the future you will be set.
Click to expand...

I agree with this, this card is superb value for money - it's 4870 money and yet has DX11 capabilties, HDMI, and far faster core/memory clocks. 5770s come under your budget and will more than suffice for your needs.

But you can go for a lower specced GPU if you'd rather spend on hardware that is more relevant to your primary need of video/photo work. You drop down to a 4850 (which will still run CoD nicely) and spend the spare cash on the intel SSD.

Your choice.
 
Thanks guys.

Changed according to advice given as follows:

untitled.jpg


Anything else that needs changing?

And do you recommend I use Arctic silver or similar thermal paste?

Cheers

BigLad
 
Last edited:
Take a screenshot of the basket using Vista's Snipping Tool, then upload it to Photobucket or similar and give alink or add image in the post options.

Arctic Silver 5 or MX-3 is good - frequently recomended as the best.

Need to see your spec before I can give you any opinions :)
 
shinester184 said:
Take a screenshot of the basket using Vista's Snipping Tool, then upload it to Photobucket or similar and give alink or add image in the post options.

Arctic Silver 5 or MX-3 is good - frequently recomended as the best.

Need to see your spec before I can give you any opinions :)
Click to expand...

Thanks mate - spec above after taking your advice re Photobucket.

Cheers

BigLad
 
Arctic Silver 5 and MX-3 are usually the most talked about on these forums, think either will do just fine.

Is it just a mistake or are you ordering 2 Antec 902 cases?? other than that looks like a solid setup

Can I ask why you are going to the GIGABYTE GA-EX-UD3R motherboard??
 
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