Spec/Component Check

honosuseri said:
I'd get the screen new and the GPU 2nd hand fella. Prices have changed slightly and the offers change tomoz too.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - OEM £159.95
1 x Samsung 120GB SSD 840 SATA 6Gb/s Basic - (MZ-7TD120BW) £86.99
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02050) £83.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £81.98
1 x Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST2000DM001) £69.95
1 x Corsair Enthusiast Series TX550M High Performance 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Modular Power Supply (CP-9020001-UK) £59.99
1 x Xigmatek Asgard Pro Gaming Case - Black £32.99
1 x Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) £29.99
1 x Thermalright True Spirit 120 REV A CPU Cooler (Socket LGA775/1155/1156/AM2/AM3/FM1) £24.98
1 x OcUK 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
Total : £659.89 (includes shipping : £11.75).



The only new GPU I would personally use is a 2GB 7850 or an nvidia 660. These GPUs are £160ish. A 2nd hand 460 at £50ish would be very capable and since you don't seem that bothered about gaming it's not a massive amount of cash to put up to allow the rig to play games.
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Really don't want to spend over £100 on a GPU, on the first machine i'm building when I won't really be using it for gaming straight away.

I may look for a slight step up from the 640, but TBF the 640 will do the job with FM and a lot of other games, after a couple of months I will probably upgrade it.

Have just ordered the Zalman Z9 Plus, not from OC though. I presume I'm allowed to say that considering I didn't say the company name:D
 
Looks very promising, cheers pal :)

Can I ask why you both suggested the Gigabyte Z77 Motherboard rather than the Asus VL-X? No problem as the price is pretty much the same, just curious as to why:)
 
Mainly because GB have a UK based Rma and the customer service is supposed to be better. I would`nt know, because I only ever use Asus boards, never had a problem with any of them.
 
The Z77 D3H has a dual bios so is safer to update as you have a backup bios. I used the OEM i5k as its cheap enough to help pay for a heat sink so you can over clock nicely.

Did you get the zalman z9 U3? that has usb3 ports :) I can understand you not wanting to pay over £100 for a gpu. Its why I suggested the 2nd hand 460, people are selling them now whilst the card is still capable and put the cash to an upgrade such as the 7850 I mentioned earlier for a £100ish outlay.

I like nvidia for cuda support, makes the gpu a double upgrade in my eyes. The gpu allows gaming and cuda support assists the CPU in a number of software suites.

remember you have the IGP. if you're not sure what to do about a gpu you can use the IGP initially. Remember some GPUs come with games, you could sell them to help fund the cost of the card :)
 
honosuseri said:
The Z77 D3H has a dual bios so is safer to update as you have a backup bios. I used the OEM i5k as its cheap enough to help pay for a heat sink so you can over clock nicely.

Did you get the zalman z9 U3? that has usb3 ports :) I can understand you not wanting to pay over £100 for a gpu. Its why I suggested the 2nd hand 460, people are selling them now whilst the card is still capable and put the cash to an upgrade such as the 7850 I mentioned earlier for a £100ish outlay.

I like nvidia for cuda support, makes the gpu a double upgrade in my eyes. The gpu allows gaming and cuda support assists the CPU in a number of software suites.

remember you have the IGP. if you're not sure what to do about a gpu you can use the IGP initially. Remember some GPUs come with games, you could sell them to help fund the cost of the card :)
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Forgot about the U3 case :D

Have cancelled my order and gone for the U3 instead. Is the USB3.0 the only difference from the plus version?


And I didn't mean I ordered the Asus Board, was meant to put the CPU :p
 
The U3 has USB3 ports on the front panel, USB3 is obviously backwards compatible so it just makes sense to have the U3 ;) As an owner I would advise taking the fan off the side panel and put it on the base (cooling the GPU) or ceiling of the case, the fan is quieter when relocated :)

I have an Asus AM2+ mobo still going strong in my HTPC, it must be over 2 years old now, like Idleman I've never had a reason to complain. You asked why we used the GB mobo so we have pointed out the perks. It would be wise to update it's BIOS to resolve a possible issue with using a GPU. I personally don't like the blue look of the entry level GB mobos but that's nit picking really.

What CPU did you order? OEM or Retail? i5 3570K?
 
I prefer the blue look tbh :D

And Retail, I5 3470. I won't be overclocking, so didn't really see the point.

Supposing it's fairly easy to relocate the fan?


Z9plus_07.jpg


Would it be worth investing in a cooler there? (On the right)
 
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All you do is up the multiplier in the BIOS really, it's very easy to do. As I said I used the OEM i5K to help fund a heatsink so you could ask more of the CPU. It's your choice at the end of the day.If you are not overclocking you might as well stick with the retail heatsink fella.

Moving the side fan is a matter of 4 screws. You get a lot of kit for your money on the Z9, I'm happy to give you tips for building in it if you wish, rather ask than waffle on now and force feed it to you lol
 
honosuseri said:
All you do is up the multiplier in the BIOS really, it's very easy to do. As I said I used the OEM i5K to help fund a heatsink so you could ask more of the CPU. It's your choice at the end of the day.If you are not overclocking you might as well stick with the retail heatsink fella.

Moving the side fan is a matter of 4 screws. You get a lot of kit for your money on the Z9, I'm happy to give you tips for building in it if you wish, rather ask than waffle on now and force feed it to you lol
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Aha, well I'll let you know matey.
 
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