Spec me a build

It's just shorter with less expansion slots so you can fit it in a claustrophobic little case if that's what you want. A full size atx has more slots to remain ever empty :p. On a budget i think an matx is fine (and this one has USB 3, SATA 6Gb/s etc). Full atx worth it if you're spending a bit more on one capable of later sli/x-fire or you think you might actually start filling up expansion slots (with what?).
 
Qty Price Line Total
Asus GeForce GTX 460 Direct CU TOP 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.98
(£106.37) £124.98
(£106.37)
Asus P7H55-M/USB3 Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 microATX Motherboard £79.99
(£68.08) £79.99
(£68.08)
Intel Core i3 530 2.93GHz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail £79.89
(£67.99) £79.89
(£67.99)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
Zalman Z7 Plus Midi Tower Case - Black £42.99
(£36.59) £42.99
(£36.59)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/775/1156/1366) £19.99
(£17.01) £19.99
(£17.01)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Sub Total : £429.10
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £12.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £77.28
Total : £518.88


extreme budget right there hehe
 
If you prefer that case then why not - it's also great value for money. That cheaper cooler may not take you to the lofty heights of 4.4GHz as per the OCUK bundle, but will certainly get a good clock out of the i3 I would have thought.
 
it is isnt it but could you reccomend me some good coolers for around the same price as that one thanks
 
Yea looks great.

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus might not be up there with the higher-end £30+ CPU cooler, but it's still a decent CPU cooler which should handle the i3 530 at 4.0-4.2GHz easy enough, and you can add an extra fan to it for push+pull config in the future if you fancy :p

The spec here:
http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=2923

I'd recommend getting a tube of MX-3 instead of using the cheap stuff that come with the cooler:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-002-AR
 
Last edited:
Marine-RX179 said:
Yea looks great.

The Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus might not be up there with the higher-end £30+ CPU cooler, but it's still a decent CPU cooler which should handle the i3 530 at 4.0-4.2GHz easy enough, and you can add an extra fan to it for push+pull config in the future if you fancy :p

I'd recommend getting a tube of MX-3[/QUOTE

thanks you have been helping me out a lot! :)
tbh i wasnt expecting this much feedback.
its a start maybe in a year or two when new stuff comes out ill upgrade.
Click to expand...
 
If you can overclock the i3 530 to 4.0GHz ish, it should last you for the next 2~3 years no problem...as I don't see you will be upgrading GFX to beyond a GTX480 level card during the next 2~3 years :p

But do bare in mind that if you are upgrading in 2~3 year's time, the chances are you would need to upgrade the motherboard along with the CPU.
 
Marine-RX179 said:
If you can overclock the i3 530 to 4.0GHz ish, it should last you for the next 2~3 years no problem...as I don't see you will be upgrading GFX to beyond a GTX480 level card during the next 2~3 years :p

But do bare in mind that if you are upgrading in 2~3 year's time, the chances are you would need to upgrade the motherboard along with the CPU.
Click to expand...

i know but in a fews years i would know what im doing and would have a bit more cash to spend.
 
and so now its down to amd vs intel


Asus GeForce GTX 460 Direct CU TOP 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.98
(£106.37) £124.98
(£106.37)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 555 3.20GHz Black Edition (Socket AM3) - Retail £74.99
(£63.82) £74.99
(£63.82)
Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H AMD 880G (Socket AM3) microATX DDR3 Motherboard £69.99
(£59.57) £69.99
(£59.57)
Zalman Z7 Plus Midi Tower Case - Black £42.99
(£36.59) £42.99
(£36.59)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/775/1156/1366) £19.99
(£17.01) £19.99
(£17.01)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Arctic Cooling MX-3 Thermal Compound £6.99
(£5.95) £6.99
(£5.95)
Sub Total : £422.37
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £12.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £76.10
Total : £510.97


or




Asus GeForce GTX 460 Direct CU TOP 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.98
(£106.37) £124.98
(£106.37)
Intel Core i3 530 2.93GHz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail £79.89
(£67.99) £79.89
(£67.99)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 microATX Motherboard £66.99
(£57.01) £66.99
(£57.01)
Zalman Z7 Plus Midi Tower Case - Black £42.99
(£36.59) £42.99
(£36.59)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/775/1156/1366) £19.99
(£17.01) £19.99
(£17.01)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Arctic Cooling MX-3 Thermal Compound £6.99
(£5.95) £6.99
(£5.95)
Sub Total : £423.98
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £12.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £76.38
Total : £512.86
 
Scone said:
and so now its down to amd vs intel


Asus GeForce GTX 460 Direct CU TOP 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.98
(£106.37) £124.98
(£106.37)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 555 3.20GHz Black Edition (Socket AM3) - Retail £74.99
(£63.82) £74.99
(£63.82)
Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H AMD 880G (Socket AM3) microATX DDR3 Motherboard £69.99
(£59.57) £69.99
(£59.57)
Zalman Z7 Plus Midi Tower Case - Black £42.99
(£36.59) £42.99
(£36.59)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/775/1156/1366) £19.99
(£17.01) £19.99
(£17.01)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Arctic Cooling MX-3 Thermal Compound £6.99
(£5.95) £6.99
(£5.95)
Sub Total : £422.37
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £12.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £76.10
Total : £510.97


or




Asus GeForce GTX 460 Direct CU TOP 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.98
(£106.37) £124.98
(£106.37)
Intel Core i3 530 2.93GHz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail £79.89
(£67.99) £79.89
(£67.99)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 microATX Motherboard £66.99
(£57.01) £66.99
(£57.01)
Zalman Z7 Plus Midi Tower Case - Black £42.99
(£36.59) £42.99
(£36.59)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/775/1156/1366) £19.99
(£17.01) £19.99
(£17.01)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Arctic Cooling MX-3 Thermal Compound £6.99
(£5.95) £6.99
(£5.95)
Sub Total : £423.98
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £12.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £76.38
Total : £512.86
Click to expand...
No USB3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s with that board...switch back to the Asus P7H55-M/USB3 you previously listed.
 
Last edited:
Marine-RX179 said:
No USB3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s with that board...switch back to the Asus P7H55-M/USB3 you previously listed.
Click to expand...

Qty Price Line Total
Asus GeForce GTX 460 Direct CU TOP 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.98
(£106.37) £124.98
(£106.37)
Asus P7H55-M/USB3 Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 microATX Motherboard £79.99
(£68.08) £79.99
(£68.08)
Intel Core i3 530 2.93GHz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail £79.89
(£67.99) £79.89
(£67.99)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
Zalman Z7 Plus Midi Tower Case - Black £42.99
(£36.59) £42.99
(£36.59)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus (Socket AM2/AM2+/AM3/775/1156/1366) £19.99
(£17.01) £19.99
(£17.01)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Arctic Cooling MX-3 Thermal Compound £6.99
(£5.95) £6.99
(£5.95)
Sub Total : £435.05
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £12.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £78.32
Total : £525.87
 
Yeah you need to spend another £10 on the more expensive intel board to get your USB 3.0 and SATA 6 on the intel build. Having said that it's quite likely they will be of no use to you unless you get a blisteringly fast SSD and some USB 3 devices in the next few years, so you could just not worry about it.

Personally I'd take the intel build any day over the AMD in this instance. Have a look at these benches (remembering to notice where lower is better and where higher is better)...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/120?vs=118

555 is getting thrashed in most instances by the i3. However look at games and it's much closer with the two CPUs trading blows. Bear in mind a couple of points:

1. Those are at stock speeds. The 555 will realistically OC about 25% (3.2 to 4GHz), but the i3 will realistically OC about 50% (2.93 - 4.4 GHz). Notice there are no AMD OC'd bundles above 4GHz.

2. Games are generally GPU bottlenecked with these modern CPUs. But as they become more CPU intensive and start to use more than 2 threads, gaming results might start to look more like all those other results on those benches, as the i3 with hyperthreading pulls ahead.

Therefore imho the intel build is the one to go for now.
 
Liampope said:
Yeah you need to spend another £10 on the more expensive intel board to get your USB 3.0 and SATA 6 on the intel build. Having said that it's quite likely they will be of no use to you unless you get a blisteringly fast SSD and some USB 3 devices in the next few years, so you could just not worry about it.

Personally I'd take the intel build any day over the AMD in this instance. Have a look at these benches...

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/120?vs=118

555 is getting thrashed in most instances by the i3. However look at games and it's much closer with the two CPUs trading blows. Bear in mind a couple of points:

1. Those are at stock speeds. The 555 will realistically OC about 25% (3.2 to 4GHz), but the i3 will realistically OC about 50% (2.93 - 4.4 GHz). Notice there are no AMD OC'd bundles above 4GHz.

2. Games are generally GPU bottlenecked with these modern CPUs. But as they become more CPU intensive and start to use more than 2 threads, gaming results might start to look more like all those other results on those benches, as the i3 with hyperthreading pulls ahead.

Therefore imho the intel build is the one to go for now.
Click to expand...


ok so get a basic intel build and upgrade along the way?
 
The last intel build you posted above for 525 looks perfect to me. Maybe change the cooler to one of the £35 ones that come with the 4.4GHz OCUK bundle if you think you'll aim all the way for 4.4GHz. But Marine suggested the £20 coolermaster is pretty sweet too so you could probably stick with that. Personally I dont have experience with them as I have a H50.
 
Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
Asus GeForce GTX 460 Direct CU TOP 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.98
(£106.37) £124.98
(£106.37)
MSI 870A-G54 AMD 870 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £77.98
(£66.37) £77.98
(£66.37)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
AMD Phenom II X2 Dual Core 555 3.20GHz Black Edition (Socket AM3) - Retail £74.99
(£63.82) £74.99
(£63.82)
OCZ ModXStream Pro 500w Silent SLI Certified Modular Power Supply £56.99
(£48.50) £56.99
(£48.50)
Zalman Z7 Plus Midi Tower Case - Black £42.99
(£36.59) £42.99
(£36.59)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Sub Total : £426.63
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.75
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £76.72
Total : £515.10

modular psu, and a full size ATX motherboard.
 
Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
Asus GeForce GTX 460 Direct CU TOP 768MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £124.98
(£106.37) £124.98
(£106.37)
AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition "125W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £117.49
(£99.99) £117.49
(£99.99)
MSI 870A-G54 AMD 870 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £77.98
(£66.37) £77.98
(£66.37)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Xigmatek Asgard Midi Tower Case - Black £28.99
(£24.67) £28.99
(£24.67)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Sub Total : £430.46
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.75
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £77.39
Total : £519.60

QUAD CORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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