Super-final spec-check time!

inverseSquare

inverseSquare

inverseSquare

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30 Aug 2007
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261
Hi all,

Unbelievably, i think i might have actually decided :D

Well, close to decided... ;)


Here is the spec:

-Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66Ghz (Nehalem) (Socket LGA1366) - Retail

-Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 Intel X58 (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard

-HIS ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

-Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 (1600MHz) Tri-Channel (TR3X6G1600C9)

-Corsair HX 650W ATX Modular SLI Compliant Power Supply (CMPSU-650HXUK)

-Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium - Retail (Full Version)

-Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103SJ)

-Noctua NH-U12P SE2 Dual Fan Quiet CPU Cooler (LGA1366/LGA1156/LGA775/AM2/AM2+/AM3)

-Sony Optiarc AD-7240S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM

-(all in an already bought Fractal Design R2 case)




Couple questions :D
-Is that 650W PS enough?
Looking to clock to about 3.5Ghz, plus in time add a better vid card, extra hd's, etc. Also, will I need any more cables and such?

-I know I should be getting a 5850, but with the price increase and low stock levels I really need to get this built. Is the 5770 so much worse? Would you just wait for the 5850?

-I've spec'd the Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 Intel X58, would you go for it over the Asus P6TD Deluxe ?

-Have I forgotten anything? Will I need any thermal compound?



Thanks a lot for the help over the past few weeks :)
 
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inverseSquare said:
-Is that 650W PS enough?
Looking to clock to about 3.5Ghz, plus in time add a better vid card, extra hd's, etc. Also, will I need any more cables and such?
Click to expand...

I imagine so, but looking at your long run ideas, you'll probably need to go higher eventually..
EDIT: misread, thought you meant adding a second gfx card :D I imagine a 650W Corsair should be fine for a single card i7 platform at 3.5

inverseSquare said:
-I know I should be getting a 5850, but with the price increase and low stock levels I really need to get this built. Is the 5770 so much worse?
Click to expand...

You get what you pay for tbh

inverseSquare said:
Would you just wait for the 5850?
Click to expand...

Probably, but if, as you say, you need to get it built ASAP, then the 5770 should be fine..plus you can always plug in another one ;)

inverseSquare said:
-I've spec'd the Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 Intel X58, would you go for it over the Asus P6TD Deluxe?
Click to expand...
Yes, it seems to have an excellent reputation on these boards, plenty of people with the same motherboard who can lend a hand when it all goes horribly wrong :)

inverseSquare said:
-Have I forgotten anything? Will I need any thermal compound?
Click to expand...
There should be some bundled with the cooler..
 
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Many thanks for the reply :)




Ok, Super-mega-final-final-(pressing 'order' in 30 mins)-spec ;)


Would some kind person run a well informed eye over this lot to make sure i'm not making any obvious mistakes :D





Intel Core i7 920 D0 Stepping (SLBEJ) 2.66Ghz (Nehalem) (Socket LGA1366) - Retail (eventually oc'ing to around 3.5Ghz)

Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 Intel X58 (Socket 1366) PCI-Express DDR3 Motherboard

Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 (1600MHz) Tri-Channel (TR3X6G1600C8)

Powercolor ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium - Retail (Full Version)

Noctua NH-U12P SE2 Dual Fan Quiet CPU Cooler (LGA1366/LGA1156/LGA775/AM2/AM2+/AM3)

Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103SJ)

Sony Optiarc AD-7240S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM

Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 Keyboard - OEM (FA3-00015)

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (3.5g) Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (3.5g)


I already have:
Fractal Design R2 Case + some extra fans
Fractal Design Newton 800W PS



Thanks again for the help :)
 
Looks very nice.

I would suggest getting this cooler though, its actually cheaper than the Noctua at the minute. Don't get me wrong, the noctua is an excellent cooler - but the H50 performs better.

Also, if you want thermal interface material (good idea IMHO as the stock stuff is usually not great) I suggest getting this stuff, as well as this.
 
Thanks guys :)


I had looked at the H50 :) finally decided that I wasn't ready for watercooling or the changes to the airflow in that it would require. Plus this case isn't huge, so i figured that was a deciding factor :)


As far as the thermal compound goes, will I need to clean the compound off the chip before installing the Noctua?
Is there any great different between those 2 thermal compound products? If one is easier to apply then please say so :D;)


Thanks.
 
The difference between as5 and mx3 is that mx3 is non conductive, mx3 has no curing time whereas as5 needs 200 hours or so to bed in properly, some people wil say that mx3 gives lower temps by 2-3c, as for application both are pretty much the same from my personal experience.
 
The H50 is actually very easy to install - certainly on par with large heatsinks w/ backplates in terms of installation time/difficulty.

As for airflow direction - just use it as an exhaust if you don't want to swap around your fans. Here is a review comparing the H50 in intake and exhaust - not a lot in it and either way it is much cooler than the Noctua U12P (which is also show in the review).

As for applying thermal compound - drop a small rice-grain sized blob in the centre of the CPU heatspreader and let the heatsink spread it for you. This reduces the chance of trapping air bubbles. I would suggest going for MX-3 as it is just as easy to use, costs the same and performs a bit better than AS5.

If you want to clean off thermal material, check this out - it does the job perfectly. Alternatively, get some Isopropyl alcohol.
 
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