***Building a PC HELP***

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:45 pm

Well like i said you need a big power supply to run what you will be getting. I recommend 600W at least in this day in age. Then you know you have enough for what you will need. If you cant afford the Seasonic one, which again comes highly recommended then stick to the major brands and you will be happy in the knowledge that it is stable. Antec, Tagan, OCZ, Seasonic, and the new Enermax range is supposed to be very good!

The case i mentioned again is very very good. If you look at some of the reviews on it you will be able to find on google you will see what i mean. The Antec P180. Its a monster of a case and has two 12cm exhausts that cool right next to your CPU, plus it is a very silent case for the amount of fans you can fit in there!

If you are looking at the slightly older gen cards like the 7600 - 7950 then that is fine, they will run games on high settings for the next while, however you will not be able you use Dx10, thats why if you were to get an 8800 GTS or GTX you will have that functionality, and that may prove annoying if you dont have it in a few months from now when all the shiny new games come out! ie Unreal Tournament, Quake Wars, Crysis etc etc

For around £1000 mark you will be able to get all of this. Just have to weigh up your options. The bummer is that the ram is so damn expensive, thats where you are having to pay unfortunately, everything else is quite within reason. But it pays to have a lot of ram!

Built the whole thing on scan here:

The good thing with scan is you could pay the £1000 off now then pay interest free for 9 months - at around £30 per month. Its something to consider! That system is pretty top spec, just the graphics card is the tuned down model of the fasted thing on the market!!!! So basically you cant go much better than that! Unless you pay silly money like some of us have done in the past!!

LT!

LT!

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 5:56 pm

LT Nice one, I actual saw the interst free thing today and though mmmmmmmm.

Looks like a good set up you have chose and not to much over budget, especially with the 9months interest free option.

Didnt realise the card thingy especially UT2007, Quake ect, games I WANT TO PLAY.

Will read more when not at work rushing to finish post before I get busted. Laughing

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:35 pm

Think the only additional cost on top of what LT put above is DVD/CD RW.

Plus operating system.

Is there any advantage in going for the 6700 againt the 6600?

Would that board you suggested (LT) be able to allow the OC as w00p has suggested?
Sorted, didnt know you could do that on Scan make things a lot easier now.

Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 525 Location: Manchester UK

Ok, I didnt have time to read all the above thread, but some quick points are:

- You're paying too much for that RAM, try this instead. (£126). Its still DDR800, so you will be able to overclock your processor.

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14773&GroupID=1654

- Overclockers.co,uk is v. expensive. Try shopping around a bit. I use Microdirect, Aria PC and Ebuyer usually.

- If you want the highest framerate in game, its all about the video card not the processor. dont not buy a 7950GTX - its directX 9 and out of date already. Spend an extra £120 and get the 8800GT, which fully supports DX10. You can save this money by buying a E6400 processor instead of E6600 and the cheaper RAM above (about 70 quid on the CPU and 70 quid on the RAM). Certainly dont go for the E6700 - any of those chips can overclock by nearly a GHz. So paying an extra couple of hundred quid for a few hundred MHz is really wasted money.

E6400: http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14433&GroupID=1674
E6600: http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=14434&GroupID=1674

Also, don't comprimise on motherboard. The Gigabyte motherboard you mentioned is maybe £50 less than the Intel Bad Axe, but the Intel is renowned for its overclocking ability. Other motherboards just may not be as stable and you dont want to risk that... Ask Ghetto - he has an MSI motherbaord and the above CPU / RAM and cant overclock it as it overheats wont stay stable. Ok fine, he also has a microwave oven of 2 video cards in his case, maybe thats it too Razz

Good cooling is also a must - the Thermaltake Big Typhoon cooler I mentioned is apparently very good and almost silent.

----

btw - the way overclocking works as warrent officer said, is you increase the FSB (the memory speed) of the chip. The Core2 Intel chips have an FSB of 533MHz (yes I know it says 1066, but its 533 * 2, as its DDR). The clock frequency is a multiple of this, so the E6400 which is 2.13GHz is 533 * 4. If you can increase the FSB to 800 (theoretical maximum with DDR800), you get 800 * 4, which is 3.2GHz. Ok, so you wont get that far ( Razz

), but many people have reported 2.6 - 2.8GHz on standard air cooling with the E6400, and 2.8 - 3.2GHz with the E6600.

In order to achieve this, you need a hefty power supply (as more frequency = more juice), good cooling (more juice = more heat) and a good motherboard (more speed = more instability), so its essential you get the best of these components. If you do however, you basically getyourself a super computer for cheeeeeeep Cool

Anyway, dont worry about this, get your computer parts list, get it ordered and build it Razz

WHen you install XP, create 3 partitions, C, D & E. Put XP on D, your files on E and leave C blank for Vista, if you decide to buy it in the future Smile

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:37 am

Personally i would buy on the basis that i would not have to overclock straight away, my moto is get what you can, then when it starts to lag behind overclock it. Not buy something underpowered and overclock it from the start.

I was talking ot Geordieste last night about overclocking and it is just a mine field in my eyes. Im not saying i havent done it and that it is not relatively easy, i just dont think people should base a system on having to overclock it straight away.

Plus to overclock you need to spend a little more money on cooling.

The ram is expensive, but it is the fastest ram available. I know what w00py is saying, id would just do it the other way.

As far as that mboard is concerned i dont know much about it, it is a bit of an educated guess. I would stick to Asus and DFI for solid mboards. DFI are the best for overclocking usually as they tend to have the best circuitary on the board to handle the extra volts you put through your CPU.

Thats my honest opinion, before you buy it, go to WHSmiths and buy Custom PC Magazine and read it through. It has suggested items in there and it is the most helpful mag i read.

LT!

Joined: Oct 04, 2005 Posts: 344 Location: Kent

LtColumbo4 wrote:

Personally i would buy on the basis that i would not have to overclock straight away, my moto is get what you can, then when it starts to lag behind overclock it. Not buy something underpowered and overclock it from the start.

I was talking ot Geordieste last night about overclocking and it is just a mine field in my eyes. Im not saying i havent done it and that it is not relatively easy, i just dont think people should base a system on having to overclock it straight away.

LT!

I abs agree with this - spend as much as you can afford - run it straight out of the box - o/c it when it wont cut it anymore,,,,,,, and once you've bought it all FFS dont look at the prices of ANYTHING cos it'll break your heart Wink

ElGordo

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:03 pm

Will go and get that mag later and confuse myself more. Laughing

Just one or two things then, I think I am ready to purchase.

When Buying the processer so I have to buy anything in Addition?
Does it come with Fan & all stuff to fit heat paste/gel or whatever it is?

I am looking at a Big Typhoon Cooler for the processor as a fan.

The Mother board, I thought The Intel one would be best for the chip I m getting Intel to Intel, But would this restric me to Intel Only?? Asus are a name I know but again all the stuff they can do just does my head in. when it comes to picking one.

I dont really intend to OverClock I think the Spec will be good enough to not need it for a while, but at least I know Its there and can be done.

I have also desided on a 8800 card as it would be stupid as I want to play the DX10 games when they come out.

And why such a price difference in ram?

Joined: Oct 23, 2006 Posts: 77

If i read this post earlier i would of chipped in, but just finding it now its been covered lol..

I got myself a e6600 on the first week of their release. its fast. 4 gig of memory and an ATI X1900XT 512meg, pretty fast a few months ago!

gfx kinda slipping a bit now but i'm very glad i didn't go for a more expensive card as the direct x 10 issue (already mentioned here).

one thing i would suggest is have a think about how many gfx cards you want? i onlt use one and never intend to sli or crossfire etc... just not worth it. the idea being that you can get one ace card now and then when it lags just pair it up with another. sounds good but its a crap plan. by the time ur first card lags you can get something better for the same price without the complexity and problems that linking them causes.

only mention this cus if your a one card man like myself then you can save on your motherboard. my motherboard (forget its model number) an abit something pro. has more stuff than you can shake a stick at for 100quid. (twin lan, external sata, 9 sata, raid, firewire, 8.1 sound). also i am using the standard 400w psu that came with my case with NO problems. so save on a psu.

no point wasting money Smile

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:19 pm

Good to hear you happy with the E6600, as thast my choice of Chip.

I am a believer in a 600w power supply, its what I run now on a low end PC.

The mother board is my problem at the moment, all this baffeles me. its the reason I have to upgrade my current PC as the board is to old.

I do want a GOOD board I dont mind spending a bit more. the Bad Axe is fav at the moment,

And I am also a 1 Card Man. Laughing

think the 8800 is on the cards.

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:02 pm

Hey mate, glad to see you are nearing your decision, it will be groovy when you can get back on ts and have a stable system once more!

Firstly the ram prices surprised me a little, there is nothing wrong with going for the DDR2 800 ram, if it were me i would get the DDR2 1066. its just like now, i expect you have DDR400 but your system can run the DDR333. Its a shame it is like £70-£100 more money, but at least you wont kick yourself.

With the graphics you are spot on, and that will offer you a lot more future protection than cards that came out like over 3 months ago. So the 8800 is great.

Defineately get the HItachi hard drive i said, dont settle for anything less, unless you are planning on spending mega bucks. It is the best.

As far as a mboard look at Custom PC quickly, i think this month is a mboard review, if not im sure they just had one so the one they recommend is deffo the one you should buy even if not from scan, it is a key element to your system!

BUY AN ARCTIC COOLING FREEZER HEAT SINK AND FAN, AND ARCTIC SILVER THERMAL PASTE. I bought a £40 heat sink and a £17 fan when i got mine and since then i replaced it with an arctic cooling freezer and it is much quieter and just as good! Seriously they are very good and only about £20 for the lot!

LT!

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:50 pm

Ye I cant wait to be able to play normal again.

Got the mag - LOL made me more confused. Laughing

I know what your Like LT - Me im a budget man (hence my current system) Laughing

where you are a top range player. Laughing

(Must get paid to much) Laughing

So I have to Buy the Cooler, fan separate for the Processor?

Do I need any other little bits Ect that I havent covered.

Nearly There. Laughing

Joined: Feb 06, 2007 Posts: 13

may of been mentioned,but a little thing you may need ,and i find this helps to install games and stuff is a dvd drive! i build a pc a few months ago went p5w-dh/e6600 route,i did this as i was planning to OC off the bat and i through my internet searchs i found this to be at the time a pretty common set up so there was a wealth of information available to assist me,i also see listed a decent sound card so may want to invest in some decent speakers or atleast 5.1 headset,

Joined: Aug 02, 2006 Posts: 85 Location: colchester, essex

hi drewcat, your choice on the E6600 is fine, if ur using ur pc for gaming then this will have more power than u could ever need, my cpu only runs at about 20 - 30% load during BF2 with all settings on max!
definatly get the 8800 graphics card as this will be doing all the work while your gaming, getting a lesser card will be a waste of money!
As for the ram i switched from 2gig of budget ram too 2gig of corsair TwinX and could notice only a small amount of difference, my advice buy the cheaper ram and put the money towards something else!
your new E6600 will come with heat sink and thermal paste, which are fine, but not the best! if anything get some Arcit silver 5 thermal paste!
if in a year or 2 you want to overclock your pc you WILL need a better heatsink! best to buy and fit one from the startas doing anything to a socket 775 (intel) cpu means taking the motherbord out!
if your interested i have one of these http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/intelcooling/cnps9700 sitting in my desk collecting dust!
it works treat and has some very good reviews, it knocked 10 degrees off my cpu temp befor i went to watercooling! £15 inc post? (its the copper one)

|2es-jackrabbit23

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:14 pm

Nearly there.

Only need extra cooling. Confused

And a DVD/CD Rw - Any recomendation on these.

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:20 pm

Nice one Jack answer my question ish. Laughing

Its the only part that concerns me is the heat sink & Paste.

So I fit the processor to the main board and stick a NONE STANDARD fan on?
how tricky is this?

That cooler @ £15.00 sounds like a bargain to me, is that what im after, simmalar to what LT & W00p have mentioned? just a diff make?

Should be ordering tomorrow or thursday how fast are scan out of interest?