What does this build look like? Any experience/advice? First time builder here

Bambaata

Hey all, I'm going to have a stab at building myself. Although Komplett only charge 50 quid to build i can get parts cheaper on dabs.ie etc. Am i right in saying Komplett and Dabs are the best for getting the parts? I have limited knowledge on the MOBO and RAM end so any advice would be much appreciated. I understand you can never future proof but i'd like to get 2 to 3 yrs out of this baby and have the possibility of upgrading, i don't want to have to buy another case at that point etc.

I have a PC from Komplett already and i am hoping some items are reusable.

Here's what im looking at getting:

Chassis - Gigabyte 3D Aurora GZ-FSCA1-AN Silver Aluminium Body (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=311887&CKS=PCW) - €132 on Komplett
I've read that this is a nice unit. Supposedly has 3 120mm fans that are nice and quiet and keep it very cool. Anybody any experience ro other recommendations?

Power Supplies - Corsair Powersupply 620W Black, ATX/EPS, 120mm Fan, 8xSATA, SLI, WxHxL 150x86x150 (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=327672&CKS=PCW) - €151.69 on Dabs
Anyone have experience?

Mainboards - I'm lost here. WIFI would be nice to be included and i believe i should only look at 1333 MHz Bus Speeds? Firewire would also be good. What is the latest Firewire? 1394?

Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 S775 3.0ghz 4mb Cache 1333FSB (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338084&CKS=PCW) - €250.62 on Dabs

Memory - I'm stuck here. I'd like 4GB RAM and have been told the Ballistix are good. What manufacturers are good here. Should i stick with Corsair?

Graphics Cards - Gaming capabilities would be cool but i'm no high end gamer. The budget is probably 150 - 220 or so. I have 2 19" TFTs so it needs to be able to handle that (which I'm sure all do these days) and also i'd like to be able to connect it to the TV if possible. I have no LCD TV right now so plan on getting one inside the next year or so.

Hard Drives - 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB SATA2 16MB 7200RPM [ SPECIAL OFFER ] (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=114450) - €195.02 on Komplett

DVD Writer - To save a little i have this http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=305762. Would it be compatible?

To save on costs i saw a bundle including the 3.0GHz Processor with this Mainboard - http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=335581 and Crucial DDR2 PC5300 4096MB CL5, Kit w/two matched DDR2 PC5300 2048MB CL5. How does that look? - http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338521

That all comes to about 1100 with the bundle rather than getting the processor, motherboard and RAM separate and all from Komplett. I'd like to ktry stay under 1200/1250 and i have access to XP Pro so i don't need a OS. Are there any extra bits i need to purchase to build?

Anti

Oh where to start.....

The case will be fine for what you want, and its quite nice looking too.

The power supply will do you fine, though i would suggest you buy it elsewhere. as 151€ for it is too expensive.

With the motherboard you should be looking at a intel p35 chipset board, or a nvidia 680i or 650i. You can always add in a wireless card to it if it does not already have one.

The E6850 is the current king of the hill of C2D cpu's and will do you grand.

4gb will be nice ot have especially if you are going ot be using vista, but i would forget about getting ddr 5300 if you are getting a 1333fsb chip/board. ddr 6400 is the minimum you should get.

I would swap the hard drives for 2 x 500gb samsung spin points, they are slightly cheaper, a good bit faster, and much more slient. They have been known to load games quicker then a raptor 150.

Any old dvd writer will be grand, just make sure to get a +- dual layer rw, so you can backup.

The kit is fine, but like i said earlier, the ram is not the best.

As for a graphics card a 8800gts 320mb will do you fine, as you do not have a big widescreen, so anything above this will be a waste, unless you plan on using high levels of AA and AF then get the 640mb 8800gts.

Try specing the same system up over on www.scan.co.uk and www.overclockers.co.uk You should be able to save a nice ammount of money.

If you dont mind doing a bank transfer you can always use www.hardwareversand.de there you will find it all cheaper. But the site is a absolute mess to navigate. And like i said they only accept bank transfers. No Credit Cards at all.

uberpixie

Case choice:
http://www.custompc.co.uk/labs/86394...3d-aurora.html
(Read this review, you of the few negative ones)

The case is meant to be loud, 2 people in work have used this case to build in, both report that the finished PC was very loud.
(1 guy got rid of it becasue he couldn't stand the noise, the other kept his and really likes it)

If you want a want case this is not the best choice to go for, if you can live with the noise it should serve you very well.

Psu choice: Great choice, one of the the best PSU out there.
(it's a rebadged Seasonic modular PSU, better than the branded Seasonic modular PSUs seemingly)

Bambaata

what did that guy replace hsi with? Any sugegstions. And thanks lads for the comments. Hugely appreciated.

Looking at the Antec P180 now. Only issue seems to be "PSU at the bottom of the case increases the distance between it and the motherboard, which could cause problems if your PSU has short cables." How will i find if that is an isue or is there any way of checking at all?

RAM wise looking at these Ballistix - http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=334571

Bambaata

actually my mobo is going to have to be able to take the RAM of PC 8500 isnt it? Anyone know of any at a decent price?

Anti

To check, well just make sure the psu is atx 2.2 certified. As they have much longer 20/24 pin cables.

As for the ram its a good kit

Bambaata

sorry to be dumb put i presume the motherboard has to have Supported RAM Speed of PC 8500 for that RAM? I can only find PC3 8500 etc?

Anti

Depending on the board, it will either support 1066 or 1333, but thats only the ram speed. You can get much faster ram, but thats for overclocking.

pc2 8500 will be fine for 1066 and 1333mhz cpu's as the ram is not linked to the cpu fsb like it used to be. you could even run pc2 5300 with your cpu, but its not adviseable.

Bambaata

I'll go with the 2GB PC8500 Ballistix so - http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=334571 and this motherboard Asus P5K-E/WIFI-AP, P35, Socket-775, DDR2, WIFI, ATX, GbLAN, PCI-Ex16 - http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=335581

Am i wrong in saying the RAM (1066 MHz ( PC2-8500 )) is not compatible with the motherboard (Supported RAM Speed PC2-6400, PC2-5300). You are probably giving em the answer but im unsure. I thought i ahd to get a mobo that has Supported RAM Speed PC2-8500 since thats the RAm i'm going to put in it?

Anti

No, it just means the ram with run at 8500 speeds, but it will initially be clocked slower.

Bambaata

so i wouldnt get the full effect of the RAM?

Anti

I dont think im explaining it very well to be honest.

Look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core_2#DDR2_memory_modules
&
http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=2800
&
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/memory/print/ddr2-800.html

uberpixie

Bambaata wrote:

Am i wrong in saying the RAM (1066 MHz ( PC2-8500 )) is not compatible with the motherboard (Supported RAM Speed PC2-6400, PC2-5300). You are probably giving em the answer but im unsure. I thought i ahd to get a mobo that has Supported RAM Speed PC2-8500 since thats the RAm i'm going to put in it?

The ram is fine. Your board supports a wide variety of Ram speeds.

Your board will support 1066Mhz Ram (PC 8500).
(Your board is a P35 chipset board, this natively supports that ram speed)

Sometimes the motherbard will have the ram speed set to lower, i.e. ram set to 800Mhz when you turn your PC on for the first time: just set the ram to the correct settings
(Settings usually listed on the packaging and will be on the web otherwise)

The ram is fine.:D

Regarding the PSU: Cables for the Corsair will prob be long enough.

Bambaata

thanks guys, its buying time! that mobo decent yes or is there a better cheaper/same price alternative?

Bambaata

do i need to buy any cables etc?

Bambaata

kinda forgot the graphics card. Is brand important with it? I've been looking at the different GeForce 8800GTS's and there are some serious differences in prices. I dont want to go too extreme as i aint a big gamer, its realy for future proofing and i'd liek the option of hooking to an LCD tv around 32 inches for movies etc

Anti

Hey,

The mobo is great, and comes with all the cables you will need.

As for the graphics cards, they are all the reference boards, so the cheapest the better really, dont bother with the overclocked cards, they arnt worth the money and you can easily overclock them yourself

Bambaata

thanks for all the advice man, is this one ok: Club3D GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3, PCI-Express, HDCP, Dual DVI, Retail - http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=332345

or which between these:
Club3D GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3, PCI-Express, HDCP, Dual DVI, Retail - €262 (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=332345)
or
XFX GeForce 8800GTS 500M 320MB GDDR3, PCI-Express, 2xDVI/HDTV/HDCP,500/1600Mhz - €282 (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=331406)
or
EVGA GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3, HDCP, PCI-Express, 2xDVI-I, 320bit - €295 (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=337911)
or
Gainward GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3, PCI-Express, "BP8800GTS-320M-TV-DD" - €295 (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=331135)
or
Point of View GeForce 8800GTS 320MB,DDR3 PCI-Express, DVI/Tv-Out,Retail w/STALKER - €298 (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=332090)


I coud go on!! Cheapest as good as the dearest?!

Bambaata

I have sourced all items at Dabs bar the graphics card and it amounts to €953.10 whereas the same parts at Komplett amount to €1015.03!!

Interestingly the RAM is cheaper on both sites buying in 1GB sticks rather than getting the 2x1GB pack at Komplett!!

Dabs it is i think although i cant get the graphics card there unfortunately

Anti

You are best to buy the 2x1gb kit, as the dimms would have been tested together for stability, If you buy them singily, they could be from a different batch, and give you headaches with stability and other issues.

As for the graphics card, go for the cheapest one. They are all the same anyway, the only benifit with some is that you might get a game bundle, or something similar.