Couple of questions on custom builds

joker77 · 13-02-2008 11:42am #1

First off - I'm planning to buy a new desktop, I'm looking to get an Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4Ghz (Q6600) with 4Gb RAM. I've been shopping around a bit, my mate working in Intel is to come back to me with a price, the best so far are 1 from Komplett and 1 from ankermann

Komplett - €1,104.75:

Case: Gigabyte Triton 180 Black
Power: Silver Power PSU, 600W, 120mm fan
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3, P35, Socket-775
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB SATA2
Memory: OCZ Gold XTC DDR2 PC6400 4096MB KIT
Graphics: Sapphire Radeon X1650PRO 256MB GDDR3
DVD Drive: NEC DVD±RW burner AD-7200A, IDE
Audio: Creative SB Audigy SE
Monitor: Acer 19" LCD AL1916WAs TCO99 Monitor
Other: Logitech Cordless Desktop EX110
Other: D-Link DWL-G520 PCI Super G 108Mbps

Ankermann - €1,127.00:

Case: Ankermann MidiTower Black
Power: 600W Power | 12cm Fan
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
Motherboard: MSI P6NGM-FD NVIDIA nForce630i
Hard Drive: 500GB SATA-II HDD 7200rpm
Memory: Upgrade to 4 GB DDR2 RAM PC800
Graphics: NVidia GeForce 8800GT 512MB
DVD Drive: LG GSH H55L DVD-RW Lightscribe
Audio: Realtek ALC888 7.1 Audio
Monitor: LG 19inch LCD L1919S 5ms
Other: Gigabit Ethernet LAN DSL Ready
Other: Yes, I want a superquiet PC
Other: Intel Box Cooler

If you were to chose one based on components - which would you go for?
I like the way you know exactly what does into the Komplett one, whereas with Ankermann you're not told which memory / hard disk it is.

I'd probably get the same spec system, albeit with cheaper components, from Dell for a bit less than this with O/S included, but I think I'd prefer to spend the extra and get a custom build.

1 more question - how do I go about adding in more USB ports - the case for the Komplett comes with only 2 - what component do I need (I know, bit of a noob question)

joker77 · 13-02-2008 11:59am

Just saw on the Ankermann site they have an Intel Offers section:

Ankermann - €951.80:

Case: Ankermann MidiTower Black
Power: 600Watt PFC Switching Power Supply
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
Motherboard: MSI P6NFD
Hard Drive: 320GB SATA-II HDD SEAGATE 16MB Cache
Memory: Upgrade to 4 GB DDR2 RAM PC800
Graphics: PCI-e 256MB NVidia GeForce 8600-GTS TV-out- DVI
DVD Drive: LG GSH H50L DVD-RW Lightscribe
Audio: Realtek ALC662 6 Channel Audio
Monitor: LG 19inch LCD L1919S 5ms
Other: DSL Ready 10/100 Ethernet LAN
Other: Yes, I want a superquiet PC
Other: Intel Box Cooler

Shiminay · 13-02-2008 12:01pm

You can get PCI cards with extra USB ports and most mother-boards will come with a back plate that'll take a PCI slot but plug onto a USB slot on the motherboard. A quick google says the Komplett motherboard has 12 USB ports, so I'd say you'll be alright

[Edit]
You'd want a better graphics card with that Intel Offer on Ankermann

joker77 · 13-02-2008 12:30pm

Kharn wrote: »

You can get PCI cards with extra USB ports and most mother-boards will come with a back plate that'll take a PCI slot but plug onto a USB slot on the motherboard. A quick google says the Komplett motherboard has 12 USB ports, so I'd say you'll be alright

[Edit]
You'd want a better graphics card with that Intel Offer on Ankermann

Cheers!

Something like these:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=327721

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=334532

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=335104

Perhaps you could explain the difference or point me in the direction of a better solution? Thanks

Shiminay · 13-02-2008 12:52pm

They're the sort of thing I was talking about alright.

However, the specs for the mo bo says 12 ports, which I believe is 4 on the back panel, 2 on the front i/o panel and then the remainder coming via the thingies I mentioned that connects to the USB slots on the mobo, but fits into an expansion card slot on the back of the machine - that's according to the detailed spec list on ebuyer here. So far, my experience of such things says that each USB slot on a mobo supports 2 USB ports, so there must be 4 of these on the board. Don't quote me on that, it's just what I've seen so far

Edit:

Looking at the left of that pic, I see 4 yellow sockets which I suspect are the USB connectors, which tallies up then with 4 on the back panel and 8 extra (which includes your 2 on the front i/o panel).

Second Edit:
The Gigabyte Specs confirms all this

joker77 · 13-02-2008 1:47pm

Great stuff Kharn - cheers for the advice.

What would your general impression be on both systems? Do you know what the general consensus is in terms of who would be a better supplier - Komplett or Ankermann?

Komplett come with 3 years warranty, it's 2 for Ankermann - any idea what the support is like if something goes wrong?

RoyalMarine · 13-02-2008 2:02pm

the komplett system has a much better graphics card.

joker77 · 13-02-2008 3:27pm

Had a look on the www2.hardwareversand.de site, it seems to work out 200 euro cheaper but you build it yourself!

jonny72 · 13-02-2008 3:37pm

Nope they build it for you for 20 euros extra

Current content:
Article Availability Price
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Tray, 8192Kb, LGA775, 64bit, Kentsfield
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 190,46 €
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3 ,Intel P35, ATX, PCI-Express
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 81,08 €
Arctic Freezer 7 Pro Sockel 775
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 13,69 €
2048MB-Kit OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Platinum Dual Channel, CL4
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 40,53 €
Coolermaster Elite 330 ohne Netzteil schwarz
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 29,88 €
ATX-Netzteil Corsair VX450W 450 Watt
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 56,37 €
Jetway 8800GT, NVIDIA 8800GT, 512MB, PCI-Express
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 190,67 €
Samsung HD501LJ 500GB 7200,16 MB Cache
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 79,99 €
Samsung SyncMaster 931BW, 19", 2ms, 2000:1 Kontrast, DVI, Windows Vista zertifiziert
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 197,34 €
Rechner - Zusammenbau
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 19,99 €

Sum: 900,00 €

Edit:
Didn't see you needed 4 gb ram, plus dvd writer, plus shipping should bring it to around the 1k euro mark.

The komplett graphics card is pretty crap and the Ankermann PC's are decent value but they stick in cheap parts, like ram, motherboard, power supply, etc.

If you want a rough rough guide to graphics cards go here..
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=735&model2=1057&chart=318

(Just look at the diff between an 8800GT OC and the 1650pro)

jonny72 · 13-02-2008 3:49pm

RoyalMarineComm wrote: »

the komplett system has a much better graphics card.

The 1650pro?

Pretty crap card I would've thought.

I think if this guy is gonna get a system for a grand or so, the very minimum graphics card he should get is an 8800 GS (stay away from 8600's) or the radeon 3850 at the very least..

TerrorFirmer · 13-02-2008 4:00pm

RoyalMarineComm wrote: »

the komplett system has a much better graphics card.

the X1650Pro? That's about the same as a crappy 8500GT, let alone an 8800Gt or even close to the much worse 8600GTS in the second Ankermann pc...

jonny72 · 13-02-2008 4:17pm

Yeah never try and 'guess' whether a graphics card is good or not, Nvidia and Ati try their best to fool buyers with very similar sounding names, huge amounts of memory and higher clock speeds, always go and check it out properly on the net, reviews, etc.

8500, 8600gt, 8600gts - low to midrange, bad cards..

8800's (gs, gt, gts 320/512/640, gtx) - Good cards

Ati/Radeon 1300, 1600, 1650, 2600 - low to midrange, bad cards..

3850/3870 - Good cards..

Have a choice? go for an 8800..

joker77 · 13-02-2008 4:26pm

Just had another try at building up a shopping cart - it doesn't seem to better priced after all:

Article Availability Price per unit Quantity Price
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Tray, 8192Kb, LGA775, 64bit, Kentsfield
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 190,46 € 190,46 € [Delete article]
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3 ,Intel P35, ATX, PCI-Express
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 81,08 € 81,08 € [Delete article]
4096MB DDR2 Corsair Twin2X CL 5, PC6400/800
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 87,45 € 87,45 € [Delete article]
Arctic Freezer 7 Pro Sockel 775
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 13,69 € 13,69 € [Delete article]
Coolermaster Elite 330 ohne Netzteil schwarz
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 29,88 € 29,88 € [Delete article]
ATX-Netzteil Corsair VX450W 450 Watt
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 56,37 € 56,37 € [Delete article]
Samsung SyncMaster 931BW, 19", 2ms, 2000:1 Kontrast, DVI, Windows Vista zertifiziert
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 197,34 € 197,34 € [Delete article]
Jetway 8800GT, NVIDIA 8800GT, 512MB, PCI-Express
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 190,67 € 190,67 € [Delete article]
Samsung HD501LJ 500GB 7200,16 MB Cache
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 79,99 € 79,99 € [Delete article]
LG GSA-H55N schwarz bare
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 26,69 € 26,69 € [Delete article]
Logitech Cordl. Desktop EX110 refresh
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 27,78 € 27,78 € [Delete article]
D-Link AirPl.XtremeG DWL-G520 108MBit Wireless PCI-Adapter
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 22,19 € 22,19 € [Delete article]
Creative SoundBlaster Audigy SE
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 31,05 € 31,05 € [Delete article]
Rechner - Zusammenbau
The price includes VAT and excludes shipping costs and logistic costs
ready for dispatch 19,99 € 19,99 € [Delete article]
Sum: 1.054,63 € 1)

RoyalMarine · 13-02-2008 4:29pm

oh god. i meant it the other way round. the 8800gt is far better. the komplett system is NOT better.

lol my bad :P

Couple of questions on custom builds

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