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Thoughts on this rig

J

JoeCoral

n00b
Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
57
1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming, internet browsing, some photo editting, basic word processing etc
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
roughly £1000 (pounds sterling)
3) Where do you live?
Wales (UK)
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Basically everything. Case, Mobo, CPU, CPU cooler, RAM, GPU, PSU, HDD, Monitor, Speakers
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
None. Completely from scratch
6) Will you be overclocking?
Maybe, not sure
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Plan on buying CIBOX C2202 22" LCD (1680x1050)
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Gonna start buying parts soon, aiming to actually build around september
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
Nothing special really
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
No, I plan on buying Vista Home Premium 64-bit

Ok, so the build I have planned is as follows:
Case: Antec 900-Two (902) £102.99
Mobo: Gigabyte EP45-UD3P £125.66
CPU: Intel E8400 £137.64
CPU Cooler: CoolerMaster V8 £55.53
RAM: 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair Dominator DDR2 PC8500 (1066) with corsair RAM fan thingy £74.34
GPU: EVGA (nVidia) GTX260 c216 SSC £194.65
PSU: Corsair TX650 £78.76
HDD: WesternDigital 500GB SATA 3Gb/s 16mb cache £43.09
O/S: Windows Home Premium 64-bit

Monitor: Cibox C2202 22" LCD 5ms
Speakers: Logitech X230 2.1 system

I have totalled all this up to come to £968.96 (not including delivery)

So, thoughts/suggestions/improvements please
Thanks, Joe
 
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Could you please list prices for each of those parts?

Just nitpicking...

Cases are subjective, but if that case costs the same as it does here in the states, you could do better for your money, IMO. The Cooler Master RC-690 is typically cheaper and offers more space to work with, so would be a better choice... but again, cases are subjective.

What are AMD prices like across the pond? As an alternative, price out a Gigabyte AMD 770 motherboard and either an X3 710, 720, or X4 920, 940. LGA775 is nearing its end, and in the US, the triple core and quadcore AMDs have much better bang for buck right now for your listed needs.

A cheaper CPU cooler might be the Xigmatek Dark Knight and/or OCZ Vendetta 2.

Dominators are typically a waste of money. You don't really need the uber heatspreaders and fan unless you plan on breaking some OC'ing records, and from your post, it doesn't sound like you plan to. So, ditch them for regular XMS2, G.Skill, or OCZ (non reapers) ram of the same speed -- should save you some money.

Switch the HDD to the WD6400AAKS or WD6401AALS, as these typically use higher density platters which provide a significant performance improvement over the lower density platters. My WD5000AAKS does 63MB/s while my WD6400AAKS does 90MB/s. ;)

Speakers... if you're an audiophile, ditch logitech all together. BTW, don't forget a keyboard and mouse.

I almost forgot... don't buy everything piece by piece over a long period of time -- buy it all at once within a week or so. Computer parts tend to lose value over time, so either prices will go down, or there will be better offerings for around the same price. If you need help with a buying plan, let us know how much money you'll have by when.
 
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Everything looks good for the most part.

1. You might want to switch out that hard drive for a 640GB WD Caviar Black if possible.
2. Where are you purchasing these parts from? If you provide a link to the website, we can help you pick out parts that are available from your UK vendor.
 
Have updated original post to include prices
Mostly bought from www.scan.co.uk, although case from www.overclockers.co.uk and monitor/speakers from www.ebuyer.com
I'm pretty set on the Antec 902 case, I like the way it looks. I looked up the RC-690, and whilst it is cheaper, I don't like the look that much
 
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To be honest I would prefer an AMD system, I have always used AMD CPU's in the past and have always found them to be both good value and well perfoming.
Perhaps someone could suggest me a CPU/Mobo combination with this I mind. I would like to stick with a Gigabyte mobo if possible as ive heard many good things about them
 
The CPU and mobo in my sig are as good as you get on AM2+.
If you're going AM3 (which requires DDR3), then good CPUS are the X3 720 Black Edition, X4 955 Black Edition (might be a bit overpriced ATM), and X4 945.
Black editions have an unlocked multiplier enabeling EASY OC (in future when it's necessary).
Gigabyte Mobos for AM2+ are uber cheap.
The one I have Ga-MA790X-UD4P, is a good buy IMO, and it offers better voltage regulation then anything below in this series.
The only board with more Features is the UD5 which has 2*16 PCIe slots (physically *16) due to it's using the 790FX chipset.
Same goes for AM3 boards, see for yourself.
BTW AM3 processors work on AM2+ boards (but not vice versa).
Best of luck!
 
scan is a very slow site for me, so like I said, check out the gigaybte 770 and 790 chipsets, along with any of the four CPUs I mentioned earlier.
 
So, having taken onboard the advice offered thus far, I have arrived at the following:
Antec 900 Two (902) £102.99
Gigabyte MA790X-UD4P £94.30
AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition £156.27
Xigmatech Dark Knight £34.49
Corsair TX-650 £78.76
2 x 2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 PC8500 (plus fan) £53.33
nVidia EVGA GTX260 c216 SSC (LN25967) £194.65
640GB Western Digital Caviar Black SATA 3Gb/s £56.87
 
Case: Antec 900-Two (902) £99.99
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P, AMD 790X, AM2/AM2+ £94.30
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition £156.27
HEATSINK: Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 120mm Heat Sink Fan for AM2 CPU (Without Fan) £34.49 or Xigmatech Dark Knight £34.49 wherever you got that from.
RAM: 4GB Corsair (2x2GB) TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800) £38.69
GPU: XFX Radeon HD 4890 £183.40
PSU: 750W TX Corsair PSU, £100.61
HDD: 640GB Western Digital WD6401AALS Caviar Black £56.87
O/S: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64Bit £87.57

Total: $852.19 LoL I meant £852.19
 
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Thanks for that HardwareGuru!
Xigmatek Dark Knight £34.49
How does the XFX Radeon HD 4890 compare to the GTX260? And is the extra 100W on the PSU really necessary?
 
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The extra 100W is not necessary as the Corsair 650W is more than enough for a GTX 260 or Radeon HD 4890. The Radeon HD 4890 is overall faster than the Geforce GTX 260 and the Radeon card has support of DX 10.1 and Shader Model 4.1. You can stick with your 650W but, get the Radeon HD 4890 1gig.
 
Great, thanks for the help. Looks like I'll going with the 4890 then! :D
I'm guessing with the Dark Knight that the mobo fittings are the same for AM2 as AM2+ ? As it only says compatible with AM2 on the technical spec, no mention of AM2+
 
Thanks for all the help you've provided guys. I won't be starting for a while yet, need to save up a few £££, and then I move house at the end of August, so I may wait until after then as I worry stuff may get damaged during the move.
We shall see, will post some pics once I do start anyways!
 
Revisit this thread a week or two before you order everything, and give us an updated list of what you plan on buying so that we can critique it before you start to order everything.
 
Yes, it's best tp review your options just before you purchase.
If I'm not mistaken ATI and Nvidia should both have new cards out by then.
 
Well, I'm about to go ahead with this build.
Anyone got anything to add, or improvements / suggestions, seeing as a month has passed since I decided on what I need?
 
That's weird, I thought I'd replied to this, but looking now, my reply doesnt seem to be here :S
Yes tiraides, I will be going with the build that HG proposed, a lot if not all or the stuff on the list also seems to have come down in price a little since then too, which is a bonus.
I will place the order for all the bits and pieces in the next week or 2 I imagine.
 
Quick thought, should I go for SATA or IDE for the DVD drive? I'm thinking SATA....
 
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IDE is limited to UDMA 100 (AFAIK on this board ) and it works just fine. Sata will be faster (albeit not noticeably).
Congrats on your new rig!
 
for optical drives i like sata. the cables are thinner and dont obstruct airflow as much as ide cables.
 
Well, due to unforseen circumstances this rig has been put on the back burner for a while, but I'm pleased to announce I will be order it finally tonight.
Would someone mind checking over my list of components just to make sure I havent made any glaring errors?

Case: CoolerMaster RC-690
Motherboard: Gigabyte MA790X-UD3P (I was going to go with the MA790X-UD4P, but I can't find it for sale anywhere now)
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 940
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek Dark Knight
RAM: 2 x 2Gb Corsair TwinX XMS2 PC2-6400 (800)
GPU: XFX Radeon HD 4890
HDD: WD Caviar Black 640Gb
OS: Windows Vista 64 bit
 
Those parts look fine, but new ATI card(s) coming soon, so you might want to wait for those. ;)
 
Probably a stupid question, but im guessing I'm going to have to unscrew and remove the orange plastic bracket that comes attached to the motherboard for the stock AMD CPU cooler in order to attach my Xigmatek Dark Knight?
 
Xigamatek has bracket? it uses a clip as far as I know. So I would say no ontill corrected.
 
ud3p.jpg


The orange plastic bracket which surrounds the CPU I'm referring to.
I don't see how the Xigmatek CPU cooler attaches with this still attached, or am I being stupid?
 
Yeah, I've just noticed this, I was being a n00b. I've only ever seem them attached to an intel CPU where they are physically screwed onto the mobo. Upon reading the instruction booklet I realised that the AMD mount just clips on. Excuse my ingnorance
 
JoeCoral said:
Yeah, I've just noticed this, I was being a n00b. I've only ever seem them attached to an intel CPU where they are physically screwed onto the mobo. Upon reading the instruction booklet I realised that the AMD mount just clips on. Excuse my ingnorance
Click to expand...

AMD boards already come with backplates. ;) Though, they're typically plastic... but they're hard enough to keep it secure.
 
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