First time build. Advice please.

M

Mandible

New member
Hi! I am currently undertaking my first rig build, and i have spent about a month, building up a list of parts for it, with the help and advice of two friends who build on a regular basis. I would like peoples advice on whether anything in the list will not work, or is crap. Or also, better alternatives to what i have chosen, within the same price area. The one thing i dont want is flaming on my gfx card because it is ATI, or old. Say about its fan, or its speed, but don't criticise its age or ATIness. Thanks all!

MAIN COMPONENTS-----------------------------------------

Case: http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=CA-CSMONOII

CPU: http://www.dabs.com/productview.asp...&NavigationKey=11147,393410000,50520,48640000

MotherBoard: http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.asp...ionKey=11143,405070000,356410000,11&InMerch=1

HDD: http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.asp...vigationKey=11154,42240000,40970000&InMerch=1

RAM[x2]: http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=MEK-D21024-67

Graphics Card: http://www.dabs.com/productview.asp...&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0

DVD Drive: http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=DRS-SHS203B

POWER AND HEATING SOLUTIONS---------------------------------

CPU Cooler: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/105994

PSU: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/102994/show_product_reviews

Front Case Fan: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/79892

Rear Case Fan: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/79892

HDD Cooler: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/63157

RAM Cooler[x2]: http://www.dabs.com/productview.asp...SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=11258,4294956805

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Including everything, minus a tenner because im getting the front fan as a stocking present :D, thats £550. (including a basic monitor/mouse/keyboard) Thoughts, please people!

EDIT: a name would be a good thing too. What have you got people, the theme is blue on black.
 
The power supply (not familiar with the brand and it looks cheap) and RAM are the two areas that I would look towards getting something else. I'd hate to see your rig go up in a flash if your PSU goes pear shaped. Spend better money and get a good name-brand psu.

Kingston value RAM...hmmm. What are you going to use this system for? Plus I would ditch the HDD cooler as they are really one of those gimmicky things in my opinion. Put that money towards a better psu or RAM
 
thanks mate, the PSU has got plenty of good reviews, and seems to check out ok, the RAM i spent a while on however. I am told by my mate dave, that kingston is the best valueram, and he finds it fine for gaming. But i will look about, if you give me some reccomendations.
 
Are you planning to overclock?

If so, a better PSU and better RAM would be my first suggestions.

If not, then ditch the hdd cooler, ram cooler, and extra fans (unless they're purely for bling purposes).

You can see my rig in my profile.

My PSU is excellent, got rave reviews and I have had nothing to complain about. The other option was the gameXstream or silent version, also 600W.

I have coolermaster hyper TX on the cpu (comparable to the arctic) and a single front case fan and my temps are well within range (not overclocking at all)

I have the same CPU as you're planning. Most would probably recommend spending £50 more and getting the Q6600 but it depends what you're trying to achieve i.e. play all games at full res? for as long as possible without needing an upgrade?

Buying an actual dual channel memory kit is always a better option than 2 non matched sticks. Crucial ballistix is good ram, and it overclocks well (not that I am bothering with that at this stage - everything is running fine as is on my 19" display).

Name.. blue on black... "Black Ice" but that's probably already been done. "Ice and Steel".. something using the words:

Azure

Obsidian

Ice

Arctic
 
thanks mate, i think that my first item of business will be to get myself a better psu after i buy my comp, though i cant afford it yet. From the reviews the PSU got, it seems it is fine for at least a few months, or in fact good. As for the RAM, same applies, cant afford better, but when i can i will.

As overclocking goes, i do intend to, just not TOO much. perhaps from 2.6 to nearer 3. I am sure the RAM will take it up to then. And yes the fans are indded for bling
 
Scrap the HDD and RAM coolers, and buy some better RAM, and try get it all from one shop, you will save money on postage.. Try komplett, specialtech or scan, they all seem to have decent prices and good service.

Also get a better PSU, try get a branded one about 600W, DO NOT SKIMP ON THE PSU, all those components going bang..

And you WILL have the money if you get it all from one place, you will have more money when u scrap the HDD coolers and RAM coolers, this should give u enough money to get a DECENT PSU and spend a little more on a dual channel RAM kit, If thats stiill not enough, save up abit longer get some more money, theres no point buying a whole pc then changing out the RAM and PSU after only a couple of months..
 
the thing is, together, the hdd cooler and ram coolers are less than a tenner.

so, i would be able to spend just over 25 quid on a psu. And the ram coolers are meant to be a key requirement for overclocking to stop the ram overheating are they not? Also, my p and p costs are free from dabs and ebuyer, and only 8 quid from eclipse. I would be very grateful if you could show me a better PSU for 25-27 quid, but as far as i have seen, branded psu's are about 25 quid for say 380w. Would that really be a problem, or is a higher wattage really useful.
 
name='Mandible' said:
the thing is, together, the hdd cooler and ram coolers are less than a tenner.

so, i would be able to spend just over 25 quid on a psu. And the ram coolers are meant to be a key requirement for overclocking to stop the ram overheating are they not? Also, my p and p costs are free from dabs and ebuyer, and only 8 quid from eclipse. I would be very grateful if you could show me a better PSU for 25-27 quid, but as far as i have seen, branded psu's are about 25 quid for say 380w. Would that really be a problem, or is a higher wattage really useful.
Click to expand...

What is your budget?

I made you one for £474 including postage

GPU- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=673540

CPU- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=632054

PSU- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=664337

MOBO- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=657886

Case- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=660781

RAM- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=291363

HDD- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=567855

CPU cooler- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=340995

DVD drive- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=677397

****P.S. You could get the GPU in this thread- http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?p=172883#post172883
 
oh... WOW.. thankyou!!! this has cut a big lump of the cost, even when i include a front and rear fan! Hooray!!! Thats given me 50 quid extra to work with, though i may revert to my old case, as i love it so much. THANKYOU! and by the way, my budget is about 550.
 
name='Mandible' said:
oh... WOW.. thankyou!!! this has cut a big lump of the cost, even when i include a front and rear fan! Hooray!!! Thats given me 50 quid extra to work with, though i may revert to my old case, as i love it so much. THANKYOU!
Click to expand...

That dosent incude a monitor or key board and mouse, come to think of it i have a keyboard and mouse you can have for the price of postage if you want them. Just basic microsoft ones.

Monitors are quite expensive mind..

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=644854

That comes to £593 which looking at your budget is slightly over. You could switch to AMD as their dual core CPU's are dirt cheap this could knock around £30-£50 off the price.

AMD mobo- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=500105

CPU- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=695844

Cooler- http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=340993

Comes to £560 (inc monitor)

But if you can stretch to that £593 i would.. !
 
don't worry, i can get a monitor, mouse an keybrd for 110 with no p and p. Then, i can cut a afew corners. For intance go down to a 500w or 450w psu, saving a tenner maybe. i rekon i could get it to 550 no problems. i just have to cut 34 quid. mind helping me do so?

EDIT: got a PSU: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=644038

thats 10 quid off. 25 quid to go.

SECOND EDIT: Maybe i will take the plunge... into the realm... OF AMD
 
name='Mandible' said:
don't worry, i can get a monitor, mouse an keybrd for 110 with no p and p. Then, i can cut a afew corners. For intance go down to a 500w or 450w psu, saving a tenner maybe. i rekon i could get it to 550 no problems. i just have to cut 34 quid. mind helping me do so?

EDIT: got a PSU: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=644038

thats 10 quid off. 25 quid to go.

SECOND EDIT: Maybe i will take the plunge... into the realm... OF AMD
Click to expand...

Hmm, That PSU just wont allow much expansion in the future.. Personally ide try persuade ur parents to lend you that extra money or you could try scrape together abit extra, theres nowhere else you can cut corners really, sept a cheaper GPU and Getting a slower CPU this would drive the price down alot. Say gettin a E4300 instead of a E6750...

Even getting this, theres a tenner saved.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=632053

then this, theres your £30 saved

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=575224

That in the end inc monitor and Keyboard/mouse youn can get for £110, comes to £555 (inc postage) Providing you dont need to pay postage on the keyboard/mouse/monitor

*** this is also providing you have an OS you can install vista/XP?
 
Well, honestly, im not planning to oc more than 200 mhz, so the AMD is fine. I tweaked the dvd drive, went AMD, dropped to 450w corsair psu, and bobs ure uncle. That gives me 14 quid to spend on whatever i want to. I'm not really looking for any performance boosts, just something for cools. But the case is not really gonna benefit from cold caths, and my parents are getting my an antec fan for front and back with blue LEDS, so what i wonder. Since i have sooo many external 5inch drive bays free, i might go for a drive bay mounted cooler, as they look so very funky.
 
name='Mandible' said:
Well, honestly, im not planning to oc more than 200 mhz, so the AMD is fine. I tweaked the dvd drive, went AMD, dropped to 450w corsair psu, and bobs ure uncle. That gives me 14 quid to spend on whatever i want to. I'm not really looking for any performance boosts, just something for cools. But the case is not really gonna benefit from cold caths, and my parents are getting my an antec fan for front and back with blue LEDS, so what i wonder. Since i have sooo many external 5inch drive bays free, i might go for a drive bay mounted cooler, as they look so very funky.
Click to expand...

But surely if you want the raw performance the intel set-up will be slightly faster.. And with a few overclocks it will be alot faster CPU wise.. Personally i would scrap all the fancy LED fans and what not,, and go for raw performance for your money, adding cold cathodes and what not is cheap and can be done easily in a few weeks, where as changing components is costly.. Honestly i would consider this.. My computer started out as just raw parts in a lame case, now i would like to think it looks amazing and is really fast..

You want the base of a great computer before you make it look all good.
 
thats the thing though, 3-3.2ghz is EASILY enough for me, and as you said, SLIGHTLY faster will be the result of the intel setup. I'm coming from a 3ghz pentium 4, and that runs what i want fine, its just the graphics that get me, thanks to my antiquated x600 gfx card.... with no pixelshader. Thats combined with 512mb of supercheapotasm ram, which is only 400mhz. So, i am happy with my current setup, and when the time comes that i need to change to a better processor, i will have the money to do so. A good GPU, 2 gigs of RAM, a 320gig HDD and a 3ghz processor is perfect. just perfect. Thankyou all for your brilliant help, however, i have 15quid to spend, dont want to go over-budget, as i've been waiting over a year to save up, and the performance is fine. Perhaps the 15 could go toward a mobo that would take quad cores, for the looming future, but that would probably take more like 50 quid. OCin is going to be an interesting experiment for me, not something i want to take to mega levels, i will be satisified with a little jump.

So, 15quid, perhaps it COULD go to a better gfx card, or better RAM, or even a better amd processor. But i aint got the dough, to hop up to intel again.
 
Since that's OEM I don't think it comes with a stock fan.. But since your getting the Arctic Cooler 64 pro (same fan as me, awesome fan check my rig gallery for pics) it will be fine.
 
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