New PC

[Flisker]

Hey,

I'm planning on buying a new custom PC because it my Birthday soon and I've asked for money xD. Please tell me if its all ok?

Motherboard:
ASUS P5B Socket 775 Core 2 ready P965 chipset onboard audio ATX
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/113965
£55.65

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair) Retail Boxed Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131950
£155.97

RAM:
Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat Spreader Lifetime Warranty
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130429
£64.00

Graphics Card:
Innovision 3D 8500GT 512MB DDR2 VGA DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126986
£35.98

Harddrive:
Maxtor STM3250310AS 250GB SATAII 8MB Cache - OEM
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131214
£33.42

DVD:
Sony DRU-190S 20X DVD±RW DL & DVD-RAM Serial ATA - Retail Multi Bezel & Nero
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142274
£19.90

Case:
Casecom Black Mid Tower Case - Front Blue LED 120mm Fan - With Side Window
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/115479
£17.99

PSU:
Extra Value Black 700W 14cm Blue LED Fan PSU - 20+4pin, 4x SATA, 4x PCI-E
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135197
£49.99


------------------------------------
Total: £432.58

P.S: I don't care about games really.

[Recursion]

What ever you do, DO NOT go cheap on the PSU. I would recommend a Corsair HX620w for your needs, its modular so you only use the cables you need to use and its extremely reliable.

The 8500GT is a bit bad, couldn't you upgrade to an 8800GT for £150, but then again your not wanting to game so thats fine.

I would also go for this motherboard: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131173

Not sure if the RAM is a little too cheap for 4GB or not, someone tell me what that set is like? I went all out and bought 2 G.Skill 2GB Packs from Overclockers.co.uk cost £100 but they are mighty worth it, especially now Service Pack 1 gives them a 5.9 WOOHOO.

Also, you will need an OS...

[N!ck]

Go with an 8600GT for aout £30 more. It will be worth it. Also look for some less latent RAM.

[Galaxay]

You can get OCZ Pc2-6400 4-4-4-15 for 36 per 2gb

[Flisker]

Ill be buying XP media centre edition

and i think the RAM will be ok aslong as it does the job :)

[Robbie]

As Tom said, NEVER get a cheap PSU. Other than that it all looks alright.

[RYANNNNN]

1. Don't get a cheap case, you'll regret it, you should spend £50-£100 on a case, not only do looks count but air flow does as well.

2. The current motherboard doesn't support core2quad CPU's, I'd go for a P5K.

3. Get a different PSU, the 520W modular corsair PSU will be more than sufficient. ( i think its 520, 620 is too much for you atm )

4. I'd change the hdd to 16mb cache 7200rpm

[Flisker]

Could you get links to these please? (eBuyer only please)

[Robbie]

http://www.ebuyer.com/search/?qfind=p5k&x=0&y=0

[Flisker]

Updated List:

Motherboard:
ASUS P5KC AiLifestyle Series iP35 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132275
£72.82

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair)

Retail Boxed Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131950
£155.97

RAM:
Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat Spreader

Lifetime Warranty
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130429
£64.00

Graphics Card:
Innovision 3D 8500GT 512MB DDR2 VGA DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126986
£35.98

Harddrive:
Maxtor STM3250310AS 250GB SATAII 8MB Cache - OEM
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131214
£33.42

DVD:
Sony DRU-190S 20X DVD±RW DL & DVD-RAM Serial ATA - Retail Multi Bezel & Nero
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142274
£19.90

Case:
Antec Nine Hundred - Gaming Case with 200mm Top Fan - No PSU
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/118268
£68.94

PSU:
Extra Value Black 1000W Modular 13.5cm Fan PSU - 4x PCI-E, 20+4pin, 6x SATA
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135194
£79.99


------------------------------------
Total: £531.02 inc VAT

[Robbie]

Looks great!

[DarrenToogood]

Funny, cause this is a near exact package to what I will be buying nearer my birthday :P Apart from I am getting different Graphics card and HDD


RAM - Good

DVD - Good

Mobo- Good

CPU - Good
Graphics Card - I would go for a nVidia GeForce 8800GT. I currently run a 7950GT, and that runs good games :)

HDD - I would go for the Seagate Barracuda. I am going to get a 500GB one for £60

Case - Exactly the same one I will be getting. Seems to have great cooling systems, plus the Mobo you have selected has further cooling

PSU - I do not know much about these, however this is also the one I have been reccomended and will hopefully be getting.

I managed to get the same package as you, but with a better HDD, however no graphics card for £497 - I already have a graphics card.

[RYANNNNN]

Motherboard:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129125

PSU:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114945

Get them, your PSU is a no name brand and will die and take your other components with it.

My only other suggestions would be to change the hdd to one with better specs, maybe change the brand to seagate as well, look for a 7200RPM and 16mb cache drive. Also, you could maybe change the stock cooler and get something else.

Otherwise, good choices.

[Stephen!]

Indeed. The thing about the PSU you chose Flisker is the 'Extra Value'. This is a big nono

[Flisker]

Thanks :)

Updated list:

Motherboard:
ASUS P5KC AiLifestyle Series iP35 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132275
£72.82

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair) Retail Boxed Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131950
£155.97

RAM:
Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat Spreader Lifetime Warranty
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130429
£64.00

Graphics Card:
Innovision 3D 8500GT 512MB DDR2 VGA DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126986
£35.98

Harddrive:
Maxtor STM3250310AS 250GB SATAII 8MB Cache - OEM
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131214
£33.42

DVD:
Sony DRU-190S 20X DVD±RW DL & DVD-RAM Serial ATA - Retail Multi Bezel & Nero
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142274
£19.90

Case:
Antec Nine Hundred - Gaming Case with 200mm Top Fan - No PSU
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/118268
£68.94

PSU:
Corsair HX Series 520W Modular PSU - ATX12V v2.2 APFC
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114945
£65.44


------------------------------------
Total: £516.47 inc VAT

[DarrenToogood]

I am loving that list. Because you are aiming for the same specs as me, I am going to copy this list as my updated :P Only things I would change on yours (which will make mine and yours identical when bought) is:

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 - 500 GB - SATAII
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130826


I don't need a graphics card, however my works out at this much, which is very reasonable:

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/8356/computerordergg1.png

[Flisker]

Well Im keeping my HDD low because i can always get an upgrade and raid it to new one etc :)

[RYANNNNN]

Both of your rigs have the P5KC, I did suggest the P5K to both of you though.

Get this: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129125 (P5K)

They reportedly overclock better.

[Flisker]

I don't want to overclock...

[DarrenToogood]

I don't know how to overclock, and I don't want to pressure my system too much.

[Robbie]

I don't know how to overclock, and I don't want to pressure my system too much.

Read up on it, it can make your system perform better, just get some more cooling.

[RYANNNNN]

Even still, I did more research and the C means crossfire, and you won't be needing that. Getting the P5KC is pointless.

[DarrenToogood]

What does crossfire do?

[RYANNNNN]

See here: http://www.directron.com/whatiscf.html

Crossfire isn't even that good anyway.

Go for the P5K, I have it, it's perfect.

[Stephen!]

Crossfire scales alot better than SLI.

[RYANNNNN]

The way I see it is both crossfire and SLI are a waste of money right now, both of these guys stated they weren't doing heavy gaming and if they would they would be getting better graphic cards.

[DarrenToogood]

Well the crossfire seems to have more of an advantage than the other one, therefore I would probs buy the Crossfire mobo, as it gives me the option to upgrade.

I am going to be doing heavy gaming, such as CMR: Dirt, FSX Deluxe and RBR

[Stephen!]

DIRT still sucks on an 8800GT. It's a very bad port from the 360.

Edit: You'll also need 2 ATI cards for crossfire.

[DarrenToogood]

:o Dirt only sucks if you don't know how to drive the cars properlly. My dad is a rally driver and I have learnt alot of techniques from him, p[lus i have a USB 2.0 steering wheel.

[N!ck]

:o Dirt only sucks if you don't know how to drive the cars properlly. My dad is a rally driver and I have learnt alot of techniques from him, p[lus i have a USB 2.0 steering wheel.

He's not meaning the game itself sucks, he's saying it sucks on PC since it was badly ported over to the PC format from the XBOX 360 version of the game.

[DarrenToogood]

I see no problem with the game :S

[Stephen!]

On everything maxed out it runs slow.

[Flisker]

Well hopefully i will get this setup because i really want a decent pc xD

[DarrenToogood]

Yeah, let me know how it goes :)

I assume you will be running a 64Bit Vista?

[Flisker]

Nope, 64-bit XP

[RYANNNNN]

I really wouldn't advise 64-bit XP, it's highly unlikely that any companies will roll out drivers for it now... Get Vista.

[Robbie]

I agree with Ryan, Vista 64-bit is your best bet by a long shot.

[DarrenToogood]

I have one problem when I build my PC, the OS.

64Bit Vista will cost a hell of alot of money, when I could just installed XP Home Edition for free, but then I can't use my 4GB RAM :s!

[Hitman]

I have one problem when I build my PC, the OS.

64Bit Vista will cost a hell of alot of money, when I could just installed XP Home Edition for free, but then I can't use my 4GB RAM :s!If you're building it then get smaller RAM for XP? :P Then you're not paying out for RAM that wont be used.

[DarrenToogood]

but XP is getting old, and with my new system I will be able to run Vista very well :p

[Hitman]

but XP is getting old, and with my new system I will be able to run Vista very well :pTrue but the quality wont change. :D I like XP as it's easy to use, I've not used vista much yet and I don't plan on doing so. You could save money by using XP, or spend money and have vista, it's up to you. :P

[RYANNNNN]

Well, you'd still be using 3.2gb of ram and that isn't so bad...

I'd go for vista home premium x64 for an extra £50 though.

[lScottl]

It seems fine. Then again I dont know much about PC's but meh.

[Flisker]

Or you torrent Vista Ultimate and then find a genuine crack program (Don't say you cant get them because you can). You have Vista.

[Hoodstar]

Got my Vista Ultimate X64 from a torrent with a crack.

works fine.

[DarrenToogood]

and takes a week to download ;)?

[Robbie]

No, not if it's a good torrent and you have good d/l and u/l speeds.

[DarrenToogood]

but if you have BT, it blocks torrent and Limewire xD!

So if I want to run 4GB-8GB RAM, I need 64bit XP or Vista?

[:job2]

Im with BT and I still download with torrents at decent speeds...