New Computer
Posted by Rob_BCFC
hey
well my advice would be one check that ram, 2400 sounds extremily low
and looks like its for an old system
you want atleast 667mhz or 800mhz (ram clock speed)
the fan will be fine i bought a core2duo 6420 and overclocked it to 2.7ghz with the stock fan and it runs at 35 degrees 55 at full load and im in oz. SO stock fan will be just fine
your graphics card will be holding you back majorly
if you have the cash fork out for a 8800 if not go for a 7900gs i reckon they will be dirt cheap in the UK.
****EDIT****
completely ignore my comment about the gfx card i thought it was an old radeon for some reason that card will be fine i however would still go with 8800
For the soundcard i would use onbard sound my abit ab9 pro (cheap motherboard good for OC'ing) has hi def onboard sound its good enough.
As long as the case is ATX it should fit the motherboard to be on the safe side i would get a 500watt PSU
i bought my case with a psu for $100 thats about 40 quid
so basically check the ram and the gfx card is holding you back, dont forget you need a hard drive and dvd player and perhaps a network card but most motherboards have onboard
hope i helped
anymore quesitons jsut ask
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2007 02:52PM by Joeku.
well my advice would be one check that ram, 2400 sounds extremily low
and looks like its for an old system
you want atleast 667mhz or 800mhz (ram clock speed)
the fan will be fine i bought a core2duo 6420 and overclocked it to 2.7ghz with the stock fan and it runs at 35 degrees 55 at full load and im in oz. SO stock fan will be just fine
your graphics card will be holding you back majorly
if you have the cash fork out for a 8800 if not go for a 7900gs i reckon they will be dirt cheap in the UK.
****EDIT****
completely ignore my comment about the gfx card i thought it was an old radeon for some reason that card will be fine i however would still go with 8800
For the soundcard i would use onbard sound my abit ab9 pro (cheap motherboard good for OC'ing) has hi def onboard sound its good enough.
As long as the case is ATX it should fit the motherboard to be on the safe side i would get a 500watt PSU
i bought my case with a psu for $100 thats about 40 quid
so basically check the ram and the gfx card is holding you back, dont forget you need a hard drive and dvd player and perhaps a network card but most motherboards have onboard
hope i helped
anymore quesitons jsut ask
________________________________________________________________________________
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2007 02:52PM by Joeku.
pairs means you run memory in pairs of the same, it is called dual channel.
ie, you get two matching pairs of the same ram and they are placed in the two blue ram slots in the moboo to run in dual channel mode.
this is opposed to running one stick on the ram in what is called single channel mode.
Jenson drives it like he owns it; Lewis drives it like he stole it
ie, you get two matching pairs of the same ram and they are placed in the two blue ram slots in the moboo to run in dual channel mode.
this is opposed to running one stick on the ram in what is called single channel mode.
1) The CPU and graphics card have their own fans, which will be more than fine for all-but overclocking. You'll ideally want some in the case too though, and that depends entirely on which case you're using.
2) You'll need to make sure your current case is ATX and not MicroATX (or some other non-standard size). For instance, if it's a Dell, the chances are you'll be stuffed, as most of their cases don't use the normal sizes and specifications of ATX. If it is only MicroATX let me know and we'll spec another motherboard up.
3) If you've only a couple of hard drives then I'd recommend this, which is ridiculously over-priced at Komplett, but if you're in the UK, then you can get it here for £20 less. If you want something a bit beefier, or you'll be upgrading to a higher-spec graphics card in the near future (1 to 1 1/2 years), then I'd grab this, again £10 cheaper than at Komplett. Don't, under any circumstances, get a cheapy PSU. It will come back to haunt you at some point.
4) Just use the onboard sound - it will be fine for 98% of tasks. If you must get a dedicated sound card, then it's given how good onboard sound is now, you're not looking at a cheap one. Probably £50 for the first step up from the onboard.
Just some notes on the other bits you've already specced. The motherboard is absolutely fine, though if you're not overclocking, then this will do the job just as well (£6 cheaper at Scan). If you do intend overclocking then personally I'd grab this, based on the new Intel P35 chipset, which is excellent by all accounts. Unfortunately, the equivalent ASUS board is £40 more (and has just gone out of stock). It is apparently a really stunning board though. If you do go P35, make sure you don't get the DDR3 board (P35 can use either DDR2 or DDR3 memory). Also if overclocking, then grab this cooler for a half decent overclock (2.8-3.1GHz or so). It's excellent value for money.
The CPU too is fine (I have the same), but if you don't do much media work (where the extra cache, the only thing missing, makes the most difference) you could save some cash by getting the E4400 or even the E4300 for a few pennies less. All include the same retail fan, all are very quick (chances are you'll never notice to the difference to an E6600 without testing), and all have a high multiplier, so for basic overclocking, all you'll need to do is raise the Front Side Bus (FSB) and it'll be as faster than any Core2Duo (the X6800 included).
That RAM is horrifically poor. I didn't even know you could get PC 2400 RAM. It's also ludicrously expensive, compared to where RAM is at the moment. I'd grab this, which is excellent. Team is a relatively new player, but they are reliable and have frankly excellent value products. If you aren't buying everything now, then make sure you get the RAM now or very, very soon. Prices are starting to go back up again, and if they reach the levels they were at (more than double what they are now), you've lost a lot of cash needlessly.
Graphics card is fine too. If you're gaming on anything at around or under 1280x1024 it's a good choice at the moment. Just make sure you get the PCI-express version and not the AGP (some do fall into this trap, so it's best to point it out). Again, Scan have them slightly cheaper - standard here, the one with video-capturing ability here and there's a Sapphire with the excellent VF900 cooler here, without the video capture, though it doesn't mention if the cooler is fitted or just included for you to fit (I'd ignore the picture and be shocked if it wasn't ready-fitted).
//edit: I'm at work, and this post was compiled slowly, so others have replied since. I would still get the X1950Pro over a 8800GTS. The GTS isn't that much faster, and is poor value in comparison (especially the 640mb one). The Crucial RAM, if it's PC2 5300, would be fine, but it's still nearly double the price it need be.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2007 03:54PM by gav.
2) You'll need to make sure your current case is ATX and not MicroATX (or some other non-standard size). For instance, if it's a Dell, the chances are you'll be stuffed, as most of their cases don't use the normal sizes and specifications of ATX. If it is only MicroATX let me know and we'll spec another motherboard up.
3) If you've only a couple of hard drives then I'd recommend this, which is ridiculously over-priced at Komplett, but if you're in the UK, then you can get it here for £20 less. If you want something a bit beefier, or you'll be upgrading to a higher-spec graphics card in the near future (1 to 1 1/2 years), then I'd grab this, again £10 cheaper than at Komplett. Don't, under any circumstances, get a cheapy PSU. It will come back to haunt you at some point.
4) Just use the onboard sound - it will be fine for 98% of tasks. If you must get a dedicated sound card, then it's given how good onboard sound is now, you're not looking at a cheap one. Probably £50 for the first step up from the onboard.
Just some notes on the other bits you've already specced. The motherboard is absolutely fine, though if you're not overclocking, then this will do the job just as well (£6 cheaper at Scan). If you do intend overclocking then personally I'd grab this, based on the new Intel P35 chipset, which is excellent by all accounts. Unfortunately, the equivalent ASUS board is £40 more (and has just gone out of stock). It is apparently a really stunning board though. If you do go P35, make sure you don't get the DDR3 board (P35 can use either DDR2 or DDR3 memory). Also if overclocking, then grab this cooler for a half decent overclock (2.8-3.1GHz or so). It's excellent value for money.
The CPU too is fine (I have the same), but if you don't do much media work (where the extra cache, the only thing missing, makes the most difference) you could save some cash by getting the E4400 or even the E4300 for a few pennies less. All include the same retail fan, all are very quick (chances are you'll never notice to the difference to an E6600 without testing), and all have a high multiplier, so for basic overclocking, all you'll need to do is raise the Front Side Bus (FSB) and it'll be as faster than any Core2Duo (the X6800 included).
That RAM is horrifically poor. I didn't even know you could get PC 2400 RAM. It's also ludicrously expensive, compared to where RAM is at the moment. I'd grab this, which is excellent. Team is a relatively new player, but they are reliable and have frankly excellent value products. If you aren't buying everything now, then make sure you get the RAM now or very, very soon. Prices are starting to go back up again, and if they reach the levels they were at (more than double what they are now), you've lost a lot of cash needlessly.
Graphics card is fine too. If you're gaming on anything at around or under 1280x1024 it's a good choice at the moment. Just make sure you get the PCI-express version and not the AGP (some do fall into this trap, so it's best to point it out). Again, Scan have them slightly cheaper - standard here, the one with video-capturing ability here and there's a Sapphire with the excellent VF900 cooler here, without the video capture, though it doesn't mention if the cooler is fitted or just included for you to fit (I'd ignore the picture and be shocked if it wasn't ready-fitted).
//edit: I'm at work, and this post was compiled slowly, so others have replied since. I would still get the X1950Pro over a 8800GTS. The GTS isn't that much faster, and is poor value in comparison (especially the 640mb one). The Crucial RAM, if it's PC2 5300, would be fine, but it's still nearly double the price it need be.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2007 03:54PM by gav.
I just bough some new barebones but had to go with a Gigabyte mobo instead of the Asus (prefer Asus these days) P5b because my RAM needs 2.3V (Corsair dominator thingy) and the P5b only gives 2.1.
I think you're paying a tad too much for your ram if it's the BT-3 Micron ram, otherwise 'tis good (no way to tell really until you get it).
Gfx card is great, to get anything better you would need to get a 8800 gts which is a shade under 200 retail (I think) and even then it's not much faster so good choice, I went with the 8600 gts because I don't play games much but might need DX10 someday.
And the CPU is imo the best deal out there, I've been a AMD fanboy for ages repeating like a parrot that Intels cost too much but this baby goes to over 3Ghz on stock cooling and it costs the same as far worse performing AMDs, the 6700 is too costly for little benefit, same goes for the extremes and quads.
If you want a quiet system I would go with a custom cpu heatsink like a zalman 7700 (a monster no less!)
As for a power supply at least 450W probably more for an overhead, personally recommend Tagan - high quality and well thought out (cheaper than Enermaxes and just as good) I've got a 480W Tagan and will probably be able to tell you how my new system runs in a day or so.
Sound card, I would go with an Audigy 2ZS if you can find it retail, if not get one on Ebay they are pretty resilient cards, not like a Gfx or whatever. Consider sticking with onboard sound though - I would never go back to onboard after getting a 2ZS but that's mostly because I have descent speakers and keep high bitrate music (DTS when I can find some :D )
I think you're paying a tad too much for your ram if it's the BT-3 Micron ram, otherwise 'tis good (no way to tell really until you get it).
Gfx card is great, to get anything better you would need to get a 8800 gts which is a shade under 200 retail (I think) and even then it's not much faster so good choice, I went with the 8600 gts because I don't play games much but might need DX10 someday.
And the CPU is imo the best deal out there, I've been a AMD fanboy for ages repeating like a parrot that Intels cost too much but this baby goes to over 3Ghz on stock cooling and it costs the same as far worse performing AMDs, the 6700 is too costly for little benefit, same goes for the extremes and quads.
If you want a quiet system I would go with a custom cpu heatsink like a zalman 7700 (a monster no less!)
As for a power supply at least 450W probably more for an overhead, personally recommend Tagan - high quality and well thought out (cheaper than Enermaxes and just as good) I've got a 480W Tagan and will probably be able to tell you how my new system runs in a day or so.
Sound card, I would go with an Audigy 2ZS if you can find it retail, if not get one on Ebay they are pretty resilient cards, not like a Gfx or whatever. Consider sticking with onboard sound though - I would never go back to onboard after getting a 2ZS but that's mostly because I have descent speakers and keep high bitrate music (DTS when I can find some :D )
I kinda wish I had more tech questions when there's people like gav on this forum 
Lol yeah I might bookmark this thread for future use :D
I have the P5b-Plus Vista edition, and I think its brilliant!
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Sapphire x1950 Pro, around £100. Taken from PC Format 202 (the newest one).
Everyone knows that million-to-one chances happen 9 times out of 10; indeed, it's a common requirement in fairy tales. If the human didn't have to overcome huge odds, what would be the point? Terry Pratchett - The Science Of Discworld
GPGSL S5 Race driver for IED.
Everyone knows that million-to-one chances happen 9 times out of 10; indeed, it's a common requirement in fairy tales. If the human didn't have to overcome huge odds, what would be the point? Terry Pratchett - The Science Of Discworld
GPGSL S5 Race driver for IED.
I second the opinion above. I have the Sapphire X1950Pro (the 512MB version) and it truly is an awesome card for the money.
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Team Japan Owner - GPGNC
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Team Japan Owner - GPGNC
Gav, whats wrong with the nvidia chipset motherboards.
/me runs
/me runs
hey gav not sure about your PSU advice as the 7900gs needs around 90 watts not sure how much the x1950 but i would assume ti would be the same or more
and if he was to overclock an e6XXX or e4XXX he would require a larger powersupply due to increased power consumption.
i however do not see the point of OC'ing e4XXX f you are going to buy an extra fan as it works out around the same price and the intel stock fans are fine.
Also from the advice NickK i would not buy a nVidia 8XXX card unless it was 8800 , the 8600 series are pathetically poor only givving 7900gs performance for alot higher price.
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and if he was to overclock an e6XXX or e4XXX he would require a larger powersupply due to increased power consumption.
i however do not see the point of OC'ing e4XXX f you are going to buy an extra fan as it works out around the same price and the intel stock fans are fine.
Also from the advice NickK i would not buy a nVidia 8XXX card unless it was 8800 , the 8600 series are pathetically poor only givving 7900gs performance for alot higher price.
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okay well got pwn'd haha
im just a sucker for those big cache's
i didnt read or your PSU info (i know im lazy)
you work in IT gav right?
your alot more clued in than most of the guys i work with haha
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im just a sucker for those big cache's
i didnt read or your PSU info (i know im lazy)
you work in IT gav right?
your alot more clued in than most of the guys i work with haha
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