Help Impromptu Build

[rynnor]

Right - looking to order this tomorrow so I can build on Tuesday

Started off as a graphics card but snowballed

So far looking at -


Gigabyte GA-EP45C-DS3R iP45 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard - Ebuyer

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 Stepping (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair) Retail Boxed Processor - Ebuyer

Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5 Lifetime Warranty - Ebuyer

Samsung SpinPoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB Hard Drive SATAII *32MB Cache* - OEM - Ebuyer

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium - Licence and media - 1 PC - OEM - DVD - 64-bit - English - Ebuyer

Antec Nine Hundred 900 - Gaming Case with 200mm Top Fan - No PSU - Ebuyer

Corsair 650W TX Series PSU - 120mm Fan, 80+% Efficiency, Single +12V Rail - Ebuyer

Sapphire HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

 

[rynnor]

Oh and one of these - Sony DRU-190S 20X DVDRW DL & DVD-RAM Serial ATA - Retail Multi Bezel & Nero - Ebuyer

So far picking 4GB of RAM - worth getting 8GB yet or wait till needed - would I see much difference?

 

[inactionman]

Thought you had a 4870 already? Are you looking at crossfiring them? Are you looking at overclocking? If so you'll need a better cooler, and then you can get an OEM processor.

4Gb will be fine, some motherboards can have problems with 8GB at the moment. The rest looks fine.

 

[rynnor]

Thought you had a 4870 already? Are you looking at crossfiring them? Are you looking at overclocking? If so you'll need a better cooler, and then you can get an OEM processor.

4Gb will be fine, some motherboards can have problems with 8GB at the moment. The rest looks fine.

I have the 4870 already just thought I would list it in case of incompatible components but I probably will buy a second when they come down in price

I wont overclock cos I'm lazy and favour long term stability/system life.

I looked at the RAM compatibility pdf for that motherboard and it only lists 1GB and smaller blocks of RAM - is it generally better to have 4x1GB rather than 2x 2GB?

Oh and thanks for all the great advice

 

[Kryten]

No issue with memory - certainly get at LEAST 2x2gb otherwise you'll be stiffing yourself in future should you want to add more. At least 8gb is an easy addition rather than a replacement & loss of old parts. Those memory compatibility datasheets only exist to legally cover their arses should someone find something isn't quite right.

That processor is ludicrously expensive by the way, not sure if it's due to being the retail version or what but you shouldn't pay more than £90 currently. If for whatever reason that's the going rate get the Core2Duo e8400 or higher instead.

Otherwise will all work together very well

 

[inactionman]

2x2 is better, the problems tend to happen with 4 dimms.

Best to get a good cooler anyway, they tend to be much quieter and cool better. Shame not to overclock with a Q6600 though.

 

[rynnor]

How bout this instead - only slightly more - Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz Socket 775 1333FSB 4MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor - Ebuyer

Or this - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.66GHz Socket 775 1066MHz 8MB (2x4MB(4MB per core pair)) L2 Cache OEM Processor - Ebuyer

Or even this though I was kinda suckered in by the Quad core idea

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 (3.16GHz) Socket 775 Wolfdale 1333FSB 6MB L2 Cache Retail Boxed Processor - Ebuyer

Edit - Oh and can someone point me in the direction of a decent cpu heatsink/fan please

 

[rynnor]

That processor is ludicrously expensive by the way, not sure if it's due to being the retail version or what but you shouldn't pay more than £90 currently. If for whatever reason that's the going rate get the Core2Duo e8400 or higher instead.

Oh it just occured to me that this price jump could be due to the slump in the value of sterling v the dollar?

 

[inactionman]

Woah, Q6600's have got much more expensive, you used to be able to get them for ~£120! Guess that's what happens when the product is deleted.

I'd get the Q6600 you originally specced, plus something like this cooler:

Arctic Cooling AC-FRZ-7P Freezer 7 Pro Socket 775 Processor Cooler - Ebuyer

Although it's a bit pricey on ebuyer, I got it for less than that on the high street from yoyo-tech!

 

[rynnor]

I'm lazy so ebuyer will do thanks

Final question - there is this energy effecient version of the Q6600 - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Energy Efficient 95W edition Socket 775 (2.40GHz) G0 Stepping L2 8MB Cache OEM Processor - Ebuyer

I'm guessing it runs a bit cooler as a consequence - worthwhile? Because its OEM its actually a fiver cheaper too lol

 

[rynnor]

Oh nice cpu fan that - read some great reviews of it and reading up on the Q6600 seems I really must try overclocking it - will post another thread for n00b overclocking advice once I have the basics running

 

[Kryten]

Looking into the pricing now, it's all jumped up by a good 40 quid a shot - last week I bought 2 x energy efficient Q6600's at 85 each inc VAT.

Ouch, I'd be agreeing on the dollar/pound thing. Definitely look at the E8400 though:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139971

 

[inactionman]

Yeah, you want the energy efficient ones, not only do they run cooler, they overclock better as well. The only problem with them is they come with a much lower warranty.

 

[Dr_Weasel]

I just got the 95W Q6600 with an Arctic Freezer 7 cooler. It Idles at between 18-21C depending on the ambient room temp.

My AMD 4600X2 with the AMD version of the cooler idles at about 45C!