[ADVICE] Complete new PC setup - all the trimmings.

Brando_ie · 08-11-2009 10:55pm #1

Okay. After a prolonged lurk, I am getting around to asking you guys for some advice on a complete new set-up to replace my January 2004 zombie. I have followed numerous threads, which sort of filled my requirements so perhaps some advice will be to point me to those threads where consensus was reached and I can tick one of the items of the list. I’ll bullet point my requirements and expand on anything as the thread (hopefully) develops.

o BUDGET: total €2,000
o BUILD: Self build (never done one in full but have replaced PSU’s, RAM, GPU’s, Optical / Hard drives and done Windows upgrades and re-formats. No experience of cooling / heat sinks and physically fear motherboard jumpers…. So all set) Will seek advice when all set to build.
o MONITORS (hardest to nail down and decent chunk of budget I suspect) : 2 No min 21” HMDI HD monitors. 1 of the screens will need to be a TV (about 50% of the time) and an expanded desktop the remainder. The TV screen will run a 360, PS3 and a multi-room sky (HD?) connection. Both must have a 1920x1080 resolution for desktop. Similar appearance (perhaps 2 HDTV’s would be best? Or should I be looking at a TV card and two HMDI screens – no experience here) Wall mounted. Reasonable on board speakers. Decent refresh rate.
o ACCESSORIES: Wireless laser mouse / keyboard set-up. I am a leftie but use a MX-700 so have learned to avoid the side keys. Desktop speakers for PC (3 or 4 speakers max). Internal WIFI, external hard drive (min 500mb) to help with transfer
o OS: Windows 7 64bit (Currently XP pro so similar flavour)
o PC: Whatever the remainder of the budget can get me. Open to a SSD primary, Good graphics card, Decent RAM, Quiet (running most of the day), DVD-RW, Physxs (or pointless?) min 1TB HD
o USES: FPS’s, AutoCAD 2 & 3D, Photo / Video editing, Sketchup / 3d Studio, dosing
o OVERCLOCKING: None likely (at least until it starts showing its age)
o STOCK: Must be ready to go. Wife threatening to go to PC-World and ask what 2 grand gets…. I think she is deadly serious :eek:. Will start ordering as early as tomorrow.

At a guess, I think the monitors will take €500 of the budget so €1,500 or so for the PC, mouse, keyboard, speakers, OS, external HD, internal WIFI. This thing is likely to have to last me another 4 years so stuff it in there.

Cheers boardies.

massy086 · 09-11-2009 7:08pm

TV http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2409024/art/lg/m237wd-pz-lcd-display-tft.html

MONITOR http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2409024/art/lg/m237wd-pz-lcd-display-tft.html

I HAVE THE MONITOR COULD,NT BE HAPPY,R

Deano12345 · 09-11-2009 7:19pm

Edit : My monitor experience aint the best,some of the other guys should be able to help more

batman2000 · 09-11-2009 7:38pm

Deano should the RAM be 1.5V. i7 920. The OCZ you have linked in 1.65V. Also the DDR3 speed apparently is max at 1066Mhz.... (I could be incorrect). Although THIS ram is 1.65V and says it for i7.?? It also has a CL7 timing

Farcear · 09-11-2009 7:43pm

Intel's spec says that 1.5V is standard, but up to 1.65V is fine. Just don't exceed 1.65 volts and you won't have any trouble.

I'm running 1.6v at the moment.

leninbenjamin · 09-11-2009 7:43pm

In terms of a monitor, if it's just a monitor you're looking for I'd recommend a Dell: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-031-DE&tool=3

For a TV the Samsung Syncmaster's aren't bad value. Very versatile, but their colour and sharpness wouldn't be as good as the Dell.

Wall mounted make things a bit more difficult though... I was looking for a reasonable wall mountable TV/Monitor recently enough and I didn't find any decent ones under the 400-500 bracket.

As for Deano's spec, tis grand. I'd get a slightly better mobo though personally speaking, i7s run very hot and the cheap Gigabytes/ASUS are grand but skimp on cooling. Some possibilities are the UD5 or P6T Deluxe. On the other hand a case like the HAF will push enough air through to keep them happy.

But dump the F1 and get the F3 instead. Fast more reliable and cheaper too.

As for a quiet PC, it might be better off to avoid the HAF though. They are a very open case and while they are quiet for an enthusiasts rig, they still aren't ideal for the living room. This Antec P183 might be a better option, or the more expensive Coolermaster Cosmos.

A heatsink is also needed. I recommend a Noctua. They can be run ultra quiet while still offering a healthy overclock if you ever want to go down that route. There are cheaper alternatives though, such as the Xigmatech, but they wont be as quiet.

leninbenjamin · 09-11-2009 7:45pm

batman2000 wrote: »

Deano should the RAM be 1.5V. i7 920. The OCZ you have linked in 1.65V. Also the DDR3 speed apparently is max at 1066Mhz.... (I could be incorrect). Although THIS ram is 1.65V and says it for i7. It also has a CL7 timing

i7 is 1.65v. Socket1366

i5 is 1.5v. Socker1156 (which also applies to some i7s, but in this case it's 1.65)

Farcear · 09-11-2009 7:53pm

i5 can take up to 1.65v. I'll see if I can get a link...

Leman_Russ · 09-11-2009 7:59pm

Farcear wrote: »

i5 can take up to 1.65v. I'll see if I can get a link...

It can, but why would you want to go 1.65 when you can get perfectly good 1.5?

Less volts is better volts!

batman2000 · 09-11-2009 8:35pm

leninbenjamin wrote: »

i7 is 1.65v. Socket1366

i5 is 1.5v. Socker1156 (which also applies to some i7s, but in this case it's 1.65)

I'm just referring to the Intel website for the 1.5V reference. Also true, the less volts the better also the CL timings are better CL7 v CL9

leninbenjamin · 09-11-2009 8:40pm

batman2000 wrote: »

I'm just referring to the Intel website for the 1.5V reference. Also true, the less volts the better also the CL timings are better CL7 v CL9

Yes that would generally be the case, but unfortunately most LGA1366 motherboards weren't designed with 1.5v in mind. Some will boot, some wont. Check the manufacturer's QVL if you're thinking of putting 1.5 in there.

Brando_ie · 09-11-2009 8:51pm

massy086 wrote: »

TV http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2409024/art/lg/m237wd-pz-lcd-display-tft.html

MONITOR http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2409024/art/lg/m237wd-pz-lcd-display-tft.html

I HAVE THE MONITOR COULD,NT BE HAPPY,R

That LG TV looks just the ticket. I'll write off wall mounting if it puts me into the upper bracket. I think both of those links are to the same page. Do you have a link for the monitor you referred to (I assume it is a LG also?)

youcancallmeal · 09-11-2009 9:39pm

I would definitely recommend the Antec P182/3 for less noise. Not too gaudy either for a living room set up.

massy086 · 09-11-2009 11:37pm

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2701048/art/lg/w2361v-pf-23-tft-widescre.html

Brando_ie · 10-11-2009 3:01am

First off, thanks for the input so far and based on the comments I have settled on the following so far.

1 No LG W2361V-PF 23" TFT Widescreen (2ms)

1 No LG M237WD-PZ - LCD display - TFT - 23" - widescreen 5 ms LCD TV

Cheers massy!! - Running Total - €511 DELIVERED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=461645 - Coolermaster HAF 922 = €92 - Setup is in Dining area away from living room so noise should be a huge problem - DELIVERY DUE 12-11-09

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=492649 - Corsair 650 Watt PSU = €115 - STOCKED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=391447 - Intel i7 920 = €240 - STOCKED

1 No Noctua NH-U12P SE2 CPU Cooler = €63 - STOCKED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=487794 - Corsair X32 SSD = €121 - DELIVERY DUE 12-11-09

1 No Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA2 = €67 - STOCKED

1 No http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/catalog...d=122&scid=315 - Sapphire 5850 = €240 - HAVE TO CHECK IF STOCKED

1 No Sony DVD±RW burner DRU-875S = €30 - DELIVERY DUE 12-11-09

Thanks Deano & leninbenjamin
Total €795 Ex Delivery
Running Total €1479

Questions about above selections
1- Will PSU fit selected case?
2- Cooler looks freaking scary. Is it a difficult job to mate with chip and do I need some sort of thermal paste (if so what kind?)
3- I traded out stuff to maximise the stocked items. The remainder are slated for 12-11-09. Is Komplett usually on the money in restocking or is it likely to get perpetually pushed on?
4- Will I need any cable management and come to think of it, will all the cables I need be supplied with the various components.
5- Will I need any tools over and above the trusty philips head set

Okay, Stuff still in the mix but I am confused on are below.

I'm not sure if the discussion between posts 4 to 11 were questioning the motherboard or the RAM?. Also leninbenjamin suggested a few alternatives. So of the Gigabyte UD3R, Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 and ASUS P6T Deluxe V2, X58 which should I go for? and do any of those options clear up the RAM questions in the thread?

Running Total €1860 (assuming dearest motherboard & spec'd RAM)

MISSING STUFF

OS - Between 7 home premium or pro (is it me or is Win7 Pro 64bit at €125 cheaper then the inferior Win7 Home Premium at €150... am I missing something)
I assume I can't avail of the Win7 Home premium 64bit OEM version?

Speakers - Logitech Z320 2.0 Speaker System = €40

Internal WIFI - have an old eircom netopia 3347nwg router so need a compatible internal card, any ideas? = Ca €30

Wireless Keyboard / Mouse - Leftie, any ideas?? = €???

External HD - WD Passport™ Essential 320GB Black = €67. pocket sized and USB powered

Possibly thermal paste goo, self build tools and cables / cable management plus a bit of delivery costs to throw into the mix.

CURRENT ESTIMATE TOTAL €2,200 excluding mouse / keyboard (+ 100 on sundries)

Okay, its running a bit over my budget but I have sweet talked the wife and have coaxed the budget to stretch.

Any advice on the questions or stuff still to select would be greatly appreciated and thanks for the input so far. Going to order the monitors tomorrow to get the ball rolling.

in other news... my longest boards post ever

leninbenjamin · 10-11-2009 11:47am

Brando_ie wrote: »

Questions about above selections
1- Will PSU fit selected case?

Yes.

Brando_ie wrote: »

2- Cooler looks freaking scary. Is it a difficult job to mate with chip and do I need some sort of thermal paste (if so what kind?)

Pretty easy to assemble the mounting bracket, however the fan clips are very annoying to attach. It is a fiddly enough procedure but still very achievable for a first time builder.

Brando_ie wrote: »

3- I traded out stuff to maximise the stocked items. The remainder are slated for 12-11-09. Is Komplett usually on the money in restocking or is it likely to get perpetually pushed on?

Hit or miss tbh, although i haven't much experience in this regard.

Brando_ie wrote: »

4- Will I need any cable management and come to think of it, will all the cables I need be supplied with the various components.

Sometimes you'll get cable ties with various components like the PSU, case. However, probably best to buy your own wee bag of them anyway. I recommend getting some self adhesive cable clips though, Maplin have them.

Brando_ie wrote: »

5- Will I need any tools over and above the trusty philips head set

No.

Brando_ie wrote: »

I'm not sure if the discussion between posts 4 to 11 were questioning the motherboard or the RAM?. Also leninbenjamin suggested a few alternatives. So of the Gigabyte UD3R, Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 and ASUS P6T Deluxe V2, X58 which should I go for? and do any of those options clear up the RAM questions in the thread?

I'd say the UD3R is a fine if the budget is getting tight. I don't know much about them though.

As for RAM, as long as it is 1.65v or below and the motherboard supports the speed then it should be OK.

Brando_ie wrote: »

OS - Between 7 home premium or pro (is it me or is Win7 Pro 64bit at €125 cheaper then the inferior Win7 Home Premium at €150... am I missing something)
I assume I can't avail of the Win7 Home premium 64bit OEM version?

You can as you are a system builder. If you buy it along with the rest of the hardware it's perfectly legal.

Brando_ie wrote: »

Internal WIFI - have an old eircom netopia 3347nwg router so need a compatible internal card, any ideas? = Ca €30

What you need is a wireless PCI card. I have one of these. Cheap and cheerful.

Brando_ie wrote: »

Possibly thermal paste goo, self build tools and cables / cable management plus a bit of delivery costs to throw into the mix.

Thermal paste comes with the Noctua.

Brando_ie · 10-11-2009 4:00pm

Now it stands as:

1 No LG W2361V-PF 23" TFT Widescreen (2ms)

1 No LG M237WD-PZ - LCD display - TFT - 23" - widescreen 5 ms LCD TV - BOTH €511 DELIVERED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=461645 - Coolermaster HAF 922 = €92 - DELIVERY DUE 12-11-09

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=428330 - Gigabyte UD3R = €163 - DELIVERY DUE 11-11-09

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=449938 - 6GB 2000MHZ OCZ Blade = €145 - STOCKED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=492649 - Corsair 650 Watt PSU = €115 - STOCKED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=391447 - Intel i7 920 = €240 - STOCKED

1 No Noctua NH-U12P SE2 CPU Cooler = €63 - STOCKED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=487794 - Corsair X32 SSD = €121 - DELIVERY DUE 12-11-09

1 No Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA2 = €67 - STOCKED

1 No http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/catalog.cgi?view_product=1&id=26269&sid=14&cid=122&scid=315 - Sapphire 5850 = €240 - HAVE TO CHECK IF STOCKED

1 No Sony DVD±RW burner DRU-875S = €30 - DELIVERY DUE 12-11-09

1 No Win7 Home premium 64bit OEM version? = €95 - STOCKED

1 No Logitech Z320 2.0 Speaker System = €40 - STOCKED

1 No WD Passport™ Essential 320GB Black = €67 - STOCKED

1 No TP-LINK TL-WN951N Wireless-N PCI = €24 - STOCKED

1 No Akasa Cable Management Kit = €11 - STOCKED

Running Total €2024 + Some Komplett & Peats delivery costs

Last up - Leftie Keyboard / Mouse. Did a bit of looking around and the MX-700 (current keyboard / mouse combo) and strangely DELL lokks like a decent place to get something along the lines of
Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser - Keyboard / Mouse combo = €87

EDIT: Peats have informed me that the Sapphire 5850 is out of stock and due to shortages they cannot give a restocking date!!.... looks like I'll have to seek an alternative GPU or supplier??

Brando_ie · 10-11-2009 4:52pm

Cheers leninbenjamin

From your reply -

I'd say the UD3R is a fine if the budget is getting tight. I don't know much about them though.

As for RAM, as long as it is 1.65v or below and the motherboard supports the speed then it should be OK.

I had a snoop around the Komplett 'additional information' tab and saw the following in relation to the Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R

4 memory ( 1.5 V ) - DIMM 240-pin
Does that simply mean the motherboard does not support the required voltage?

With the chosen RAM running at 1.65 V does that mean it is underutilised (alternative 1.5V option required) or worse could put the motherboard in jeopardy? (although the memory selector on Komplett shows loads of 1.65V RAM for both the EX58-UD3R options). Feeling a tad nervous about this.

Also With limited stock of the (Ati Radeon) / Sapphire 5850 on the go, should I be looking at an alternative rather than holding off my ordering till the GPU turns up? I'm not keen of the idea of a swathe of components burning a hole in my eye sockets whilst awaiting a delayed GPU

Venom · 10-11-2009 5:04pm

Regarding the GFX card can you use your old one till the 5850 come in stock?

The 5850's prices have gone up in both in the states and in far to many European online stores due to the lack of chips coming out of the factory so the uber bargain it was is looking to be not so uber now.

Farcear · 10-11-2009 5:08pm

Actually, running at 1.5V the RAM is underutilised -- adding more voltage up to 1.65V will get it to run faster. If you want high-performance RAM then you are definately going to be running it higher than the default 1.5v. The RAM should have an XMP setting to automatically adjust the voltge and timing setting to safely optimise them for your computer.

With no DX11 games out yet; you shouldn't notice a huge performance gap between it and the 5850. You could get the 4870 now and in a year or so sell it and put the money towards a now cheaper 5850 -- maybe even a 5870 if you wanna spoil yourself!

Brando_ie · 10-11-2009 5:54pm

Venom wrote: »

Regarding the GFX card can you use your old one till the 5850 come in stock?

The 5850's prices have gone up in both in the states and in far to many European online stores due to the lack of chips coming out of the factory so the uber bargain it was is looking to be not so uber now.

Farcear wrote: »

Actually, running at 1.5V the RAM is underutilised -- adding more voltage up to 1.65V will get it to run faster. If you want high-performance RAM then you are definately going to be running it higher than the default 1.5v. The RAM should have an XMP setting to automatically adjust the voltge and timing setting to safely optimise them for your computer.

With no DX11 games out yet; you shouldn't notice a huge performance gap between it and the 5850. You could get the 4870 now and in a year or so sell it and put the money towards a now cheaper 5850 -- maybe even a 5870 if you wanna spoil yourself!

Righto. Getting close now..... getting cash sweats

My GPU is currently borked.... got it on adverts and suspect that it got noodled in the delivery or perhaps it is borderline underpowered, but I get all kinds of artifacts and tearing so using it even for a while is not a runner.

I do like the sound of opting for the 4870 and sprucing up the unit next year with the 585x. Is there a dual DVI alternative along the lines of the 4870 or should I use the DVI for the 2ms monitor in my build and the HMDI to the 5ms LCD TV bearing in mind the LCD TV will be my expanded monitor a good bit of the time. Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 1GB GDDR5

I don't intend to over-clock the RAM but my reading of your reply is that the RAM could receive up to 1.65V to be fully utilised, but as the motherboard provides 1.5V per socket unlocking the extra juice would be at the risk of frying the board (stuffing 1.65v through a 1.5v pipe) rather than the RAM requesting 1.65V and forcing the board to fry itself?

Farcear · 10-11-2009 7:00pm

Brando_ie wrote: »

I don't intend to over-clock the RAM but my reading of your reply is that the RAM could receive up to 1.65V to be fully utilised, but as the motherboard provides 1.5V per socket unlocking the extra juice would be at the risk of frying the board (stuffing 1.65v through a 1.5v pipe) rather than the RAM requesting 1.65V and forcing the board to fry itself?

Correct.

You can double check in the BIOS when you boot up what voltages and timings the RAM is actually giving you (default probably 1066mhz CAS 7-7-7-24) -- I would guess that the linked RAM's timings and latency are based on using 1.65v so it may be worthwhile looking for a dedicated 1.5v option.

Does the board provide support for 2000Mhz?

I noticed a few threads about tweaks required to get just 1600mhz working stable on it.

Venom · 10-11-2009 8:07pm

Brando_ie wrote: »

Righto. Getting close now..... getting cash sweats

My GPU is currently borked.... got it on adverts and suspect that it got noodled in the delivery or perhaps it is borderline underpowered, but I get all kinds of artifacts and tearing so using it even for a while is not a runner.

Could the card be overclocked too much? Seeing lots artifacts and tearing is a good indication it is.

Brando_ie · 10-11-2009 8:13pm

I'd been assured when I purchased it (adverts.ie) that it hadn't been overclocked but perhaps it had been. Certainly in my setup it was just plugged in and didn't start to give problems for the first couple of months.

Brando_ie · 10-11-2009 9:23pm

Farcear wrote: »

Correct.

You can double check in the BIOS when you boot up what voltages and timings the RAM is actually giving you (default probably 1066mhz CAS 7-7-7-24) -- I would guess that the linked RAM's timings and latency are based on using 1.65v so it may be worthwhile looking for a dedicated 1.5v option.

Does the board provide support for 2000Mhz? I noticed a few threads about tweaks required to get just 1600mhz working stable on it.

This whole Mobo - RAM issue is just freaking the bejesus out of me. So far I have had possible voltage incompatibilities, Mhz support concerns (with possible bios workarounds) fried mobo's risks, CL7 V's CL9 timing queries??????

Any one of those topics leaves me somewhat ashen faced at the prospect of popping the RAM into the Mobo and powering up same to be greeted with the faint crackle of shiny new components frying, followed rapidly by the louder crackle of my brain frying.

To summarise. Can anyone tell me if THIS RAM will work (and by work I mean, no bios tweaking, voltage tomfoolery or just about anything) with this MOBO.

I am wed to neither component (but want 6Gb Ram) and will happily use a lower voltage (1.5v) or slower Mhz (< 2000Mhz) RAM or indeed select a more suitable alternative Mobo for the RAM but without any of the compatibility concerns and / or bios type tweaking that have been raised. I am set on the other components of the build (see post 17) so the only caveat would be that any different Mobo will need to dovetail with the other components. Any recommendations / alternates welcome.

I am a first time builder and KNOW that any tweaking for me would be a disaster waiting to happen.

Any help in this last regard would be greatly appreciated

leninbenjamin · 10-11-2009 9:58pm

Brando_ie wrote: »

To summarise. Can anyone tell me if THIS RAM will work (and by work I mean, no bios tweaking, voltage tomfoolery or just about anything) with this MOBO.

I'm almost 100% it will. Similar specced Kingston is on the QVL. It works with the X58-UD4P. You probably wont be able to get it's full speed out of it with that board, but it should function fine.

Brando_ie · 10-11-2009 11:02pm

FINAL SELECTION - Thanks to all involved.

1 No LG W2361V-PF 23" TFT Widescreen (2ms)

1 No LG M237WD-PZ - LCD display - TFT - 23" - widescreen 5 ms LCD TV - BOTH €511 DELIVERED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=461645 - Coolermaster HAF 922 = €92 - DELIVERY DUE 12-11-09

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=428330 - Gigabyte UD3R = €163 - DELIVERY DUE 11-11-09

1 No 6GB Corsair Dominator DHX+ DDR3 1600MHz = €165 - STOCKED. After all the OCZ blade talk it was bleeding unavailable.... unbelievable!!!

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=492649 - Corsair 650 Watt PSU = €115 - STOCKED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=391447 - Intel i7 920 = €240 - STOCKED

1 No Noctua NH-U12P SE2 CPU Cooler = €63 - STOCKED

1 No http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=487794 - Corsair X32 SSD = €121 - DELIVERY DUE 12-11-09

1 No Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA2 = €67 - STOCKED

1 No Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 1GB GDDR5 = €145 - STOCKED

1 No Sony DVD±RW burner DRU-875S = €30 - DELIVERY DUE 12-11-09

1 No Win7 Home premium 64bit OEM version? = €95 - STOCKED

1 No Logitech Z320 2.0 Speaker System = €40 - STOCKED

1 No WD Passport™ Essential 320GB Black = €67 - STOCKED

1 No TP-LINK TL-WN951N Wireless-N PCI = €24 - STOCKED

1 No Akasa 3.5" Multi Memory Reader Internal = €16 - STOCKED

1 No Akasa Cable Management Kit = €11 - STOCKED

1 No Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser - Keyboard / Mouse combo = €87 - STOCKED

TOTAL €2155

Think that just about does it. I'll leave this here and will order the bulk (Komplett) tomorrow lunchtime so if anyone sees any glaring errors then please holler.

Farcear · 10-11-2009 11:12pm

Seeing as how you are going all out on this build, I might suggest:

Thermal Paste (maximise cooling for a few extra euro; not sure if the fan you have ordered comes with any), e.g: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=460665

Fan Controller (absolutely required if all of your case fans can't connect to the mobo; I regretted not buying one as I was building), e.g: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=319498

leninbenjamin · 10-11-2009 11:26pm

Farcear wrote: »

Seeing as how you are going all out on this build, I might suggest:

Thermal Paste (maximise cooling for a few extra euro; not sure if the fan you have ordered comes with any), e.g: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=460665

The cooler comes with some. >Link<

Farcear wrote: »

Fan Controller (absolutely required if all of your case fans can't connect to the mobo; I regretted not buying one as I was building), e.g: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=319498

Tbh, considering how cheap a decent fan controller is I'd leave it until the OP get's to know his new setup. The other possibility is simply getting 3 pin fan extension cables from the likes of Maplin or Peats. Indeed this may be the more preferable solution, as most mobos allow you to control the fans through the system and not have to fiddle with knobs. I think whenever you do a build there are always those little regrets but they really only come from hindsight knowledge.

DECEiFER · 11-11-2009 3:34am

Listen, I know you've gone a bit over budget, but I do have one concern. It's not of a technical nature, as those have been pretty much ironed out already. It's the size of the SSD. I'm a Windows 7 user since July and I have both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions. You can be sure that 32GB is going to present problems very soon.

First of all, virtual memory (page file). You're going to want that on the fastest drive (the SSD), and with your set-up, I predict a further loss of ~4-6GB to the page file alone. I re-installed my Windows 7 64-bit OS last week. The Windows directory comes in at ~15GB.

You'd also be sure better off putting some of your more high-demanding applications and games on the SSD, too. So you'd need some more room for that, a lot more room.

You might be better off thinking about the already suggested drive's 64GB counterpart:
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=487793
(also available, and in-stock here: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169566 - £10 delivery to Ireland)

I know fu*k-all about SSD's, and which of them has the best performance. You could get a bigger one, say 128GB, for about the same money on Ebuyer (Kingston - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173954 or http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173958). How they'd stack up performance wise against the Corsair X64, I couldn't tell you. Maybe someone else can chime in and shed some light on it.

BeansBeans · 11-11-2009 3:41am

Brando_ie wrote: »

[ADVICE] Complete new PC setup - all the trimmings.

Sorry about this, I can't help myself. Every time i see this thread i think of a big christmas dinner with all the trimmings

:pac:

[ADVICE] Complete new PC setup - all the trimmings.

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