Gaming Build, for a friend

VenomIreland

His Budget is around 1k, needs a monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard etc.

Here's what I came up with:

Monotype

Have you got a windows 7 HP install disc?

If so, buy the German version and save €35 and just use the key on that.
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28239

Or save €36 and get the 32-bit version. The key should still work with a 64-bit English disc.
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28238

I'd avoid the green drive as a primary OS drive.

Everything else looks fine... aside from the stock levels. Hardwareversand has gone slow for me again but I'd have a look to see if there's any way that I could squeeze a 2500K out of it - spend extra from the OS, money left over, maybe scale back the case?

VenomIreland

Monotype wrote: »

Have you got a windows 7 HP install disc?

If so, buy the German version and save €35 and just use the key on that.
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28239

Or save €36 and get the 32-bit version. The key should still work with a 64-bit English disc.
http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28238

I'd avoid the green drive as a primary OS drive.

Everything else looks fine... aside from the stock levels. Hardwareversand has gone slow for me again but I'd have a look to see if there's any way that I could squeeze a 2500K out of it - spend extra from the OS, money left over, maybe scale back the case?

I don't have any other install disc I can use unfortunately.
Thanks for the info about the drive, I just saw Barracuda and 7200.12 and thought it was the normal version.
It'd be great if I could squeeze out a 2500k, but if not, he'll still be happy with it.

Thanks for the help

deejer

VenomIreland wrote: »

I don't have any other install disc I can use unfortunately.
Thanks for the info about the drive, I just saw Barracuda and 7200.12 and thought it was the normal version.
It'd be great if I could squeeze out a 2500k, but if not, he'll still be happy with it.

Thanks for the help

If you have a flash drive around would be worth saving the 35 quid and using that to install windows.

Im guessing your going to be overclocking since your getting that cooler. It is a fair size yoke but you should have no trouble in the HAF and it runs very quiet.

VenomIreland

deejer wrote: »

If you have a flash drive around would be worth saving the 35 quid and using that to install windows.

Im guessing your going to be overclocking since your getting that cooler. It is a fair size yoke but you should have no trouble in the HAF and it runs very quiet.

I have several flash drives, I think I'll do this then

EDIT: He says he doesn't mind going over by a bit, so I changed it around a tad:

deejer

Doing well on another Eur100 alright

This is a better motherboard though I think from what I have read. It has SLI and is better at overclocking and its cheaper. I am assuming its why this MB and the i5 are both out of stock

Did you try and price this build on scan? Better chance of getting things in stock and there doesn't seem to be much of a difference in price at the moment. Especially with the Euro at 89p

deejer

This is your order with HWVS without the mouse, speakers and windows and a couple of small changes . It is going to be a small bit dearer maybe alright but everything is in stock today!

Edit: I'm not sure about the power supply. I know Solitaire was saying stay away from one of the corsair ranges but not sure which one! Also there is GBP7.99 off carriage if you are a member of avforms.

Monotype

Scan stock Silverstone PSUs which are mostly good. If you are ordering at the weekend, there's usually good offers on the today only page with the high quality modular coolermaster PSUs (don't buy cheap coolermaster PSUs - GX, elite, extreme) and XFX PSUs.

Installing from a USB stick works well. It's definitely handier and quieter, but I doubt it's faster. Perhaps with USB 3...

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

VenomIreland

I'll probably be getting him to split the parts between Scan and HWVS. Getting whichever's cheapest and in-stock. Thanks for all the help guys

Unregistered.

Monotype wrote: »

...
Installing from a USB stick works well. It's definitely handier and quieter, but I doubt it's faster. ..

Takes about 10 mins. Faster IMO.

Monotype

If you have a fast USB stick, it would make a difference alright. Most DVD drives around seem to be 16x speed. This translates to 21MBps. A lot of USB drives tend to be below that - often 12-15 read. I suppose if you have one of the faster sticks it will always be worth it. It's certainly more convenient than having a load of discs around anyway.

Tehachapi

I heard that corsair 500w from scan is not great. Go with an antec or superflower.

VenomIreland

He wants to order soon, am I missing anything?

Monotype

Mmm... those 6870s are getting cheap.

Is that RAM 1.5V? Some of the 1155 boards have been fussy about that.

Also, you should suggest homeplugs instead of wireless (although don't buy them from hardwareversand).

Edit: 32-bit is €1.03 cheaper. You might as well avail of it if you are not using the disc itself. It should make no difference to the key.
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28238

Unregistered.

I don't think a big cooler such as the mugen is necessary for Sandy Bridge overclocking. Though it is one of the quieter ones.

VenomIreland

Monotype wrote: »

Mmm... those 6870s are getting cheap.

Is that RAM 1.5V? Some of the 1155 boards have been fussy about that.

Also, you should suggest homeplugs instead of wireless (although don't buy them from hardwareversand).

Edit: 32-bit is €1.03 cheaper. You might as well avail of it if you are not using the disc itself. It should make no difference to the key.
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=28238

That €1 is something that is not worth the risk to me.

I might get him to use the homeplugs, I'll ask him about it, and I'll swap the RAM.

EDIT: RAM is 1.65V