draft spec for first time build

[lodore]

Hello,
i have just randomly specified a pc for around £1000
excel file
can you please look at my excel document and tell me if all the componants work together or not?
i want to make sure the ram will be ok with the motherboard and any other mistakes i made.
i have done one sheet in excel with creative x-fi and one without.
because i have a Audigy 2 ZS PCI card and its possible i might just re use it in a new pc.
surgested changes are very welcome.
this is just a draft to show my dad a possible spec for a new pc for xmas time.
i know by xmas this spec will be void since computers change alot.
thanks in advance
lodore

[NightshadowUK]

Everything will work fine together. Not at all a bad spec either, there's only a couple of changes I'd make but like you said, come Christmas it'll be void anyway.

[lodore]

thanks for comfirming it all works together.
the CPU cooler i chose was the only one that said compatible with quad core intel core duo.
otherwise i was gonna choose the artic freezer
at least now i can show the spec to my dad.
is it true intel core duo 2 quad is having a price drop on july 22nd?
what changes would you make?
lodore

[cougarslam]

yup i heard intel are having some price drops in july possibly some major 1s on the quads due to the new architectures being out(i forget code names)

would possibly go for more hard disk space 80gb seems a bit small for a prim drive.

[Thorsson]

Several points:

1. Hard Drives: One 80Gb and one 160Gb when you could get a faster 500Gb for around the same money seems somewhat obtuse;

2. Anything with the name Fatal1ty in it is a rip off IMO;

3. If you want to do serious OC'ing get a better cooler. If only mild then stick with stock;

4. The memory is PC-5400, which is too slow, and TBH too little for Vista 64 on a Quad Core;

5. Based on the graphics card I assume you will be playing games - if so then spend less on the CPU and upgrade other parts, e.g. memory and getting a 640Mb GFX card, and you will have a better balanced system;

6. The motherboard has had a few problems (ask Clunk), you'd be better off getting a P5K, which adds a certain amount of future proofing; and finally

7. The DVD drive seems not to be SATA and the thermal compound not Arctic Silver - change them.

[Clunk]

What are the bits? whats with the excel file?

[lodore]

Hi thorson,
1. i choose two hard drives for safety.
drive one for vista and drive 2 for data.
i changed it to one 500gb drive anyway.
2. i will change or forget the soundcard.
3. im not gonna do any OCing since i just want a fast stable PC.
4. what memory would you sergest?
5. yes i will be playing games on the pc.
what CPU would you reccomend?
i have changed the card and will upload the file later.
7.changed the termal compound and found an asus sata dvd drive.
atm the OS selected is 32bit vista home premium since ive heard the driver support for 64bit is horrible.

[lodore]

What are the bits? whats with the excel file?

Hi clunk,
i neatly put all the spec in to an excel file and gave the link.
so if you want to give some advice can you please download the excel file?
thanks
lodore

[lodore]

updated excel file
please check that out.
i havent changed the CPU yet.
i have taken the sound card out.
and the OS is still vista home premium 32Bit.
is the 64bit driver support as bad as i think or not?
btw my monitor is a dell 19inch flat panel
lodore

[Thorsson]

Not everybody has Excel.

Here's the updated list:

Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600, 775, 2.40
620W Corsair HX Series Modular SLi PSU, ATX, EPS 12V, whisper quiet
Asus P5K Deluxe/WiFi-AP
1GB (2x512MB) CorsairTwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400(800), 240 Pins
640MB BFG Technology 8800GTS OC2, PCI-E (x16)
Antec P182 Advanced PERFORMANCE ONE SERIES Super Midi Tower Case, Black (no PSU)
Windows vista home premium
500 Gb Seagate ST3500630AS Barracuda 7200.10, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache,
Asus DRW-1814BLT, DVD±R x18, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, DVD-RAM x14, Lightscribe, SATA, Black
Arctic Cooling MX-1 High Performance Thermal Compound
AKASA AK-965 x3 copper heatpipe cooler for Intel Core 2 Quad with 92mm side blow fan, Intel push pin

[Queelis]

I must be blind. Is that 1GB of RAM coupled with a Q6600? 2GB is the absolute minimum, it's dirt cheap at the moment.

[lodore]

woops i made a mistake.
i was ment to change faster 2gb of ram.
so here it is
2GB kit (1GBx2), Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-6400 memory module
http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/part...2KIT12864AA804
not everyone has excel but you can download a free excel viewer from MS
lodore

[DougMcDonald]

Or use open office :]

[lodore]

I would like to ask a few questions about building a PC.
1. once you have bulti the PC do you do any bench marking or CPU burn in tests?
or do you just install the OS and use it?
thanks
lodore

[NightshadowUK]

You need an OS in place to run benchmark programs anyway so the first thing would be to install it.

[lodore]

yes i meant would you install the OS and do bench marking and CPU burn in tests or just install OS and use it?
lodore