New Build Spec Opinions

So I found some spare cash down the back of the sofa and thought now would be a good time to build a new rig.
My current machine I built quite a few years ago now and haven’t really kept up with developments so any advice is much appreciated.
The machine will be a bit an all rounder really as I’m an avid gamer and also dabble in animation 2D & 3D and editing with adobe and encoding and wat not.

Here’s wat I’m thinking.

Case: Antec nine hundred £65
Or Antec p180 £70

Is there much diff between these two? Is the p180 worth the extra 20bucks?

Graphics Card: Point of view 8800GTX 768MB £324

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4ghz £240
With a Thermaltake big typhoon 120 to keep her cool £27

Will be waiting for the end of month price drop on the Q6600.

Monitor: Samsung 226BW 22” Wide TFT 2ms £221

PSU: Coolermaster Extreme power 650W PSU £78
Or corsair HX series 620W PSU £95

RAM: Corsair 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory £71
Or OCZ 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 CL 4-4-4-15 PLATINUM XTC £76

Next purchase will be to go 2 4gb but will see how I go with this 4 mo.

MOTHER: Abit FATALITY FP-IN9 SLI Socket 775 NF650i DDR2 ATX £75
Or Asus P5K-E/WIFI-AP, iP35, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II,SATA RAID, ATX £116

But really I have no idea on what mother board to get so any suggestions wud be very helpful as its got me stumped, I was looking at the P5K but I will not be using wifi but then again I wud like to be dabbling in overclocking at some point even tho I have no clue at the mo. I was thinking round £100 for a mother but if there’s good reasons im not solid on that. my main source here has been scan & e-buyer So any suggestions very welcome on all of the above especially the mother situ.

Uber gaming beast there :) Personally, as much as I like Abit (love my Quad GT to bits!) the FP-IN9 'seem' to be mildly tempremental from what iv'e been reading here & there. The P5K looks the better board. Ram, well i'm a big fan of both brands, currently using Corsair, but OCZ is quality stuff too & possibly on average the better overclocker.
Cooler-wise, also look at the Tuniq ower 120 if you have the head room. it's class!
What about hard drives? 150gb raptors? :drool: :)

I'd consider the Antec p182 - the successor to the p180 which has cured most of the complaints that people had of the p180 (there weren't many but cable management was often mentioned).

Overall a lovely case, the gunmetal finish is classier than the black of the p180 and certainly better than the nine-hundred.

I would go for the Corsair PSU and a Asus P5K motherboard :mrgreen:

two things - for one, id hang fire until the 22nd (not THAT far away now, is it, and the price drops seem to be unmissable).


then, id change a couple of those items:

1) Id get an asus blitz motherboard (simply because the sata's are at 90degrees, hence you can fit bigger expansion cards, else it would have been the p5kdlx wifi)
2) Id get the q6600 then, and with the money saved id go for 2x2gb sets of Crucial Ballistix 6400. (or just a single 4gb set).
3) Corsair HX620W
4) Id go for a branded 8800gtx unless you think you are going to be upgrading soon, i personally would feel more comfortable with a longer warranty than 1 year.


hope ive helped!

ive just ordered the antec p182. ill let ya know when i've got it

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Originally Posted by 5aboy

1) Id get an asus blitz motherboard (simply because the sata's are at 90degrees, hence you can fit bigger expansion cards, else it would have been the p5kdlx wifi)!

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the Blitz will be uber money - if he wants 90 degree angles SATA (& it's a good idea as long as your drive cage doesn't but right against them) an abit IP35 Pro has them too ~£120 & it's well regarded - even that is quite a bit more than his initial choice though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by paulq

ive just ordered the antec p182. ill let ya know when i've got it

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Gunmetal rather than silver I hope! Good price?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 5aboy

1) Id get an asus blitz motherboard (simply because the sata's are at 90degrees, hence you can fit bigger expansion cards, else it would have been the p5kdlx wifi)

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the Blitz is a bit beyond wat i thinking of spending. but i would stretch to the p5kdlx wifi that i found here.

scan.co.uk Product code LN18700
(soz cant post links still a noobie)

but do u know how many sata ports my 8800 would block cause i'm not gonna be using all of them (prob about 3)

also with regard to the point of view card found this BFG with True Lifetime Warranty for an extra £40 do u think its worth it?

ebuyer product id 125331


will be going for the Corsair HX620W everyone seems to be raving about them
also will be going for the p182

Anyone know if the thermaltake big typhoon is a good choice?

The Typhoon gets good reviews but then so does this and it's cheaper: http://www.arctic-cooling.com/cpu2.p...79&data=5&disc

Well done on the P182 choice.

1. The 2 PSUs you chose are not that amazing and certainly not good value. Try the Enermax Infiniti. Its around £100 and the best out there at the moment.

2. The memory is fine. I dunno about Corsair. I have never bought it because of the poor value but the prices are low now.
The OCZ Platinum you chose however is excellent and rock solid. You can get it from Microdirect now aswell for under £70 per 2x1gb and i cant recommend it enough.

3. The Fatality mobos...ESPECIALLY at the price point your choice is arent that great tbh. Take a look at the other offerings from ABIT and ASUS (if you dont mind their customer service) as some of the Intel chipset boards are way way better. (PB5/PK3/AW9-D/QuadGT to name a few)

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Originally Posted by Blitzen

1. The 2 PSUs you chose are not that amazing and certainly not good value. Try the Enermax Infiniti. Its around £100 and the best out there at the moment.

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checked out the enermax infinity and def considering it, but the two issues i've found mentioned are i'd have to remove the lower fan to fit in a modular PSU on my p182. Also reviews mention short power leads, so has anyone got a p182 with an infinity? will i have enough cable length to run cables out the back of the motherboard plate for nice cable management?

Also any advice on the mother i'm thinkin of

Asus P5K Deluxe/WiFi-AP, iP35, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX

scan code LN18700

Theres a big thread on the P5K, plenty of info and pics. It is an excellent board.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Darkeco

checked out the enermax infinity and def considering it, but the two issues i've found mentioned are i'd have to remove the lower fan to fit in a modular PSU on my p182. Also reviews mention short power leads, so has anyone got a p182 with an infinity? will i have enough cable length to run cables out the back of the motherboard plate for nice cable management?

Also any advice on the mother i'm thinkin of

Asus P5K Deluxe/WiFi-AP, iP35, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX

scan code LN18700

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The 8 pin is too short. You will need this to allow for the Infiniti to fit.

Motherboard: yes look at this as an option. Nice review by bit-tech. Still prefer the support that Abit gives and the 3 year warranty is excellent.

Both good cases, however there is something I must point out about the antec 900.
the PSU bay is at the bottom however there is no hole in the bottom of the case, so if you're going to use a PSU with a downwards 120mm (or larger) fan then you'll probably have to stick it in upside down so it can draw in air. :rolleyes:

Scan have the p182 at a whole £2.18p more than the p180 so it's one to consider.

But case looks are rather personal, I'd advise poping down to a good PC shop which stocks these cases so you can eyeball them in the flesh ;)
(yoyotech is good if you're in london)

My Thermaltake Big Typhoon came 2day found it on Tekheads website last 1 and thought i'd better get it as it's so hard to locate sum1 who sells it with it in stock. The thing is huge, its gonna be a nervous moment wen i come to fit it & let it take the weight.
Think I will be going for the Abit IP35 Pro as it has the 90degree satas & from what I can see there's not much diff from the Asus P5K. (feel free to correct me on that asumption)
Anyone know if the Intel cpu price drop will happen on the 22nd of July or will it take time for the lower price to filter through the stockists? (hope that made sesnse)

the Intel Core2 Quad 6600 has just dropped to £170 on the eclipse computers site, do u think the price drop came early? or are they due to drop again?