Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 26

Thread: Checking on my possible future spec

  1. #1
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    34
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Checking on my possible future spec

    Hey all, I'm currently looking in detail at the following spec of PC for just under £600:

    Intel C2D E6750 @ 2x3.3ghz
    2gb RAM, DDR2 667mhz (no brand)
    Asus P5B mobo, 1066mhz FSB
    Nvidia 8800GTS 320mb
    Arctic Power 500W PSU

    Basically I'd like to check out where the 'weakpoints' are, so to speak. I can't afford to spend too much more, but lets assume I can spend another £80 on it: where would I be best to put my money? I already have a few ideas of my own of course...

    Firstly, the PSU: am I right that there are far preferable brands out there?

    Also, RAM: from what I can tell this RAM isn't a very well-known brand, so could an extra £80 go a long way in getting something fancier?

    Motherboard: I'll admit, I'm a bit clueless as to where this stands. But my guess is that there are better ones out there.

    I already think that the 8800GTS will be the best card I can get atm, and have a general idea that quad core or 4gb of RAM are probably not necessary/too expensive for me.
    Last edited by megajames; 31-08-2007 at 11:51 PM.

  2. #2
    No-one's Fanboi Thorsson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Neverneverland
    Posts
    2,750
    Thanks
    47
    Thanked
    93 times in 92 posts
    • Thorsson's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P8Z77-V PRO
      • CPU:
      • i5 3570k
      • Memory:
      • 2x8Gb Corsair Vengeance PC1866
      • Storage:
      • 256M4 SSD; 2Tb 7200RPM Barracuda; 2Tb Linkstation
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX970 SC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX650
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Win10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2515H
      • Internet:
      • Fibre Optic 30Mb

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    P5K>P5B. Memory, get a brand. PSU, get a Corsair.

  3. #3
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    34
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    Thanks for the quick reply Thorsson. I'm not very up to date with RAM to be honest - could you suggest a particular brand?

    Edit: By the way, the harddrive runs at 7200rpm: should I also aim for a faster drive as well as your PSU/RAM/Mobo suggestions, or will that have a comparatively smaller improvement?
    Last edited by megajames; 31-08-2007 at 11:46 PM.

  4. #4
    No-one's Fanboi Thorsson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Neverneverland
    Posts
    2,750
    Thanks
    47
    Thanked
    93 times in 92 posts
    • Thorsson's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P8Z77-V PRO
      • CPU:
      • i5 3570k
      • Memory:
      • 2x8Gb Corsair Vengeance PC1866
      • Storage:
      • 256M4 SSD; 2Tb 7200RPM Barracuda; 2Tb Linkstation
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX970 SC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX650
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Win10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2515H
      • Internet:
      • Fibre Optic 30Mb

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    Crucial Ballistix, or anything else using Micron D9 chips.

  5. #5
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    34
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    Great, thanks - RAM is where I always get stuck. I'm wondering if you could explain what the significance of Micron D9 chips is? I mean, are they better for overclocking?
    Last edited by megajames; 01-09-2007 at 12:16 AM.

  6. #6
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Ballymoney...sir
    Posts
    145
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts
    • -N!CK-'s system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte DS4
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 @3.3GHz
      • Memory:
      • GeIL PC6400 UUL 2gb
      • Storage:
      • 780GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 8800gts 640mb
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX 520W
      • Case:
      • Lian Li PC-7+ B
      • Monitor(s):
      • DELL 2007WFP

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    i think thorsson has hit all your problems on the head and i can't fault his recommendations.

    i would say if you're overclocking, do you have an after-market cooler? if not look at something like the tuniq tower, thermalright 120-ultra or scythe ninja.....the 120-ultra seems the best atm by the looks of it

    Jesus did not have wheel Ralph...

  7. #7
    Resident abit mourner BUFF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Sunny Glasgow
    Posts
    8,067
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    181 times in 171 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    E6750 is 2.66GHz
    get a P35 based mobo instead of 965
    get DDR2 800 at least (unless you know that your RAM has the capability to overclock way beyond it's spec)
    that's a £25 PSU - do you really want to trust all your expensive components to it? I wouldn't ...
    http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=116252

    MSI P55-GD80, i5 750
    abit A-S78H, Phenom 9750,

    My HEXUS.trust abit forums

  8. #8
    No-one's Fanboi Thorsson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Neverneverland
    Posts
    2,750
    Thanks
    47
    Thanked
    93 times in 92 posts
    • Thorsson's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P8Z77-V PRO
      • CPU:
      • i5 3570k
      • Memory:
      • 2x8Gb Corsair Vengeance PC1866
      • Storage:
      • 256M4 SSD; 2Tb 7200RPM Barracuda; 2Tb Linkstation
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX970 SC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX650
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Win10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2515H
      • Internet:
      • Fibre Optic 30Mb

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    Quote Originally Posted by megajames View Post
    Great, thanks - RAM is where I always get stuck. I'm wondering if you could explain what the significance of Micron D9 chips is? I mean, are they better for overclocking?
    Yes; they are generally regarded as being best for OC. As Micron own Crucial, they seem a safe bet. They also have a great warranty.

  9. #9
    Yeah dude! NightshadowUK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    2,172
    Thanks
    134
    Thanked
    59 times in 57 posts
    • NightshadowUK's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z87M GAMING
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 4790K [Macho Rev.B]
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M500 [240GB] & MX500 [1TB]
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 4GB Sapphire 290X Vapor-X
      • PSU:
      • 620W Corsair HX
      • Case:
      • Silverstone TJ08B-E [AP181 & NF-S12B]
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Home [64bit]
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2412M
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 200Mb

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    I think what BUFF said about the PSU is the main thing that needs addressing.

    Antec, Corsair, Enermax, Seasonic, Tagan - those are a few of brands you want to be looking at.

  10. #10
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    34
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    Wow, I can't believe I've had so much advice in so little time , this is really helpful. To clarify, the guy selling the PC has said he will sell the PC with the E6750 overclocked to 2x3.33ghz already, so that's where that figure came from.

    I'll definitely get an expensive PSU from a reputable brand, so thanks for the list of options Nightshadow and Thorsson (it's good to learn from other people's mistakes - thanks for linking to that thread of PSU horror Buff). RAM I think is my next priority, and I've also heard good things about OCZ RAM, as well as ballistix - it may be that, due to my budget, ballistix is a bit much. As for a cooler N!ck, that's quite an interesting idea, given suggestions that (with a good sample) the 6750 could reach 3.5ghz+. I will ask for prices on that too and attempt to include that feature.

    I have another question - how significantly better is the P5K over the P5B and in what way?

  11. #11
    Resident abit mourner BUFF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Sunny Glasgow
    Posts
    8,067
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    181 times in 171 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    P5K uses the P35 chipset which is essentially a refined 965 & should run cooler, definitely supports the next gen of CPU (Penryn).
    If you already had a 965 mobo it's not enough imo to warrant changing it but if I was buying a new mobo I would buy a P35 over a 965.

    MSI P55-GD80, i5 750
    abit A-S78H, Phenom 9750,

    My HEXUS.trust abit forums

  12. #12
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    34
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    Thanks for clearing that up Buff.

  13. #13
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    34
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    In fact, new question: when you say DDR2 800 at least, is there a particular reason why DDR2 667 would be unsuitable? (I ask just because DDR2 667 is cheaper in this case, and i'm looking for ways to save a few £ )

  14. #14
    Resident abit mourner BUFF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Sunny Glasgow
    Posts
    8,067
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    181 times in 171 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    OK, in order for that chap to overclock the CPU to 3.33GHz it needs to be running 416 fsb (8x416=3.33GHz) so even at the lowest CPU:RAM ratio on 965/ P35 (1:1) the RAM needs to be running at 416fsb too & since it's double data rate that is DDR2 832 ...

    MSI P55-GD80, i5 750
    abit A-S78H, Phenom 9750,

    My HEXUS.trust abit forums

  15. #15
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    34
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    Hehe, are you saying you smell bull****? Or just that it needs 800mhz? I'm not sure I follow (the whole 832 > 800 thing is what's getting me)
    Last edited by megajames; 01-09-2007 at 03:34 PM.

  16. #16
    Resident abit mourner BUFF's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Sunny Glasgow
    Posts
    8,067
    Thanks
    7
    Thanked
    181 times in 171 posts

    Re: Checking on my possible future spec

    I'm just saying that in order for that CPU to be running 3.33GHz on that mobo the lowest that the RAM can be running at is DDR2 832.
    Now some RAM labelled as DDR2 667 will overclock to that particularly if you increase the voltage & drop the latency but when you can buy 2Gb of DDR2 800 (that will overclock some too) for~£55 why bother?

    MSI P55-GD80, i5 750
    abit A-S78H, Phenom 9750,

    My HEXUS.trust abit forums

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Help me spec a 2 grand video editing system
    By ollie in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 05-03-2007, 02:28 PM
  2. Spec me an SFF! Paypal pint for a decent spec :)
    By Jonny in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 94
    Last Post: 21-01-2007, 09:04 PM
  3. PC spec for gaming and analogue video editing
    By Chris_Von_Bron in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 26-07-2005, 05:44 PM
  4. PC spec for gaming and analogue video editing
    By Chris_Von_Bron in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 25-07-2005, 11:11 AM
  5. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 14-02-2005, 01:11 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •