New Build - final advice

[|_GuNsLiNgEr_|]

Hi everyone, looking to buy this build pretty soon but was hoping you might be able to give me some input about my choices first.

The PC is mainly going to be used for gaming, and I currently have a 7900GT ready which I'm looking to upgrade to a 8800gt shortly. Will also look to buy another pair of Mem sticks, and another hard Drive and use this one mainly as a system drive.

I've had a look around and I like the look of the Xclio case, but I am also considering the Antec 900.
If you guys know of anything that is a better buy for the prices I have put up, then please give me a shout, I need all the advice I can get lol.

2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 4-4-4-12, DHX £57.15

LN20158
Coolermaster Sphere Universal CPU Cooler £27.01

LN13711
120mm Xclio 16 Blade Quiet Cooling Fan - Black Frame - Clear Blades - Blue LED 2400rpm Ballbearing £4.10

LN16492
EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 NF680i SLI, S775, PCI-E(x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX £139.83

LN17483
Optiarc (Sony/NEC) AD-7170S-0B 18x DVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, DVD-RAM x12, SATA, Black, OEM £17.59

LN20298
750w TX Corsair PSU, single 12V rail, energy efficient, quiet & cool, fully compatible,5 yr warranty £104.56

Xclio Windtunnel Extreme Cooling Black Tower case with 2 x 25cm Side Fans - w/o PSU £74.01

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750, S775, 2.66 GHz, 1333MHz FSB, Conroe Core, 4MB Cache, Retail £110.44

150 Gb Western Digital WD1500AHFD Raptor X, SATA150, 10000 rpm, 16MB Cache, 4.6 ms, NCQ £122.20

Cheers everyone.

[Mossy]

Personally i would go for

Abit IP35 Pro
Quad Core Q6600 GO
Arctic Cooler Freezer 7

Regards

[kalniel]

I presume he's keeping the same motherboard, but if that's compatable with quad cores then I agree with the other recommendations Paul makes. Especially the cooler compared to the bad one listed in the OP.

[|_GuNsLiNgEr_|]

Cheers for the advice.
however is it really worth going Quad? I have heard that for my needs (gaming) the E6750 is the better value CPU?

Have taken your advice onboard for the Cooler, and will get that changed.

As you guys seem to be the only Xclio retailer Paul, do you have any feedback about the case? Xclio or Antec?

[kalniel]

How long are you planning to keep the CPU? For todays needs, the 6750 is definitly better value.. but the next generation are trying to push multi-core a lot. It's probably 50:50.

I would go for Antec over XClio, but not if that meant cutting back on a more vital component like the GPU.

[godsdog]

Do you need SLi? If you don't I wouldn't bother, and I'd swap out the PSU, and change the DVD-RW to something quieter - with added lightscribe...

Abit IP-35 Pro
Q6600
520 / 620W Corsair HX Series
Samsung SH-S203N

[Sprite]

Another one for:

Abit IP-35 Pro
Q6600
520 Corsair HX Series
Akasa AK-965 (I think) Heatsink

[|_GuNsLiNgEr_|]

I can see why you guys are advising the IP35 but I would also like the option of SLi in the future.

I am thinking the CPU will be the same for a year atleast, and I would be looking to overclock it. The Q6600 is also slightly more expensive so it's almost paying £30 for the possibilty for a bit more future proofing.

Antec have a much better reputation, but I'm not so sure on the styling. Also I can't really go wrong with the cooling on the Xclio it's not like I could possibly need anymore cooling options.

[|_GuNsLiNgEr_|]

Wow, is the IP35 really is getting the thumbs up all round. Looks like the Q6600 is the way forward aswell. With the money I'll save on the Mobo, I'll be able to put it towards the CPU.

[kalniel]

OOps yes I didn't spot the mobo in the list. Yes, go for the IP35 over that one for sure!

[Webby]

Yeah as others have said,

ABit IP-35
Q6600
Corsair HX520w (no way you need 750w)
Antec 900 (xclio will probably be loud with those big fans on the side, and I have never been sure side fans are the best for airflow, the front one pulls out all your cold air from the front intake before it goes over anything important!).
Hard drive wise you may want to get 2 larger (slower drives) and follow Zak's partition theory like WD AAKS or Seagate Barracudas.

Oh and definitely change the CPU cooler, If you go for the Quad and plan on overclocking then you may want something with a bit more cooling potential than the freezer pro or the akasa may I suggest a Thermalright Ultima 90 (with a quiet 120mm fan e.g. Scythe S-Flex 1600) or a Scythe Ninja

[|_GuNsLiNgEr_|]

Lols I went on that Mobo as it was reviewed by Hexus hehe. Meant to be the one of the best overclocking Mobo for the money.

Although I think I might miss the Sli Capability a bit, but thats just a bit gadgety then I guess.

From Scan:
2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 4-4-4-12, DHX £55.98

120mm Xclio 16 Blade Quiet Cooling Fan - Black Frame - Clear Blades - Blue LED 2400rpm Ballbearing £4.10

Xclio Windtunnel Extreme Cooling Black Tower case with 2 x 25cm Side Fans - w/o PSU £74.01

150 Gb Western Digital WD1500AHFD Raptor X, SATA150, 10000 rpm, 16MB Cache, 4.6 ms, NCQ £122.20

Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0 SLACR, 95W, S775, 2.40 GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 8MB Cache, Retail £159.79

620W Corsair HX Series Modular SLi PSU, ATX, EPS 12V, whisper quiet, 5 year warranty £85.65

Abit IP-35 Pro, iP35 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX £117.37

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro - P4 up to 4.4GHz - S775 Dual Core / Core2Duo Ready £15.73

Samsung SH-S203N/BEBN 20x DVD±R, 12x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, SATA,Lightscribe, Black, OEM inc Nero £18.20

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Sound Card UK Retail £58.52


Edit: I believed that the reason they put two 25cm fans was it meant they didn't have to speed at such a high rate, and therefore woulnd't produce so much noice. Have been told to go for Antec 900 buy quite a few of you lads though so looks like I might have to swing it that way then.

[Mossy]

now thats a better rig already i think you have your order, I would clock up 25 posts now and get yourself free delivery :-0

[Webby]

In reference to my concerns about the big fans on the side being an issue apparently they are intake not exhaust (the is no front intake) so that is no longer an issue and the is a fan controller so you can adjust the big fans speed so noise shouldn't be an issue there either. Oh and if you do get the XClio case don't get the 2400rpm fan to go with it! No 120mm fan which spins that fast is going to be in anyway quiet! Look for a fan which spins at 1400rpm or less and you will be in the quieter fans market

[|_GuNsLiNgEr_|]

POST COUNT +1 (only 18 to go)

Which CPU cooler would you lads recommend then? A lot of you have said I should go for the Arctic which I know is a good cooler, however Webby has said otherwise. I've been looking at a few on ye olde Scan:

Akasa AK-925 REVO Thermodynamic Core2Quad Cpu Cooler

Silverstone SST-NT06 V2 CPU cooler

Scythe Ninja Plus Rev B Fanless HeatPipe Cooler (+ Additional fan)

[spiral out]

I'm using the thermalright ultima 90 with a sharkoon fan which is really good nice and small and easy enough to install. The Scythe Ninja Plus is also good.