New build advice please...

[Hullz-Modz]

Hey guys, i'm currently in the middle of building a new system and was looking for a little advice as to which PSU to go for, for the system i'm putting together below.

I'd prefer something modular, quiet and if it has blue LEDs its a bonus anything upto or around the £100 mark, although i probably wont need something that powerfull.

Also i'd like recommendations on a cooler for the q6600, once again quiet, efficient and if it has blue LEDs then its a bonus. What are the top 5 coolers out there at the moment?

System to be built, so-far:

Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0 SLACR. (already have)
Abit IP-35 Pro, iP35 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX.
Zotac 512 8800GT PCI-E. (already have)
Crucial 2GB (1 GB x 2) Ballistix Tracer 240-pin DIMM (with LEDs), DDR2 PC2-8500 (already have).
ANTEC MIDI CASE P182 SPECIAL EDITION BLACK/MIRROR.
620W Corsair HX Series Modular SLi PSU
Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 120mm heat sink + 120mm Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F Fan 1600 RPM
Harddrives: Samsung Spinpoints 500gb or so and a 150 Gb Western Digital WD1500AHFD Raptor X.

Cheers guys!

[spiral out]

Corsair 520 is good, i'm using one myself, no LED's but it is modular.

And take a look at the tuniq tower, thermalright ultima 90 or 120, or something from scythe.

[Thorsson]

Crucial 2GB (1 GB x 2) Ballistix Tracer 240-pin DIMM (with LEDs), DDR2 PC2-8500

Don't know that this will gain you anything meaningful over Ballistix PC2-6400, except a lighter wallet.

PSU: Modular Corsair, 520 or maybe 620. Cooler: Ultima90 with a Scythe S-Flex.

[Hullz-Modz]

Don't know that this will gain you anything meaningful over Ballistix PC2-6400, except a lighter wallet.

PSU: Modular Corsair, 520 or maybe 620. Cooler: Ultima90 with a Scythe S-Flex.

I've already purchased those memory modules, when on offer a while ago, only a couple of quid dearer at the time than the 6400's. Gives me more room for OC'ing too.

520w be enough juice?

[Buzzsaw]

PSU: Corsair HX 520 or Enermax Liberty 500.
500w should be more than enough juice, check the thread here recently about PSU's.

Cooler: Scythe Mine or Ninja.

Those are my preferences.

[Hullz-Modz]

Has anyone got/tried or what are peoples thoughts on the Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme with a 120mm Scythe S -FLEX SFF21D Fan 1600 RPM attached?

Think i'll probably go with the 620W Corsair HX Series Modular SLi PSU too.

[Pob255]

You'll not need the 620w unless you go down the SLi/Crossfire route and as the motherboard is crossfire and the card you're looking at/have is nvidia it's pointless.
The 520w should be able to cope with any single graphics card you care to stick in there.

I do belive there's a couple of people around here withe the ultar120e & sflex 1600rpm combo, it's very popular and very good.
One thing to be aware of is it's very tall it does fit in the p182 with about 1mm to spare on the side pannel.

[Hullz-Modz]

Thanks for the heads-up about the p182, i'm thinking of cutting my own window into the side panel so i'd have to take that into account.

Hmmm i was'nt thinking of going SLi anytime soon but thought i'd keep the option there for the future, you never know...

[Thorsson]

I suggested the Ultima 90 because it's almost as good as the Ultra120 but quite a lot smaller.

And you can't go SLI with that mobo.

[staffsMike]

OCZ ModXStream 780w Silent SLI Ready ATX2 Power Supply

if you really want a modular psu with blue LED's

Fantastic PSU's and a very good warranty but it's a lot of money compared with the 520w HX which is my favourite PSU.

Coolerwise the Scythe Ninja is my pick of the bunch. No need to buy a fan as the one it comes with is perfectly adequate for both cooling and noise.

Have you considered the Antec Nine Hundred
Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case

Comes ready made with blue LED fans lol But more importantly it has a lot of the good features of the P182 but has a window already in there. The P182 hides it's fan as well so you won't see it particularly well with a window or not if it does have an LED.
I'm a huge fan of the P182. I really wouldn't brutalise it with a window it's just not what that case is for.. poor thing lol

My mate has the TJ-09 and its a horrific waste of money imo. Its a lovely case for sure but the P182 does all the same tricks for half the price. The P182 can even emulate the Tj-09's Direct graphics cooling too

Oh and as above the X-38 is not an SLi board. You have to get an Nvidia chipset for that.

[Hullz-Modz]

Ok, i've done away with the idea of SLi and Crossfire, prolly wouldnt ever do it anyway, so i've changed the Abit x-38 to the Abit IP35 Pro, its predecessor yes, but looking at reviews the x38 doesnt even out-perform the IP35 with noticibly the only added incencitive being Crossfire and a bigger bus speed.

I've looked at the 900 but it just looks like one huge dust attracting haven to be honest and i cant see the case being any good for a silent build with the mesh style panels.

As for the P182 (Special Mirror'd Edition), i like the idea of the internals being black, rather than the default silver, saves me spray painting it myself in the long-run. Regarding the side panel, dont worry it wont be butchered take a look at the pics below to see what i'm doing to it, love that mirror'd acrylic, mirror by day and then showcase the guts at night

[Hullz-Modz]

Anything anyone would change in the above build at all before i make my final purchases?

Thnx!

[staffsMike]

I really would go for the 520HX especially as you've resolved not to do crossfire or SLi. The 620w can SLi GTX's which is rediculous. The GT uses far less power than the previous 8800's. You're PC will probably only use around 400W even when overclocked and with loads of hard drives.

I'm glad you're not going with the TJ-09 though. I know a few people have found them for bargain prices i.e the same as the P182 which is fine but £160+ for them is a joke.

[Hullz-Modz]

How does the 520W Coolermaster Real Power M520 Modular compare against the Corsair 520HX?

I prefer the asthetics of the Coolermaster PSU but if performance, noise etc are better on the HX i'll go with that...

Just making sure the MB and PSU are compatible too?

[staffsMike]

I'm sure it's not a bad PSU, I've never used coolermaster PSU's though.

The corsair is actually seasonic underneath which say it all to me. Teamed with the P182 they provide a perfectly silent PC ..your 8800GT will be noisey though. Are you looking at any aftter market cooling solutions for it?

[Hullz-Modz]

I'll go corsair then

8800GT: I'm going to get everything together and see how noisey this thing is, i figured it would be but havnt started looking for aftermarket coolers for it just yet, was getting the essentials together first

The PSU is compatible with the MB right? Just double checking things...