New PC £1k-1.2k

[Mick84]

Hardocp has already made a review of Penryn. It should run a bit cooler especially under idle and it performs better than the 65nm chips [H] Enthusiast - Intel's New 45nm Yorkfield QX9650

I read in a review about the Lian Li case that they had trouble fitting in the graphics card so I don't know if I can rule out that one. bit-tech.net | Lian-Li V350 - Lian-Li V350B

The Sugo-1 case does look interesting but I can't seem to find a review of it which uses modernish components. They all seem to be from 2005 or 2006.

[Mick84]

I've done a lot of research now and it seems most newer Intel chipsets will support Penryn. I have also found out that Silverstone SG02 seems to be both cheaper and better than SG01 and they would allow a full size ATX PSU but still mATX motherboard of course. So I tried to put together a SG02 system on scan which looks like this:


Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0 SLACR, 95W, S775, 2.40 GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 8MB Cache, OEM £154.38

600W Zalman ZM600-HP Heatpipe Cooled Modular PSU +80% Eff £72.49

22" Samsung SM-226BW V2 Black Widescreen LCD, 1680x1050, 3000:1, 300 cd/m2, 2 ms, VESA UK £207.85

4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18 £67.73

Creative Inspire 280 Black 2.0 Speakers Retail - 51MF1530AA002 £18.79

Logitech G15 New Rev.2 Gaming Keyboard, USB, Wired, Silver/Black, GamePanel LCD, Illuminated £54.26

LG 18x GSA-H66NBAL DVD±R, 10x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, DVD-RAM x12, SATA, Black, OEM £17.26

Silverstone Sugo SG02B Black SFF / uATX aluminium Case w/o PSU £58.74

512MB BFG Technology 8800GTS, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), Mem 1940MHz, GDDR3, GPU 675MHz, 2x Dual Link DVI/HDTV £199.62

500 GB Western Digital WD5000AACS Caviar GP, "Green" SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms £78.24

Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R iG33 Express, S775, PCI-Ex16, DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, uATX, VGA £66.05

Total amount: £1,017.54


Pros. Better PSU. Possibly cooler system.
Cons. Slightly larger system.


I don't know what cooler I should go for the CPU though. It says on Silverstones website that the "CPU cooler cannot exceed 78mm in height" which definitely limits the choises, but I don't really know of any yet.

I'll try and put together a Shuttle system as well.

[Mick84]

Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0 SLACR, 95W, S775, 2.40 GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 8MB Cache, OEM £154.38

22" Samsung SM-226BW V2 Black Widescreen LCD, 1680x1050, 3000:1, 300 cd/m2, 2 ms, VESA UK £207.85

4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18 £67.73

Creative Inspire 280 Black 2.0 Speakers Retail - 51MF1530AA002 £18.79

Logitech G15 New Rev.2 Gaming Keyboard, USB, Wired, Silver/Black, GamePanel LCD, Illuminated £54.26

LG 18x GSA-H66NBAL DVD±R, 10x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, DVD-RAM x12, SATA, Black, OEM £17.26

512MB BFG Technology 8800GTS, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), Mem 1940MHz, GDDR3, GPU 675MHz, 2x Dual Link DVI/HDTV £199.62

500 GB Western Digital WD5000AACS Caviar GP, "Green" SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms £78.24

Shuttle SX38P2 £319

Total amount: £1,139.26

Pros: Smaller system. Newer chipset.
Cons: 450w PSU. Unable to upgrade motherboard in the future. Possible heat and power issues.

I must say I'm in favor of the Silverstone system now!

[Blitzen]

If i had your dosh to spend on a system then i certainly wouldnt be going for that CPU.
This: Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

or this: Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

would be where my cash would go.

These new E8*** CPUs are going to be extremely good by the looks of it.
The Quad you chose, although a good cpu, is 'old hat' now and with your budget then maybe aim a little higher.

Also, that BFG card is great. I have one and its damn fast. (£193 delivered atm aswell).

Last thing.......and if the cost can be varied a little, try this: Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
Its a schweet PSU and will give you system a bit more headroom for only £20 more.

[staffsMike]

I mentioned it already but you are limited to a few low profile CPU coolers with that case (SG01 and SG02).

Their cooling is also limited to a few 80mm fans which don't push very much air..

If you're not overclocking it's fine but if you are it's likely to get a bit toasty in there.

[Mick84]

Blitzen: I will go for the Penryn you linked to if it will become available soon. But I want a quad core so I won't go for the other one.

Whats better about the Enermax than the Zalman PSU? I know it says it's 650w but I think 600w should be fine?

Mike: There's room for 3x80mm fans and the PSU so I think it will be okay. If it's not enough I could maybe mod it

Does anyone know any good low profile CPU coolers?

[Mick84]

What do you guys think about the Zalman CNPS8700 LED ? I think it would fit, but I don't know if I should go for a different one.

::: Zalman :::
Virtual-Hideout | Zalman CNPS7500-Cu & CNPS8700 CPU Coolers Review

[staffsMike]

I would go for either the zalman 8700 (or the NT)
Zalman CNPS8700-NT CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/LGA775)

same cooler just black

or the thermaltake blue orb II which also fits and does a pretty good job.

If it were me I wouldn't bother going with a heat pipe cooled psu especially in such a confined space. It won't be getting any air over it so I can't see it being a good Idea.

I'd get the 520w corsair HX it's more than enough for your system and it's modular which trust me you will want in that case. It's also as near to silent as makes no difference, you won't hear it above the other fans in your system ..tbh you won't hear it if you have no fans in your system lol

EDIT: ocuk have the nzxt rouge now.. phwoooooaaaaar
NZXT Rogue Crafted Series Micro-ATX Case - Black/Red

If i can sell my case and mobo it will be done

[Mick84]

Hey again dudes

I have been adding and changing a few things on the rig I'll buy. I have decided to wait for the yorkfield processor so there is still some time left till I'll order it (march) and I would like to have some input on the changes!

LN18892
Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R iG33 Express, S775, PCI-Ex16, DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, uATX, VGA £56.21 £66.05

LN21218
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450, S 775, 2.66 GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 12MB Cache, Retail £186.01 £218.56

LN19302
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18 £57.64 £67.73

LN20843
512MB BFG Technology 8800GTS, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), Mem 1940MHz, GDDR3, GPU 675MHz, 2x Dual Link DVI/HDTV £169.89 £199.62

LN19345
Silverstone Sugo SG02B Black SFF / uATX aluminium Case w/o PSU £49.99 £58.74

LN19008
Zalman CNPS8700 LED 110mm Fan Super Flower Heatpipe Cooler £24.99 £29.36

LN18922
Logitech 967653-0120 Ultra Flat Wired Keyboard, PS2/USB 1.1/2.0, Black £8.10 £9.52

LN20839
ASUS 2014L1T 20xDVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, x14 DVD-RAM, SATA Lightscribe Black/Silv Retail £16.15 £18.98

LN17240
Abit AirPace PCI-Express 54Mbps Wi-Fi Card with Antenna and Software AP - A World First £10.49 £12.33

LN15215
620W Corsair HX Series Modular SLi PSU, ATX, EPS 12V, whisper quiet, 5 year warranty £72.39 £85.06

LN18865
22" Samsung SM-226BW V2 Black Widescreen LCD, 1680x1050, 3000:1, 300 cd/m2, 2 ms, VESA UK £178.99 £210.31

LN12715
Silverstone FX121 SFF Cross Flow Fan (for Sugo Series Cases) £10.49 £12.33

LN16686
Pinnacle PCTV DVB-T PCI Digital Tv Tuner Card with remote control £18.87 £22.17

LN18390
Creative Inspire 280 Black 2.0 Speakers - 51MF1530AA004 £10.99 £12.91

LN17166
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64Bit 1Pk OEM (DVD) £53.99 £63.44

LN17252
500 GB Western Digital WD5000AAKS Caviar SE16, SATA II, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms £54.17 £63.65

Total £1,174.65

[Blitzen]

All looks pretty good.

Check the TV USB Tuner will work under Vista though.

[Mick84]

Thanks

Yeah I probaly should check if the TV tuner will work in Vista. I guess the small amount of replys means everything is fine

[Hicks12]

if you got the extra cash perhaps try an 3870X2 if gaming is what it will be used for(sorry didnt have time to read through posts etc ).

But i would recommending perhaps changing the mobo as if your spending loads like 1.2k then you may aswell future proof it (pci-e 2.0 etc).

[Mick84]

I'm going for a SFF case so I can only fit a mATX board in it. I don't think there are any mATX boards with pci-e 2.0 and crossfire?

[Hicks12]

ah, i never go for the smaller boards just because im not careful when it comes to computer hardware xD, much easier but great choice .

I dont think there is a board like that either.....

[Blitzen]

if you got the extra cash perhaps try an 3870X2 if gaming is what it will be used for(sorry didnt have time to read through posts etc ).

But i would recommending perhaps changing the mobo as if your spending loads like 1.2k then you may aswell future proof it (pci-e 2.0 etc).

On a 22" monitor the difference between the 8800GTS G92 and the 3870x2 is going to be very minimal anyway. Especially seeing as how the ATI card is almost £100 dearer.

[Hicks12]

is it? i thought they were £260? might be wrong but i thought they beat the 8800Ultra (which is expensive xD). But you are right it isnt much different to the 8800GTS as i have one and it rocks .