Which PSU for my setup?

[nat03]

Hey there, name's nathan and I'm new here.

Theres been similar posts in the past, but not really specific to the info I'm looking for.

Basically my computer broke and I can't figure out the problem but it's about time I upgrade anyway. I am thinking of purchasing these components;

Q6600 G0 SLACR (OEM) --- £152.74
Abit IP-35 Pro, --- £112.44
2GB Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2 Dominator, PC2-8500 (1066) --- £61.09
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro + artric silver 5 thermal compound --- £20

I will be using my old SATA and IDE hard drives, DVD writer drive and 1950XT grpahics card.

I do some gaming but also use CAD, photoshop and video editing programs as well. Thats why I went quad plus the E8400 is getting pricey and need to wait a few weeks. Also I'm not waiting for the Q9450 as I'm tired of the delays and I'm wanting to keep cost down.

What I want to know is, if my old 400 Watt PSU would be enough or would I need a new one? I will be wanting to some overclocking. And just to make sure, is the stuff I'm planning to get a good combination? Or am I better off getting 4GB of PC206400 RAM?

cheers

[Biscuit]

Hey Nathan,

Personally i wouldnt bother with the PC8500 ram, just go for PC6400. Overclockers have a deal on OCZ platinum atm which i snapped up

OCZ 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) (Deal Product)

or 2 x 2GB

OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Reaper HPC Enhanced Bandwidth Edition Dual Channel DDR2 (OCZ2RPR800C44GK) (Deal Product)
Admitadly there is a lot of question about OCUK as a business however im pretty sure OCZ offer back tot he manufacturer warrenty which cuts them out all together.

What make/brand/wattage is your current psu? i think it might struggle if its not a really good brand. If you are wanting to OC then i would deffo put a bit of cash into the PSSU just to be ont he safe side, i would have thought the 520W corsair would be fine for the job

PSU Corsair 520

For a serious overclock i would maybe consider a different cooler aswell. Most are more expensive and you need to buy your own fan for them however the money does go somewhere. Thermalright seem top dog atm, this is what im planning on getting

Thermalright ultima

What kind of budget are you looking at overall?

[staffsMike]

If you do end up going with the Freezer 7 Pro you don't need arctic silver 5. It's pre-applied with MX-1 which is arguably the best compound for it

[nat03]

thanks for thre reply Biscuit,

I was wrong when i said my current PSU is 400 watt, I found the box for it, its actually a 480 Watt, the "Tagan TG480-U01 480W ARX2.0 Silent PSU" to be more specfic.

So will I be needing a new one?

Yeh i'm trying to avoid OCUK, what are the 4GB PC2-6400 recommendations (that can OC well) other than OCZ or are they just the top choice?

And for the cooler, I'm uncertain atm, think I want to make sure my main components are sorted first.
Ahh and thanks Staffsmike, I did not know, If i do order the freezer7, I'll keep that in mind.

My budget is £350, if there are better recommendations for a setup for that price, suggestions welcome, (remembering I got some of the parts already).

[Biscuit]

i would have thought that PSU will be ok

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK £162

OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Reaper HPC Enhanced Bandwidth Edition Dual Channel DDR2 (OCZ2RPR800C44GK) (Deal Product) £70


Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK £112

total £334

Only leaves you £16 ish for the cooler, if you can go slightly overbudget then do and go for the Ultima however if you cant maybe the freezer pro is a better option.

Although the Abit IP35 pro does have better OC facilities, you could go for one of the lower end ones or the Asus alternative, not quite as good for overclocking but the saved cash would get u a better cooler. You would still get nicely over 3Ghz with Q6600

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

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

[staffsMike]

You could go for the slightly lower IP-35 dark raider. Will only cost you around £60- £70 and they are great boards. The kind of overclocking potential the PRO has you could never really utilise without water cooling.

[nat03]

Biscuit, would I not be better off getting the OEM version of the Q6600 since I'm planning on using a different cooler?

atm plan is to get:

scan £287.43 inc delivery
Q6600 OEM
Abit IP35 PRO
Artic freezer 7

overclockers £76.66 inc delivery
OCZ 4GB PC2-6400

Total is slightly over my budget, but I think that should be alright.

Gonna go for the freezer 7 because its bang for buck offer.

What sort of OC speed should I be able to achieve with this setup? I'm wanting about 3.4gz at least, possible u think?
I've read the P35 range from ASUS are good mobos, but my last asus board (P5E deluxe) had many problems, I'm wanting a change in manufacturer, also I want eSata the IP35 PRO offers. And I have a x-fi sound card so dont need what some boards offer. If there are boards that do the same just as well for cheaper, pls tell me.

Also can you direct me to any good OC guides for the Q6600? I haven't done it before, so I will be asking a friend to help me who has OCed other computers before. But I feel a guide would help out a lot.

THanks

[staffsMike]

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...beginners.html this will sort you out for overclocking.

With the freezer you might get the 3.4GHz but I doubt you would get any further if you even get there at all.

OEM loses you two years of warranty but to be honest you probably won't need it.

The scythe mine or ninja will cost you a bit more as will the thermalright ultima 90 but these will give you much better OC potential. Freezer is great bangs for bucks but it's not up there with the big boys.

[Hicks12]

cheaper ram would be these
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
and there from scan.

[nat03]

Right, I'll probs get the Ultima then. And thanks for the Guide

The RAM mentioned by Hicks12, is there any feedback wether this is a good option for my setup? Or will it hold my systemback? Cheers for the suggestion btw

[staffsMike]

The RAM is fine for your Q6600 up to 3.6GHz which si all you can expect from them anyway.

[nat03]

Ahh great. looks like I've finally came down to my final decision what to buy after pulling my hair out for ages. Cheers for the help

one last thing. for the thermalright ultima-90 heatsink, what size of fan and speed should i go for?

[staffsMike]

120mm fans produce the best result.

For speed you need to think about what's more important. Overall air being pushed against how much noise it makes.

Most people go for something like the Scythe S-FLEX 1600 which is good trade off. If you want something a bit cheaper my mate is using a xigmatec 120mm which actually provides better overclocking on his thermalright extreme 120 than the S-FLEX while remaining quiet

both found here
120mm fans

[Biscuit]

That Xigmatec on paper looks impressive, is it really that quiet and powerful?

My flatmate uses this Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK with the motherboard speed controller on so it only spins up when gaming etc, running a E6400 @ about 3.2-3.3

I use these Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK in my case and on my TTBT, maybe dont move enough to cool the Q6600/ultima though

[nat03]

Think I'll go for the Xigmatec, spins faster and is quiet. Tbh, I'm not too bothered about how loud it is, even though I keep my pc on a lot, it doesn't usually bother me or my music blocks it. So as long as it keeps it cool.

Cheers for all the help btw, Staffsmike & Biscuit

I'll order everything except the mobo from Scan, they seem to have the cheapest prices.

I'll get the mobo from komplett, somehow they can offer the Abit IP35 pro for £103 inc delivery, whereas other places are chargin £115+

last last thing: Will I need thermal paste for the ultima, and which should I get if so?

[staffsMike]

My mates using 3 of the xigmatecs now and his pc seems quieter than ever. Certainly not silent but he has so many fans that seems like an impossability