Spec Check / Now or Wait?
Hi,
I'm wanting to build a new computer soon, it'll be mainly for 3D Animation and Programming but also games. It's going to be my first build, and I'm pretty clueless about hardware so I'd appreciated any help.
Firstly, I'm wondering if now is a good time to buy, or is something better just around the corner? (I.e Q9450). I realise hardware is usually outdated very quickly, but I don't want to buy now and in a few days time something significantly better come out. I don't need to build right now but since at the moment I'm struggling with a AMD 3500+, nVidia 6200 & 768MB ram I'm in need of one reasonably soon, I could wait another month or so.
If now is a good time... can anyone check a small spec I was looking at:
Antec P182 Gunmetal Grey Super Mid Tower Case - No PSU
Corsair HX Series 520W Modular PSU - ATX12V v2.2 APF
Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
Tuniq Tower 120 CPU Cooler (Socket 478/754/939/940/AM2/LGA775)
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Vista Gold Series DDR2
ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP AiLifestyle Series P35 Socket 775
Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB SATA II 7200RPM 16MB Cache - OEM x2
Point of View GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB GDDR3
Sony DRU-190S 20X DVD±RW DL & DVD-RAM Serial ATA - Retail Multi Bezel &
Total £785 incl p&p
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I'm would be hoping to OC the Q6600 to 3.2-3.4GHz but somebody told me (without a reason why) that the RAM I chose would be useless at overclocking any reasons why? Also is there a significant difference in 3Ds Max/Maya viewport speed between a low-end (£250 max) Quadro card and the 8800 GTS?
The build also needs to be as quiet as possible (under 100% load and idle), not sure if I've chosen the right components for that - this is really important to me, I had a good-but-noisy computer before and I never really felt like using it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long first post I'm just wanting to get everything right before I buy, because I can't afford to buy again for quite some time :p
Thanks in advance.
Re: Spec Check / Now or Wait?
The memory will be fine for OC a Q6600, the way it works out you would need to take the CPU to 3.6GHz before the memory was even at its specified speed (at a 1:1 ratio). See Clunks OC guide for a more info.
I would say if you want quiet then a Samsung SG-S203 DVD drive is as quiet as I have heard, definitely worth a look.
Other than that I would probably be looking at a Scythe Ninja as a very quiet decent CPU cooler nothing against the Tuniq just personal preference and the sure knowledge that it is really quiet.
The only other thing is going to be how noisy the graphics card fan will be when its under heavy load. After market solutions are available but you may void your warranty by taking off the stock cooler, one company cant remember which allows this could be worth paying the extra if silence or at least near silence are important to you. Oh and for aftermarket coolers Thermalright HR-03GT and Arctic Cooling Accelero S1
Oh and get 25 posts and get free postage from Scan ;)
Re: Spec Check / Now or Wait?
Hi Danny123,
I am planning a similar spec PC to yourself and have been debating the Q6600 over the Q9300. I'm beggining to lean towards the 6600 as its available now, tested on a good number of motherboards where as the new 45nm process potentially has some production issues hence why it has been delayed which may mean a new revision of the CPU shortly after launch.
Not sure I want to be a new adopter of the processor and help iron out problems that may people may have with setup
One thing I did notice in your post is that you have not mentioned an operating system, if you want to use the full 4GB it will have to be XP Pro 64 (assuming you have a licensed copy you can transfer as its no longer sold) or Vista 64
Minimos
Re: Spec Check / Now or Wait?
You've done a very good job of speccing but why-o-why would you want to buy from OCUK? Scan have cheaper prices, better aftersales (including a forum on here), and you'll get free delivery. :D
- Antec P182 Advanced ~ £86.82
- 520W Corsair HX ~ £63.20
- Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0 ~ £148.51
- Scythe Miné ~ £24.08
- 4GB Corsair TwinX XMS2 ~ £60.68
- Abit IP-35 Dark Raider ~ £69.78
- 500 GB Western Digital WD5000AAKS ~ £61.91
- 512MB BFG Tech 8800GTS OC ~ £191.40
- Samsung SH-S203D/BEBN ~ £17.33
Total ~ £723.71
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I swapped the cooler for a Scythe Miné as they're lighter, smaller, cheaper and very nearly as good as a lot of the beasts available at the moment. I also went for an Abit motherboard as they're bloody awesome.
In terms of buy now or wait, it's really your call. The Q9xxx series quads will be newer technology but no-one can say how much of an improvement they'll be until release (19th March).
Re: Spec Check / Now or Wait?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
NightshadowUK
Well played fella.
Better parts and better price.
I wouldnt get that Corsair RAM though......stick with your original choice.
Re: Spec Check / Now or Wait?
Thanks for the replies, I've adjusted the spec (mostly) to your comments, the only thing I kept from the original spec was the P5K-E instead of the 'Abit IP-35' mainly because it has built in wireless, but if the Abit is much better I'll swap it to that also and get a separate wireless card.
I also swapped to just using SCAN instead of a mixture of ocuk/ebuyer, SCAN actually worked out a bit more expensive, but if their after-service is better I don't mind.
So now I have:
Antec P182 - £86.82
520W Corsair HX Series Modular PSU - £56.40
Asus P5K-E/WIFI-AP, iP35, S 775, PCI-E (x16) - £85.66
2x 500 GB Western Digital WD5000AAKS - £117.48
512MB BFG Tech 8800GTS OC - £191.40
Samsung SH-S203D/BEBN - £17.33
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR Retail - £152.69
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Vista Gold Series - £54.04
Then for cooling...
Scythe Miné Quiet Heatpipe CPU Cooler (Is this quieter than the Ninja, or should I go with that instead?)
Thermalright HR-03-GT + I need to get a 92mm fan for this, not sure which one?
Total: ~ £820
Thanks again for the replies, and any extra suggestions before I order would be appreciated. :)
Re: Spec Check / Now or Wait?
i just wanted to say why get retail cpu when u gona get aftermarket cooler?
and the price for the ram is from OCUK?
its a sale item so might end soon
Re: Spec Check / Now or Wait?
Quote:
Scythe Miné Quiet Heatpipe CPU Cooler (Is this quieter than the Ninja, or should I go with that instead?)
Its no different really. YOu cant hear it.
I have been using one on an OC Q6600 for about 6 months now and the my load temps never go over 38 degrees. That is stunning perfomance for under £25
