Is this build ok?

Hey, I'm looking to build a new pc soon with the following specs:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0Ghz (E8400) - £139.81 LN21080
I debated for a long time of E840 vs OC Q8800 but I don't feel confident OC'ing
PSU: 880W HiperPower - £92.81 LN20297
I once read HiperPower was the best PSU but looking at other sites, I'm not so sure... nor am I sure about the W, any help in this would greatly appreciated.
Mobo: Asus P5N-D, 750i - £81.53 LN21113
Graphics Card(s): 2x 512MB Asus 8800GT (EN8800GT) - £298.42 LN20575
Memory: 2x 2GB (2x1Gb) Corsair Twin X XMS2 (800) - £64.96 LN11596
Looking at the list of Memory, I'm not sure what actually makes them all difer, other than price so any suggestions here would be great.
HD: 500Gb Seagate - £62.85 LN20181
I hear SeaGate is best?

Monitor: 20" LG - £133.93 LN20420
I'm used to a dual monitor set up but for now I think I'll test a widescreen monitor and buy an additional if I can't cope

Case: Coolermaster - £24.66 LN17514
No idea about cases, any suggestions would be welcome.
DVD Writer: LiteOn - £22.67 LN21895
Other: Logitech Speakers 2.0 - £5.39, Cordless Keyb & Mouse - £14.68
Wireless: Linksys card from amazon - £22.78

Total: £964.49

For the most part I've gone with brands that I recognise and trust, any suggestions to make this better at the same price/cheaper would be greatly appreciated. Also, is all this compatable?

Thanks.

EDIT: If I went to OC a Q6600 what additional hardware would I need?
EDIT: New spec down page

Looks ok apart from the power supply, have a look at the corsair ones the 620w should be more than enough. I don't think you will need an 880w PSU plus hiper are not the best around.

Samsung also make great quiet hard drives, and have a look at the coolermaster CM690 or Antec 900 cases for better cooling.

Cpu = Q6600 you can get 3ghz quite easily and it's similar priced and quad core.

Power supply = 620W Corsair HX Series Modular SLi PSU here

When i brought the Hiper type R Mod they were Good. seems people have gone off them or they haven't produced the goods of lately

Memory = I would buy a 2*2gb kit if possible

What i also think

You max resolution is 1680*1050 if you buy a 8800GTS 512mb this is enough,
With the money saved i would buy a nvidia 780i chipset. which is better and allow me to upgrade in the future to sli if needed

The cooling in that case won't be enough. have a look at the Antec 900.

First of all what will you be using the PC for?

I agree with the power supply reccomendations made.
Also agree with changing to a 512mb 8800GTS and buy a 780i Mobo and then upgrade to SLi later if you feel you need to.

I would go with a Samsung SpinPoint LN16546 as it recieves the best reviews and will save you £8.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll look into them now.

If I were to OC a Q6600, what additional hardware would I need?

When you say "upgrade to SLi" I presume you mean buy one graphics card for now and another later if need be?

I'll be using it for gaming.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Superted

Hey, I'm looking to build a new pc soon with the following specs:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0Ghz (E8400) - £139.81 LN21080
I debated for a long time of E840 vs OC Q8800 but I don't feel confident OC'ing
PSU: 880W HiperPower - £92.81 LN20297 - I would prefer the New Enermax
I once read HiperPower was the best PSU but looking at other sites, I'm not so sure... nor am I sure about the W, any help in this would greatly appreciated.
Mobo: Asus P5N-D, 750i - £81.53 LN21113 - Not an amazing board
Graphics Card(s): 2x 512MB Asus 8800GT (EN8800GT) - £298.42 LN20575 - 2 x 8800GT = Waste of cash. YOu will see little benefit
Memory: 2x 2GB (2x1Gb) Corsair Twin X XMS2 (800) - £64.96 LN11596
Looking at the list of Memory, I'm not sure what actually makes them all difer, other than price so any suggestions here would be great.
HD: 500Gb Seagate - £62.85 LN20181
I hear SeaGate is best? - Not sure where you heard that. They are no better/worse, than any other really.

Monitor: 20" LG - £133.93 LN20420
I'm used to a dual monitor set up but for now I think I'll test a widescreen monitor and buy an additional if I can't cope

Case: Coolermaster - £24.66 LN17514
No idea about cases, any suggestions would be welcome.
DVD Writer: LiteOn - £22.67 LN21895
Other: Logitech Speakers 2.0 - £5.39, Cordless Keyb & Mouse - £14.68
Wireless: Linksys card from amazon - £22.78

Total: £964.49

For the most part I've gone with brands that I recognise and trust, any suggestions to make this better at the same price/cheaper would be greatly appreciated. Also, is all this compatable?

Thanks.

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I have added a few things.
That spec isnt worth the best part of a grand fella.

whats wrong with the p5n-d?xD, sli isnt worth it imo look just get a abit p35 or something as a decent single card is better then 2 ok/good cards.

The geforce 9800GX2 can be found for £350 at the moment.. With a abit IP-35 dark raider you will be spending the same sort of money as the SLi setup and getting a better system.

That said gaming at 1680 x 1050 is nothing for any of the mentioned cards. A single 8800GT will not be visually improved upon by any other card really.

Quote:

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A single 8800GT will not be visually improved upon by any other card really.

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Once you get up to 22" the 8800GT does start to lag behind.

Make sure you get a 7200.11 series Seagate, which come in at 250GB/platter, so the drive only has 2 platters (should be cooler and quieter).

Is this better:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0Ghz (E8400) - £139.81 LN21080
PSU: 620W Corsair HX - £85.41 LN15215
Mobo: Asus P5N-T Deluxe, 780i - £142.4 LN21112
Graphics Card(s): 512MB Asus 8800GTS - £142.40 LN20921
Memory: 2x 2GB (2x1Gb) Corsair Twin X XMS2 (800) - £64.96 LN11596
HD: 500Gb Samsung - £54.98 LN16546


Case: Antec 900- £69.90 LN16718
I'm not sure about the case, any alternatives?

Old Total: £964.49
New Total: £960.41

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Superted

Is this better:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 3.0Ghz (E8400) - £139.81 LN21080
PSU: 620W Corsair HX - £85.41 LN15215
Mobo: Asus P5N-T Deluxe, 780i - £142.4 LN21112
Graphics Card(s): 512MB Asus 8800GTS - £142.40 LN20921
Memory: 2x 2GB (2x1Gb) Corsair Twin X XMS2 (800) - £64.96 LN11596
HD: 500Gb Samsung - £54.98 LN16546


Case: Antec 900- £69.90 LN16718
I'm not sure about the case, any alternatives?

Old Total: £964.49
New Total: £960.41

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Personal opinion obviously but:
a). I wouldnt pay £140 for an Sli board when you will never really see any beneift from it (1or 2 vards).
b). That RAM is very poor value. Shop around. OCZ/Geil/G-Skill have as good if not better for cheaper than that.
c). You sure you want a Wolfdale? £10 more and its Quad Core time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Blitzen

Once you get up to 22" the 8800GT does start to lag behind.

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Well my older 8800GTS doesn't seem to struggle with anything so the better 8800GT shouldn't either. Maybe we have different ideas on struggling lol

If it were me I'd be going quad core which eliminates the need for better RAM. Single graphics card, non SLi motherboard. To be honest in the same situation I'd be spending £100 on a graphics card now while they are maturing and then whatever you save on a better card later on. The 9600GT or ATi HD3870 are more than adequate for 1680 x 1050 right now.. then when the card starts to struggle you can get the latest and greatest with the change you have from this build.

the cm 690 is a good case and is only £50, also nearing the antec 900 standards(cooler etc).
I didnt see the need for a 780I chipset when they are over £100. At this rate id say look for a crossfire motherboard xD amd seem to be going somewhere with price/performance.

Not sure of the exact prices now, but this is what I recently put together

Mobo - Asus P5K
CPU - E8400
RAM - 2x1Gb Corsair TwinX XMS2 PC6400
Gfx - 512Mb 8800GT
HDD - Samsung Spinpoint 400GB (Then the next day the 500Gb was the same price on the Today Only offer page.... grrr)
DVD - Samsung one - can't remember exact model.... SH203 or something I think???
Case - Antec Sonata III with the 500W PSU included

Can't remember the total price (somewhere around £500 I think it would have been) as I also got a new keyboard, mouse and OS as well but it was well less than the £900 you are looking at

Just my 2 cents worth if you wanted to consider it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by staffsMike

Well my older 8800GTS doesn't seem to struggle with anything so the better 8800GT shouldn't either. Maybe we have different ideas on struggling lol

If it were me I'd be going quad core which eliminates the need for better RAM. Single graphics card, non SLi motherboard. To be honest in the same situation I'd be spending £100 on a graphics card now while they are maturing and then whatever you save on a better card later on. The 9600GT or ATi HD3870 are more than adequate for 1680 x 1050 right now.. then when the card starts to struggle you can get the latest and greatest with the change you have from this build.

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You know what i mean....(awkward git :p )

The 8800GT and 8800GTS G92 are comparable at low resolutions.
As soon as the resolutions start to increase, the performance margin between the 2 cards increases aswell.

Ok, I may have got it now(?):

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz (Q6600) - £144.51
With the intention of overclocking:
Heatsink: Thermalright Ultra 120 with 120mm Scythe S-FLEX fan & Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - £42.02
Hope I've not missed anything there.
PSU: 620W Corsair HX - £85.41 LN15215
Mobo: Asus P5N-T Deluxe, 780i - £142.4 LN21112
I want to use a SLi mobo in case I get a second card.
Graphics Card(s): 512MB MSI 9600GT - £120.43
Memory: 4GB (2x1Gb) Corsair Twin X XMS2 DHX 4-4-4-12 (800) - £78.46
HD: 500Gb Samsung - £54.98 LN16546


Case: Coolermaster CM-690

First Total: £964.49
Second Total: £960.41
This Total: £906.82

can i recommend the bfg 9600? its £5 cheaper and has a much longer warranty (10years here).

Wouldnt spend £140 on an sli board, buy a cheaper sli board (under 100 imo) or just a single slot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Superted

Ok, I may have got it now(?):

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4Ghz (Q6600) - £144.51
With the intention of overclocking:
Heatsink: Thermalright Ultra 120 with 120mm Scythe S-FLEX fan & Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - £42.02
Hope I've not missed anything there.
PSU: 620W Corsair HX - £85.41 LN15215
Mobo: Asus P5N-T Deluxe, 780i - £142.4 LN21112
I want to use a SLi mobo in case I get a second card.
Graphics Card(s): 512MB MSI 9600GT - £120.43
Memory: 4GB (2x1Gb) Corsair Twin X XMS2 DHX 4-4-4-12 (800) - £78.46
HD: 500Gb Samsung - £54.98 LN16546


Case: Coolermaster CM-690

First Total: £964.49
Second Total: £960.41
This Total: £906.82

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go with the thermalright ultra 120 extreme, has better cooling and is the same size (i think it costs a little bit more). also i'd be tempted to get 2 noctua p-12's in push-pull on the TRU120E instead of the s-flex.
the power supply is vvv nice (i have one myself, im also getting a TRU120E with noctua p-12s)

i dont get what your saying with memory 4Gb (2*1Gb) :surprised: if you are going 4Gb obviously make sure you get a 64 bit O/S

edit: review of the case:>> HEXUS.net - Review :: Cooler Master CM 690 PC chassis: the new budget king? : Page - 1/11