Phew been a while

[AGxM]

...and thanks to the advice on here my first try at self build is still running like a charm.

Sadly my 'upstairs' machine has recent decided to have issues with the master boot record and is now constantly showing the good old blue screen of death, so using this as an excuse I was thinking of giving building another go. Could some kind soul let me know if the spec below is any good - general use PC, some Photoshop, very limited gaming, music and film usage.

Xclio 3060 PLUS Black Silver Midi Tower Case w/o PSU - 36CM Side Fan!
650W Xclio Greatpower Modular SLi U-Quiet 14cm Fan 87%+ Efficiency Quad+12v EPS 4SATA 4
PCI-E
2 x LiteON DH-20A1S-18C Black 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8 / -RW x 6, DVD-RAM x12, SATA Black
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, Retail
Abit IP-35, Dark Raider, iP35 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX
4GB (2x2GB) CorsairXMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800MHz), Unbuffered, , DHX Technology 4-4-4-12
512MB Asus 8800GT PCI-E 2.0, Mem 1800MHz, GDDR3, GPU 600MHz, Stream 112, 2x DL DVI-I

Would be my first Intel machine so is it worth going for the Quad or will a Core Duo suffice?

Thanks as ever in advance

[Thorsson]

For very limited gaming then something like a 3850 would suffice.

If you're getting two ODs, don't get the same model. Change one into a Samsung SH203.

Photoshop will use Quad. Make sure you are using Vista64 (for the memory).

[AGxM]

Thanks for that Thorsson I was looking to use XP so is the memory overkill?

Updated spec:

Xclio 3060 PLUS Black Silver Midi Tower Case w/o PSU - 36CM Side Fan!
650W Xclio Greatpower Modular SLi U-Quiet 14cm Fan 87%+ Efficiency Quad+12v EPS 4SATA 4 PCI-E
LiteON DH-20A1S-18C Black 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8 / -RW x 6, DVD-RAM x12, SATA Black
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, Retail
Abit IP-35, Dark Raider, iP35 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX
4GB (2x2GB) CorsairXMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800MHz), Unbuffered, , DHX Technology 4-4-4-12
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro - P4 up to 4.4GHz - S775 Dual/Quad Core Ready - The Favourite One!
750 GB Samsung HD753LJ Spinpoint, SATA II, 7200 rpm, 32MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ
ASUS DRW-2014S1T 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, DVD + RW x8/-RW x6, x14 DVD-RAM, SATA, Black, OEM
512MB Gigabyte 8600GT Silent, PCI-E, Mem 1600MHz GDDR2, GPU 570MHz, 32 Streams, 2x DL DVI-I/HDTV

Comes to just under £470 plus VAT and carriage

still not sure about the quad route as it's a lot of money to get wrong when I'm building and may go back to a AMD dual set up.

Like most women I am undecided

[LoPan]

The power supply is a bit overkill, you'll get away with something around the 500W mark.

It doesn't really sound like you need a quad core though :O

[2Cold Scorpio]

On multithreaded programs (like Photoshop, as Thorsson said), you'll be glad you have it (I wish I had one now instead of going dual-core!). It would also mean your system could go longer without a mobo/CPU upgrade, especialyl given how Intel's nextm ajor line (due out this fall) looks like it'll use a totally new socket....

[Biscuit]

Whilst the xclio PSUs are actually pretty good from my experience (both my bro and i both use one) you are probably better off putting a bit more cash into a Corsair, enermax, coolermaster something like that. I also wouldnt bother with the case, once those huge side fans break there isnt any real way of replacing them.

EDIT: Get this ram though Great value and top notch ram

[Biscuit]

especialyl given how Intel's nextm ajor line (due out this fall) looks like it'll use a totally new socket....

This is why i got a cheap 4500 and a IP35-E to tide me over till these become affordable

[Thorsson]

Regarding RAM. Any 32 bit OS will only make use of around 3.2Gb, with the maximum usable by any program 2Gb. With the price of DDR2 at the moment I'd still get 4Gb, but you just won't get full use of it.

[Pob255]

Don't bother with that case, the big fan is a gimmick and not actually much good.
The xcilo wind tunnel is supposed to be quite good but a little pricey

Actually I think an Antec Sonata Plus 550 would be a good idea
review here Antec Sonata Plus 550 Case Review | Hardware Secrets
Scan sell them for £100 but that does include the very good NoeHE 550w modular PSU
Which is more than enough for your proposed specs and comes to about the same cost as that xcilo greatpower psu & xcilo propeller case


Also don't get the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
A) Get the Akasa AK965x3 instead, just as good for slightly less
B) Get a better cooler esp as you're going for a quad core.

I'd sugest
The Scythe Mine
Xigmatek HDT-S1283
ZEROtherm Nirvana NV-120
All decent coolers for under £30

PS a reason for two DVDrw?

[AGxM]

Thanks as ever for the tips. Hopefully my insurance will pay out for my recent burgular soon and I'll start buying.

2 x DVDRs - erm not sure actually will make one a dvd

[AGxM]

Also don't get the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
A) Get the Akasa AK965x3 instead, just as good for slightly less
B) Get a better cooler esp as you're going for a quad core.

I'd sugest
The Scythe Mine
Xigmatek HDT-S1283
ZEROtherm Nirvana NV-120
All decent coolers for under £30

PS a reason for two DVDrw?

Pob, I may sound really dumb. but is the Scythe Mine an and or an or for the Akasa?

oops I see now so I'm going for the Scythe.....still looking for a nice case the Antex was a bit ....er plain

[Biscuit]

Maybe put a bit more money into the case and put the hdd size down to just a 500GB?
Coolermaster centurion
Coolermaster dominator
Antec P182
Silverstone LC17s

Or if you want to go the 'Cute' option you could go uATX (i would advise the asus G33 - the G35 has extra GFX features but u wont need them as ur using a graphics card) and a much smaller case:
Siverstone TJ08B
Silverstone sugo

[Behemoth]

For very limited gaming then something like a 3850 would suffice.

If you're getting two ODs, don't get the same model. Change one into a Samsung SH203.

Photoshop will use Quad. Make sure you are using Vista64 (for the memory).

This is going to sounds like a silly question, but if getting 2 optical drives, why is it best not to get 2 of the same ??

[AGxM]

Maybe put a bit more money into the case and put the hdd size down to just a 500GB?
Coolermaster centurion
Coolermaster dominator
Antec P182
Silverstone LC17s

Or if you want to go the 'Cute' option you could go uATX (i would advise the asus G33 - the G35 has extra GFX features but u wont need them as ur using a graphics card) and a much smaller case:
Siverstone TJ08B
Silverstone sugo

Oooo I love the Antec P182 thanks - and good advice on the HD as I have a couple of external drives sitting about so could use those for additional storage.

I like the Silverstone and already have one of their cases as my 'downstairs machine' which you guys help me spec about a year ago (see sig) but this one is for upstairs use so a tower is better.

[Thorsson]

This is going to sounds like a silly question, but if getting 2 optical drives, why is it best not to get 2 of the same ??

Because optical drives have different strengths. For instance I have a Samsung and a Lite-On in this PC. The Lite-On is a better reader, but the Samsung is a better writer.

[Biscuit]

Oooo I love the Antec P182 thanks - and good advice on the HD as I have a couple of external drives sitting about so could use those for additional storage.

I like the Silverstone and already have one of their cases as my 'downstairs machine' which you guys help me spec about a year ago (see sig) but this one is for upstairs use so a tower is better.

The P182 is a lovely case to work with, very well thought out and built.

the Cosmos is taunting me at the moment but it is a bit big and im poor

If you liek the P182 but like the idea of keeping thinngs small check out the mini version.