New 'PUC'

[Clstrphbc_donut]

Okay,

I haven't posted for a while, but I need a new PC it seems... But I'm well out-of-date with the tech at the moment. So I'm hoping you lot could help me out with finalizing a spec for a new PC build!?

I don't play games on it anymore so I wish to keep my current GeForce 6800GT so needs to be PCI-X. However, I do do (do?) music production therefore a "fast as possible" CPU is needed for all the VSTi's I use within Cubase. Also I mainly use it for media, office, and internet (music, video etc) but I do currently have enough storage space so storage is not a problem apart from the fact I need a quick primary drive.

I'm thinking I definitely want to go down the Intel route as their Core2Duo's were awesome chips last time I checked, but have AMD come up with anything since?

I'm looking for:

Motherboard
CPU
Memory
Primary HDD

Budget = best bang for buck. But not looking to spend over £350 unless there is something really eye-catching.....


What are my options?

Thanks in advance.

[staffsMike]

Are you overclocking?

Motherboard: Abit IP-35 dark raider ~£60
CPU: Intel Q6600 + decent HSF (scythe mine/ninja) ~£160
RAM: 4GB PC6400 DDR2 ~£60
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F1 or Western Digital 640GB AAKS (new, very fast, very quiet ,...not that the samsungs aren't though) ~£60

Around £340 and will overclock nicely to 3.2GHz, probably more.

[Saracen]

I think you'll still be looking at Intel. The Duo's are good, but for future proofing you may want to look at core Quads like the Q6600 too. If Cubase supports multi-threading (and I don't know, I've got an old version and haven't used it for a while) that will be the killer argument, but it's worth looking at anyway.

As for motherboard, a good compromise seems to be P35 chipsets, and ABit are highly regarded right now, like the IP35 Pro, or to save a bit, the Dark Raider.

memory can be pretty cheap, and PC6400 800Hz stuff like this will do the job, unless you're planning on pushing the overclocking. 4GB should be around £70.

As for hard drives, Samsung seem to be highly regarded, very quiet and relatively cheap. Which one depends on capacity, but hard drives is one of those things where everyone has favourites .... and dislikes.


Edit - Hah, Mike .... great minds think alike.And you clearly type faster than I do.

[Noxvayl]

Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 - £98.57

4Gb Corsair Dominator PC-8500 - £99.70

Intel Q6600 - £139.77

Seagate Barracuda 320Gb - £41.61

Approximately £400 but the components are well worth it. The 1066Mhz memory will allow for good overclocking on the CPU if needed in the future and the Gigabyte mobo is top class(friend has that exact one and it clocks like a beast)

Edit: Total - £379.66 inc VAT

[Clstrphbc_donut]

I've decided not to overclock now as I've had this 3700 (2.2GHz stock) sat at 2.7GHz for a while and the motherboards crapped out now, so I'll stick with stock unless the PC becomes stupidly slow.

And about the HDD, I'm not sure. I've had 3 x 300GB Maxtors in this PC since I bought it over 3 years ago and they have not skipped a heartbeat, yet the Samsung 80GB SATA II drive I bought less than 2 years ago has already gone to HDD heaven

So, Im more favourable of Maxtor HDD's as they have never ever let me down (and I've owned about 6 of them!).

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far, but at the moment cash is a problem so cheapest bang for buck is the best.

Anymore suggestions however are more than welcome!

[Noxvayl]

I've decided not to overclock now as I've had this 3700 (2.2GHz stock) sat at 2.7GHz for a while and the motherboards crapped out now, so I'll stick with stock unless the PC becomes stupidly slow.

And about the HDD, I'm not sure. I've had 3 x 300GB Maxtors in this PC since I bought it over 3 years ago and they have not skipped a heartbeat, yet the Samsung 80GB SATA II drive I bought less than 2 years ago has already gone to HDD heaven

So, Im more favourable of Maxtor HDD's as they have never ever let me down (and I've owned about 6 of them!).

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far, but at the moment cash is a problem so cheapest bang for buck is the best.

Anymore suggestions however are more than welcome!

Yeah Samsung are the enemy

I don't mind Maxtor I just find Seagate quieter while being just as reliable plus Seagate have excellent service.

To bring you in on budget(£350) you could swap out my original CPU with this one> Intel E8300 - £108.57

That would bring the total to - £348.45 inc VAT