First build advice please

[jam163]

Hi guys been a lurker on the forums for a couple of weeks now and can i just say probably the most friendly and helpful community out there. Dont think i have seen so many posts without someone flaming lol.

Anyways on to business, i am a student and am going to be attemting my first build over the next few months.

Requirements : Mainly for media, but will be used for some games, nothing like crysis though it would be nice to have a comp that plays it i am more into strategy, and puzzle games e.g monkey island dungeon keeper ect (waiting for diablo 3 though). obviously internet browsing.

The build:
I would like a future to proof pc so i am thinking quad core Q6600 sounds good. Also looking to dabble in overclocking but nothing major prob to about 3-3.2ghz.

Scythe ninja for cooling?

4 gig of corsair Xms2

graphics card Radeon 4850 or 4870 i am thinking.

PSU corsair 520hx

Need help with the rest.
Mobo no idea really
Case i would like something flamboyant, subtle doesnt really matter as i would like my first build to stand out but at the same time not be overly loud and obviously have good cooling (too much to ask).
Anything else im missing? Anyway open to complete reconstruction and you have about £600-650 to spend of my hard earned loan LOL. sorry for long winded post ut thought i would get it all out there.

[Infinite]

Something like this... leaves you with a few extra to get led fans, cold cathodes, and cable ties (never forget the cable ties). Case= quickest thing i could think of that matches your description. Could spend a bit more to get some better memory.

lol. I have free delivery btw.

Windows?

And yes, you will be able to play crysis.

[Vimeous]

Welcome to Hexus and you first build!

Initial suggestions sound good although I'd suggest one of the faster 45nm dual-cores rather than the Q6600.
I'd only recommend quads if you are running virtual machines, folding @ home OR specific media apps.

If your media apps support quads however (most still don't) a q6600 is the right choice.

For stand out cases on a student budget I was going to suggest a Coolermaster CM690 Nvidia.
But you specced an Ati 4k series card so I guess that's a no!

Back to your apps - what are they?
If your editing photos a single fast hard drive with a spare for backup will be fine. However if you're taking video, especially HD, then alot of your budget will be focussed on storage.

Also do you have a monitor and if not is your budget going to include it?
For visual media the quality, more precisely colour balance, will be critical to ensure your digital output appears in RL as you planned it!


EDIT:
In fact to save a little cash if you've not got the monitor in budget I'd drop the gfx to an 8800GT 512Mb as they are sub £100 now and still likely to be overkill for you media needs.

[jam163]

Nice yes i will be using windows but ill have a word with my uni about windows should be able to rustle up something cheap/free lol.

What would you suggest as to better memory? i assume you mean ram?

Thanks for your quick response. Also as i side question how is scans finance option? anyone used it? is it actually interest free for six months because spreading the cost for me over six months would be easier.

[jam163]

Hard drive space wont really be an issue with 640 gb as once i have used stuff i tend to store on external hds. i am open to suggestions for gfx card and monitor wise i do have one but will be upgrading in the near future. i have a 32" philips hd lcd how hard, practical would it be to connect and use that for media purposes?

Thanks for all the help!

[wzix]

Thats pritty much what Ive got, and its fine for game etc.

I would recommend the CM690 as its what Ive got

[Zhaoman]

Does your lcd have a DVI socket? My Philips does so connecting was no hassle at all.

[kmac]

If you philips has a dvi or hdmi input then you can use that with a DVI or DVI to HDMI cable to easily connect your computer.

[richieuk]

Dude, I have a picture of an £850 build that'd sort you out...

I've been pricing one up for a LONNNNNGGGGG time.

I'll edit with update



Ignore prices, things are cheaper form Offers and such and that price was like Friday

Thats overclockable to over 3.2Gig, is quad core for your student needs (which is exactly why I am building mine the same), HDMI support for monitor (also allows DVI-D) and will be a beast gamer. I'm making a video of build when I get it with tips for other first time builders.

[jam163]

how will the output on the screen be? unaffected by the size of the screen?

[staffsMike]

I'd go with the original build you proposed and then finshed off by infinte.. sounds a lot like one of my suggestions anyway

[jam163]

Dude, I have a picture of an £850 build that'd sort you out...

I've been pricing one up for a LONNNNNGGGGG time.

I'll edit with update


Ignore prices, things are cheaper form Offers and such and that price was like Friday

Thats overclockable to over 3.2Gig, is quad core for your student needs (which is exactly why I am building mine the same), HDMI support for monitor (also allows DVI-D) and will be a beast gamer. I'm making a video of build when I get it with tips for other first time builders.

Nice build, looks just like i wanted and without the monitor keyboard and vista it would be around my budget. Will be waiting on your video/thoughts of your new setup

[Vimeous]

how will the output on the screen be? unaffected by the size of the screen?

The gfx card should support the native resolution of the TV so clean, accurate display should be fine.

The colour balance will depend on how well your responds to the THX config setup found on some DVD's (e.g. Cars)

[jam163]

Just wondering what you guys think of these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gaming-Quad-Co...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Desktop-Gaming...QQcmdZViewItem

they look ok though not sure about them mobo's? This is what i was thinking about if i backed out of building my own.

Also how do you thank people, do you have to have certain amount of posts

[kmac]

There is a "thank user" button next to "quote" "quick reply" etc

I think you need a certain number of posts, but not sure how many.

[staffsMike]

20 or 25 posts I think.