New Build - Silent but deadly !!

[Pazza]

Thanks to all for the input so far. Here is where I am currently:-

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, Retail £116.20
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3, iP45 Express, S775, PCI-E 2.0x16, DDR2 1066/1200/800, SATA II, ATX £76.95
512MB Gigabyte HD4870, PCI-E 2.0(x16), 3600MHz GDDR5, GPU 750MHz, 800 Cores, 2x DL DVI-I/ HDTV, HDCP £173.00
Arctic Cooling Accelero AC-S1 rev 2 Radical high performance passive cooler x4 heatpipes (7950/1950) £15.03
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18, DHX £63.97
Scythe Ninja II Heatpipe Cooler, with 120mm fan + Zalman FANMATE 2 Variable Fan Speed Controller £40.00
520W Corsair HX Series Modular PSU, ATX, EPS12V, whisper quiet £69.31

Total of £554.46 (works out less than the original spec)

I already have the Antec P180 case & 24" Dell monitor.

The only thing here I am unsure of is will the GPU cooler fit the HD4870 as it looks pretty sealed up on the picture. And, will it be sufficient to cool it?

Edit> I also consider to upgrade to the 300 GB Western Digital VelociRaptor as a main system drive. I also hate waiting for HD's and I know it's expensive but someone with my patience would understand it's worth the investment

[staffsMike]

It does fit AFAIK, you need need to take the standard dual slot cooler off and fit the accelero where the old one used to be.

This does most likely void the warranty btw.. Sometimes you can refit the old cooler without them knowing though lol

[timlee79]

i would not waste money on the velociraptor just wait until ssd comes down in price. http://www.custompc.co.uk/news/60450...eed-issue.html This was an interesting article on ssd improvements .

[Pazza]

i would not waste money on the velociraptor just wait until ssd comes down in price. http://www.custompc.co.uk/news/60450...eed-issue.html This was an interesting article on ssd improvements .

so true.. I may have got a bit carried on that side

Do we think now the above system is ok and well balanced? (after just reading about AMD's new x2 HD4870)!

[ta2]

Btw for £2 more you can get 4-4-4-12 rated RAM instead of 5-5-5-18.

[Pazza]

Btw for £2 more you can get 4-4-4-12 rated RAM instead of 5-5-5-18.

I assume this means it's quicker - do you have a link?

[ta2]

I assume this means it's quicker - do you have a link?

http://scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=766626

Ya it's quicker, probably around 2-3% which is good stuff for only £2.

[Pazza]

Any feedback on the motherboard:

Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3, iP45 Express, S775, PCI-E 2.0x16, DDR2 1066/1200/800, SATA II, ATX £76.95

Is this a good mobo?

[staffsMike]

I havn't gone as far as to say a Gigabyte board is good in a long time so I would probably stick with ASUS at the moment for P45
http://scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=818514

Don't let me put you off Gigabyte though, I'm sure their boards are decent enough these days

[benwoodcock]

Personally I would go for the ASUS, but they're both good.

[ta2]

I havn't gone as far as to say a Gigabyte board is good in a long time so I would probably stick with ASUS at the moment for P45
http://scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=818514

Don't let me put you off Gigabyte though, I'm sure their boards are decent enough these days

I have the ASUS P5Q Pro, it's awesome. ICH10 (6 ports) and a transparent RAID0/1 chip (2 ports). Running a E7200 @ 333 FSB with 1.05V (rated voltage is 1.125V?) completely stable.

[chuckskull]

You seem to be on the right course in general, but as a raptor owner I have to warn that you can kiss your silence goodbye if you install one.

[AdvWar]

Velociraptors are supposed to be much quieter than the original Raptors, so I don't think that would be a problem.

[Olmy]

The most important part of a quiet pc is quiet components... that case is absolutely fine. Maybe you want to consider just buying a normal 4850 and install an Accellero S1 on it. With a nearby fan blowing on it (like a fan attached to the upper chamber's harddrive enclosure on the P180) it should be adequately cooled, as I've seen reviews which show it performs when when passively cooled.

As for the scythe ninja version 2, you can't use a bolt through kit and its heavy... I wouldn't trust it to stay attached with push pins while being moved.

[staffsMike]

All of my ninja's have been thrown around inside their case, in cars and what not. They fit fine. In all honesty if it falls off you havn't fitted it correctly.

[Olmy]

Fair enough, but I don't like the way the pushpin system bent my motherboard visibly during installation .