£500 Build Idea's

[Maccer101]

Both look like nice builds. What sort of power consumption are you going to get from the AMD build with that Phenom processor at normal usage levels? will it balance out with the Intel being as you won't be using a 9500gt?

The P180 looks nice, my personal concern is that I could never switch to ATX in the Future.

[staffsMike]

Well, although I know you are right of course, there are two issues (maybe three ).

1) silence.. Hence the ninja which I know to be a great cooler with a fantastic fan.

2) Percieved quality which rules out almost all the boards you mentioned.

3) Cabling Some of the boards you talk about have the mobo power socket right where i don't like or want it.

The phenom is 125W which is nice, much like the i7's now I think.

So power should be reasonably similar to intel system although a bit higher I suppose, not too much of an issue I don't think.

I may change my mind before I order, we will see (i'm waiting for today only just in case)

EDIT: Changed my mind a few times but ended up back at the start having picked up a blu ray drive on the way,

Antec P180 Mini
Enermax 425W Modu82+
Phenom 9950 125W + Scythe Ninja II
4GB Crucial Ballistix
Asus M3A78-CM
640GB WD AAKS
LG Blu Ray
HDMI Cable and angled SATA Cables

Still comfortably under £500 which is nice.

[staffsMike]

Seems Ebuyer's free delivery is more efficient than I had given them credit for. It's coming the same day (most likely on the same van) as scan's order

I might build it up tomorrow if I have time.

[moogle]

Seems Ebuyer's free delivery is more efficient than I had given them credit for.

Told ya!

Top guys they are

[staffsMike]

It's all here.. stupid enermax PSU has the shortest cables in the world! So annoying

[moogle]

It's all here.. stupid enermax PSU has the shortest cables in the world! So annoying

Putting mee off Enermaxx..

Which cable is short? The mobo one? The EPS12V one or all of them?

[staffsMike]

They are all shorter than I would like but i've the 12V one. I've just been to maplins to get an extender though so it should be ok now.

I don't think it would have a hope in hell of reaching in your 1200.

[AGxM]

mmm interesting - I'm toying with the idea of a 6000x2 build so would love to know how the Phenom fairs - mind you I'm planning to buy bit by bit each month with the CPU last so hopefully the prices of the AMD quads and even the mkII's might be reasonable enough.

[staffsMike]

Well it's all together, booted first time.. of course. Installing vista now.

I'll take pictures later for those that are interested

[moogle]

Well it's all together, booted first time.. of course. Installing vista now.

I'll take pictures later for those that are interested

Nice. Pics would be nice as we'd all like to see those invisible wires

[staffsMike]

It tore through the vista install in about 14 minutes which is nice.

Running about 32 degree's idle with all the fans running their lowest (in fact the rear fan keeps stalling.. doh!)



Not a great pic but it's my dodgy camera lol

It's finished for now but I'll probably do more.

You can see the 24pin cable because again.. it's too short to get to the correct hole. Enermax you..

Bit of ye olde cabling

[staffsMike]

Got bored and cabled a bit more

Final thoughts for tonight,

The phenom is very nippy so far, running pretty cool too. Settling in around around 32/33 degree's with the ninja

The PC itself is the quiestest thing I've ever built, even better than my P182 build.

It's on the desk about 30cm away playing a dvd and I can't hear a thing (with the speakers off lol). So the LG HD/Blu Ray player is awesome too.

Wouldn't change a thing.. other than the PSU. Get corsair/seasonic!!

[moogle]

Wouldn't change a thing.. other than the PSU. Get corsair/seasonic!!

DSR FTOh.. not faulty eh

Well thanks for sacrificing so many of your english pounds to find that out for me/us

Nice to see little amount of cables, although that big ass Ninja must be hiding some too

[staffsMike]

I don't think it is really.. just its own fan cable

Even on AM2 this ninja II is a PITA to fit. The old rev B was fine on AM2 which is a shame. That said the fan is awesome and it is cooling very nicely.

I think as long as you're willing to take a leap of faith on AMD you won't be dissapointed. Chances are intel are faster at most things but AMD is cheaper in chip and decent cheap motherboard options The motherboard is a peach.

[MSIC]

Nice pics, looks like a great cable job there Mike too. Credit to ya.

[Maccer101]

Mike, would you take this case over the Silverstone TJ-08? looks and functionality/noise wise? as they are about the same price. Also does that PSU have plenty of space to breath as it looks like the case doesn't have venting for a 120mm fan PSU