First build purchase imminent!

[lego batman]

case = antec 300
GPU = Powercolor HD 4870 512mb
MB = Gigabyte P31 ES3G
CPU = E5200
PSU = Corsair 450W VX
RAM = 4GB Corsair (2x2GB) TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800)
HDD = 640GB Samsung Spinpoint F1 7200rpm 16mb cache
Monitor = Philips 20" LCD monitor with DVI
CPU cooler = Akasa 965
Keyboard = Logitech £6 jobbie
fans = 2x Zalman ones
Optical drive = some samsung

Now just have to wait then put everything together...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Tell us how everything goes!!

[lego batman]

Sorry to bring up this old thread guys, but all the stuff is here and I have hit a problem...
Do I need 2 6-pin PCIe power leads from the Corsair 450W VX to the 4870 for it to run? The PSU only has one...
Doing further research, it turns out that ATI don't recommend that PSU for the 4870. Is this because of its power output or because of its lack of connectors?
Thanks in advance

[staffsMike]

Yeah I probably wouldn't have recommended that PSU based on the fact you need 2x PCIe x16 but in terms of output it's more than enough.

Did the card not come with molex to PCIe adapters? They'll be cheap enough to buy but obviously it's better if they are free

[strike-down]

the gfx card should come with one of these aswell:


EDIT: Beaten by staffsmike

[lego batman]

Ahh it seems I've been a victim of Powercolor's cost-cuttings.
Bah - seems PCWorld don't have them so it's a 2 or 3 day wait I guess for such a small thing. At least the rest all *seems* to be hooked up. I won't lie, it's taken me all day!
Thanks again for the invaluable help.

Sorry, can't quite see...is this the right one: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Hiper...EE-TRAVEL-CASE) ?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

How long did it take to get your monitor from Cdiscount and what courier did they use??

Is the picture quality good and does it use a separate power block??

[TAKTAK]

Ahh it seems I've been a victim of Powercolor's cost-cuttings.
Bah - seems PCWorld don't have them so it's a 2 or 3 day wait I guess for such a small thing. At least the rest all *seems* to be hooked up. I won't lie, it's taken me all day!
Thanks again for the invaluable help.

Sorry, can't quite see...is this the right one: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Hiper...E-TRAVEL-CASE) ?

Yep that'll do the job

bit expensive though :/

[TAKTAK]

cheaper: http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductID=154684

although there is delivery on top of that unless you get the order up to £20 ex VAT and apply for SCAN2HEXUS free shipping (you're eligible now)

[staffsMike]

If you have a maplins near by..
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=46857

[lego batman]

Thanks TAKTAK - yours looks cheaper and less shonky!
CAT-THE-FIFTH - The monitor looks great (sorry but my lappy is my only reference, but it looks a lot better than the lappy). It only comes with a VGA cable though so I bought a cheap DVI cable from dabs and will see what difference that makes when it comes.
I ordered the monitor last Thursday with free delivery and it came on Monday, I think it was citilink. The power is just a cord, no block, and the cord is about 1-1.5m long. I haven't done anything with it with the new system yet, but will post again when I get it up and running and I will say how will it plays games!
Hope that helps

[Pob255]

Power bricks with monitors are getting less common now, the power inverter (converting the ac into dc) is built into the back of the monitor.
Coming with a D-sub cable and no dvi cable is also common esp with cheaper units (again cost cutting)

Some pics of the monitor would be very nice
You could always plug it into the laptop, take some pics of the two screens side by side, it'll give us a base comparasion.

I'd also check fot dead/stuck pixels
I use this http://www.dataproductservices.com/dpt handy little tool.
Plug the monitor into the laptop, set the laptop to monitor output only (FN+F5 normally)
set it to the correct resolution of 1680 X 1050, then run dpt with auto cycle on.
look over the whole screen very carefully, you should be able to spot any dead pixels if you have any.

[lego batman]

Won't have a camera until Friday at the earliest unfortunately, but I found this review: http://www.custompc.co.uk/reviews/12...ps-200ws8.html . The one from cDiscount is black though, but is identical otherwise.

Pob255 - thanks for the link. There are a couple of dead pixels I think (or maybe it's dirt) but I don't notice anything from usual working distance away. I had to get my face close enough so my eyes hurt Although I suppose once you know where they are, they sort of attract attention!

[lego batman]

All up and running now!! Thanks everyone!
Overclock to 3.4ghz has been done but I'm not sure orthos likes it. Overclocking time now!
The DVI cable did make a difference, I much prefer it. Definitely recommended if you are using this screen.

[Hawker1986]

I just did the same OC with that mobo CPU and RAM, set the FSB to 300, the RAM divider to 3.00 so ram is at 900mhz then set the Vcore to 1.4v and the DRAM voltage to 2.0 and it should work fine (touch wood) at 3.75Ghz no problem.

Hope that helps

Hawker

[Pob255]

Pictures, or it never happened