New PC - Some Pointers

[Marcvs]

After a bit of consideration I put together this build below;

Logitech Internet 350 Wired Keyboard, USB, Black (967740-0120) £8.45

Logitech RX250 Black Optical Mouse, 3 Button with Scroll £6.52

Samsung SH-S223L/BEBE 22x DVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, £14.08

Noctua NH-D14 Dual Radiator and Fan Quiet CPU Cooler £59.80

Intel Core i7 950 Bloomfield 45nm, 3.06 GHz. W/6gb ddr3 ram £299.61

Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R Rev 2, Intel X58, S1366, £137.46

Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gamer Case with 200m Top Fan £69.31

850W Corsair HX Series CMPSU-850HXUK, Modular PSU, 90% eff', £125.71

Total: £720.94

Already have monitor & HDDs, will reuse old 8800GTS 320, until GTX475 or equivalent comes out this fall. If anyone can see any places to save some $$ would be appreciated along with other feedback. Will the noctua fit in the 900?

Many Thanks

MT

OR Having thoughts of going ultra budget build CPU and just OCing at 1.5V and replacing every 6months or so.. with new socket coming next year.

[Ulti]

You're missing the RAM, I'd recommend these: Patriot Viper II 6GB £100.

You really don't need such a high powered PSU though for the graphics card you're going for, get a modular 650W or something. Even the HX650W will more more than enough.

Also, is there a reason why you're going with that cooler? Are you going to be overclocking a lot?

[Marcvs]

Ah Forgot to include the ram in this list - was 3*2gb corsairs OR i will maybe buy some off here

Also edited for other idea;

Yes lots of OC'ing - aiming 4-2-4.5

[Attila the Bun]

Why is the i7 950 on at £299.61?

SCAN is doing it at £234
Aria at £217

[Marcvs]

As I said above it includes 6 gb DDR 3 corsair in it

[Ulti]

Ah Forgot to include the ram in this list - was 3*2gb corsairs OR i will maybe buy some off here

Also edited for other idea;

Yes lots of OC'ing - aiming 4-2-4.5

Well then you're set to go, as I said before personally I'd get a lower spec PSU but it's up to you.

[Pob255]

Looks good generally . . . what are you planing to use it for? cpu could more than likely be overkill

Also far more psu than you need unless you're planning sli

the HX520w will still be fine and nearly half the price.

Or a little cheaper but very solid & clean power Seasonic X 650w
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/650w-...2v-80plus-gold
Expensive but one of the best PSU's around (and what the corsair AX series is based off, apart fromt the AX1200w)

EDITersonally I'm not a big fan of the 900
I'd have a look at the new HAF 912 Plus, you'll also want to get a coolermaster 200mm fan for the top
Or the LanCool k62 if you want a toolless case (Lancool is a subsidiary of Lian-Li, Lian-Li designs but in steel rather than aluminium so cheaper) the K62 has THE best and most comprehensive toolless design of any case.

[Attila the Bun]

As I said above it includes 6 gb DDR 3 corsair in it

Doh...so it does...it was late and I was tired.

[Domestic_Ginger]

I would go the budget route. With a nice case and PSU and then an i3 or Athlon x3 and cooler. Unless you know you all that CPU power I tend to err on the side of good enough.

Probably a 460 too. To save a little cash a 768mb version as well and just OC it. I generally have to wait until my computer just refuses to play a game until I upgrade; usually a TW. Every 6 months appears a bit often. I'm wondering whether you 8800gts 320 is going to hold you back.

The cooler looks expensive; I'm wondering if there are cheaper options out there. Perhaps a Titan Fenrir (only thing that spring to mind); not sure how it performs head to head against the Noctua. I am sur ethere is not lot in it. PSU is maybe too large.

[Marcvs]

I do do video encoding (for fun) & also crunch protein folding and DNA Blast for Uni work. - What do you guys think of 750W modular corsair - would it be running at full load with a gtx 470/480 and that system?

[Domestic_Ginger]

Intel Core i7 965 Extreme Edition (3.20GHz, 8MB L3 cache, quad-core, LGA1366 - Turbo Boost on)
I assume this is at the wall with furmark.

What is it with protein folders these days? Monte carlo simulations in my day were about all we could manage.

[Marcvs]

Because its quicker to DIY it than do it on the uni mainframe where all staff get priority regardless of submit time.

[Pob255]

Ahh, if you have a very specific bit of software to run then the first thing you need to do is find out what you need to run it/what runs it best.

No point in going for a high end i7 if the software uses little in the way of cpu cycles, or vis-versa
like wise no point in going for a high end nvidia gpu if it runs better on an Ati card or vis-versa or getting a high end gpu when if it doesn't use it.

You need to find out what key hardware you need and build the best system you can around it.

[Marcvs]

Its multicored as is CS5, as for GPU thats for if/when I want to play the odd game, mostly RTS/and FPS.

Also what do you guys think of the 902 - Looks a bit bigger so Should be easier to get the noctua in or will the HAF have better cooling?

[Behemoth]

Go for the HAF if you can, better cable management options than the 900/902. Have a look at Kalniels build pics, should give you a better idea what its like to work with.

[Pob255]

You'll probably find it can use gpu acceleration just like CS5 can, CS5 works better with nvidia I believe although ati can also run on it now.

I don't think the 902 was any bigger just a lot of minor tweeks and fixes, you want to look at the 1200 for the next jump is size (but that is vertical height, not length or width)

Kalniel is using the 912 which is the smallest of the HAF series, the HAF 932 is giant and the 922 in between (and closest in size to the 900)
All of the HAF have extra width going for them which leaves more height clearance or cpu coolers and space behind the motherboard tray for wire management.