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Thread: C2D Build: About to order my first ever build, advice please

  1. #1
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    C2D Build: About to order my first ever build, advice please

    All,

    I would really appreciate your input on my final spec for my first build.

    Intended Usage:
    - 80% Heavy multitasking - Mail, browsing, downloading movies, playng music with Mediaplayer, decoding movies, online poker
    - 20% Games - Warcraft, Flight sims, RTS

    Other Info
    - I will be using my existing Dell 20 inch LCD, running 1600x1200
    - I will experiment with moderate overclocking, but this is my main system so I want a stable box that will run for 2-3 years
    - I don't want the extra complexity of RAID
    - I am not interested in SLI. I will buy the top of the line DX10 graphics card next year, the current choice is only a stop gap.
    - Based on what I have heard above the minimal cpu impact I am going for on board sound rather than a separate card
    - In future I see myself upgrading to quad core
    - I will run XP 32 as my main OS, with Vista on its own partition until I am happy to move to Vista (late next year?). Will also have another OS partition on the main Harddrive for messing around with Linux

    Questions
    - What are your general thoughts?
    - How does my memory choice look?
    - Does my PSU look ok for the future? I would like a modular unit. I won't go SLI, but do see myself having Quad core and a beefy DX10 GPU, as well as 3+ SATA devices.
    - Is there an ATI alternative to my graphics card choice, as I hear ATI is the way to go right now? Also I want to avoid reinstalling my OS if I move to an ATI DX10 card (I have hear that you should reinstall the OS if you are changing between ATI & Nvidia drivers)
    - What's the view on my case? I want something with good cooling, quiet, space to move around in and good looking. Suggestions?

    Spec
    These parts are available in online & local stores (i live in Holland).

    Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
    Motherboard - P5W DH Deluxe (Intel 975X) (I changed this from a Gigabyte DQ6 after hearing about a lot of memory problems)
    Cooler - Zalman CNPS 9500AT
    Memory - 2GB - OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Platinum Revision 2 CL 4-4-4-15
    OR
    2GB Corsair XMS2 TWIN2X 6400 DDR2, 2048MB CL5
    Video - XFX GeForce 7600GT 256MB (will upgrade to DX 10 card(s) next year)
    Hard Drive #1 - Western Digital Raptor WD1500AD) - (Windows XP, Vista, Linux, Games partitions)
    Hard Drive #2 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 - (another of these to be added later for backup)
    Case - GigaByte 3D Aurora (I have been bouncing between a Coolermaster Mystique 631, a Coolermaster Praetorian and a Collermaster WaveMaster, now I have this choice)
    PSU - OCZ Modstream 520W or Antec NEO 500W
    Floppy/cardreader - Mitsumi 7in1 FDD+Cardreader
    Optical - NEC AD-7173A DVD burner

  2. #2
    MD
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    • MD's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P8Z77-M PRO
      • CPU:
      • i5 - i3570k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB Corsair Vengeance
      • Storage:
      • 2 x 256GB SSD's (Samsung and Crucial)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • NVidia 640
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 600W
      • Case:
      • Silverstone TJ08e MATX
      • Operating System:
      • Win 8
      • Monitor(s):
      • 24" Dell Flat Panel
      • Internet:
      • 60mb Virgin Media
    Generally pretty good.

    Memory - if you are not overclocking and you have some budget concerns you won't see that much benefit in that RAM over the standard crucial stuff for example - it will be just as solid and tbh the performance boost is negligible, especially considering your usage pattern, ove the two though I would go for the Corsair.

    PSU looks fine

    ATI graphics are similar at this sort of stop gap - get the cheapest you can get away with for the time being before you go DX10.

    Case is ok - I have yet to get a PROPER look at one, but of the chassis I have at the moment in for review I would highly recommend the Akasa Eclipse or Mirage - still a very good chassis.

    Matt.
    Please do not message me about Scan Free shipping, I no longer work for HEXUS.net

  3. #3
    lazy student nvening's Avatar
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    The case you ar looking at has poor cooling for the hard drives as they are mounted at a right angle to the front intake and so airflow is restricted.

    This may be a consideration as you are going to have 3 HDDs including a raptor.
    (\__/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

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    Thanks for the feedabck on that case. May in that case go for an Antec P180 as I am reading that this seems to be a good choice for cool & quiet running?

  5. #5
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    • Mama Sumae's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5B - deluxe
      • CPU:
      • Core2 duo 6300 O'c @ 3.1 Mhz / Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 2GB XMS2 6400 C4 @ 890Mhz
      • Storage:
      • WD 320 GB /sata
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti oc - 1GB GDDR5
      • PSU:
      • Enermax NoisetakerII 485W
      • Case:
      • AKASA ZEN Black 2x12cm fans
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7 Ulti
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2222HDL 21.5 inch
      • Internet:
      • Virginmedia 50MB (or so they told me...)
    I am building a very similar pc but i am using a cheaper case. Antec P180 is a great case but be sure to check if the psu cables are long,

    If they are too short it might end up looking like this

  6. #6
    MD
    MD is offline
    Ex-HEXUS.net Staff MD's Avatar
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    • MD's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P8Z77-M PRO
      • CPU:
      • i5 - i3570k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB Corsair Vengeance
      • Storage:
      • 2 x 256GB SSD's (Samsung and Crucial)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • NVidia 640
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 600W
      • Case:
      • Silverstone TJ08e MATX
      • Operating System:
      • Win 8
      • Monitor(s):
      • 24" Dell Flat Panel
      • Internet:
      • 60mb Virgin Media
    Please do not message me about Scan Free shipping, I no longer work for HEXUS.net

  7. #7
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    mmm, maybe a Thermaltake Kandalf then...

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