My Dream Custom PC Build: Please Help...

[Pob255]

Unless you're a massive audiophile I'd not both with the soundcard, these days onboard sound is very good and if you're a massive audiophile then you'd want a batter sound card anyway.

Monitor, nice although personally I'd go with a cheaper on and get a display port adaptor
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/23-lg...0cd-m-50000001 or http://www.scan.co.uk/products/23-lg...0cd-m-50000001

I still say the graphics card is massive overkill that you're never going to need or use, unless you start playing games on it.
Sticking with the same brand of card a 6770 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...56&subcat=1982
To just output a desktop and video feed (ie bluray/dvd watching doesn't need much power at all, even with 3 monitors.

It might be worth looking at the corsair H100 all-in-one cooler http://www.scan.co.uk/products/corsa...6-2011-am2-am3

[Pob255]

As you're not gaming then the basic microsoft wireless keyboard&mouse would be fine http://www.scan.co.uk/products/micro...oard-and-mouse

Speakers, again how much of an audiophile are you? I got a cheap 5.1 set (trust) it's fine for me.

On optical drive.
Do your really need both?
Do you really need a bluray write drive?

Pioneer are generally the best DVDr/w drives http://www.scan.co.uk/products/pione...ail-labelflash however they are noisy and the difference is minor, personally I prefer the samsung or LG http://www.scan.co.uk/products/samsu...r-beige-retail
A blurayROM + DVDrw is still a good chunk cheaper than a full BRrw http://www.scan.co.uk/products/samsu...mbo-player-oem

Card readers, much of a muchness.
How about this one http://www.scan.co.uk/products/35-ak...with-bluetooth which includes bluetooth for . . . umm . . . all your 10th century Danish king needs?

Thermal paste, well a highend cooler normally comes with some decent paste, you could get some Arctic Cooling MX3 if you want extra.

Antistatic wristband . . . well with this much money on the line it wouldn't hurt . . . not that I've ever bothered and find them more annoying than helpful.
Just earth yourself first (touch exposed metal on a radiator) and don't shuffle on carpet.

[sano1]

Unless you're a massive audiophile I'd not both with the soundcard, these days onboard sound is very good and if you're a massive audiophile then you'd want a batter sound card anyway.

Monitor, nice although personally I'd go with a cheaper on and get a display port adaptor
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/23-lg...0cd-m-50000001 or http://www.scan.co.uk/products/23-lg...0cd-m-50000001

I still say the graphics card is massive overkill that you're never going to need or use, unless you start playing games on it.
Sticking with the same brand of card a 6770 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...56&subcat=1982
To just output a desktop and video feed (ie bluray/dvd watching doesn't need much power at all, even with 3 monitors.

It might be worth looking at the corsair H100 all-in-one cooler http://www.scan.co.uk/products/corsa...6-2011-am2-am3

Hi Pob255 - I agree with all you have mentioned, some really good components there at big savings, if I was buying this all on a strict budget I'd probably go with all of those parts.

The soundcard is only there to maximise overclocking potential, it won't help a lot but I've looked into it and I'm confident enough to get one ;-)

I've spent a long time researching the monitors and the Asus PA238Q has got near perfect reviews, where they have so far as it's only just been released, the LG one you suggested looks great too but a few small things put me off; mainly the screen being on the shiny/reflective end of matt, speakers in there that aren't required and overall not the best look, personal preference only, - It's me who's gonna have to stare at them ~10 hours a day ;-) lol.

I mentioned a few posts back why I'm sticking with the 6970 GPU, BUT fair play the 6770 does look very good value for money!

The Corsair H100 all-in-one cooler looks real good although on scan.co.uk theres no mention it's water cooled yet every other reference/review it is!! Def not after water cooling at the moment, combination of the the BeQuiet Dark Rock Pro, 5 case fans and the massive size of the case for airflow, also the 6970 Iceq runs awesomely cool all means I have no requirement for water cooling on this build.

I'm not really after cutting any of the costs - solely making sure I've got all the kit I want/need to build this beast

I appreciate you taking the time to look for me, thank you very much

[Pob255]

Yes it is a water cooler however it's one of the all-in-one units it comes complete as a single unit so no messing about with leak testing or such and zero maintenance (well clearing dust out now and again which is no more than you'd have to do with an air cooler.)
The H100 with it's dual rad does beat any air cooler on the market atm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPAhvIPXU54
As I say it's one to consider

[sano1]

It's def one to consider, great overall review, thanks for the link Pob255.

This is my first build and pretty much my first hand inside a PC; However stupid it may sound to the experienced here but 'there just ain't no way in the world I'm putting anything that contains liquid in side my chassis, especially right bang in the middle of it all'! Lol, sure ya get where I'm coming from, even if only from the humorus side of it. Also quietness is very important to me, thus a lot of the components I am going for have great quiet ratings.

The H100 is clearly a top component but even if I was looking for water cooling this would put me quite off and I'd look elswhere...

We love the H100's design, Corsair Link compatibility and performance, but the radiator size poses compatibility issues and we also don't like reaching into our case to turn down the deafening fans.

That quotes from your review link. Thanks for passing your ideas on though, it's all very interesting to me and I'm learning as I go

[Pob255]

Well have a look at his Be Quiet dark Pro & scythe mine2 review (because they both use the same mounting system) That's one are where the cooler is seriously let down.

we also don't like reaching into our case to turn down the deafening fans.

Nore do I that's a key reason I much prefer a PWM fan on a cpu cooler so that the fan is automatically controlled dependant on the cpu temperature.
One thing to remember he's testing that on the older socket1366 i7 950 which gets hotter than the newer socket1155 i7 2600k, which is one of the reasons he uses it.
You should be able to keep it on the low setting and not have to do anything to it.

That said the Zalman GS1200 Professional uses a top 200mm and I don't think it's got screwholes for a 120.2 rad so I think we can rule out the H100

[sano1]

I watched that and a load of other review videos today! Most by the same guy. Very true on the Dark Rock Pro's mounting system but I don't think thats even a minor issue as when it's mounted it's there doing what it's best at, it's not like I'll be mounting it each day... or year ;-)

The Zalman GS1200 is one of my fave components in this whole build, total awesomeness with a nice sprinkle of individualism... and a whole lot more when I mod the side panel

[Pob255]

Must say that it's lacking something to the older GS1000 to my eye.
The GS1000 was a much cleaner design but at the same time there where issues with the air flow.
The change in fan layout has probably improved the air flow but, personally speaking, detracted from the looks.

Still it's a solid case with some very nice features.

And one thing about a cases looks is that it is very personal, so if you do love it then go with it, nothing worse than getting a case you don't really like and having to see it there every day.

[sano1]

Must say that it's lacking something to the older GS1000 to my eye.
The GS1000 was a much cleaner design but at the same time there where issues with the air flow.
The change in fan layout has probably improved the air flow but, personally speaking, detracted from the looks.

Still it's a solid case with some very nice features.

And one thing about a cases looks is that it is very personal, so if you do love it then go with it, nothing worse than getting a case you don't really like and having to see it there every day.

Hi again Pob255,

It definately is a very personal thing with case asthetic opinions I agree on that 100%, and yes your also right about the cooling... Zalman has hit the nail right on the head with the GS1200 in respect to airflow and overall cooling, from what I've read, anyways I'll know first hand this weekend as i've ordered all parts for my rig today with next day delivery

I really do appreciate all the help, guidance and advice that I've recieved here at Hexus Forums, it's been a great experience! Thank's to everyone who's posted on this thread :-)

...I will post the full list of components I've ordered today a bit later tonight, just incase anyone is interested to see how it's evolved, a good few changes have been made since my last post!

[sano1]

I ordered the following yesterday, all in stock and being delivered today...

• Zalman GS1200 Professional Full Tower
  
• be quiet! Dark Power Pro 850W
  
• Asus P8Z68 Deluxe
  
• Intel Core i7 2700K
  
• be quiet! Dark Rock Pro
  
• 16GB (4x4GB) Corsair DDR3 Vengeance LP Cerulean Blue
  
• HIS ATI Radeon HD 6970 IceQ Turbo 2GB
  
• Corsair Force GT 120GB SSD
  
• Corsair Force GT 120GB SSD
  
• Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB
  
• Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB
  
• XFX Triple Display Monitor Stand
  
• ASUS 23" PA238Q
  
• ASUS 23" PA238Q
  
• ASUS 23" PA238Q
  
• TP-Link 300Mbps Wireless N PCI Adapter
  
• Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 BIT
  
• Microsoft Office Home and Business 2010

Need to order a few other bits today, but that's the main bulk of it sorted.

Can't wait for the weekend to start building my first custom PC