NEw PC - Final Build

[andrew_ww]

Hello,

I've finally decided upon new the specs of new PC. Can any experts see any think wrong with this. The one hard choice I've made is to drop the ASUS 780i board in favor for the XFX board. This is due to numerous reviews stating the ASUS board is quite unstable. Plus the fact I don't think cooler would fit on to the ASUS board.

CPU - Intel CPU Core 2 Quad Q9550 Quad Core 2.83GHz 1333FSB LGA775 12MB cache
RAM - Corsair TwinX DDR2 PC2-8500 (1066) 2 x 2gig (Out of stock everywhere)
Motherboard - XFX nForce 780i SLI (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard (MB-N780-ISH9)
Case - Coolermaster RC-1000 *New V2* Cosmos
CPU Cooler - NorthQ Siberian Tiger Liquid Cooling
DVD1 - Samsung SH-S203P
DVD2 - ASUS 2014L1T
PSU - 850W Coolermaster Real Power M850 Modular PSU
Graphics - 1GB Asus 9800 GX2
HDD - 750 GB Samsung HD753LJ Spinpoint F1
Operating System - Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1* 64Bit
Mouse - Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
Keyboard - Logitech G15
Monitor - Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP Widescreen Flat Panel

Many Thanks,

Andy.

[Blitzen]

I would DEFINITELY give that Coolermaster PSU a big swerve.

Look at this: Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
I have been hearing VERY good things about this PSU (I have given one the once over and my best buddy has been running one for a few weeks now). The cable connections are also the best i have EVER seen.

The 850W Coolermaster you chose, besides being average, is WAY overpriced for its capability.

[D.M]

Dont get the Tagan! I had to return 3 faulty units to Scan, got a refund and now have the same CoolerMaster Real Power M850 PSU and its a lot better quality build & package.

The CM 850w is not average, its a much better PSU, I am more than happy that I have bought this now.

The only thing I agree with Blitzen on is that the Tagan did have really nice modular cables but thats it. Dont get the Tagan

[edit] The CM has great amps per rail (4x18a & 2 x 28a). Of the reviews I have read its been rated as a 1000w PSU but sold as 850w due to the 80PLUS efficiency certificate. And it has large heatsinks internally to keep the heat/noise levels down.

Of the reviews I found after buying the Tagan, they stated that Tagan are using capacitors in the new BZ series PSUs from an unknown & untraceable chinese company which doesnt bode well for a so called high end PSU!

[Hicks12]

its really just down to luck on what you get. I have had extremely bad experiences with belkin with the wired connection failing every 5mins even after 4 different units, other people dont have this problem, i went with netgear(again they are great ).

Im not really sure you should get the 780i chipset, it might just be me but you will hardly need tri sli unless your using 3 9800GTX or ultra's, not worth it either.

Im told that the liquid cooling is mediocre compared to £30 air cooling, id say look for a better kit and just watercool the whole system .

How expensive if the asus 9800X2? id recommend getting an evga or bfg as their warranty is 10years(not sure on evga as there website says 1 year outside us, confirm please someone).

[andrew_ww]

What chipset would you go for ?

I'm just getting the one gx2 now but would to like to keep the option to add another in the future so would need an SLI comptable motherboard.

In fact the only thing I can find thats different between the 780 and 680 is support for tri SLI and also the addition of a Nvidia n200 chip.

Most of the reviews I've found also don't rate the 680i board either.

Should I drop Nvidia and go for a Intel board ?

[jeffel]

Hi,I think the Q9450 will be the much more value for money than Q9550.

[Blitzen]

Dont get the Tagan! I had to return 3 faulty units to Scan, got a refund and now have the same CoolerMaster Real Power M850 PSU and its a lot better quality build & package.

The CM 850w is not average, its a much better PSU, I am more than happy that I have bought this now.

The only thing I agree with Blitzen on is that the Tagan did have really nice modular cables but thats it. Dont get the Tagan

[edit] The CM has great amps per rail (4x18a & 2 x 28a). Of the reviews I have read its been rated as a 1000w PSU but sold as 850w due to the 80PLUS efficiency certificate. And it has large heatsinks internally to keep the heat/noise levels down.

Of the reviews I found after buying the Tagan, they stated that Tagan are using capacitors in the new BZ series PSUs from an unknown & untraceable chinese company which doesnt bode well for a so called high end PSU!

Thats one bad experience...(and rightly so it put you off).

If you think for one second though that the Coolermaster units are quality builds then i hate to burst the bubble but they arent.

[Dr Cool]

Corsair and Seasonic all the way

[Blitzen]

Corsair and Seasonic all the way

Bit of a narrow view. There is nothing to say they are any better than other top brands. Its just 'following the crowd'.
Both decent enough though.
Add PC Power & Cooling, Enermax, OCZ to the mix.

[Timo]

Hi,I think the Q9450 will be the much more value for money than Q9550.

+1.

Over £120 difference for only 0.17GHz gain (per core). IMHO, not worth it.

Q9550 (4 x 2.83GHz) = 11.32GHz
Q9450 (4 x 2.66GHz) = 10.64GHz

Therefore a Q9450 gives you 94% of the performance of an Q9550, at only 66.5% of the price (if Q9450 was priced at £240, and Q9550 at £361). And you could still overclock it.

The only tiny benefit I could see would be that the Q9550 has an 8.5x multiplier, whereas the Q9450 uses 8.0x. This would give you a slightly higher amount of headroom if you chose to overclock it. But worth £120 extra? nah. Not unless you're going for really extreme settings.

IMHO only.

Best regards,
Timo

[Jonathong]

Hello andrew,

If you are wanting to add another GX2 in the future, I think you'll need a bigger PSU, they are pretty power hungry as it is. I haven't read a bad review on the Corsair PSU's, yet. Also if you were wanting to ass a PCI card, somewhere.

I'm jealouse of you're future pc

[D.M]

Thats one bad experience...(and rightly so it put you off).

If you think for one second though that the Coolermaster units are quality builds then i hate to burst the bubble but they arent.

Yeah, I was willing to give the Tagan a go and the PSU looked quality but after my experience with them and with reviews highly questioning their component choices I have to question their overall build quailty.

I'm not sure about the lower end CM PSUs but with the 850w & 1K's they got great reviews and also now owning one, I can safely say, so far its a superior build to the Tagan. The warranty on the CM is also 5yrs not 3 like the Tagan.

Just my 2p's worth

[Blitzen]

If it works for you and you are happy with it then thats all that matter.

[Az00123]

I don't think the q9550 is really worth it, also you don't need pc2-8500 ram as you won't be able to use that at 1:1 with a 45nm quad (most hit walls around 450fsb) so you're better off going pc2-8000 for safety or getting a quality set of pc2-6400 which you can oc like g.skill or corsair

Also, a tx750 would be a good psu for you, if you want modular have a look at any good modular psu from seasonic, pc and power cooling or enermax (as long as they have enough connectors, i'm not sure if the galaxy has 4x6+2pin pcie), just check here for info on psus

Also like others have said i think you should go with a better gfx card manufacturer like xfx/bfg/evga

[Fraz]

I don't think the q9550 is really worth it, also you don't need pc2-8500 ram as you won't be able to use that at 1:1 with a 45nm quad (most hit walls around 450fsb)

So what? You could run at 1:1.25.

[andrew_ww]

Would this be a good choice of RAM for the motherboard and CPU:

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

I take your point about the CPU. However I've already ordered the Q9550 as I only saw it in stock at one place so got in quick. Since reading through these reviews I've looked at getting the Q9450. However that one is out of stock everywhere even Scan are quoting July as a expected delivery date.

With the cooling that I've selected what could I expect to overclock the Q9550 CPU to? (with the 4GB (2x2GB) CorsairXMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800MHz), Unbuffered, , DHX Technology 4-4-4-12)

Thanks.