A Little Help Please

[Hugh_Mann]

I am Looking to build a new rig around the end of August and would like some peoples opinions on which components i should get. These are the two parts i already have.

Enermax Galaxy 850w
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/pimg/CA-029-EN_400.jpg

Lian Li V2100
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/pimg/CA-033-LL_400.jpg

I also want to get a X38 based motherboard.

[Dippyskoodlez]

How much?

[Hugh_Mann]

Got about £1200 to spend only really want a single graphics card set up, needs to be DX10 compatible and i would like to have 4gb of ram as im going to run vista.

[keakar]

another guy who bought twice the power supply he will ever need and hasn't even figured out what the system will be. don't get me wrong, that is a nice power supply but amps are what matters not watts.

[ex_reven]

Dont get 4 gigs unless your prepared to get 64bit vista.
2 gigs should suffice, you can always get more later anyway...

btw someone looks like they have deep pockets :roll:

[Verikon]

Power supply is definitely overkill, especially on a single video card setup. It's not even in the "nice to have some wiggle room" realm, it's just a bad investment. You'll do fine with a 500-600W PSU, just make sure it has strong rails. Dual 20A rails or more should be fine.

[Wile E]

If you're not gonna do a dual gfx card setup, I suggest a good p35 board instead.

[Verikon]

another guy who bought twice the power supply he will ever need and hasn't even figured out what the system will be. don't get me wrong, that is a nice power supply but amps are what matters not watts.

Uhm, the amps easily match the wattage in this case: five +12V rails all rated at 24A.

[DrunkenMafia]

shit man 1200 quid, you shoule be able to get some nice bits for that...

motherboard = 135
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-236-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=913

CPU= 120 (will be cheaper in a few weeks too)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-128-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=793

Ram = 160
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-086-OC&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=813

Vcard = 260
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-062-OK

HDD - Raptor 150 x 2= 260 ( raid em)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-073-WD

HDD - Storage = 55
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-036-SA&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=940

CPU cooler = 35
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-026-ZA


That is pretty much all the components you need man, and that is a kick ass pc..

It only comes to 970 pounds too. you can change the vcard for a 8800 if you want and you can change cpu for a Quad core too, still keep you around 1000.....

That took about 5 minutes too...... its easy to spend money when its someone elses

[Hugh_Mann]

Thanks for your replies.

another guy who bought twice the power supply he will ever need and hasn't even figured out what the system will be. don't get me wrong, that is a nice power supply but amps are what matters not watts.

I got this psu for a very cheap price this is the main reason i got it also it does not hurt to have a little power in reserve in case i wish to add another gfx card at a later date.

If you're not gonna do a dual gfx card setup, I suggest a good p35 board instead.

I know what you are saying but i may decide to add another gfx but not until i have got a new screen i don't see the need for sli or crossfire on a screen with 1280 x 1024 resolution.

I suppose the main areas i am unsure on is which board to go for (i am a big DFI fan), do i go for the 8800 or the 2900, and should i bother with 4gb as it does not work to its full potential on a 32 bit system i could get some very nice high end ddr 2gb or a nice set of muskin 4gb modules. My understanding is that you are better of with two 4gb modules as apposed to four 2gb modules.

This is the Cpu i think i will go for http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-157-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=793

[Wile E]

If you go for an X38 board, you might as well go for the 2900XT, as the X38 is a Crossfire board, that will leave your future options more open.

As for ram, if you stick with 32bit Windows, get 2GB. If you make the plunge to x64, go for the 4GB. Up to a GB (or more) of the 4GB would be wasted on 32bit.

Also, if it were me, I'd go quad-core on that budget. I think it's the Q6600 that's supposed to go down to the $270US range at the end of July.

[Hugh_Mann]

Thanks for the helpful reply Wile E i will most likely go for the 2900 never had any problems with ati, i really need to decide if im going to go 32 or 64 bit there seems to pro's and con's with both.

Yes i did think about the Q6600 but there is not many games/programs that would fully utilise the four cores, i guess this would be a better idea for future proofing.

[Wile E]

Thanks for the helpful reply Wile E i will most likely go for the 2900 never had any problems with ati, i really need to decide if im going to go 32 or 64 bit there seems to pro's and con's with both.

Yes i did think about the Q6600 but there is not many games/programs that would fully utilise the four cores, i guess this would be a better idea for future proofing.I've only had the occasional missing driver on x64, but since this is a fresh build for you, all you have to do is select components that already have x64 drivers. If you plan ahead, there's nothing wrong with x64. If you really like the idea of 4GB, go x64.

Oh, almost forgot. If you do professional-type content creation, and use the 64bit versions of the software, you have to make sure that 3rd party plug-ins for your programs are 64bit native also.

As for the quad core, yeah, it's a little more future proof, but more and more multi-threaded apps are releasing at a steady pace anyway. SupCom is quad-enabled, Crysis is supposed to be, various content creation apps, etc., etc.

[Hugh_Mann]

Well you sealed the deal "Crysis is supposed to be" that game looks unreal.