UK First Homebuilt System - Advice Wanted

[fgreeno]

Hiya Guys! First post, first build! After traipsing though countless threads after weeks on tomshardware.com I have finally signed up to get some advice.

I live in the UK so the prices for components are not as competitive as in the US so please bear that in mind. My total budget is £700, but it can vary up to 10% if absolutely necessary

Ok I'm building this build for gaming (mainly) and heavy multitasking. I would appreciate any modifications/advice you may have regarding the components of the build. Especially the case to which I have not decided on yet:

CPU = Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Energy Efficient 95W edition Socket 775 (2.40GHz) G0 Stepping L2 8MB Cache OEM Processor - (£160)

Motherboard = Asus P5Q Deluxe P45 Socket 775 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard - (£144)

Memory = OCZ 4GB Kit (2x2GB) 800MHz/PC2-6400 Memory Platinum Performance CL5 (5-4-4-18) - (£41)

Case = Not sure yet but I desperately need a quiet pc that has sound insulation to help bring the machine under 30-35 db, is big enough with good air flow and room for a little expansion - I don’t want a full tower if I can help it. - (up to £75 budget for this one)

Power supply = Corsair 650W TX Series PSU - 120mm Fan, 80+% Efficiency, Single +12V Rail - (£75)

CPU Cooling = I'm not sure if I need this or just use the stock fan that comes with a processor, let me know. Will be O/C the quad to 3.0 GHz via changing the FSB to 333 MHz.

Video Card: Sapphire HD 4770 512MB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card - (£80) (will be buying another to use in crossfire in near future)

Hard Drive = Western Digital 640GB Hard Drive SATA300 7200rpm 32MB Cache Caviar Black – OEM - (£57) (will be buying another in the near future to use in RAID 1 mode)

CD/DVD Burner = Samsung SH-S223F 22X DVD?RW/RAM/DL Serial ATA Black Bare Drive – OEM (two of them) - (£30)

Floppy/Memory Card Drive = Scythe Card Reader & Floppy Drive - Black (YD-8V08) - £27

Total= approximate £689 (because costs were rounded up), based on ebuyer.com prices at time of posting.

I appreciate any feedback regarding this build!

Thank you for your time!

 

[Kill@dor]

Looks great to me. I don't think you will need another CPU cooler for now. But you must understand most stock coolers don't last long if you OC. Try to use a very low voltage on your CPU and FSB, and your RAM should give you very good bandwith if you don't go over 3.0GHz.

If i were you, i would look into other cooling option just incase you decide to change your mind later. Also, getting a big enough case to support your graphics card and CPU cooler (if changed) is important. Running on air will require a few good 120mm fans to run at good speed. You can always change to fans with higher RPM's too...

 

[Helloworld_98]

For that budget, go on scan.co.uk and build a cart with a AMD 955 based system, it will positively own the build set out above.

and Q6700's can be found for less than that Q6600 albeit OEM so you'd need a cooler for it if you wanted to go the Intel route.

 

[Cpt Deadboots]

Nice build! I'd go for something by Cooler Master as far as a case... They've got some really nice mid-towers for ~$50-80. They also make nice CPU coolers - check out the Hyper-TX2. Xigmatek also makes great CPU coolers.

As long as you're going to CrossFire two cards, the 4770 sounds like a great video choice.

You could probably go with a 550 VX PSU if this is your final build; I doubt (even with CrossFired 4770s) that you'll draw more than 450 watts.

 

[Helloworld_98]

@cpt deadboots, if you factor in the 80% efficiency then he'd need a 600w PSU for a 450w power draw.

 

[aevm]

Consider a Q8300 too, instead of the older Q6600. They're trading blows in benchmarks and very close in price.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/search_results.php?sortby=&groupid=&search=Q8300

You can save money with a P5Q Pro
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-280-AS
A GA-EP45-UD3P would be even better, but it costs more than the P5Q Pro.

If you're willing to go the AMD route, the Phenom II 945 or 955 are way faster than the Q6600 (but they cost more too):
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-245-AM
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-244-AM
You can get a good Crossfire MB for them for less even than the P5Q Pro:
GA-MA790XT-UD4P
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-168-GI
You would, however, need more expensive DDR3 like this for example:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-154-CS


Stick with the 650TX, it's one of the best PSUs out there and sized just right for HD 4770 Crossfire and an OCd quad and a bunch of hard drives.

 

[aevm]

Case:

How about the NZXT Hush (78 pounds)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-004-NX

If you can stretch the budget to 118 pounds, get an Antec P182.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-070-AN

 

[aevm]

@cpt deadboots, if you factor in the 80% efficiency then he'd need a 600w PSU for a 450w power draw.

If you have a 450W power draw, then an honestly labeled PSU claiming 450W (say Corsair 450VX) should be able to handle it, regardless of efficiency. If it has 80% efficiency, it will consume 562.5W from the wall, waste 20%, deliver the other 450W to the parts that need it.

That being said, you are perfectly correct anyway. If you have a power draw of 450W, using a 450W PSU is a very bad idea. It would work at 100% load, with lower efficiency, more heat, more noise, shorter lifetime. A 650TX would handle a 450W load MUCH better than a 450VX.

I'm just trying to guess here: a quad, with OCing, needs about 100W to 150W. Two HD 4770 cards - about 80W each. Hard drives: 10 W each (or less). That setup should need about 450W indeed, depending on the CPU type, how high it's overclocked, number of fans, PCI cards, etc.

 

[fgreeno]

Some fantastic advice there , I'm currently pulling the info together and checking out prices. I'll repost what I will be buying for any last minute changes you think I should make!

Any more advice is always welcomed!

Thank you!

 

[Helloworld_98]

Can you go upto £800?

if you can and don't mind dropping from a Quad to a 720 x3 BE then I could get in a 4870 X2 into the build.