Hey guys,

As you can see im new around these parts
im going for a new homebuild just wondered if you guys could cast your eyes over it before i buy it?

any who here is the potensial build!

680i Nvidia Mother Board (SLI)
Q6600 G0 Stepping & Tuniq Tower
400gb Western Digital Caviar
BFG 8800GT OC
Antec P182
4GB Crucial Ballistix 1066mhz
Pioneer DVD Drive
Antec 650w
Vista Premium 64bit

Anyway thats it! im trying to keep the cost down but it would be awesome if you guys could have a quick look over that lot ^^

Cheers

Matt

You only need DDR2-800 ballistix for this rig considering how the Q6600 isn't a great overclocker, but even if you hit 3.6Ghz it's still only 400x9 which is 1:1 with the memory. Not a big issue, but if DDR2-800 will save you some money, then get it (Crucial is a good brand btw, good choice).

Good board, Good case, Good CPU, Decent HD (I've heard better reviews for Seagate), Good GPU (Though I'd recommend a GTS 512mb if possible).

I would recommend a Modular powersupply so you only have to use the power plugs you need for your system, rather than having dozens of unused cables hanging in your case. Corsair or Thermaltake make great modular PSU's.

Looks like you're overclocking the quad on a budget? Your best bet would be P35. Cheaper & easier to get 3ghz+ out of the quad. It can be done on 680i. IMO, no one should go SLI unless they have the money to throw around.

agreed 680i isn't a great choice, since it runs a lot hotter. Do you actually need the q6600? the E8400 is out and performs well in gaming. OCs a lot better too. I wouldn't recommend the tuniq tower since its fairly dated now. A thermalright Ultra 120 would perform better. A note on RAM

When using nvidia chipset they recommend you use SLI ready memory. I belive they void your warenty if you chuck in a different type, although i'm not sure of this.

what tier is that antec PSU? i don't recall seeing it on the tier 1/2/3 lists but it could just be my brain is going?

consider corsair 620 which is modular, quiet, and tier 2, or pcp&c silencer 610 or 750 which are tier 1.

i keep agreeing with achilles everywhere i go.

maybe consider the GA-P35-DS3L unless you are doing RAID or dual graphics cards.

i think you can do better than the tuniq nowadays for more cooling and less money. tom's has a review of CPU coolers but i can't find the link. here is another nice review of cpu coolers with pictures too:

FrostyTech's CPU Cooler Review

the Q6600 runs 30watts more than the E8400 at stock (more of course if you OC it). If you need the 4 cores for video encoding, then you need it. not many games use 4 cores now. do any? i've not seen any posts ever about a game that uses all 4 cores. in a few years that will change i hope. the E8400 is fast and cool but is also out of stock everywhere. you can of course get one on ebay, where the ebayers are selling the $220 chip for $300.

Looks like a decent setup. As others have said above, I'd switch the board for a P35 one unless you plan on going SLI with 2 graphics cards. DDR2-800 for RAM would be fine. You don't need 1066 with the Q6600.

Right ok guys ive decided to go for the E8400 and IP35 PRO Motherboard with Scythe Mugen cooler?

How does that sound?

Check out this cooler, from the reviews I've found it's very good;
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003
I think with the P35 board the Corsair 520 will be fine. best deal;
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-52 [...] 70716.html
Good luck finding the E8400.

cheers for teh luck chuck...just found some lol ahhhh UK online stores

If the 650w Antec PSU is the Neo Blue then you're in good shape, it's got great reviews and is partially modular.

Call me crazy but I just can't bring myself to spend more then ~$100 on a case when you have options like the Coolermaster 690 and Antec 900 available. But to each their own, especially when it comes to asthetics

That's going to be a sweet system, enjoy! And grats on finding an E8400 too

(Click on image to go to CPU cooler review)



So in the top 10 you are picking number 9. Runs hotter and noisier, and there are cheaper ones higher up that are much better. Just curious - Why?

Price?

I think he'll find out shortly after he bought the mullet... err... Mugen.

Im from the UK so our prices are more affordable than yours i can get the P182 for £80 which is relatively inexpensive for such a good case.
I didnt go for any other CPU coolers becuase i couldnt find out where to get them tbh the thermaright ones are sold out everywhere and not many places sell the others. however ive sourced a HDT-S1283 for peanuts so im snatching that one!

In terms of keeping a pc future proofed which is the best route to go? Q6600 or E8400? I play alot of CSS and COD4 etc and also use the pc for college work and playing music etc. im warming towards the E8400 although it is more expensive and perhaps less advanced?

680i Nvidia Mother Board (SLI)
Q6600 G0 Stepping & Tuniq Tower
400gb Western Digital Caviar
BFG 8800GT OC
Antec P182
4GB Crucial Ballistix 1066mhz
Pioneer DVD Drive
Antec 650w
Vista Premium 64bit

-If you are gonna go all out with OC'ing, I'd look for aTier 2 or better PSU, otherwise, I'd match the Antec 182 with an Antec Neo 650 PSU. I have had an issue with cable length once or twice a problem generally avoided when the case and OSU vendors are the same.
-Look at Tom's recent cooler review. The Thermal IFX-14 right seems the clear winner.
-Those are really old HD's. Get something latest generation. The Seagate 7200.1 rules the 500 GB / 750 GB category, the Samsung F1 the 1 TB category.
-The Asus DRW-2014L1T is newegg's 2 x winner of the customer choice award and supposedly has a "Special savings w/ media combo, ends 3/31"
-Corsair has had some real big deals on newegg of late with big rebates too.

Jack, this fellow is in the UK, so he does not order from newegg.