[Fordy]

Originally Posted by serverguy

I completely understand what you say.

But what I am saying is that we can definitely still do better. Considering you're not into gaming, you don't need a super high end graphics card, but you say you use CPU guzzling programs. I think with the money saved on the graphics, you should be able to get 8 Gigs of RAM and a better quad core process, and a better motherboard etc etc. Do you get what I mean now?

Tonight I'll spec you up a really decent rig that you can have a look over and see if it would suit you better.

As for the motherboard, I am not sure if I know what you mean, but the P35 has been replaced by the P45. It would be a better choice.

Ah, that'd be great, thanks.

I didn't know the motherboard had been replaced, all I meant was that I have the P35 in my current computer (I think.. It's hard to tell, Dell don't give you choice with motherboard.. at least not on their non-gaming series's)

I just need a quick computer and a lot of space, (hence the 250GB, and 750GB)


Thanks again for all your help, Ollie.

[Fordy]

Ok, been fiddling around again, and have decided not to have someone build it for me, so I can get experience, know better what to do if it goes wrong, upgrade easily, save money, etc.

This is my latest spec, bear in mind ITS NOT FOR GAMING!!

Case & PSU = Antec Sonata III
Case Cooling = Antec TriCool 120 DBB
CPU = Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
CPU Cooling = Startech Intel Socket 775 Heatsink with Fan
Graphics Card = Sapphire HD3650 256MB / 1Gb DDR2 Hyper Memory PCI-Express (I havn't heard of Saphire, but it specs ok, just tell me if theres a problem with it.)
HD 1 = Seagate HD Barracuda 7200.10 750GB 3.5" SATA 7200
HD 2 = Seagate HD Barracuda 7200.10 250GB 3.5'' SATA 7200
Media Reader = Enlight 3.5 Internal card reader with mobile phone SIM card reader
Motherboard = Asus P5Q socket LGA775 (Intel P45)
Network PCI = NETGEAR WG311 Wireless 54Mbps PCI Adapter
OS = Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit
Optical Drive = LG GGW-H20L Blu ray Writer + HD DVD Read
RAM = Corsair 4GB XMS2 DDR2 (2x2GB)

Thanks, Ollie.

[thingie2]

A few things I would change if it was me personally:
PSU: personally I would go with a Corsair unit, but Antec PSU's are also pretty good.
CPU: I would want to go with a CPU from the Q9xxx series, as they will run quicker and cooler.
GPU: the 3650 is ok as you aren't doing any gaming etc, but i would go with one with a duel slot cooler, just means it will be cooler and quieter.
HDD: Go for drives from the Seagate Barracuda 7200.11, they are faster, and will most probably have better redundancy rates.

Apart from that, I think it looks good.

[Fordy]

Originally Posted by thingie2

A few things I would change if it was me personally:
PSU: personally I would go with a Corsair unit, but Antec PSU's are also pretty good.
CPU: I would want to go with a CPU from the Q9xxx series, as they will run quicker and cooler.
GPU: the 3650 is ok as you aren't doing any gaming etc, but i would go with one with a duel slot cooler, just means it will be cooler and quieter.
HDD: Go for drives from the Seagate Barracuda 7200.11, they are faster, and will most probably have better redundancy rates.

Apart from that, I think it looks good.

PSU - I'm reluctant to change it, as it comes with the case, and I've become rather attached to that case so as long as you think it'll be ok, has enough wattage etc.?

CPU - At minimum that'll cost an extra 55 quid, is the difference worth it? As I'm tight for cash as it is.. and the 6 series option is only .1 Ghz behind.. I could OC it if I needed to, upto 30% apparently.. but I doubt I'd need to.

GPU - I can't find a dual slotted one on Misco, and wanted to order form there to keep P&P down.. I'm not too bothered about noise and if it runs too hot I can add in fans, would it be ok with the 3650?

HDD - 7200.11 models don't come in my sizes.. presumably they're only 0.01 faster..?


I don't mean to be negative, and pretty much declining your help, I'm very grateful for it, it's just money, if I've won the lottery tonight (can't find out till tommorrow) I'll let you know and you can help spec me the most **@@@!"::@@!(*"£^^£*!(£)£&"))"&&£"@":?"@:£ amazing machine ever seen, and you can have one yourself for helping

But unfortuantely, until then, I'm just a monieless teen



I reckon after christmas I'll be done, but I'm gonna buy the stuff in stages, to ease cash flow, and make it seem like I'm getting somewhere.

So as soon as this is finalised, and after my birthday, I can get the first batch, then the second (and hopefully final) order after christmas.

But then you don't want a commentary on my life

Thanks for all your help.

[thingie2]

PSU: should be fine, only has 17A on the rails, but for the 3650, it's plenty.

CPU: if your short of cash, just go with a Q6600 then, they aren't alot slower, and if you OC the 6600, there shouldn't be any difference.

GPU: Should be fine then.

HDD: doesn't work like that, the numbers mean it's the 11th series, rather than the 10th series in the 7200rpm range, but again, if your short on cash, save and go for the 7200.10.

Another thing. I forgot to mention, if the CPU cooler, in all the tests I've seen, those sort of coolers perform badly. And for that price you can get yourself the AC7, or the Xigmatek HDT-S1283.

[Fordy]

Ok, thanks for all your help, the only reason I chose the cooler was because it was the most expensive (hopefully best) one designed to fit onto the card (socket 775.. i presume thats what that means?)

I'll have a look at other reccommendations tommorrow, I'm meant to be asleep

[thingie2]

ok, well most expensive isn't always best, have a look for the following things:
1) what the heatsink is made from - copper is best, aluminum would be second.
2) Flow rate of the fan - obviously highest is best
3) Noise level - obviously lower is better, but as you said you aren't to bothered about noise, that doesn't matter too much.

[Fordy]

Somehting else just occurred to me, you said the PSU only had 17A, but wasnt a problem with the 3650, is it likely to become a problem when it comes to upgrading in the future?

As for the CPU Cooling, the one I'd chosen is an Alluminium alloy.. not great then.
And it doesn't tell me the rotation speed bit airflow is 52.4cfm

The other one I found goes 4500rpm, which is quite irrelevant as I don't have a figure for the other one, but its airflow is only 30.8cfm.

And this is the only other socket 775 I can find, that looks good enough anyway, but this is only 3400rpm, yet it creates the most airflow (64.85cfm)

Which is more important? airflow/speed

If its creating enough air gushing away heat, does it matter how fast its spinning? As long as its doing the job?

I don't know, I've never done this before and don't uinderstand it completely, which is why I want to do it


EDIT: I just realised my original choice has a four-pin connector, whereas all the others seem to be three.. Is this a problem? Will it still fit onto my Motherboard?

[tomthedrummer1992]

If it's not for gaming, then I wouldn't have thought you would be overclocking - so why can you not just use the stock cooler?

[Fordy]

We only mentioned OCing as an.. if I needed to option.

As for stock cooling.. it doesn't come with any.. or do you mean that you don't need a CPU cooler? You can just have the case fans cool everything..?

Forgive me, I don't know to much on the topic - not done before

[tomthedrummer1992]

When you buy a CPU - let's take the Q6600, it comes with a heatsinc - this dissopates the heat off the CPU.

With older models, such as the P4, it was just a huge lump of specially designed metal, however with new processors such as the Q6600 it comes with a fan which you stick on top. http://flourishcomputer.com/products...ntel775fan.gif

What are you actually using the PC for - I can't seem to find it anywhere in the topic. I can only see you don't want it for gaming.

[tomthedrummer1992]

OK. So for a grand total of 792.60 I would get the following (excludes the second hard drive becusae you say you already have one. However I did put in a case just becuase I believe that your system will run so much cooler and there will be more room in the case allowing for future upgrades and lots of room when building).

• Intel Q9400 (4 x 2.66GHZ) - £185.34 - Ebuyer
• MSI S775 P35 ATX Motherboard - £66.49 - Dabs
• 4 GB (2 x 2GB) Corsair 1044MHZ RAM - £80.13 - Dabs
• Samsung F1 HDD 650GB 32MG Cache - £58.18 - Ebuyer
• LG DVD RAM Lightscribe - £15.99 - Dabs
• Thermaltake Toughpower 750W - £79.90 - Novatech
• Tsunami Dream Case (with window) - £70.17 - Novatech
• Linksys Wireless PCI Card - £18.15 - Ebuyer
• XFX 9600GT 512MB - £77.11 - Ebuyer
• Vista Home Premium - £76.38 - Novatech

Novatech Total (inc del) £272.26
Dabs Total (inc del) £171.6
Ebuyer Total (inc del) £348.77

GRAND TOTAL - £792.60


Of course you would save 70 quid if you didn't want the case, but I would recommend it, and could save a bit if you chose to go for a less power PSU, however I really like my thermaltake - has loads of choices for cables and if a wire isn't needed you can take it off to save space.

[thingie2]

Originally Posted by 4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie

Somehting else just occurred to me, you said the PSU only had 17A, but wasnt a problem with the 3650, is it likely to become a problem when it comes to upgrading in the future?

As for the CPU Cooling, the one I'd chosen is an Alluminium alloy.. not great then.
And it doesn't tell me the rotation speed bit airflow is 52.4cfm

The other one I found goes 4500rpm, which is quite irrelevant as I don't have a figure for the other one, but its airflow is only 30.8cfm.

And this is the only other socket 775 I can find, that looks good enough anyway, but this is only 3400rpm, yet it creates the most airflow (64.85cfm)

Which is more important? airflow/speed

If its creating enough air gushing away heat, does it matter how fast its spinning? As long as its doing the job?

I don't know, I've never done this before and don't uinderstand it completely, which is why I want to do it


EDIT: I just realised my original choice has a four-pin connector, whereas all the others seem to be three.. Is this a problem? Will it still fit onto my Motherboard?

Fan speed is best to be as low as possible (as this reduces the noise) but whilst keeping the airflow as high as possible.

As for how many pins, it changes what the fan does, the 3 pins is a standard fan, but the 4th pin allows the use of PWM which means the fan will change speed depending on the temperature it gets.

Originally Posted by 4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie

We only mentioned OCing as an.. if I needed to option.

As for stock cooling.. it doesn't come with any.. or do you mean that you don't need a CPU cooler? You can just have the case fans cool everything..?

Forgive me, I don't know to much on the topic - not done before

You need a cooler, no matter what you are doing on your computer.

[tomthedrummer1992]

Yes a coller is needed thingie, but all CPU's come with them which is the point I was making.

[thingie2]

Not all, the OEM versions of CPU's don't, but now that I looked closer, I can't actually see anything saying the 6600 on misco is OEM, but I also can't see anywhere where it says it's retail. Maybe it would be worth ringing them and asking them?

[tomthedrummer1992]

When I bought my Q6600 it had HSF with it and I believe mine was marked as OEM. It would be worth checking out the Q9400 though - check out my list above.

[Fordy]

Tom, if you read back the Q9400 was my very first choice, but has subsequently been ruled out, basically to save cash, and I can OC the Q6600 IF I need to.

I'm using the PC for Internet Browsing, Recording, Watching films, tv etc. Listeneing to Music, Editing Film and Photo, Creating Music Editing and Mixing Music, Email, MSN

And of course serious multi-tasking...


Thingie :-
From what you've said I think the best option is the Akasa AK-955, as it runs slow but creates the biggest airflow. I can't find out the rpm of the Startech, but it doesn't give as much airlow as the Akasa anyway.
I think I'll get it regardless of whether the CPU comes supplied or not, as then I've got a spare one if it goes wrong, or one that can be used in another build.
From the picture (see below) I'm pretty sure I can see four wires - black, blue, yellow and green. So presumably thats positive, negative, earthing, and temp control?
It doesn't really matter as long as you can clarify that theres four wires and the speed will change according to the temperature, as although I'm not overly bothered about noise that sounds a very efficient way of cooling, and Ollie likes efficiency

Thanks again.

[tomthedrummer1992]

Fair enough - forget the Q9400 then and get the Q6600.

Seriously though - it's a waste of money getting a good CPU cooler if you don't plan to do any OC'ing - besides - you can still OC the Q6600 on the stock cooling, especially if you get a case with good airflow; such as the thermaltake ones.

[Fordy]

Its cheaper to spend a tenna on cooling than 30 on upgrading the case.

Anyway, we don't know that it comes with any cooling, and either way I'll buy one, so that I have one spare if it does come with it.

I'm sure to need it soon anyway.. I have plans..


I would just like confirmation which of the following is better.
Startech Fan775 or the Akasa AK-955

Thanks.

[Fordy]

About the link thingie gave me for steps building your own PC, its slightly outdated (talks about FAT32 Win98, EGA etc.) but in most cases you can still easily see how it'll work.

Except of course there is nothing at all on Vista, would I have to format the partition manually, or would a Vista disk do it all automatically for me?

On my Primary HDD, (The only one that'll actually boot an OS) I want eventually 3 partitions, 1 for Vista HP 64-bit, 1 for all my schoolwork, and Windows 7 - which I will dual boot at first, then maybe make a complete transfer later.

But obviously I would rather start with only two partitions, as I have no need for an empty one that simply awaits Win7, is it possible to do the following?

Now:
750GBs, partitioned into 150GB (Schoolwork)
and 600GB for Vista

When Win 7 released:
Shrink the 600GB Vista Partition into 2x300GB
and install Win7 on the unused one.

Is that possible without losing my data on the Vista partition?

Or am I best off, creating all three (300, 300, 150) before I install Vista on the first 300GB one, leave the other 300GB empty and use the 150GB for school stuff.

Then could I install Win7 hasslefree on the unused 300GB partition, without losing anything?