Hi there - first post so greetings first and foremost.
After trawling through forums and websites, I think I've settled upon a PC to build within the next couple of days. However, this is my first time ever building a desktop (only ever used laptops at home - I'm a student). Is there a decent write up on building a pc anywhere? I know there's one on tomshardware but it seems quite old and as such perhaps out of date?
As such, whilst I have the components all selected I just want to make sure if I order what I write below, I'll be able to build it. Am I missing any wires or such? Are the components below compatible? With regards to overclocking - I am interested in doing it but not immediately as I want to make sure I can build a stock desktop first!
Finally - and apologies for the same question as millions of other threads - are the components I have selected a good bunch? PC will mostly be used for gaming with perhaps some other minor app usage (Photoshop mainly); my monitor is a 23" 1920 max resolution. I am student so budget is quite small - 1400 GBP max! I will be ordering from overclockers.co.uk as that is the only website I or someone I know has had experience with.
Thanks for all the help!
CPU - E6750 125.71
The price of the Q6600 is attractive, however I doubt I will be using many applications that can utilise 4 cores effectively, and as a result it seems a bit like overkill. As such, the price of the E6750 makes it very attractive and with its overclocking potential, perhaps can hold me over for a year or so.
Mobo - GA-P35-DS3R 88.11
Only heard great things about this motherboard. Not planning on doing SLI as I don't have the funds and this MB seems quite future-proof.
Ram - Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400C4 800MHz 2x 70.49
4x1GB sticks. Planning on using 64bit Vista. Would it be better do get 2x2GB? It certainly seems more expensive though.
GFX - EVGA 8800GTX @ 575Mhz 358.36
Whilst if I wait for a bit I guess the next gen might come out - however I do need this computer asap and as such this card seems to give good performance right now and hopefully in the future too.
HDD - ?
To be honest I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do in this category. My original plan was to get a 74GB Raptor (96.34) and put the OS + games on it and then back that up with a 500GB WD drive (89.29). However, I hear that raptors aren't exactly that great anymore? Is that true? Should I just get a 500GB and use that as a solo drive? I have zero experience whatsoever with Raid arrays - are they advisable?
PSU - Corsair HX620W 93.99
Seems to be a good PSU - tier 2 if I remember correctly? I 'think' it has enough power? What if I overclock? The modular support seem particularly attractive.
Case - ?
Not quite sure here either 3 choices mainly. Looks are very important to me! =P
1. Coolermaster Stacker 832 (141GBP). Seems like a very high-end case. It looks quite nice and things look very easy to install on it. However it is very expensive here in the UK - 140.99GBP which is nearly 300USD!!
2. Thermaltake Kandalf (Silver 132GBP/Black 111GBP). Looks awesome and seems to have good reviews. Price is cheaper than the Stacker but significantly more than the final case.
3. Antec 900 (72.84GBP) - Seems to have good reviews although the fact that it attracts dust like a mother is a bit of a downer - I like things looking clean. However, its price does make it extremely attractive.
Anyone have any personal recommendations? Looking for a good looking case which is big and roomy and extremely noob friendly to work with.
DVD - some pioneer SATA one 21.14
One question - the version I will buy is an OEM edition. I think I read somewhere that as a result it doesn't come with any cables. So obviously then I need to buy one! If I find just a SATA cable on overclockers.co.uk will that suffice?
Floppy - needed?
Do I need one of these?
OS - Vista 64bit Home Premium 64.61
Keyboard and Mouse
Some combination that looks good. As I said - I really only ever used laptops
Cooling 35.24+12.91
If I learn how to overclock properly then I would consider a Thermalright Ultra120 and if from what I hear/read - a Scythe fan? Having said that I am a computer moron and really have no idea what I'm doing. Is overclocking hard?
Also, regardless of whether I overclock or not - should I get these cooling items anyway? Oh and some Arctic Silver thermal paste.
I think that's it! Are these a good match of compatible compononents and more importantly, am I missing anything? I have zero of anything deskptop related at home whatsoever, so what I order will be what I have to work with.
Also, does anyone feel like talking in particular about the intricacies of making a desktop PC/overclocking or point me to any good guides? Apologies for being a pain but this is my frist time with anything desktop related and would rather get everything right! (A bit sad for a 20year old hehe).
Thanks you very much!
After trawling through forums and websites, I think I've settled upon a PC to build within the next couple of days. However, this is my first time ever building a desktop (only ever used laptops at home - I'm a student). Is there a decent write up on building a pc anywhere? I know there's one on tomshardware but it seems quite old and as such perhaps out of date?
As such, whilst I have the components all selected I just want to make sure if I order what I write below, I'll be able to build it. Am I missing any wires or such? Are the components below compatible? With regards to overclocking - I am interested in doing it but not immediately as I want to make sure I can build a stock desktop first!
Finally - and apologies for the same question as millions of other threads - are the components I have selected a good bunch? PC will mostly be used for gaming with perhaps some other minor app usage (Photoshop mainly); my monitor is a 23" 1920 max resolution. I am student so budget is quite small - 1400 GBP max! I will be ordering from overclockers.co.uk as that is the only website I or someone I know has had experience with.
Thanks for all the help!
CPU - E6750 125.71
The price of the Q6600 is attractive, however I doubt I will be using many applications that can utilise 4 cores effectively, and as a result it seems a bit like overkill. As such, the price of the E6750 makes it very attractive and with its overclocking potential, perhaps can hold me over for a year or so.
Mobo - GA-P35-DS3R 88.11
Only heard great things about this motherboard. Not planning on doing SLI as I don't have the funds and this MB seems quite future-proof.
Ram - Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400C4 800MHz 2x 70.49
4x1GB sticks. Planning on using 64bit Vista. Would it be better do get 2x2GB? It certainly seems more expensive though.
GFX - EVGA 8800GTX @ 575Mhz 358.36
Whilst if I wait for a bit I guess the next gen might come out - however I do need this computer asap and as such this card seems to give good performance right now and hopefully in the future too.
HDD - ?
To be honest I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do in this category. My original plan was to get a 74GB Raptor (96.34) and put the OS + games on it and then back that up with a 500GB WD drive (89.29). However, I hear that raptors aren't exactly that great anymore? Is that true? Should I just get a 500GB and use that as a solo drive? I have zero experience whatsoever with Raid arrays - are they advisable?
PSU - Corsair HX620W 93.99
Seems to be a good PSU - tier 2 if I remember correctly? I 'think' it has enough power? What if I overclock? The modular support seem particularly attractive.
Case - ?
Not quite sure here either 3 choices mainly. Looks are very important to me! =P
1. Coolermaster Stacker 832 (141GBP). Seems like a very high-end case. It looks quite nice and things look very easy to install on it. However it is very expensive here in the UK - 140.99GBP which is nearly 300USD!!
2. Thermaltake Kandalf (Silver 132GBP/Black 111GBP). Looks awesome and seems to have good reviews. Price is cheaper than the Stacker but significantly more than the final case.
3. Antec 900 (72.84GBP) - Seems to have good reviews although the fact that it attracts dust like a mother is a bit of a downer - I like things looking clean. However, its price does make it extremely attractive.
Anyone have any personal recommendations? Looking for a good looking case which is big and roomy and extremely noob friendly to work with.
DVD - some pioneer SATA one 21.14
One question - the version I will buy is an OEM edition. I think I read somewhere that as a result it doesn't come with any cables. So obviously then I need to buy one! If I find just a SATA cable on overclockers.co.uk will that suffice?
Floppy - needed?
Do I need one of these?
OS - Vista 64bit Home Premium 64.61
Keyboard and Mouse
Some combination that looks good. As I said - I really only ever used laptops
Cooling 35.24+12.91
If I learn how to overclock properly then I would consider a Thermalright Ultra120 and if from what I hear/read - a Scythe fan? Having said that I am a computer moron and really have no idea what I'm doing. Is overclocking hard?
Also, regardless of whether I overclock or not - should I get these cooling items anyway? Oh and some Arctic Silver thermal paste.
I think that's it! Are these a good match of compatible compononents and more importantly, am I missing anything? I have zero of anything deskptop related at home whatsoever, so what I order will be what I have to work with.
Also, does anyone feel like talking in particular about the intricacies of making a desktop PC/overclocking or point me to any good guides? Apologies for being a pain but this is my frist time with anything desktop related and would rather get everything right! (A bit sad for a 20year old hehe).
Thanks you very much!