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My first gaming comp. build- need advice

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I just built this new gaming computer-
Intel Q6600
Gigabyte DS3L P35
Club3d 8800 GT 512MB Heatpipe cooling + fan
WD 320AAKS
LG x20 DVD burner
Enermax Chakra (w/25cm side fan)
+ 12cm AC FAN
Enermax Liberty 400w

 

What do you think about? How should I set up the fans? Should I buy another 12cm FAN? What parts should I return/switch? Should I but a custom CPU heatsink? (if yes, which?) Please give me some advice.

 

THanks :)

 

BTW, the LG burner is sort of noisy while reading/burning disks.. Is that normal?


Message edited by quilby on 04-30-2008 at 01:42:13 PM
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I'd go with the Xigmatek s1283 CPU HSF, if you want to OC the q6600. The stock HSF will do, but with the Xigmatek HSF you'll have cooler temperatures and will be able to OC a bit more for only $37 shipped!!
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
Frosty's review of the Xigmatek s1283
 
The PSU is okay, but I'd probably upgrade it a bit, especially if your going to do some good OC'ing, which you should with the parts that you have. I'd go with at least the Corsair vx550w PSU or the tx650w PSU. You could even go with the PCP&C 610w Silencer too.
Here's a comparison list for your perusal
Don't know if these options are budget busters, but that is the direction that I'd go, if I can afford them. Otherwise you have a decent setup, just heard some quality issues on the Enermax Liberty PSU's.


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Yes, it is normal for CD/DVD burners to be loud when burning or ripping. However, if it's noisy just during regular operation (watching dvds, playing games), that is not normal.

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lunyone- I want to use this computer for the next 7 years. Before I got this comp the computer that I had was a 7 year old computer (I only had to buy some more RAM after 5 years, and also a new HDD). If I OC, wont the computer die after 3 years? By the way, the hsf you mentioned is not sold in my country. What other ones can you recommend?

 


andersonj21- Ok, Ill return the burner.


Message edited by quilby on 04-30-2008 at 02:24:19 PM
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So if I dont OC I dont need a custom HSF? I wanted to buy a HSF because my comp is making a lot of noise- I think that its because of the intel HSF. Is my 400w PSU good enough?


Message edited by quilby on 04-30-2008 at 02:41:30 PM
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If you don't OC much than your stock HSF will do. It would be better if you get a better CPU HSF, but isn't necessary (especially if you don't OC your CPU). Your PSU is okay, but to be on the safe side, I'd get a higher quality one, IMHO.


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So Ill get a custom HSF. What do you think about the AC Freezer 7 Pro?  
What do you mean by a better quality? More watts, or a better name?
 
BTW I have 2 gigs of 800mhz cl5 ram on one chip. Should I return it and buy 2 gigs of 800mhz cl5 on two chips (1gb each) so that I can get dual channel.
 

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amdfangirl wrote :

^ No, keep it and upgrade to dual-channel with it  
 
 
 
I easily got to 3.2GHZ on the stock AM2 cooler on my sister's rig


What CPU were your talking about? x2 5000+ BE? If that's the case then yes you wouldn't need an aftermarket CPU HSF for that chip, since it's multiplier is unlocked.
 

Quote :

So Ill get a custom HSF. What do you think about the AC Freezer 7 Pro?  
What do you mean by a better quality? More watts, or a better name?


ACF 7 pro is a good CPU HSF. The Xigmatek is a better cooling HSF, but if it's not available than the ACF 7 pro would be just fine.
The quality of the Liberty series of PSU's hasn't been very good as of recent times. There has been a number of dis-satisfied customers recently, so I'd stay away from them if possible. Since you have it already though you could go ahead at use it. No sense wasting $ on RMA's for a PSU that is okay. I was just suggesting that if you had the option to replace it (without too much hassle) than you should consider it.


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The Enermax Liberty is supposedly Tier-2, which is one of the reasons I bought the 500W model for my rig.  Four hundred watts would have been enough, but I wanted a margin.  Your video card pulls more juice than mine, so you're cutting it even closer.  If you can, use your UPS software and/or a Kill-a-Watt meter to find out how much juice you're pulling.  Mine sips a mere 150W when idle, but somewhat more (not measured yet) when busy.
I got the AC Freezer 7 Pro cooler, and it is good.  I haven't oc'ed my new Q9450 yet, but it's been idling around 38.
As to fans, the usual rule is front and side are intakes, and rear and top are exhaust.  Go for flow and balance in the fans, and remember that the PSU is also an exhaust.  Make sure you have enough intake so that the PSU fan isn't fighting to move air through it, as that's where heat can become a problem.


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amdfangirl wrote :

wow the 5000+ BE doesn't come with a heatsink and so according to your advice I wouldn't need a HSF. Well I stole the fan off a Sempron.


NO that isn't what I meant. What I meant was that you wouldn't need a higher aftermarket HSF like the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 pro or the Xigmatek. Yes I know that 5000+BE doesn't come with a HSF, so I would never recommend buying it without a HSF. The only situation that I'd do that is "if" the OP had already stated that he/she had already had one for the CPU.


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Ok, so I probably wont buy a HSF and Ill change my ram for two modules instead of one...

 

About the PSU- what do you think about these:
cooler master eXtreme Power 500w ($10 less than my current PSU)
thermaltake TR2 550w ($10 more than my current PSU)

 

Also my graphics card is by club3d, which is not that good of a company. Today I opened  the case and noticed that one of the heatsinks just _FELL_ off the card - I  want to replace it. What do you guys think about these-
leadtek winfast px8800gt (same price as my current card)
palit geforce 8800gt (same price as my current card)
palit geforce 8800gt sonic ($25 more)
asus geforce 8800gt (27$ more)
(obviously all these card have 512mb of ram)

 

What do you guys  think about the gigabyte gm-r04 mouse?

 

Thanks to amdfangirl, lunyone,jtt283, and andersonj21 for helping me until now.    


Message edited by quilby on 05-03-2008 at 12:26:36 AM
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Do you have a website where you buying from so we can help pick out good PSU's for you? Some TT and CM PSU's aren't too good, so I'd like to see the list of PSU's that you can buy. Maybe those are the best you can get, but I'd at least like to see if the other options might be better. I'm a big fan of Corsair/PCP&C/Seasonic/Antec PSU's, so if you some of those available than those we be a better and more stable situation, generally speaking.


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8800gtx/380w PSU!
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I dont have PCP&C/Seasonic in my country. The two PSU's that I gave you are the only ones that are about the same price as my current one. All other PSU cost about 25-50$. I really dont want to spend that much more on a PSU. (What do you think about the power supplies by HEC? They are really cheap).
Here are the list of PSU for 500w: http://skypc.co.il/pl_products~24~0~148.htm?OrderBy=3
550w: http://skypc.co.il/pl_products~24~0~155.htm?OrderBy=3
600w: http://skypc.co.il/pl_products~24~0~157.htm?OrderBy=3
 
You can see the price of every part in shekels. To understand what that price is in dollars divide by 4. So 100 shekels = 25 $. My current enermax chakra 400w was 367 shekels. I am willing to buy any power supply that is under 450 shekels.
 
What do you think about the graphics cards and the mouse?

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BUMP.  
I would appreciate any help.  
Thanks! :)

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I'd go with the Corsair vx 450w or the Antec 500w Earthwatts PSU. They are both efficient and come with good warranties. I believe the Corsair has a 5 yr. warranty and the Antec has a 3 yr. warranty. The Corsair has 33A on the 12V rail and the Antec has 34A on the combined 12v rails. Either one will work with any single GPU solution out there right now.


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Ok, now for the graphics card- which one is better- the asus or the leadtek.
What do you think about the gigabyte gm-r04 mouse?
Thanks again.

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I think both are fine, just look at what kind of warranty you will get with either one. That sometimes is the only difference between card manufacturers. I'd just make sure that you have a double slot cooling solution, if your getting the 8800gt. If your getting the 8800gts than you'll be just fine. The 8800gt is known to run quite warm, so be aware of that.


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GPU Power usage
8800gtx/380w PSU!
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Ok thanks for all your help everyone- here are the changes I will make to my system:
-Change burner to either samsung or pioneer.
- change RAM to dual channel (2 X 1 gig instead of 1 X 2 gig)
- maybe buy acf 7 pro  
- buy another fan for my enermax chakra case so that I will have a total of 3 fans on the case + one on the psu
- change the graphics card to asus or leadtek (depending on which one has better cooling)
-change psu to corsair vx 450w or antec 500w earthwatts PSU
-buy gm-r04 gaming mouse
 
If you have anymore advice please post.  
 
Thanks again!
:)


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