New build advice...

[andymcdougal]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: As soon as possible (within 1 month).
BUDGET RANGE: £400-600 UK Pounds.
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (such as FS9/X, RCT3) and screen recording; video editing and rendering using Adobe After Effects, Adobe Flash, Sony Vegas; image editing in Photoshop CS4; watching HD videos; office documents and surfing the web.
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, Monitor.
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: http://www.ebuyer.com/ .
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom.
PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD processor, 4GB RAM, good graphics.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1080p HD +.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I'm not looking to blow every other computer out of the water, but I want a solid rig that wont go out of date tomorrow.

I've already posted a topic(s) about this build and received loads of help from the forum (thanks guys/gals!), but I've made a few small changes... Please find below the current specification (as on http://www.ebuyer.com/ ). I'm pretty sure that everything is compatible but since this is my first build I'd like that second pair of eyes :lol: . I promise I'll stop posting about this build at some point - it's not my fault I'm a n00b (well, it is, but whatever) :lol: .

 

[ulysses35]

FSX loves fast CPU's and is one the few games that really makes use of 2/4 cores. Why the AMD choice ? with the current i5's and i7's out there which are quicker than the old C2d's (AMD struggle to keep up with the C2D's) just seems the more logical choice ?

I would be tempted to skip the 80mm case fans - as the smaller the fan the greater ther noise.

You could swap the case for the Antec 902 and have no need for the extra case fans.

Other than that the specs and parts are good choices.

 

[andymcdougal]

FSX loves fast CPU's and is one the few games that really makes use of 2/4 cores. Why the AMD choice ? with the current i5's and i7's out there which are quicker than the old C2d's (AMD struggle to keep up with the C2D's) just seems the more logical choice ?

I would be tempted to skip the 80mm case fans - as the smaller the fan the greater ther noise.

You could swap the case for the Antec 902 and have no need for the extra case fans.

Other than that the specs and parts are good choices.

I agree. Well, I've been advised in more than one place to go for AMD on a budget build as there is a slight overall difference in price/performance. Other than that, I've not looked as deeply into Intel parts as AMD parts.

The case has one large 120mm on the front and a small 80mm on the back. It also has a side panel with space for a fan so I thought it would be worth £1 extra just to fit that extra 80mm fan to keep things cool.

I've looked into the Antec 902 but I'm not too keen on paying that much for a case (although I will if it's the best choice). Is the cooling on the Antec 902 not overkill for my specifications?

 

[andymcdougal]

Also, would it be possible to match these specifications on an Intel framework for the same price? The Intel processors seem to be more expensive...

 

[batuchka]

No worries - if your main intended task for rig is gaming u bang on the $$ ^^ I usually lightly OC an X4 925 on stock voltage to 3.4-3.5 ish but ya ^^

 

[obsidian86]

that case is of questionable quality

i would first look hard at the

antec 300

if its too much i would look even harder at the

antec 200

and if its still too much i would take this with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart

sunbeam freezing storm

 

[andymcdougal]

No worries - if your main intended task for rig is gaming u bang on the $$ ^^ I usually lightly OC an X4 925 on stock voltage to 3.4-3.5 ish but ya ^^

I would consider overclocking, but it is possible on a retail boxed processor?

 

[batuchka]

Yes i also stated my concerns about the case to TS in an earlier thread but think he is set on it but my take is though on a tight budget there could be slightly better options ^^

 

[andymcdougal]

that case is of questionable quality

i would first look hard at the

antec 300

if its too much i would look even harder at the

antec 200

and if its still too much i would take this with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart

sunbeam freezing storm

Thanks for the links, but that last one is just nasty to look at. LOL

I'll probably decide the case last so your advice has been taken.

 

[andymcdougal]

Yes i also stated my concerns about the case to TS in an earlier thread but think he is set on it but my take is though on a tight budget there could be slightly better options ^^

I heard ya buddy.

I'm still not decided on the case. :/

 

[batuchka]

I would consider overclocking, but it is possible on a retail boxed processor?

A Deneb at 3ghz is plenty for any/all games so if u aren't familiar with OCing learn slowly and if aiming for higher clock get an after market HSF down the road

 

[andymcdougal]

A Deneb at 3ghz is plenty for any/all games so if u aren't familiar with OCing learn slowly and if aiming for higher clock get an after market HSF down the road

That's good to hear. It's also good that it's possible to do this in the future. I'm not confident enough to do it now anyway. I've seen people I know blow up a motherboard in this way so I'm gonna leave it for now. :lol:

 

[obsidian86]

Amd's tuning guide for the dragon platform

 

[andymcdougal]

Why the AMD choice ?

I had a look at Intel processor for the same price but they are less future-proof (L2 instead of L3) and had less cache (4MB instead of 8MB).

 

[jsc]

Is the cooling on the Antec 902 not overkill for my specifications?

No such thing as overkill when you are talking about cooling.

 

[andymcdougal]

No such thing as overkill when you are talking about cooling.

Fair enough. I wasn't sure about the Antec 902 due to price but I've decided to get it to make future upgrades/builds cheaper.

 

[gkay09]

^ I would rather suggest the Antec 300 Illusion over the 902...Instead spend the extra cash on better components like the X4 955 - Its easy to overclock, has unlocked multiplier and also that 300 Illusion has good number of fans with very good airflow...
Other options - CM 690/ CM 590 Lian-Li K58...

And if you are still sure of spending that much money on the case, then the HAF 922 will get my vote over the 902 anytime - Very spacious, HDD access is the easy as they face sideways unlike in 902...

And planning for an overclock, then an after market CPU cooler will be a very good investment...
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/198976
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190542

 

[jsc]

Although I own three Antec 900 cases, I wasn't recommending a 902. However, you might want to look at the HAF cases also.

However, if you decide on the 902, be aware that it does not come with a case speaker.

 

[andymcdougal]

^ I would rather suggest the Antec 300 Illusion over the 902...Instead spend the extra cash on better components like the X4 955 - Its easy to overclock, has unlocked multiplier and also that 300 Illusion has good number of fans with very good airflow...
Other options - CM 690/ CM 590 Lian-Li K58...

And if you are still sure of spending that much money on the case, then the HAF 922 will get my vote over the 902 anytime - Very spacious, HDD access is the easy as they face sideways unlike in 902...

And planning for an overclock, then an after market CPU cooler will be a very good investment...
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/198976
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190542

I will look into those cases. Would you advise me to stay very clear of smaller brand named cases?

Another day. Good advice though. hehe

 

[andymcdougal]

Although I own three Antec 900 cases, I wasn't recommending a 902. However, you might want to look at the HAF cases also.

However, if you decide on the 902, be aware that it does not come with a case speaker.

Fair enough.

Thanks for that. I didn't realise that as the advert conveniently fails to mention this. :lol:

 

[gkay09]

I will look into those cases. Would you advise me to stay very clear of smaller brand named cases?

Which brand are you referring to ? The cases that has been discussed here are all of very good quality except that some are costly - including the HAF 922 which I was referring to...