£550 computer build help

Processor
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech [...] GIBOX.html
£5 more, more power
PSU
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech [...] XS-UK.html

Sorry, but I *do* ... That difficult for you to ignore? ... And, since there could not possibly be any harm ... that would make your statement quite prissy, to my eyes.

= Peace =

yes i will buy that graphics card and psu however the cpu i looked at benchmarks and in game the 550 out performed the athlon. also as it is a black edition it is better overclocked. what do you think? and has anyone got any suggestions on a good cpu cooler for overclocking?

I offer you a proverbial handshake Alvin. Sorry for being a prissy fool.

I think the top CPU out of those two will depend on which game. If you've done the research and it's clear to you that the Phenom is better in the games you want to play, then fair enough. I will end by underlining that I was also suggesting the Althon for the advantage of being potentially more able/more likely to get a quad core out of it, I understand if you're not interested in that.

I'm kinda put off from suggesting a heatsink not knowing the dimensions of that case and therefore not being able to imagine how much space there is inside the case. Considering that you have about £25 for heatsink and thermal compound, something like this: Zalman CNPS7500-CU LED, Scythe Shuriken SCSK-1100 or Cooler Master Hyper TX3?

Ah yea, according to one of the reviews it is (HxDxW) = 41cm x 48cm x 18cm
Which isn't a lot of room really, so look for low profile ones. The tallest of the ones I suggested was 14cm, which was the Cooler Master, which might be a bit tight, buy any of those three should be fine.

Well I was fine on really slow 1GB of RAM for ages on two different systems, so 2GB of fast new RAM should be fine, if not desirable or perfect for a new system, for awhile at least until you can afford to get more. On a tight budget it probably is better to compromise on the RAM before anything else as it is so easy to upgrade.
And I had a quick look at RAM. Sometimes I wonder whether it's better to get a single 2GB stick now then buy another one when you can afford it to make it 2x2GB of RAM, rather than 4x1GB. When building it might be cheaper, but then you have to potentially worry about getting another matching stick.

Well you could but I meant get one extra stick, rather than two. Dual channel is supposed to be better than single channel. And I'm under the impression that two DIMM slots being used is more likely to be more stable than using all four DIMM slots - don't know how true/accurate this is. Like I said compromise now, by going single channel and only 2GB, and improve later when you have the money by getting 4GB in dual channel for the system.

Ideally you would buy another stick of exactly the same RAM from exactly the same manufacturer, as it maximises the chance of them working together. However you are quite likely to hear stories of people putting totally different RAM into the same system and it working. So if you can't get exactly the same stick, try and get one with the same speed, voltage, and latency. Availability of hardware can change quite drastically.

I've suggested getting a single stick of 2GB before and then adding another stick, never heard back from those people, so don't know what experiences they've had. And the reason I do it is because I thought it would be better for them to not have to replace/let those 1GB sticks go to waste if they wanted to get 4GB in dual channel or upgrade to 8GB.
Hopefully I haven't made you dizzy with all that.

Depends on lots of things ... Some mobos only OC on ch 0 and ch 1 so, full population is bad with those brds. If running at std clock, on one of these same brds, then full population is just a tiny/slight bit faster, because less latency in paging.

If on an "all slot OC" board then full pop is the way to go ...

Remember three things, tho ...

1) Full pop better be all the mem you ever need ... cause u r outta slots.

2) MORE memory, will make your system faster than Faster memory.

3) The more you OC, the more the 2x2 ch paging advantage is multiplied.

So if you are running stock ... Go with a 2 stick kit. Room to grow.

If you have a 4xOC mobo, AND you are max OC ... Then fully populate.

= Alvin = <<< Regardless ... the user is unlikely to perceive the difference.

And, yeah ... the more you OC the less stable (cross-timing) on a fully populated build. A tested/regulated kit (with satisfaction guarantee), would be worth a little more.

I think ill leave that to someone else to analyse what the system can achive.

I think in general that ebuyer is cheaper for most of the parts that you have selected, bit OC do a free shipping option that says 5 working days but in my experience i recieve the products within 2 generally. Worth baring in mind but i know what you eman it does tend to be easier to order from one place.

Have fun building the system.

Ok cheers for help on ram I think to save trouble I will try an get 4gb set. Again anyone like to say what fps this rig would give in some games please?

I decided on 5770 but the non xxx edition. I will change my original post tomoro to my final build

? why did u quote this?