Im a first time PC builder and have put together a list of the following components. Please could you guys tell me if this is a practical build and if not what should i alter to improve the build? MotherBoard : MSI K9A2 CF-F Socket AM2+ 790X DDR2 7.1 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard £55 Processor: AMD Phenom 9550 Socket AM2+ 2.2GHz 4MB L2 Cache Retail Boxed Processor £98.50 GFX Card: Choices 1) DeliveryXFX 9600GT 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card £83 2) XFX 8800GS 384MB DDR3 (580MHz) Dual DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card £83 3) Sapphire HD 3850 Pro 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI TVOut PCI-E Graphics card £85 Really could do with some help on this Ram: OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800Mhz/PC2-6400 Memory GOLD DUAL CHANNEL Unbuffered (£57) Hard Drive: Samsung HD753LJ 750GB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm *32MB Cache* - OEM (£60) Pioneer BDC-202 Blu-Ray Reader 12X DVD±RWDL/RAM SATA Black – OEM £75 PSU: Arctic Power 700W PSU - With PCI-E, 4x SATA, 20+4, ATX12V, 8pin +12V Connectors £41 Mother board: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136238 Processor: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143261 GFX card: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148012/show_product_overview http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139942/show_product_overview http://www.ebuyer.com/product/138827 (£90ish either nvidia or ATI Any ideas welcome) Ram: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146049 HD: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139739 Blueray(reader)/ dvd,cd writer: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130747 pSU: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/124927 case: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=224614
The Intel core 2 Quad Q6600 is only £110 or so, and is much faster than the 9550 Phenom - a suitable motherboard to go with that would be the EP35-DS3L for about £50. For your graphics card, I'd go with either the XFX 9600GT or a Radeon HD4850 for about £115. RAM I'd use Corsair rather than OCZ, similar price, better product> HDD is fine, Bluray reader is fine assuming you will use it, PSU is crap - use a Corsair HX 520W, that will be enough, it's the brand that counts. I'd also try and veer you off that case, it's not very well cooled and high end hardware like what you're using will probably overheat in it. A case like the Antec Three Hundred (£30 or so from stores like ebuyer, overclockers etc.) is miles better.
I don't like it. It's barely as fast as the Q6600, costs a substantial amount, and uses a lot more power, thus generating more heat, and the nail in the coffin is that it can't be overclocked, and I don't think it even comes with a stock heatsink should you not want to OC it... I used to be an AMD fan and for corporate balance I should really not be biased towards intel but frankly, there isn't a lot going for the Phenoms other than good ideas on paper right now.
A standard one will do OK, if you want to try overclocking however, I'd strongly recommend getting an aftermarket one, at least a freezer 7 pro, if not a tuniq tower.
Well I've already given you one, the Antec Three Hundred. If you don't like that, then cases like the NZXT Alpha and Coolermaster RC-590 will suffice.
Hello again at the risk of making you punch me in the face through the screen can i bother you again? If so would the antec sonata 3 be a viable option? or would the power supply provided and cooling be insufficient? http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=08143 I wouldnt have asked but the case looks kickass
The Sonata is what I would call 'adequate' - it'll do, but it's a case built for quiet, not for cool. Especially if you're overclocking I'd ideally suggest you look elsewhere.
whats your budget mate? also about the AMD power usage. yeah it does use more power, but then again it does have a NB within itself, so i guess that makes up for it
