Purchasing advice - Buying components versus prebuilts
145 replies, posted
[QUOTE=CombineGuru;17809429]Here you go Hezzy:
[img]http://img2.pict.com/4d/62/7a/1758123/0/800/hezzypc.jpg[/img]
[b]CombineGuru's Guide to building a PC[/b]
Put backplate on mobo (for cpu).
Put in I/O shield for case.
Screw mobo and PSU into case, run power from PSU to mobo.
Clip in the CPU, and apply thermal paste between the CPU core and the heatsink. Put on the heatsink and fan, and run the power from the fan to the board.
Run all fan power from the case to the board.
Run case front panel plugs, lights, and switches to the labelled pins on the mobo (will come with instructions).
Put RAM in.
Put graphics cards in, link with 2 crossfirex bridges, and run PSU PCI-E power connectors to both (2 each, I think).
Mount your HDD and dvd drive, and run power from the PSU and S-ATA from the mobo.
Boot up, in BIOS set DVD drive to priority 1.
Put in your windows cd, and install.
Install all drivers.
Voila.[/QUOTE]
That's still a little confusing for someone on a first-build.
Also Hezzy, you can OC to 4GHz with that cooler
I'm fine with building, replaced many a parts in my time. I'm crap at making it neat though.
What difference does the case make? Is there any reason to get a case above the 300? I'm not really fussed about what it looks like.
@CombineGuru, what's that graphics card? I've never heard of that make
[QUOTE=Hezzy;17809484]I'm fine with building, replaced many a parts in my time. I'm crap at making it neat though.
What difference does the case make? Is there any reason to get a case above the 300? I'm not really fussed about what it looks like.
@CombineGuru, what's that graphics card? I've never heard of that make[/QUOTE]
No performance gain unless you're going to get big into overclocking.
It's really all just preference. I like bigger cases cause there's more room for working / hiding cables and the like.
That case has much better airflow than the 300, and it comes with the fans too.
Gigabyte is a graphics card company, like Powercolor, Sapphire, or XFX.
It's just an ATI Radeon HD 5870.
[QUOTE=lazyV;17809498]No performance gain unless you're going to get big into overclocking.[/QUOTE]
Nah, I'm not going to touch overclocking. Already broke a processor from overclocking in the past.
If you don't want to OC...
[img]http://img2.pict.com/7e/5e/a9/1758208/0/800/hezzypc.jpg[/img]
First of all Get windows 7 from here : [url]http://www.microsoft.com/uk/education/studentoffer/[/url] if your at uni
Now for the rig:
[img]http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u101/JOVH/hezzybuild.png?t=1255435736[/img]
If I have missed anything then correct me, also at that price I would change the case to something a bit bigger but its up to you
or change the Hard drive to [url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173804[/url] or [url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150256[/url]
Apparently Alienware will come to your house and fix any problem with your computer for free.
At least that's what someone told me when he said he was getting an Alienware PC when I told him otherwise.
Radeon HD 5870:
[img]http://img2.pict.com/7e/5e/a9/1758208/0/800/hezzypc.jpg[/img]
2x Radeon HD 5850:
[img]http://img2.pict.com/77/bb/71/1758499/0/800/hezyy.jpg[/img]
Guys, stop recommending the i7-920. They're outperformed by the cheaper i5-750 by enough to make a difference.
i5 has no HT :<
Here's an i5 build though:
[img]http://img2.pict.com/3a/d4/97/1758829/0/800/hezzy2.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=altzicents;17810467]Guys, stop recommending the i7-920. They're outperformed by the cheaper i5-750 by enough to make a difference.[/QUOTE]
exactly what I've been telling everyone but will anyone listen?
the three excuses I've seen so far are "but you don't get triple channel" which is a terrible reason because you're just spending even more on RAM as well as MoBo and CPU
"but the socket isn't as good" which is retarded because you can't tell what's coming in the future, for all you know 1366 will only support the stupidly expensive options and 1156 will be the best bang/buck
"but what if one day you'll need HTing" unless the build is based around something that uses HTing this is a terrible reason to spend more now when you could get a better GPU/case/whatever for the amount saved
Unless he's going to be doing massive processing tasks such as encoding movies or rar'ing 1GB of files, he can do without it.
He doesn't need 1600MHz RAM either, 1333MHz is the same but cheaper. Differences are nowhere near significant if the timings are the same.
If he wants to upgrade to an i9 in the future, go for the i7-920, otherwise stick with the i5-750.
Well here's with 1333MHz RAM, but 1600MHz is fine imo, it's 2000MHz that's a scam:
[img]http://img2.pict.com/3e/28/2c/1758950/0/800/hezzeh.jpg[/img]
Try making one at Aria.co.uk and look at their super saver, sometimes is can be alot cheaper.
Doesn't look like a good site to me :/
I want something that will be upgradable in the future, the i7 seems like the right way to go because of that. An i5 seems like it'd just hold the rest of the system back. I'd rather pay an extra £40 or so and have it be flexible for upgrading
[QUOTE=Hezzy;17810920]I want something that will be upgradable in the future, the i7 seems like the right way to go because of that. An i5 seems like it'd just hold the rest of the system back[/QUOTE]
This:
[img]http://img2.pict.com/7e/5e/a9/1758208/0/800/hezzypc.jpg[/img]
Or this:
[img]http://img2.pict.com/77/bb/71/1758499/0/800/hezyy.jpg[/img]
then :c00l:
[editline]03:42PM[/editline]
Or swap the ram for this 1333MHz:
[url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159890[/url]
Although I'd still be inclined to go with the 1600MHz
[QUOTE=CombineGuru;17810935]This:
[img]http://img2.pict.com/7e/5e/a9/1758208/0/800/hezzypc.jpg[/img]
Or this:
[img]http://img2.pict.com/77/bb/71/1758499/0/800/hezyy.jpg[/img]
then :c00l:
[editline]03:42PM[/editline]
Or swap the ram for this 1333MHz:
[url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159890[/url]
Although I'd still be inclined to go with the 1600MHz[/QUOTE]
What are people's thoughts on these two?
[QUOTE=Hezzy;17810977]What are people's thoughts on these two?[/QUOTE]
They're pretty much the two I recommended but on a different site.
[editline]04:01PM[/editline]
So yeah, good shit.
[QUOTE=lazyV;17811075]They're pretty much the two I recommended but on a different site.
[editline]04:01PM[/editline]
So yeah, good shit.[/QUOTE]
Not really the same, lol.
Different PSU, GPU, and mobo.
[QUOTE=CombineGuru;17811089]Not really the same, lol.
Different PSU, GPU, and mobo.[/QUOTE]
Same motherboard, and there's no difference between brands of GPU.
You've got a different PSU, I'll give you that, but the OCZ is better than an Antec Earthwatts.
[editline]04:10PM[/editline]
Not that it really matters.
[QUOTE=Bengley;17808646]This is pretty much identical to what I'm going to be building, so yeah. Go with this one and don't let anyone tell you to get an i5 over an i7. It may be better at gaming, but you may never know what you might have to use your computer for one day. The extra threads are worth it.[/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3634&p=13[/url]
full review the 750 performs better at gaming and Identical at everything else other than 3dmark
[QUOTE=lazyV;17811144][b] there's no difference between brands of GPU.[/b]
[/QUOTE]
For some reason, the names Powercolor, Diamond, and Genuine GeForce make me shiver.
:ohdear:
[QUOTE=Hezzy;17810920]I want something that will be upgradable in the future, the i7 seems like the right way to go because of that. An i5 seems like it'd just hold the rest of the system back. I'd rather pay an extra £40 or so and have it be flexible for upgrading[/QUOTE]
it is a dead end socket, if you want future upgradablitiy you should go with AMD
Here's an AMD build, but I'd still prefer the i7 myself, simply because it's an i7.
[img]http://img2.pict.com/b6/de/6f/1759152/0/800/hezzehisbest.jpg[/img]
[img]http://filesmelt.com/downloader/CaptureHezzy.PNG[/img]
The 902 is a very, [b]very[/b] awesome case, I'm using it right now
Also I wouldn't normally suggest you get a PowerColor but they're the only stock ocuk have in
