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On December 26 2011 10:07 Tracil wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Hi, just put together a set of components that I'm looking at. Budget taken from www.centrecom.com.auMB: Asus P8P67-M-V3 Intel Mainboard (B3 Stepping) - LGA 1155 $139.0 PSU: XFX ProSeries 550W Core Edition $82.50 Processor: Intel CPU Core i5-2500 - LGA 1155 $220.0 RAM: Kingston DDR3 8GB PC-10600/1333 (2x4GB) CL9 Value Ram $44.00 VGA: Gigabyte nVidia GTX560 Ti OC 1GB $264.00 SSD: Kingston 128GB SSDNow V200 Series, SATA II/III, TRIM, 2.5" $199.00 Case: Cooler Master Elite 335 $49.50 DVD: LG Blu-Ray Reader & DVD/CD Burner (CH12LS28) $69.00 Already own all the peripherals I'll need. I think this is pretty tight, but there's a few points I'm concerned about. 1: I don't have any intentions to overclock from the outset, but as a would-be tinkerer, it's something that I might get to down the line. Is this machine amenable to overclocking, and what sort of additional cooling would I need to purchase? In fact, should I be looking into cooling anyway? 2: I'm terrible at selecting cases. I don't know what criteria I should be looking into, and I feel like I need to actually go see the real thing and open it up to know if the components will fit. Are there any recommendations here, and will the Coolermaster Elite be sufficient? 3: Will running dual monitors be possible with this? I'm assuming so, but want to check. My budget is around $1k, give or take a couple hundred.
The core i5 2500 has a limited multiplier so you will only be able to overclock it by 400MHz. If you want to do real overclocking, you'll need a core i5 2500k, K signifying an unlocked multiplier. If you are going to overclock, it is recommended you get an aftermarket heatsink.
Case is just personal preference. You're just paying for construction, tool-less features, and aesthetics. A case will last you through multiple builds so keep this in mind when investing in a case. I would get a Bitfenix Shinobi: http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/kkn1-bitfenix-shinobi-black-p-55433.html?sort=2a
Yes running two monitors with this configuration is possible.
Get the P8Z68-M Pro instead: http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/p8z68-asus-p8z68-intel-mainboard-1155-p-53532.html
I would get the MSI GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II instead: http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/n560gtx-twinfiioc-nvidia-gtx560ti-twin-frozr-iioc-p-53016.html
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Hi there, I got a computer built here a little while ago, and it was a great experience for me. Still going strong no problems. Now a friend is asking for advice "picking out" a new computer. After my experiences here, my reflex is to tell him to build his own. He's sceptical that he'll be able to get what he wants, and he doesn't think he'd actually get around to building it. His budget is about 600$ maybe a little more. He wants to play SC2 on reasonably high settings. He plays on low now, and playing on ultra is not a must have, but he is considering investing in new internet and alongside this upgrade he would like the ability to stream at a high resolution. However, once it's built that's basically it. No overclocking or anything. Not sure on his resolution, but I think he's buying a monitor on top of the listed budget. I don't think he would necessarily need 1920x1080 if that compromises streaming and performance. I don't know how he would get an operating system. If it could be fit into the budget, great. (I realize that is nigh impossible) So I'm not sure what he would do for that.
If you could suggest something that would be great. I built my computer, so from that I feel like I have lots more knowledge than I did before, but obviously not nearly the level of knowledge possessed here. I know you hate prebuilts, but if you could suggest one that would just barely meet his requirements and pacify him, that would also be an option. He lives in Kingston.
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just bought an intel 320 ssd 80gb, still waiting for my copy of windows 7 64bit. My question is do i need to format the drive? Cause right now i cant see it in my computer -> hard disk drives
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On December 26 2011 10:20 scarymeerkat wrote:+ Show Spoiler +Hi there, I got a computer built here a little while ago, and it was a great experience for me. Still going strong no problems. Now a friend is asking for advice "picking out" a new computer. After my experiences here, my reflex is to tell him to build his own. He's sceptical that he'll be able to get what he wants, and he doesn't think he'd actually get around to building it. His budget is about 600$ maybe a little more. He wants to play SC2 on reasonably high settings. He plays on low now, and playing on ultra is not a must have, but he is considering investing in new internet and alongside this upgrade he would like the ability to stream at a high resolution. However, once it's built that's basically it. No overclocking or anything. Not sure on his resolution, but I think he's buying a monitor on top of the listed budget. I don't think he would necessarily need 1920x1080 if that compromises streaming and performance. I don't know how he would get an operating system. If it could be fit into the budget, great. (I realize that is nigh impossible) So I'm not sure what he would do for that.
If you could suggest something that would be great. I built my computer, so from that I feel like I have lots more knowledge than I did before, but obviously not nearly the level of knowledge possessed here. I know you hate prebuilts, but if you could suggest one that would just barely meet his requirements and pacify him, that would also be an option. He lives in Kingston
With a $600 budget, $100 goes towards the monitor and $100 goes towards Windows 7 if it can't be obtained through other means. That leaves you with $400 to work with for the configuration itself. This won't be enough to achieve what he's looking for unfortunately (being able to stream at a high resolution - assuming 1080p, and play on high settings).
With a $700 budget, I guess this might be somewhat achievable with boxing day sales though most of the good deals are already sold out.
On December 26 2011 10:24 iKill[ShocK] wrote:
just bought an intel 320 ssd 80gb, still waiting for my copy of windows 7 64bit. My question is do i need to format the drive? Cause right now i cant see it in my computer -> hard disk drives
You need to go into Disk Management (Right Click Computer > Manage > Storage > Disk Management)and assign it a letter.
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So he says that a monitor and OS do not need to be included in the 600$ budget. And his resolution may be in the 1336x768 (these numbers make me mad) and 1440x900 range. Any suggestions now?
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I thought he was buying a new monitor so why would the resolution be so low? -.-' Its boxing week / day so 1080p monitors can be had for sub $100.
nvm CyberPower is stupid.
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Well, I think he may just stick with his current monitor. Or get another one in a while. I'm not entirely sure. He also may have money to spend on top of that.
What was your configuration for that?
Edit: okay haha.
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Basically for $600, you can get NCIX to assmble something like:
assembly fee: $50
Intel Core i5 2300: $180
Radeon HD5770: $110
h61: $60
4gb: $20
500gb hdd: $90
dvd burner: $17
cx430v2: $40
case: $40
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Okay. I'll recommend that to him. What will that be capable of?
EDIT: I'm looking at NCIX's builder and I'm unsure how to get the specific parts you listed in there. Processor and graphics card specifically seem unavailable. Also, is there any way to get holiday sales and whatnot on those parts?
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It'll be able to stream at 720p decently and play most games on reasonably high settings at 1440x900. When he upgrades to a 1080p monitor, it'll still be able to play Starcraft II on reasonably high settings but other more graphic intensive games, the settings will need to be turned down.
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Ya, I got the cpu and the ram but I missed on that 2T harddrive for like 70$ and I think a 6970 for under 300$ cause im a noob 
I appreciate you taking the time to give me that build, but I also missed on the EVGA 560ti, so I am thinking of getting the 6950 MSI for 200$ After MIR: http://ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=64182&vpn=R6950 Twin Frozr III 1G/OC&manufacture=MSI/MicroStar&promoid=1301
or 560Ti Gigabyte for 180$ After MIR: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX32151
and I will be switching the case to a lanboy @ 165$ with tax and shipping, unless there is something really wrong with it (I am guessing its not ideal)
I was wondering if everything else would still be good for ordering tonight with the 2 changes. I already checked that the hyper 212+ will fit in the case but I dont know if the psu is missing any connections if I go with the 6950 (Im guessing the Watt is more than enough)
Thank you again,
Ata
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The Seasonic S12II is fine. I would pick the MSI Twin Frozr III 6950 over the Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti.
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Can anyone recommend a good heat sink for a AMD Phenom II X4 955 4cpu (3.2ghz) AM3 cpu socket something that wont go up to 70+ at full load as the CPU has been getting really hot lately. was thinking about getting this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200014&RandomID=57776681213224220111225181204 as people say its better than the stock fan.
Also thanks for the tips on the video card ended up going with the HD 6850 and got it recently it likes a kitten compared to my old one nice and cool.
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On December 26 2011 10:04 Wabbit wrote:
Not only is the Antec High Current Gamer 520 linked to you by 3Wom way more than enough, it's also higher quality than that Corsair GS.
They're going to over-recommend on the "wattage" because a lot of people have a trash PSU that can barely deliver half the wattage it's labeled for, or they have some insane config with 8 HDD's and a 5.0GHz OC'd bulldozer... basically they're covering their ass. Your system is hardly going to exceed ~300W under load, ~350 when you do some CPU OC'ing.
I disagree. Corsair GS (CWT PSHII) is better than Antec High Current Gamer 620W and below (Seasonic S12II) in my opinion. S12II does group regulation fairly well, but PSHII is individual voltage regulation and has a few less quirks maybe. Furthermore, the Yate Loon fan in the Corsair isn't the quietest, but the particular ADDA fan in the Antec seems to be more prone to clicking at low loads than the usual ADDA model Seasonic uses. Overkill is right though.
Yes it fits, but almost always I'd recommend getting a wireless adapter that's not stuck to the back of the case where reception may be blocked by the chassis or just poor anyway. Reception is usually worse lower to the ground, anyway. Adapters with external antennas are therefore preferred.
For USB models you can use a M/F USB extension cord if one is not supplied, and raise it up somewhere.
So this or maybe something with two antennas if the 802.11n router supports two spatial streams and the extra data rate is actually needed (for most people no, since they're just transferring to outside of the home network, where the link to the ISP is the bottleneck by far).
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=44688&promoid=1301
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Okay, skyR, Myrmidon. This is the best i could do... Also he says he might be willing to put it together himself. But it really seems to me based on the prices you quoted that some improvements could be made.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Tw8BZ.png)
EDIT: total here is 681. too high for him. ideally price would be reduced by about 100.
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That can easily be reduced by $100 with pricematching.
Radeon HD6770 can be pricematched to ~$110.
A core i5 can be pricematched to ~$190.
4gb can be pricematched to $20.
CX430 V2 can be pricematched to $40.
HDD can be had or pricematched to $90.
case can be pricematched to sub $40.
You can pricematch yourself using various other Canadian retailers such as Best Direct, Direct Canada, Canada Computers, Memory Express, etc. If you're buying sometime soon (in the next few days) than I can help you with pricematching.
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If a HD 6770 is available, that's the same as a HD 5770, so when people say one, they mean either. HD 5770 may be difficult to find by this time. As noted above, you can certainly do better on pricing with price matches, to be able to get the total lower.
If necessary, you can drop down to GTS 450 or GTS 250, which aren't much worse. HD 6670 or HD 6570 are further down but okay for low resolutions.
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On December 26 2011 11:23 Myrmidon wrote:
I disagree. Corsair GS (CWT PSHII) is better than Antec High Current Gamer 620W and below (Seasonic S12II) in my opinion. S12II does group regulation fairly well, but PSHII is individual voltage regulation and has a few less quirks maybe. Furthermore, the Yate Loon fan in the Corsair isn't the quietest, but the particular ADDA fan in the Antec seems to be more prone to clicking at low loads than the usual ADDA model Seasonic uses. Overkill is right though.
Ï know you know way more than I do, so in the interest of learning, may I ask for a little of your time to explain:
"PSHII is individual voltage regulation and has a few less quirks maybe" (emphasis mine)
I think you're hinting at the possibility of crossloading here with the "maybe", not sure when that would happen in a modern system though.
Also from the reviews I've seen of the PSHII, the voltage regulation is actually worse. TweakTown's review of the GS800 (assuming it's not flawed and that it transfers to the 600) shows it actually goes out of spec on 5V, dropping too low. Ripple is also higher on the GS/PSHII than the S12II.
The only issue I see as worrisome with the Antec is the fan.
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EPT
