Thank you forum!

[Posset_Rob]

Hello

I have limited computer building knowledge but after doing a lot of research, mainly reading this forum (Thank you!), I think I have made a decision on what parts I will use to build my PC but before I buy them I was hoping I could get some confirmation from anyone that these will all work together ok. Also does anything stand out as a bad idea or is there an area that I am wasting needless money?

MoBo: Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?ASU-P5QP
Pro: Intel Quad Core Q6600
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?IL-Q6600E
Ram: Corsair XMS2 4GB
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?CSR-X644G5
GC: ATI HD4850 512MB
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOV-4850
Case: Thermaltake Soprano
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?TT-SOPSW
PSU: Corsair Memory 650W TX
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?CSR-650TX
Processor Cooling: Artic Cooling Freezer 7
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?AC-FREEZ7P
System: Vista Home Premium OEM
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?MS-VHP32O

Any help or advice would be much appreciated
Thank you
Rob

[XFi]

Should all be fine! I haven't heard great things about the ASUS P5Q boards but im sure it'll be ok and overclock half decent too.

[Baggpuss]

A fair few people have that mobo so i wouldnt worry. However i see you are getting 4 gigs of ram, are you planning on getting the 64 bit version of vista? otherwise the 32 bit version will only see 3 and a bit gigs of the ram

[sniperdude]

looks great mate everything you have there gets recommended to others here everyday with good reason


2 things i have noticed, no hard drive or cd drives ? (i recommend western digital blue hard drive)

and you should google some reviews about the case and be sure that's what you want

[system7]

I think the Thermaltake Soprano with Window looks rather nice:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/7048/s4021579wo7.jpg

[Posset_Rob]

Cheers Guys


However i see you are getting 4 gigs of ram, are you planning on getting the 64 bit version of vista? otherwise the 32 bit version will only see 3 and a bit gigs of the ram

I am getting the 32 bit version so does this mean I can put in the 4 gigs but will just get 3 and a bit gigs out of it (because that's fine) or does it mean that I can't use the 4 gigs ram and have to buy say only 2 gigs for it to work?


2 things i have noticed, no hard drive or cd drives ? (i recommend western digital blue hard drive)

Good point! Should these be OK:

Western Digital Caviar Blue 320Gb
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?WD-3200KS
Samsung Lightscribe S223Q
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?SAM-S223Q

Thanks
Rob

[Baggpuss]

having that much ram is fine, just be aware that your system wont actually be using all of it.

As for the drives both should be fine, but its probably not that much more to get a 500gb drive (unless your sure you will never need that much space)

[minizx]

I would change your cpu from the q6600 to the q8300

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?IL-Q8300

for only a few pounds you get a better chip

[Mechanics Fan]

Samsung Lightscribe S223Q
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?SAM-S223Q

I have that DVD rewriter and am having compatibility problems (it looks to be the SATA model only) which Novatech's Tech Support people are looking at for me. It also features in this topic (http://forum.novatech.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5210). You may want to select another DVD drive.

Hope this helps

John

[sniperdude]

the hard drive you picked isnt in stock so i picked the 500gb one



http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?WD-5AAKS

[jaymyer79]

I would change your cpu from the q6600 to the q8300

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?IL-Q8300

for only a few pounds you get a better chip

I would favour the Q6600 over the Q8300. More potential for overclocking and generally a better chip.

[sniperdude]

I would change your cpu from the q6600 to the q8300

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?IL-Q8300

for only a few pounds you get a better chip

no its just abit faster at stock the Q6600 is about the best quad core

you get more for your money with a simple overclock to 3ghz without voltage changes on the most part

[sniperdude]

I think the Thermaltake Soprano with Window looks rather nice:

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/7048/s4021579wo7.jpg

the black one looks quite nice i must agree looking at the pic but i don't think much of the silver

[jaymyer79]

the black one looks quite nice i must agree looking at the pic but i don't think much of the silver

My friend has the silver one and I've never liked the look of it. Looks like a mini fridge. Black one with window is nicer - can't really go wrong with black.

[minizx]

no its just abit faster at stock the Q6600 is about the best quad core

you get more for your money with a simple overclock to 3ghz without voltage changes on the most part


I was just taking one of those eduficated guesses that he wouldnt be overclocking because he said he had limited knowledge about computers, i should of asked but the coffee doesnt kick in until around midday

[Posset_Rob]

Thanks for the advice

Yeah, think I will go for the 500gb harddrive as it only costs a little bit more.
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?WD-5AAKS


I have that DVD rewriter and am having compatibility problems (it looks to be the SATA model only) which Novatech's Tech Support people are looking at for me. It also features in this topic (http://forum.novatech.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5210). You may want to select another DVD drive.

I just had a read of the DVD drive forum and loads of people seem to be having problems with it. So how about this?:

Pioneer DVR-216DBK 20x DVDRW
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?PIO-216BK


I was just taking one of those eduficated guesses that he wouldnt be overclocking because he said he had limited knowledge about computers, i should of asked but the coffee doesnt kick in until around midday

You're right - I don't know anything about overclocking. However, I've enjoyed getting to know more about computers these last few weeks and would quite like to learn more about overclocking in the future. So will probably go for the Q6600.

The case definitely looks better in black than silver but I live in Portishead and want to pick up the computer parts from the shop but they don't have the black one in stock.

[Blowfish]

I'm looking at a very similar system. Those specs look good to me too.

Why have you decided to opt for 32bit Vista instead of the 64bit variety?

[Posset_Rob]

Why have you decided to opt for 32bit Vista instead of the 64bit variety?

Because it appears to be the 'standard' version and the website says for the 64bit version that driver availability is limited.

[Blowfish]

I don't put myself forward to be an expert, but a lot of people argue that using a 32 bit os with a 64 bit processor is not maximising the potential of your system.

As to compatibility issues there appears to be little difference in software use.
With hardware all you need to do is check that 64 bit drivers are available for all your peripherals.

[Baggpuss]

True it is the one thats more widely used, but the limited availability of 64-bit drivers isnt that bad now. Is always worth checking if you have specific programs you wanna use to see if they will work. There isnt anything actually wrong with using the 32-bit version tho.

[Yorkshire_Man]

Would recommend the P5Q Pro, fantastic motherboard. Personally i would go with either the Q8200 or Q8300 rather than the Q6600 as they are the new 45nm quad cores and the Q6600 is going to be phased out.

Edit - would also recommend the Akasa 965 cooler (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?AKA-965) its cheaper and just as good, if not better.

[Baggpuss]

From what ive gathered the 6600 is preferred over the 8200 and 8300

[Yorkshire_Man]

From what ive gathered the 6600 is preferred over the 8200 and 8300
Depends how you look at it, many people will now suggest a Q8000 series as they are basically the new replacement for the Q6000 series.

[jaymyer79]

Depends how you look at it, many people will now suggest a Q8000 series as they are basically the new replacement for the Q6000 series.

I wouldn't recommend the Q8200 or 8300 to anyone. There's just better cpu's out there and Q6600 is one of them. I'm swapping my Q8200 for a better chip as soon as I can afford it.
Stick with ya Q6600 as planned.

[Blowfish]

I wouldn't recommend the Q8200 or 8300 to anyone. There's just better cpu's out there and Q6600 is one of them.

I agree. With its increase in cache over the Q82/300 and its proven record of overclockability the Q6600 is still an excellent choice.

Just because something may be phased out soon doesn't mean it's not as good as something else which is newer.

In theory the thinner Q8*** series should be more overclockable as they run cooler, but reports suggest this is not the case.

;-)