Building a new desktop

[that1guy28]

Using graduation money to buy a new pc, price range is 1k-1300, trying to keep it as low as possible without sacrificing performance, and would like it to last me four years minimum. Any thoughts or suggestiosn would be appreciated.

Case - Silverstone Temjin SST
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811163030

Motherboard - DFI Infinity 975x
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813136168

CPU - Intel Core 2 E6300
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115005

RAM - Mushkin 1gb 240pinDDR2 pc5300
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820146438

PSU - Mushkin 550w
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817812002

Cooling - Thermaltake BigWater 745
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835106074

Video Card - xfx Geforce 7900gt 256mb
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150150

Hard Drive - WD 250gb sata
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150150

Im most interested about thoughts conceringing the water coolign as this is the first time i've used it with anything, not sure how it will fit in the case.

 

[PurdueRy]

I would prefer this PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104934

I would also not go water cooling. Less reliable at college and also eats into your budget quite a bit. You can OC on air pretty well with these new processors, their not the old Athlons or Prescott's

Use the money you save by using air cooling to get another gig of ram

 

[L00ker]

Originally posted by: that1guy28
Using graduation money to buy a new pc, price range is 1k-1300, trying to keep it as low as possible without sacrificing performance, and would like it to last me four years minimum. Any thoughts or suggestiosn would be appreciated.


Cooling - Thermaltake BigWater 745
-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835106074



Im most interested about thoughts conceringing the water coolign as this is the first time i've used it with anything, not sure how it will fit in the case.

I have a Bigwater 735 and while I get decent results from it (temps seem to never get over 40*C) I wouldn't recommend it, for a little more loot this can be done a lot better with MUCH higher quality parts which I found out after I bought mine. Check out overclockers UK (google it since I don't know the url offhand) and petra's tech shop both have really good starter kits that are a much better platform to start with.

 

[that1guy28]

less reliable? i was hoping to oc a bit, how high do you thinki could go on air? also, if i was going to air cool i was thinking about switching to the antec p180 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129154)

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: that1guy28
less reliable? i was hoping to oc a bit, how high do you thinki could go on air? also, if i was going to air cool i was thinking about switching to the antec p180 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129154)

You will definitely be able to OC on air, and the P180 is a pretty decent case. And yes, I would generally say water cooling is less reliable as you have a chance of pump failure and water leaking.

 

[that1guy28]

will the case make much of a difference since im going air cooled? any reccomendations?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: that1guy28
will the case make much of a difference since im going air cooled? any reccomendations?

yes it will and I think you made a good choice for a case with lots of air flow

 

[that1guy28]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: that1guy28
will the case make much of a difference since im going air cooled? any reccomendations?

yes it will and I think you made a good choice for a case with lots of air flow

referring to the p180 i take it? any thoughts on the thermaltake tsunami or some of the lowe priced lian-li's?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: that1guy28

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: that1guy28
will the case make much of a difference since im going air cooled? any reccomendations?

yes it will and I think you made a good choice for a case with lots of air flow

referring to the p180 i take it? any thoughts on the thermaltake tsunami or some of the lowe priced lian-li's?

Yes the P180

I have never used a Lian-Li but supposedly they are nice.

The TT I was considering at one point but then I read about how the side panel was very thin material and it had some odd clips over the PCI slots.

 

[that1guy28]

looks like i will pick the antec up then . ive been looking at reviews and everythign seems to be pretty much fail-safe. would i see more improvement from a raptor drive or the 3gb/s sata?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: that1guy28
looks like i will pick the antec up then . ive been looking at reviews and everythign seems to be pretty much fail-safe. would i see more improvement from a raptor drive or the 3gb/s sata?

save your money for things that matter more...like that extra gig of ram.

 

[that1guy28]

any comments on the ram? does it seem like a solid choice or is there some better straight ddr, it was between that and ocz perfromance.

also, know anythign about fan controllers? worried about how loud it willbe if i leave it on during the night

 

[PurdueRy]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145098

As long as you use 120mm fans that aren't made to create a black hole...I don't think you will find it that loud

 

[Skott]

Did they improve that mobo's ability to OC high yet? Originally it had low max fsb settings (low 300s).