New Build help

Hello peoples, :)

I`m thinking about building a machine for my son and although I have taken many machines apart and put them together again, I have never actually bought all the parts myself. I`m a bit scared I`ll buy parts that are incompatible.
So, I`m here to ask for advice from all you guys who build your own. :)

My son is a web site designer and also does music recording/mixing etc. He wants a very fast machine for this type of work, but it does not have to be a gaming machine. Intensive graphics is the main thing.

I`m hoping to be able to meet these specifications without breaking the bank.

Here is what I have in mind

Case Better to be cooool!

Gigabyte Motherboard. Which one?

Intel Core2 Duo 2GHz or so. I have heard that the 2GHz is the best value for money, but I am not against a bigger one if it would be better.
Does the fan come with it?

512MB Graphics card. Which one?

Sound card. Which one? Not so important as graphics card.

PSU maybe 600 Watt. Which one?

3GB DDR RAM

Seagate Barracuda 7200 320GB

DVD-RW Drive. Which one?

And of course, I`ll be getting Vista Ultimate too.
Have I forgotten anything?

I am open to all suggestions and changes to the above as I am looking for the best setup for his needs at the best price

I`m fine at buying replacements, but remember I`m pretty clueless about actually buying all this stuff new and making sure it`s all compatible.

Anyone got a rough estimate what this will cost?

Thanks

Elaine

Short on time, but will fill in a couple of blanks....

If you buy a "retail" version CPU it will come with heatsink and fan and should be fine with "stock" equiptment.

The C2D comes in three different FSB(front side bus) 800, 1066 & 1333. 1333 being the better/faster/more expensive...

Mobo - should consider ASUS too....As I recall the P35 chipset is the one to consider. Am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong on that.
You'll be needing DDR2 ram which is newer and happens to be cheaper then the older DDR.

Elaine

You could pick up some helpful info (and some very competitive UK prices) via Overclockers UK (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/). Their forums are full of useful discussion on components and which is the best. I always use them when (re)building PCs.

Are you SURE you want Vista? :eek:

Steve
Thanks for that. I will keep it all in mind :)

mhl
I don`t know that site. I`ll have a look at it. Are you saying it is very good for prices for anything I would want to buy from them?
Vista.......yes, he wants Vista :)


Elaine

If you want a cool case, then Thermaltake are very nice, and beautifully made.

If gaming isn't a consideration, then I would suggest that the graphics card isn't very critical. On the other hand, for music mixing and recording the sound card is. I'd definitely recommend one of the Creative X-Fi series, one of the high end ones, as they have drive bays or breakout boxes that make life very easy for that kind of work (as well as sounding simply awesome :) ).

My favourite power supplies are Tagan. OCZ, Thermaltake, Enermax, Hiper or Xion are also excellent.

I've been very pleased with my LG DVD burners, and I'd certainly buy them again.

Does he want a CAD type graphics card? Or is it just web design?

Personally, i'd go E6750 for a dual core, or a Q6600 for quad, depends if the apps he uses will utilise all four cores, if they can then it can be a big advantage, and either with the stock cooler would be fine. 4gb of RAM with Vista x64, 2 x 2gb kits of OCZ are coming down to £70, a Gigabyte P35 DS4/DQ6 would be my choice, look for the second revisions of both, as they have better cooling (Heatpipes). If he wants a gaming card then the 8800GT is too good to pass up, single slot cooled, 512mb, single PCI-E plug (6-pin), and DX10 goodness for Vista. I'd go for an AAKS over a seagate, and probably a 500gb for around £50-55. Asus/Liteon burner, maybe SATA, depends on case and cable management. :D

The Creative X-Fi Fatal1ty Platinum may be useful too, with the front panel and a range of inputs, he may find it useful for recording etc.

Liam

Thanks everyone for all the information.

Liam he does not use CAD he is just doing web design although the graphics are pretty intensive.

I`ve got a lot to think about, but at the moment it looks a bit more expensive than I had thought :eek:

Elaine

If it's easier, just post your budget for the complete rig (assuming he already has a monitor/keyboard/mouse that he can use with this) and i'll spec you to a budget, including P+P. :)


Liam

Thanks for the offer Liam, that would be wonderful. I just can`t keep up with the technology these days :confused: It changes so often. I know I (you :) ) can build a better machine than buying a brand name for the same money.

I think I should not have emphasised the music side earlier. This has kind of fallen by the wayside at the moment as the websites have taken over his life.
So to add to what I first wrote, the graphics card is more important than the sound card. He could always buy a better sound card in the future if he needed it.

He has good monitors, keyboard and mouse. That`s well remembered, the system has to support dual monitors as does always use 2.

How about £700-£750 as I will have to lay out over £100 for Vista (32bit)too. The best you can find for that money please. Less would be even better :D Do you enjoy a challenge like this :)

Many thanks
Elaine

It's what i do. :D

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/2165/123it9.jpg

Slightly over budget, but includes next day delivery (£12), but if your top end is £750 then change the motherboard for a Gigabyte DS3P/R, BTW i added 2 x 2gb kits, i know you plan to run 32bit Vista (Worried about drivers?) but its cheap, and would mean you mixing brands if you want 3gb physically.


Liam

Wow...that was quick It certainly looks good to me :)

How about a DVD-RW drive Liam?

Where is it from?

Thanks very much for this

Elaine

Ock, no, forgot a DVD-RW *slaps head*. :D

I swear they go cheaper everyday: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...tid=10&subcat=

It's all from Overclockers by the way.

No problemo.

Liam

So grateful Liam :)

I shall mull all this over with the hubby....not much help there though as he still needs shown how to copy and paste :D He is interested in the money though :rolleyes:

There`s nothing special I need to know about assembling this little lot is there? All just straightforward, as usual?

Lookin good

Elaine

The only difference with the newer sockets is the gate, you lift the lever, open the gate (Lift the metal flap) and then drop in the processor.

It should be even easier with the Antec case i suggested, afaik it is tool-less, and well layed out...the only way it may differ from previous cases you've used is the fact that the PSU mounts at the bottom of the case, but as the PSU mentioned is modular it should be easy enough to sort out the cables as you only need to plug in the ones you need.


Liam

Okey dokey Liam.

I`m going to order it all.

I think he will be thrilled to bits with that system. I wish it was for me :D

Thanks again

Elaine