First Post - First Build

[superfurryanimals]

Hello everybody.

I'm looking at building my first computer and have the following components in mind and I just wanted to make sure that they were all compatable and that it was future proofed for about 4 years. I will be playing games such as BF2 but also using it for university work and the like.

Parts:

Graphics Card - 256MB Sapphire Radeon X1950Pro
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=481911

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Socket 939
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=224366

Case - Xclio-II CS-3060 Midi Tower Case 250mm Side Fan Super Cooling Dual Core Ready
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=352344

Motherboard- Abit LN14334
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=405142

RAM - Corsair 1Gb DDR2
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=462692

HDD - 320 Gb Seagate ST3320620AS Barracuda 7200.10, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.5 ms, NCQ
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=397203

Fan - 120mm NORTHQ Silent Tornado ALU Casefan, 17-19db, Blue LED, 38CFM,3pinn Molex
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=396719

PSU - 480W XClio-SCF aPFC Super Silent (21Db) 12cm Fan 8/20/24 ATX2/2.01 12vEPS + SATA+PCI-E Hi-End
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=156689

Any ideas guys. What do you think about it?

[flanzig1]

As for being future proof for 4 years, not likely. Almost any computer built today will be outdated in 4 years with some components no longer made.
Some people may not like your choice of an ABIT board, I like ASUS myself.

[superfurryanimals]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 As for being future proof for 4 years, not likely. Almost any computer built today will be outdated in 4 years with some components no longer made. Some people may not like your choice of an ABIT board, I like ASUS myself.

True I understand it won't be future proof if left as is. But I presume I'm ok with this if I change parts over the next 4 to 5 years and update. With all of the new processors and different type of ram I was just a bit worried that the next "big thing" could make my system fall behind in 2 years time.

I'm open to suggestions on motherboards, I just went for one that I thought would be compatable with my parts. And it was cheap as well.

If you could recommended a good, affordable Asus board it'd be greatly appreciated.

Also looking at getting water cooler somewhere down the line 6-12 months afterwards.

Thanks,
Degs.

[superfurryanimals]

By the way I keep hearing that Intel is now miles ahead of AMD (maybe not in price though) would the Athlon X2 4800+ be better than the Intel Core 2 Duo E6600?

I understand that the majority would have to change, probably Ram and motherboard, but do you think it would be worth it in the long run?

Thanks.

[clroberts]

Most computers can actually last much longer. The problem people have is when they are trying to play the latest and greatest computer games. When their computer no longer can play at Max resolution and Max settings, they get frustrated and just start upgrading components so they can keep getting 100 FPS on the latest games. Yeah, I know there are other uses such as DVD encoding, but for the most part it doesn't take a super machine to browse the web. And those of us that have families to support, well we don't upgrade our machines every couple years like some people do. We have other things to pay for.

[newbuilder14]

The Core 2 Duo E6600 beats the 4800+ x2 by a long shot. Also, if you go AMD choose the socket AM2.

E6600
P5W DH
x1950pro
2gb Corsair XMS2
Seagate 7200.10

[glc]

You have a socket 939 processor and a socket AM2 motherboard. Not compatible. Also, you have chosen a SLI motherboard and an ATI video card.

I'd go C2D in a heartbeat on an Asus P5B board.

[superfurryanimals]

Thanks guys.
I had heard Intel was better but never from the horses mouth. The power that it DOESN'T use is amazing.

E6600
X1950
1gb Corsair XMS2 (expensive will go to 2 soon enough)
Seagate 7200.10

Asus - P5B
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=443853

Would this all be compatable?

Thanks for the help guys.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by superfurryanimals Would this all be compatable?

Yes.

Cricket

[superfurryanimals]

Hurray.

Thanks, now just have to wait for a few more paychecks before I can buy it.

[superfurryanimals]

Graphics Card 256MB Sapphire Radeon X1950Pro
PSU Xclio 480 watt
Case Xcilio
Fan 120mm Internal Fan
USB Scan USB/ Firewire Extra ports
Mouse/K'board Nortek Wireless Keyboard/Mouse
Floppy Drive Floppy Disk Drive
HDD Seagate 320gb
Ram 1gb Corsair XMS2
Mobo Asus P5B Delux
CPU E6600

That's my full list the parts I'm going to recycle are a CD/RW drive and a DVD/RW drive.

Just a quick question. used a calculator but wanted to double check that 480 watt was alright for this project.

Thanks.

[newbuilder14]

480w should be fine - can't say much about the Xclio power supply, though. Your better off choosing something from FSP, Antec, Enermax, Seasonic, or similar to power your expensive parts.

[superfurryanimals]

Thanks.

Don't know very much about PSU's and went with a name off the in-house list but if I'm going to have some expensive stuff inside the computer it best be powered well.

I picked this one out:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=143949

Probably geta surge protector plug for a fiver, can't hurt.

Thanks for the info.

[clroberts]

Surge Protector? Get a UPS if you are concerned about power stability. If you get one, look at how much power you are actually consuming in watts and then get one of the UPS's that consumes about half that. The VA on the UPS is a higher number than the wattage. Typically about 60 percent of the VA is the wattage of the UPS. APC is entry level. Stay away from Cyber Power as you can't easily replace the batteries like APC.

[andper10]

Xclio makes good power supplies that aren't overpirced, however, they don't even have that Power Supply on their web site. That is probably a sign that you should stay away. The closest thing that I could find is the 450BL (http://www.xclio.com/htm/products-PSU-450BL.htm). It delivers 32A on the 12V rails. I couldn't find the power requirements for your video card, but I think that power supply would be cutting it too close. I would definitely recommend this Enermax Noisetaker 485 Watt (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...ductID=143949). It is exactly the same price, but you get 44A on the 12V rails, which should be enough to power almost any single card setup. The rest looks pretty good. That Processor is the best bang for your buck right now, and that motherboard is highly recommended around here. Just so you know, that Video Card is not in stock right now, I would probably choose another one. I am not sure what the difference between that video card and a X1900GT would be, but the GT is about the same price on newegg, but I don't see a X1900GT on your uk site. Just FYI, there is a 250GB version (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=345219) of that HD if you need to cut your pirce down a bit. Enjoy your build!

[Mr.Ferrari]

That is a Quality powersupply. Most of their models are made by CWT, the same ppl who make antec powersupplies. They do not have the failure rate of the antec branded psu's, which is good.

However, Your motherboard requires an EPS 12V cable. Which the Xclio does NOT contain. In light of that, I suggest the Enermax Noistaker 485w.

And keep with the X1950pro. It uses new power regulation (hence lower power consumption) and is a much faster card then the X1900GT. Good choice.

[superfurryanimals]

I am going with the specs I posted before and I am going with the Enermax power supply and not the Xcilio.

I don't mind if the Graphics Card isn't in stock I'm not building it for a month or 2.

Thanks for all of your help guys.