Total noobie at this, want to make super PC! Help pleeease...

[shinyblackkitty]

Ok I have lots to spend but really, really, don't know what I am going to do in the end.

Most recently I was asking about this on http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ic.php?t=36550 where I was recommended to go here.

I was originally going to buy a Dell XPS ready made one (apparently they are really good) but I think I want to go with the "buy parts and make" route instead now because I can get a water cooled PC instead of refrigerated (like the dell one, electro-whatever same as fridges use)/ fan and pick all the best latest parts,
and because hopefully it will be easier to upgrade (I am guessing with the dell one opening the case would break the warranty so I would have to either lose that or buy a brand new PC when it ges out of date)
and less inflated price

I've flipped through these two guides
http://www.custompc.co.uk/features/1..._dream_pc.html
and
www.pcmech.com/byopc

Here's a complete newbie draft, done with the help of a few techy friends from the internet (I dont know many in real life, arg)


Case: Antec Super Mid Tower P190 Black 1200w Psu

PSU: Comes with case ("NeoLink 1200 Watt dual power supply system: One 650 Watt Neo Power is responsible for powering the motherboard and addin cards, while another 550 Watt, handles your drives and other peripherals")

Mobo: Asus Striker Extreme LGA775 nVIDIA nForce680i SLI 4xDDR2 ATX Gaming Motherboard with Onboard Audio, Dual Gb LAN, USB & Firewire

Video Card: BFG Tech® GeForce ® 8800 GTX OC 768MBPCI Express Graphics Card (maybe 2 SLI'd since I am going for complete overkill kinda thing)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 / 3 GHz ( 1333 MHz ) - LGA775 Socket - L2 12 MB with this heatsink: Thermaltake CL-P0401 V1 CPU Cooler

Cooling: Either water cooling (I have no idea how to set up or how to maintain though, and I've heard some horror stories about water leaking out and frying the whole PC etc...) or just the normal thing with fans, or one of those electro cooling ones that are like a fridge

HDD: Western Digital Raptor ones probably? They are the ones that most highend ready-built PC ones seem to have. I was thinking maybe I should do something like one for OS and pagefile, one for games/programs and one for everything else to minimise "MY COMPUTER IS WHIRRING ITS HARD DISKS FOR AGES LOOKING FOR STUFF AND DOING NOTHING ELSE" syndrome?

RAM: Corsair (TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX) 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2 6400 PC Memory non-ECC unbuffered 4-4-4-12 DHX Technology --OR-- something DDR3? I have been told that not many motherboards work with those though?

Pri Optical: no idea. would like DVD+-RW

Sec Optical: no idea

Sound Card: undecided - maybe from Sound Blaster X-Fi range? Most of the "customise gaming PC and buy it" shops online seem to have one of those as the main or sometimes only option

FDD: Sony MPF920-Z/CU1 ?

Keyboard: LOGITECH G15 GAMING KEYBOARD --OR-- yet-unreleased Razer Lycosa

Mouse: LOGITECH G7 W/LESS LASER MOUSE --OR-- Razer Lachesis 4000dpi Banshee

Modem: undecided, I would like one though because I am moving in a year and would need to use dialup for a bit

Monitor: Dell 30" UltraSharp 3007WFP-HC Widescreen LCD Flat Panel Monitor

Speakers: Bose Acoustimass 16 home theater speaker system

OS: Windows Vista Ultimate (I was going with XP but was told that XP can only support 3GB of RAM and the rest would be wasted otherwise(!))

Extras: none that I can think of

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by shinyblackkitty Video Card: BFG Tech® GeForce ® 8800 GTX OC 768MBPCI Express Graphics Card (maybe 2 SLI'd since I am going for complete overkill kinda thing)

If you're going the over-kill route why don't you get two 8800 Ultras? With two Ultras in SLi you'd really have a monster gaming rig.

If this is your first build are you sure you want to go with water-cooling? One mistake and you end up with a very over-priced paper weight.

Cricket

[pam123]

Working from the bottom up.

If you're going for complete over kill get a pair of headphones or a usb headset as an extra.

You will need the 64 bit OS for more than 3.2 GB of ram and those, still, have problems.

With a 30" LCD you're forced to use sli or crossfire since nothing else will get you the frame rates you need, at the panel's native resolution, for decent gaming.

I see no indication of that monitor supporting HDMI and that would disqualify it unless you want to go buy AnyDVD HD but at that price you shouldn't have to.

I agree that floppy drives are still useful, there's one in my new build, but that price is outrageous. (edit : You've got the US page for that Sony drive.)

Yes get a sound card, Microsoft got that one wrong. Check and see if you can find any reviews for pci-e sound blasters since they're out now.

Get an SATA DVD-RW drive and wait for the prices on dual HD drives to drop.

Your choice of cpu determines your motherboard and your ram.
Going by that Amazon page I can't really tell, you have to double check that.

DDR 3 cost too much and, for now, gives no increase in performance. Unless you're willing to be an early adopter skip it.

The reason the hard drive keeps churning is that Windows doesn't have enough ram, not because it's slow. You don't need RAID.

Water cooling is a whole study in itself, make it a separate project before you order any parts at all. A few weeks will save you a lot of grief.

If you're getting a 30" LCD for gaming you're going to have to go for two top of the line cards.

Nice case and power supply.

[shinyblackkitty]

Originally Posted by pam123 If you're going for complete over kill get a pair of headphones or a usb headset as an extra.

I am intending to actually was thinking of Razer Pirahna?

Originally Posted by pam123 You will need the 64 bit OS for more than 3.2 GB of ram and those, still, have problems.

Ok, thanks. I heard bad stories about 64bit though is all

Originally Posted by pam123 With a 30" LCD you're forced to use sli or crossfire since nothing else will get you the frame rates you need, at the panel's native resolution, for decent gaming.

Ok, SLI it is then. Thanks

Originally Posted by pam123 I see no indication of that monitor supporting HDMI and that would disqualify it unless you want to go buy AnyDVD HD but at that price you shouldn't have to.

What's HDMI? And what's AnyDVD?

Originally Posted by pam123 Yes get a sound card, Microsoft got that one wrong. Check and see if you can find any reviews for pci-e sound blasters since they're out now.

Will do, thank you

Originally Posted by pam123 Your choice of cpu determines your motherboard and your ram. Going by that Amazon page I can't really tell, you have to double check that.

The CPU isn't an Amazon link (???) But anyway if that isn't enough detail hopefully this is better? http://www.zomp.net/shop/product_inf...ucts_id=492636

Originally Posted by pam123 DDR 3 cost too much and, for now, gives no increase in performance. Unless you're willing to be an early adopter skip it.

Ok never mind then

Originally Posted by pam123 The reason the hard drive keeps churning is that Windows doesn't have enough ram, not because it's slow. You don't need RAID.

Oh alright. But if I get a big 1500GB hard disk (like what came with the Dell setup I posted on that other forum) wont it be a lot worse than if I had a smaller one?

Originally Posted by pam123 Water cooling is a whole study in itself, make it a separate project before you order any parts at all. A few weeks will save you a lot of grief.

Eep.

Don't suppose you know anywhere in the UK that I could send parts to to get one made, or send computer to to add water cooling, I don't know...

It sounds like a lot of work and risk but I've been told it is worth having it

[shinyblackkitty]

I just looked at a readymade PC:

http://3xs.scan.co.uk/ConfigureSystem.asp?SystemID=744



The 3XS White Cobra is an infusion of the most cutting-edge hardware and the most innovative thinking. Never before has so much development been put into one system. Built-around its nVIDIA SLI Mainboard is a role-call of the most desirable components - Intel Extreme CPUs, Corsair Dominator memory, and XFX Cobra Edition graphics to name but a few; all configured to run inside the 3XS modified chassis with our own design unparalleled cooling system. The pearlescent-white coated TJ-07 encloses three (yes, three) discrete cooling loops; with the CPU, Graphics and Mainboard hardware being independently cooled, ensuring that each area can be accurately tuned without impacting on the others; and from the outside the only clue to this unique setup is the presence of three illuminated reservoirs.

Base Specifications
Silverstone TJ07B (Black) Aluminum Supertower Case (w/o PSU)
**3XS-White Cobra System**
3XS White Cobra Decals
3XS White Cobra Snake-Print Vinyl
3XS White Cobra Custom Radiator Mounts
1000W Enermax EG1000EWLDXX V2 Galaxy Modular PSU 85% Eff' EPS12v Triple Quad +24 Rails Silent x2 Fan
Asus Striker Extreme NF680i SLI, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX
Icy Dock MB235SPF Beige 3 Bay SATA Hot Swap Rack fits into 2x5.25" Bays inc Caddies
Corsair Dominator Airflow Fan (Fits onto the Memory slots to cool the memory)
MCubed T-Balancer bigNG 4-channel Fan Controller for air and watercooling (Auto calibrates your sys)
Aqua-Computers Cuplex XT Di 775 G1/4 Copper CPU Blocks (21527)
Aqua-Computer Twinplex XT Motherboard Chipset Block without fittings (24138)
Aqua-Computer Asus voltage regulator Block (26005)
Alphacool Repack-cooling slot Black UV Reserves and Compensating Reservoir
Alphacool Laing DDC-Pump 12V Pro Electronically Commuted Ball-motor Pump
Alphacool NexXxoS Xtreme III Radiator - Rev. 2 (Requires x3 120mm fans)
Alphacool NexXxoS Xtreme I Radiator - Rev. 2 (Requires single 120mm fan)
Alphacool NexXxoS Pro III Radiator - Rev. 2
Alphacool Plexi G1/4" Lighting Module Blue
Aqua-Computers Coupling 10/8 mm G 1/4 with O-gasket
Alphacool Screwconnector 11/8mm G1/4
Alphacool Screw angle connector 11/8mm AG1/4"
Alphacool Angle link with 8/11mm (joins 8/11mm pipes together)
1m Green Neon Flow Springz 1/2"
Zalman ZM-EC1 Fan Extention Cable
Akasa AK-FY320 3pin female to 2 x 3pin male (Fan ) splitter cable
Power Splitter Cable Molex to 2 x Molex Way
3XS Backup (Trueimage V10) Complete Back and System Restore
Scan 3XS System - 1year RTB Warranty Watercooled Systems Only
BUILD/TEST WATERCOOLED SYSTEM
Scan System Configuration (Details confirmed at checkout stage)

Qty Selected Specifications
1 *No Custom Colour Required*
1 *No Custom Colour Required*
1 3XS LaserCut Side Panels (Pair) For Cobra System
1 Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme QX6850, Socket 775, 3.00 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB, 8MB Cache, Retail
1 3XS System Core-Logic Overclocking*10 - 20%*
2 2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2 Dominator, PC2-10000, 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18
2 768Mb XFX 8800 Ultra, XT, PCI-E (x16), Mem 2200 MHz, GPU 650 MHz, 128 Stream, 2 x Dual Link DVI
2 150 Gb Western Digital WD1500ADFD Raptor Enterprise, SATA150, 10000 rpm, 16MB Cache, NCQ, 4.6 ms
1 1000Gb HGST 0A35772 Ultrastar Raid Edition 24x7 Enterprise Class SATA300, 7200rpm, 32Mb Cache
1 Icy Box IB801B Black Removable-Portable Internal/External 16 in 1 Card Reader
1 LG GGW-H10N Blu-ray Rewriter & HD DVD-ROM Drive Black *World 1st PC Blu-ray/HD DVD Combo Drive*
1 Soundgraph iMON VFD Black (5.25 inch bay)
1 Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Fatal1ty Professional
2 Aqua Computers 8800GTX Silver - Limited Ed. Scan 3XS 1/4" GPU Water Cooling Block
7 Alphacool Hose PVC 11/8mm UV-Active Red x1 Meter Length
3 1l Feser One Fluid - UV Red for water cooling systems (Non Conductive < 10 ìS)
1 Aqua-Computer XT/Pro 360 Black Grill (32032)
9 120mm Coolermaster Internal Case Fan with RED LED (S12-ER)
1 30" Dell 3007WFP-HC Black Widescreen LCD, 2560x1600, 1000:1, 300 cd/m2, 8 ms, VESA
1 *Keyboard & Mouse Not Required*
1 *Gaming Mouse Not Required*
1 *No Software Required*
1 Creative Labs Gigaworks 7.1Ch S750 THX Speaker System
1 *Heaphones Not Required*
1 *Hard Drive Not Required*
1 ***NO MODEM/ADSL REQUIRED***
1 ***NO WIRELESS ADAPTOR REQUIRED***
1 Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64Bit
1 *No Software Required*
1 MS OFFICE 2007 - 25 Usage/60 Day TRIAL Basic,SBE & Professional
1 *No Software Required*

Price
Net Total £5,892.98
V.A.T £1,031.27
Total £6,924.25

looked ok but with the price I am thinking it's probably inflated a lot

£1 = $2

[pam123]

An HDMI monitor allows you to run HD-DVD or Blu-Ray commercial videos (providing you bought the appropriate drive .) on your pc.
HDMI ( High Definition Multimedia Interface : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI ) is what gives them a protected path ( and the hardware manufacturer's had they been thinking, should told the MPAA guys to take a hike. ) so you might as well call it fancy, resource sucking DRM.

AnyDVD HD, read up on it here : http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvdhd.html
It's a great product but if you're paying for a 30" LCD you shouldn't need to buy it.


It's possible that both high definition formats are going to die but if you're paying big bucks for a monitor it had better have it any way.


edit : sorry the motherboard link was what I meant.

[pam123]

That system will certainly make you the envy of all your friends and yes, OEM gaming systems are way over priced.

No offense but, even though you can afford this, as a relative newbie it's not a good idea for you.

Start with a solid system you can build and maintain for yourself, earn your over clocking chops on it and figure out what upgrades you'll need and learn the technology.
Your next major build is when you pull out all the stops.

Meanwhile you'll have really enjoyable system you can learn on and can deal with on your own.
You won't make it to expert level if you have to send the computer back to the shop whenever something goes awry because you bought an over-complicated "beast".

[shinyblackkitty]

well the thing is I really don't find this stuff fun, I just want to be able to play recent and upcoming games with maximum detail and no lagginess

I don't want to become an expert just make it (though I'm swaying more and more towards prebuilt now with all the bad stuff I am hearing lately about how hard maintenance and upgrading could be especially with water cooling) and keep it from breaking/ fix it

[pam123]

That's OK but if that's what you want skip the beast.

What you need, since your budget will stand it, is a quad core with 2 GB of ram, a good video card-the new 8800 GT is nice, and a decent monitor, come down to 24", with HDMI.
A Sound Blaster, speakers and headphones.
A DVD-RW drive and a good sized hard drive, say a 500 GB SATA 3.0 from Seagate.
Floppy drives are still useful and they're cheap.
I doubt Vista Ultimate is worth the extra cash but suit yourself there, 32 bit.
Whatever keyboard/mouse you want and that extra modem for dial up.

You can download OpenOffice for free.

Any pre-built that fits that will give a good upgrade path and let you play any game you want or, later, switch to high definition DVDs with another optical if you want.
You should be set for the next few years and, best of all, you'll be able to maintain it for yourself ( No water cooling. ).

Just a suggestion, if you have any small builders in your area who you trust take those requirements to them.
Make it clear you'll need an upgrade path and avoid the newb mistake of either buying the most expensive tricked out motherboard or going to the other extreme of buying the cheapest.

If you really want sli and a big monitor then you and builder put your heads together for an sli set up that you can manage without driving either of you crazy.

[pam123]

Dell got the message!

Since you're willing to go for broke read the specs here : http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquir...fp-displayport

This is a 30" LCD worth buying.

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by shinyblackkitty well the thing is I really don't find this stuff fun, I just want to be able to play recent and upcoming games with maximum detail and no lagginess I don't want to become an expert just make it (though I'm swaying more and more towards prebuilt now with all the bad stuff I am hearing lately about how hard maintenance and upgrading could be especially with water cooling) and keep it from breaking/ fix it

If you don't find this fun, and don't really care about knowing how your computer works, and have the money, then maybe your best option is to buy one already made.

Or you could pick the parts out and get someone else to build it.

You'll end up paying more this way, but that's the cost of not having to do it yourself.

[shinyblackkitty]

Originally Posted by pam123 Dell got the message! Since you're willing to go for broke read the specs here : http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquir...fp-displayport This is a 30" LCD worth buying.

great news!!! thanks a lot for that

Originally Posted by pam123 That's OK but if that's what you want skip the beast.

No don't get me wrong I still want a really good computer just I'm worried about breaking things if I try to it myself. especially with water cooling. I have been recently told that phase cooling is better though, do you know anything about that? apparently it is similar to electro-cooling/refrigeration but not the same

Originally Posted by shadowpr Or you could pick the parts out and get someone else to build it.

that would be cool, but I have no idea to find a place that does that. they all seem to be "pick from a very limited range of options" type rather than "buy whatever you want and send it"

[pam123]

We're all for really good but you seem to start there and veer into "really complex and difficult to maintain" as if they were one and the same.

Phase change cooling is a good trick for over clockers but if you're worried about problems with water cooling it'll give you nightmares. Check this out to see what you'd be getting in to : http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1793

How to find a builder that's small enough to do what you want means checking the local phone book for small tech repair shops and calling.
Then go see the ones who say yes.
You and they go over the parts list and agree on a price for the builder's time.
You buy a retail Windows disk and all parts are shipped to you and you take them to the builder.
If all goes well you come back in a day or two, pay the builder and take your new rig home.


A warning : If you hear anything like " Just give us the cash and don't worry about it." leave promptly and take your business with you.

[shinyblackkitty]

I think I might go with the superexpensive (but supergood) 3XS as mentioned above unless anyone can think of a good reason not to.......