Feedback on a build please?

[Shuemue]

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Socket 775 (3.0GHz) 1333FSB 6MB L2 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3 iP35 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat Spreader Lifetime Warranty
Samsung SpinPoint F1 HD103UJ 1TB Hard Drive SATAII *32MB Cache* - OEM
Pioneer DVR-215DBK 20X SATA DVD±RW DL Int Black - OEM
Sapphire HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card
Corsair 620W HX Modular PSU - ATX12V v2.2 APFC
Zalman CNPS 9700 LED Socket 754, 940, 775, 939 & AM2 CPU cooler

Haven't picked a case yet, does anything look imbalanced? Too much PSU? Not enough cooling?

[Shuemue]

Hmm, would this PSU be enough? http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=04651

[mootsfox]

Sites you are ordering from, price range?

[Shuemue]

generally www.ebuyer.com

I fucking wish I had newegg

also considering Corsair 450W VX 450W PSU - ATX12V v2.2

[Shuemue]

If I go with the Antec PSU (assuming it's suitable) it comes with a decent Sonata case, total price approx £540

Fucking $1000, I swear it'd be 25% cheaper at newegg

[mootsfox]

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 - £113.94
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3 P45 - £71.97
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800Mhz - £55.03
Sapphire HD 4850 - £117.95
Samsung HD502IJ SpinPoint F1 500GB - £40.99

We need to talk in depth about your case choice, optical drives, and anything else you might need.

[Shuemue]

Ordered this in the end;

Coolermaster Elite 330 Black Mid Tower Case - No PSU
Corsair 620W HX Modular PSU - ATX12V v2.2 APFC
Arctic Cooling AC-FRZ-7P Freezer 7 Pro Socket 775 Processor Cooler
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3 P45 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Socket 775 (3.0GHz) 1333FSB 6MB L2 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800Mhz/PC2-6400 Memory GOLD DUAL CHANNEL Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-18)
Sapphire HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card
Seagate ST3500320AS 500GB Hard Drive SATA II 7200rpm *32MB Cache* - OEM
Pioneer DVR-215DBK 20X SATA DVD±RW DL Int Black - OEM
Extra Value 120mm Internal Case Fan In Black - 4 pin connector

[Epical]

Total cost?

[Shuemue]

about 20% more than you'd pay at newegg =[

roughly $1k after conversion

[Config]

about 20% more than you'd pay at newegg =[

roughly $1k after conversion

I guess that's not so bad, considering you can't order newegg.

[Epical]

Tested the exact same build using the local store from the area I'm in that I always get my parts from and it came to $969. Not horrible considering you're in the UK.

[Shuemue]

It was roughly 550GBP, xe.com says that's 1,027.66 USD

So I paid an extra $60, that's actually better than I thought, I don't feel so raped now!

[mootsfox]

Because you are a smart shopper!

[Shuemue]

So moots, what should I do in terms of overclocking? I've never bothered before.

That ram says it's 1.8v stock and can go to 2.1v without voiding the warranty. That should give some scope for increasing the FSB a little?

Will that board you suggested have dividers?

Basically, you know my hardware, walk me through it? What do you think I could get stable? I did a little reading, looks like even with ram at stock and 1:1, should get 3.6ghz comfortably?

[Elesirdur]

FYI I have been extremely happy with my E8400 since I got it in the Spring. Even under heavy CUP loads and running stock cooling, my CPU temps are usually in the 40-65*C range. The 700W PSU I got helps I suppose but I'm glad to see you got a 600+W unit as anything under 600 might have caused issues.

PS, CoreTemp is a wicked app to have. It takes like 25kB of memory and sits perfectly in the taskbar giving constant updates.

[mootsfox]

Elesirdur, his entire rig is going to draw about 240-280w at full load from the wall. A 600w PSU is more than needed (but not a bad choice).

Intel overclocking is by far the easiest stuff to work with.

Increase your FSB, CPU voltage and watch for temps.

You can go beyond that for marginal gains by upping the RAM speed (yes it will have dividers), changing the northbridge strap and such.

For now, throw the RAM to 2.0v, and set the divider as low as it goes, the CPU to 1.35v, the multiplier to 6x and see how high of an FSB you can get. That's a good test to see how high your motherboard will take the FSB.

From there increase your multiplier and lower the FSB when needed. E8400's usually can do around 4.2-5GHz.

[levish]

So moots, what should I do in terms of overclocking? I've never bothered before.

That ram says it's 1.8v stock and can go to 2.1v without voiding the warranty. That should give some scope for increasing the FSB a little?

Will that board you suggested have dividers?

Basically, you know my hardware, walk me through it? What do you think I could get stable? I did a little reading, looks like even with ram at stock and 1:1, should get 3.6ghz comfortably?

my E8400 will go to about 3.6 without issues on stock vcore, and I've hit 4.0 i forget at what vcore (probably 1.5-1.6ish)

[mootsfox]

I don't have an E8400 and I've never played around with one, so I don't know the stock voltage exactly, but I thought it was around 1.2.

[Shuemue]

Well you can walk me through it assuming all my parts arrive on schedule tomorrow.

Also, that board went up by $30 overnight. Glad I ordered before that happened.

[mootsfox]

P45 is the shit.

I wish I had PCI-e 2.0 slots :/ (I have a P35)

You also get the ICH10 southbridge which offers slight improvements over the ICH9/R.