PC Build Advice/Review Thread

[Amastacia]

ANyone have a heatsink recommendation that won't take up half my mobo? I've looked at the Silver Arrow and this as was recommended by Tomsharedware's Enthusiastic guide, but both those things are absolutely humongous. I'm not sure I want something that difficult to install and that won't give me much room to install things later, as I don't plan on doing a huge amount of overclocking. Any smaller sized heatsinks/coolers that people can recommend?

What case were you looking at?

I snagged a Thermalright Archon, which is very tall and very wide, but narrow, so it's not quite as whomg to install as a Silver Arrow or N-DH14.

If you want a smaller heatsink, and don't plan on going balls-out overclocking, the CoolerMaster Hyper212+ is a hard thing to argue with. It is not as honkin' enormous as the Silver Arrow by any stretch.

Most small heatpipe towers and aftermarket HSFs really aren't worth a shit, but if you want, I'd look around on XBitLabs or [H]ardOCP for reviews of coolers, they both have solid methodologies, and XBit has tested a ton of different coolers.

Edit: Archon sizing, for reference
http://i54.tinypic.com/24xey42.jpg
(Out of date pic is out of date... removed one HDD, added SDD, re-routed 24 pin ATX cable to avoid blocking airflow to GPU1)

[Palin]

This is the case I was looking at. Didn't realize the 212 wasn't as big as I thought it was, might just try that.

[Palin]

Regarding GPUs, I've been reading that bang for buck the Radeon 6950 1Gs perform comparatively to the GTX 570s for about $100 less. I don't plan on doing SLI, unlocking the 6950, or gaming of 1920x1080. Anyone have experience with the cards?

[Amastacia]

The Hyper isn't small, but it isn't enormous. There's a minimum size for a heat pipe tower to have a useful total surface area, so they're only going to get smaller to a point.

The Hyper doesn't have the surface area of an Archon, Silver Arrow, etc., but it has enough to be a good upgrade over stock. Cost/performance on it is fantastic. It is nowhere near as compact as the stock cooler, but very few worthwhile aftermarket coolers are.

I haven't personally used a 6950, but the -50 model from the "enthusiast" AMD GPU line is always a cost/performance monster. At any resolutions under 1080p, it is more than enough to make any game look good. Sure, a 6970, GTX570, etc. will have higher frame rates at 1680x1050, but even with visual goodies turned on, the 6950 will yield a very playable framerate in most everything.

[Palin]

Thanks for the help. Think I finally got it all put together:

Here's what I'm looking at so far:

CPU: I5 2500k Sandy Bridge
Mobo: ASROCk extreme4
Power: Corsair 650TX
Cooling: Hyper 212
GPU: MSI Radeon 6950 2G

Already have RAM and a case. All this prices to about $750 with rebates. Not too shabby. Any input/critiques?

[Adajer]

Assuming you don't have them, dvd drive, storage drive, & OS.

[Palin]

Ya transferring HDs and DVD from my old rig.

[Amastacia]

I always advocate modular PSUs, but if you want to go with the TX650, use the new version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139020

Cheaper too, after rebate.

[Marihoki]

I am looking to make a somewhat new computer. I would be transferring my DVD drive, HDs and GPU into the new system. Here is what I had in mind:

case: Corsair Graphite Series 600T Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
psu: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650
motherboardMSI P67A-GD65 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
ram: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model
cpu: Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor
CPU cooling: CORSAIR CAFA70 120mm Dual-Fan CPU Cooler

I am pretty set on getting the corsair case due to the cable routing system but my one problem is I have an OCD issue with LED lights(I hate them with the passion), so I would be getting 2 additional non LED 200mm fans or another type of cooling system. However all the other 200 mm fans that do not have LEDs on them seem to not be so good, so maybe I should just wait and see if I can use multiple 120mm instead?

total (with combos and shipping) is ~ $850 and $800 if all the rebates kick in

Any advise on my choices would be helpful, only thing I'm really set on absolutely getting is the case.

I was also wondering if I should get 16 gigs of ram instead of just 8....

I will also be using this for gaming (though nothing more graphically intensive then FF14 if I even decide to play that, but this will be my machine for the next 3 years or so) , modeling in Maya, and Adobe CS4 (I mainly use premiere).

[Senji]

I didnt look at your exact fans, but you can just cut the leds off with pliers if you can reach them.

8 gigs of ram will be fine for you. I was only choked out with 8 by some of my engineering programs.

[Kipling]

Made a thread before XIV was coming out for a build, but it was horrible and I got absorbed trying to do well in school so, trying again! I have a few of the parts already purchased, and looking to snatch up the rest. Trying to do this somewhat economically, but not trying to skimp out on things that are important.

What I already have:

Case

PSU

HD

What I am looking to purchase:

Mobo - Don't know a whole lot about this one. It seemed to have the features I wanted, with the price range I was fine with.

GPU - Might do the GTX 560 if it's really worth it.

CPU

Memory - Another one I was somewhat unsure on. I am not knowledgeable on what RAM timing dictate, would like some feedback here.

CD/DVD x2 - I assume these are fine?

Cooler - Didn't seem like a ton of options for the socket I have selected.

Thermal Grease

OS

Stuff that isn't "necessary", but will get soon:

Extra Monitor

Mouse

KB

SSD - Don't have a certain one in mind, probably one large enough to fit my OS and a choice game or two.

So yeah, advice welcomed. Just making sure I put everything together right and matched everything, trying to stay economical but still good.

Thanks.

[Karinastar]

It all looks good to me. I have that same mobo and I have no complaints with it. I've heard very good things about the GTX 560, so that's probably worth looking into.

I'd probably go with this CPU cooler, but that Zalman is probably fine too; I don't have very much experience with them. The 212+ has an 1155 mounting bracket and is a great budget cooler. Also, any LGA 1156 cooler will work as well, as the mounting holes are the same.

[Weltall]

Just finished this build last night, going to get some HDDS in raid to run everything but the OS soon, so keep that in mind:

MB: ASUS P8P67 DELUXE
RAM: 8 GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 2000 MHZ (soon going to 16)
CPU: Sandy Bridge 2600k I7 Unlocked
CPU Cooler: V8 Cooler Master
Case: White Phantom NZXT
Vcard: 560X TI
LG Blu-ray R/W
HDD: SSD Intel 120GB (So fkn fast...)
Win 7 64 Ult


Not the most expensive, but not the cheapest.

[Wintermute]

Video Card died on my 3 Year-Old rig so I'm looking at getting a new rig since upgrading everything in my current one would be too much a headache. Looking for help with picking a Video Card and CPU but I've no clue what counts as decent these days.

Primarily use the desktop for gaming and looking for a best bang-for-buck option that will last me a year or two, not looking to spend more than about 1k.
The old (dead) card is a GForce 8800GTS 320Mb and the old CPU is a 2.4Ghz Q6600.

Should I keep the same CPU or get a hold of an i5 or i7? Keeping in mind I have no intentions to OC the Q6600.
Any recommendations on a decently priced, well performing, Video Card would also be appreciated.

Probably asking a lot since I'm practically clueless on hardware these days but any recommendations you lot can make would be appreciated.

[Jojimbo]

GTX 560Ti or GTX570/HD6970 if you can afford it.

i5 2500k if you want to upgrade your CPU now (no point in going for i7 if it's only for gaming) or you could wait and get an Ivy Bridge in 6~8 months (at a guess).

Could do something like buy 560Ti, and then buy an Ivy bridge CPU and another 560Ti later on if you wanted to keep the cost down.

[Sonomaa]

for my new cpu coming soon, about to join the 2600klub :3

[Amastacia]

Wutcha upgrading from? And I assume you already heard the 2500K vs. 2600K a million bajillion times and your response was "why yes, I do benefit from Hyperthreading"?

That said, it's adorable how "little" the Hyper is. IFX-14/Silver Arrow, N-DH14, Archon, etc. are all xbawksically hueg in comparison.

[Sonomaa]

Wutcha upgrading from? And I assume you already heard the 2500K vs. 2600K a million bajillion times and your response was "why yes, I do benefit from Hyperthreading"?

That said, it's adorable how "little" the Hyper is. IFX-14/Silver Arrow, N-DH14, Archon, etc. are all xbawksically hueg in comparison.

q6600 running stock cooling with 8g of ram, going to a corei7 2600k and 8g of ram

and yes, I do benefit from hyperthreading since I do work from home as well as game and yeah the heatsinks have a huge size difference but my 2600klub buddies I believe all got that cooler so I followed suit, its the first time Ive ever used third party cooling as well, Ive been stock cooling with my p3 733, p3 933, 1.6a oced to 2.4, 2.4c oced to 3.0, and my q660 left at stock because it was awesome out of the box. I think Im going to OC this one though, just a few hundred mhz for funsies and settle it back up with my 560ti once its back from RMA (2 months old wryyyyy)

[Amastacia]

The Hyper is a great value buy. It's not the best heatpipe tower, but given what you get for what you pay, it's a hell of a solid option.

If you're just doing a mild OC for fun, you should aim for 4.2-4.3GHz. All 2x00Ks will hit 4.2GHz on stock voltage (whether left in offset or constant voltage mode), some will hit 4.3GHz. It'll still run nice and cool with the Hyper on it, and there's really no downside to speak of other than slightly higher power draw at full load.

[Purrrfect]

Are you guys not fans of the Hx0 line from corsair?

edit: pun not intended