So i want to build a computer...

Hi there,

Basically exams are over and it's something i've always fancied doing but i've got only very basic knowledge in this area, i was stunned that after installing a graphics card nothing blew up.

Anyway, i'm fine with the whole putting it together but i have no idea about setting up a bios or installing an OS so thats the main area i'm enquiring about, whether you yourselves can help or point me to an (up to date if possible) guide. Or even just a very basic version of the steps i should be taking in which order.

Also here's my chosen bits and bobs, i've probably missed something out and if any of these parts are terribad i'd appreciate some input.

Mobo: MSI P35 Diamond

Graphics card: i have a 8800GT already that i can whip out my old pc

Processor: Q6600 Quad core energy efficient version

Sound Card: Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer

RAM: OcUK 4gb 800mhz DDR2 RAM
On a side note with the RAM, whats the difference and what should i be buying between DDR3 and DDR2?

PSU: OCZ GameXStream 600w Silent SLI Ready ATX2 Power Supply

Case: Antec Three Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case

OS: Windows Vista Ultimate, but which should i get 32bit or 64bit and what's the difference?

Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket LGA775)

I'm gonna want to have a go at overclocking in the future so will i need some of that thermal stuff for the CPU?

And lastly, i've not much of a clue on compatability on pc's so if any of these chosen parts don't look compatible that'd be awesome for someone to point out

Thanks for help in advance

Olly

Your motherboard only supports DDR3 800/1066/1333 RAM so you might want to rethink those DDR2 RAM sticks. You picked a 64 bit CPU so you need Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit. Also why would you want to overclock a quad core CPU?

lol, good start thanks.

In that case could someone suggest a suitable motherboard for DDR2 or alternatively some DDR3 RAM, preferably 4gb and not too expensive?

The OCing bit is basically just because you can and i've never done it before so its something i just want to try, as much as that doesn't make much sense.

You get what you pay for with memory: http://crucial.com/uk/store/partspec...KIT12864BA1608 . If you want to stick with OcUK, their best DDR3 is the OCZ stuff. Not sure why they only stock Crucial's DDR2.

That's DDR3 memory if you want to got that route, alternately if you go the DDR2 mobo, you can't go wrong with an eVGA 780i http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...132-CK-NF78-A1) - astoundingly expensive from OcUK.

Have a look at the eVGA 750i - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?EVG-750I a snip at only £129 inc. Their Q6600 is slightly cheaper too - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...html?IL-Q6600E (Their 780i is £13 cheaper than OcUK, but I'd go with the 750i on a budget.)

Forget the X-Fi - the onboard sound on most decent mobos makes separate sound cards pretty much redundant. The 750i has 7.1 surround onboard.

now is the wrong time to build a ddr3 system, unless you really can not wait. in about 6 months will be the time for that.

why?

1-new chips from intel = new form factor = new mobo

2-ddr3 latency speeds should also be lower then.

also, over clocking is fun. but be prepared to spend up on cooling. vista 64 uses all my cores and multithreads nicely. If you want to oc the q6600 I suggest you find a place that will guarantee you a q6600 G0 SLACR, that is the stepping on that chip that oc's the best.

for vista 64 I would run no less than 4 gigs of ram.

if you plan a sli set up look into a larger psu. much larger. I say 1000-1200 watt, this will future proof as well.

to build now is not a total waste tho,

what to spend big on:
- a nice case
- a good water cooling solution read these:
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/t282232.html
and
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ad.php?t=54331
- power supply
- good hard drives.
- monitor
- peripherals

what not to spend big on now:
- water blocks
- cpu
- mobo
- ddr3 ram
- vid cards
there is gonna be a major price drop coming on vid cards in 3 months or less.

If you can not wait then go for it but I hate to see people wasting money.

The two major differences between 32 and 64 bit is addressable memory and stability. 32 bit operating systems rarely support 4GB of RAM and are unable to access any file larger than 4GB. 64 bit operating systems can easily open and work with files larger than 4GB. Is the operating system is truly 64 bit a 32 bit application can not crash it. You can recover from an application crash simply by closing the application and re-launching it.
If you are going to build a computer that you intend to be using in two years, I would not even think of a 32 bit operating system. It is my opinion that “Friends don’t let friends use Vista.” XP is available in a 64 Bit version. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/search...ssional+64+bit EDIT: I have yet to find a must have or redeaming feature in Vista.

About the sound card, it is true that a lot of people can’t tell the difference between clunky on-board sound and an X-Fi. I am not saying that an X-Fi is the best. The Xtream Gamer is a good card, but if you can, get one with XRAM. The model you specified does not come with it, it comes in handy with some games. Please note that THX certification, Dolby and DTS are for XP ONLY (last I checked the drivers that enable it were still beta and did not work very well).
From what I have read, and if sound quality is an issue as it is with me, the Asus Xonar may be a better choice, depending on your speakers (which I don’t see in your list). If you are using low end speakers, the on-board sound will be no different than what the X-Fi or Xonar will produce.

64 bit CPUs don't really exist as such - as in the Q6600 supports both 32 bit and 64 bit os. Go 64 bit Vista anyway though.

Why wouldn't you want to overclock? Increases speed for cheap

I haven't read reviews for the cooler you linked to, but I have read the IFX-14 is the best air cooler.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-048-TR&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=821&name=Thermalrig ht%20IFX-14%20CPU%20Cooler%20(Socket%20AM2/LGA775)

Get some better thermal compound if u can afford it:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=AC-000-AC

Don't bother with the soundcard in my opinion.

Go for a nvidia motherboard that supports SLI. That way you can add another 8800gt down the track. Ask someone else about the specific model since I am no expert (or read reviews).

Don't bother with watercooling. Cheap watercooling is no better than highend air cooling, costs more and is fail. Expensive watercooling is too expensive. Don't bother with an expsensive case, go for the Three Hundred or CM690.

The one I quoted (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...html?IL-Q6600E) is the G0 SLACR. From a British supplier, none-the-less ^^

That's true, but why buy a 64 bit CPU and not use it to it's full potential?

Meh, more heat for unneeded increased speed. I guess you have to do something to keep yourself busy.

Ok, thanks for all the input so far. I've got a better idea of what i'll be needing to buy.

But as to putting the thing together, are there any guides or that kind of thing?

All i really know is up to putting all the pieces together, i've never had to do the bios or install and OS etc, so some idea as to what you need to do would be very helpful

About the vista bashing. Vista 64 is great. The biggest benifit has yet to be seen and is not even really known that much.

server history: since windows for workgroups 3.31 up to windows server 2003r3 the file packet transfer size has been 10mb. M$ has addressed this issue in windows server 2008. server 2008 is unique because it identifies what os you are running and if you are running vista 32 bit or older your packet transfer size remains 10mb. If you are using vista 64 your file packet transfer size is increased to 1gb.

vista as a whole is more secure, looks better, has excellent built in features. the only thing it doesn't let you do is burn stolen music/movies/software to a disk. If you are a dirty little theif then stay with xp but do not bash vista because of your criminal activities.

xp64 this is the WORST os ever. it has limited support and functionality. This ship sailed long ago and was lost at sea.

about water cooling. If it suxors so bad why do the over clockers use it? sweet silence. Sitting next to a leafblower is no fun at all. By the time you buy a high cfm fan for the IFX, the IFX and after market cooling on vid cards, you have 3/4 of a water system paid for. the heatsinks will, more than likely be abandoned with the next chip release. With a nice case that has a water cooling system all you need is the new blocks.

drop in the os disk and boot the machine as far as installing the os. As far as assembly goes, before you load the os make sure the machine will post, then you are off and running.

what do you mean by making sure the machine will post?

So basically it'd be:

1. plug it all together,
2. turn on and put in OS
3. Install OS
4. install all the drivers

I've probably completely missed something lol.

step 1: install powersupply, 1 hard drive. and the dvd rom into the case and for the love of god don't have The PSU plugged in.

step 2: OUTSIDE THE CASE, get a chunk of cardboard and do not stand on carpeting. pull out the mobo install cpu chip and heatsink, use arctic silver 5 or the zalman version(TIM), the TIM takes 20 hours to cure. next install your ram.

step 3: carefully install the motherboard into the case. hook up a keyboard,mouse,and monitor turn it on and see if you get 1 beep and no smoke, IF so you have passed post. get into the bios and check your temps.shut it down and unplug it.

step 4: install the rest of your hardware and hook it all up and see if you get 1 beep and no smoke, IF so you have passed post again.

step 5: install the os, drivers, update it all and restart the system

step 6: install additional software, defrag the harddrive.

congratz you has a 'puter!

fyi post is a test, your computer normally gives you 1 beep at start up, that is the hardware passing POST.

Ok, i've just a few last stupid questions that i'd just like to clarrify before i make some decisions.

Firstly, DDR3 seems a lot more expensive than DDR2. At this point is there a huge advantage or is it just new technology? If so i think i'll stick to DDR2 atm.

Secondly, do the heatsinks come with the motherboards/cpu or do you have to buy them seperately?

Apologies for my complete lack of knowledge xD

there really isn't any advantage at all with DDR3. it's best to wait.

any heatsink fan that does come with the chip will be crap for overclocking. you will want an IFX-14 heat sink. and some fans.

Zamial and moriz are not lying when they say wait. They know some things that I know from vent discussions. Heed their advice, and wait until the end of this year if you can to build a DDR3 based system. You won't be disappointed, trust me. I have inside sources and I have a Nehalem test bed sitting next to my tower. Can we say 4.5GHz stable in Vista 64 running benchmarks on air? Yes, we can.

Eh I prefer the TRUE, less weight, better mounting, and generally cheaper. The Xigmatek HDT-S1283 or KingWin (Same thing) is also a good option if you're looking to save some money.

Just as long as you don't forget to get another mobo if you're going with DDR2 since your current mobo doesn't support DDR2 as far as I can see.

On another note you don't have to do anything with the BIOS. Just plug in all components and wires CORRECTLY. Turn on your new PC, insert the OS disk, and install it. Then just follow the on screen instructions. Building you're own PC isn't really that hard. Just a little common sense.

Thanks all for the advice.

Not entirely sure if i'll go ahead from rahja etc's advice but i'm not really looking for cutting edge, and i'd imagine this new tech you're talking about will be relatively expensive so i'll see what happens.

The new technology is "supposed" to be pretty affordable. If you can not wait, you can not wait. If you need a hand you know were to find us.