First build questions

[cian1500ww]

I have starting building my first computer and I have a few questions to ask you about it:

1. I was thinking of getting this (http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4MS7&CategorySelectedId=11137&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11137,43990000) graphics card and I was wondering if it needed a PCI-E 6 pin power connector because there is none on my PSU ?

2. I have just installed the M/B and the PSU is connected up to it and the various connectors connected to it. It has no processor in it yet or Graphics card or HDD but I was wondering would it be safe to power the PC on so I can check to see if a ll the fans etc. are working?

3. I am going to get this (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338081) processor and probably overclock it to around the 2.7Ghz mark. Would that be possible if I had a good CPU fan and heatsink ?

4. I was also wondering whether 2GB of RAM would be adequate enough for gaming ?

5. I have place for both IDE drives and SATA drives so what type of a DVD drive would I be better going for (IDE or SATA) ?

Thanks in advance for any help you give me !:clap:

[Source]

I have starting building my first computer and I have a few questions to ask you about it:

1. I was thinking of getting this (http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4MS7&CategorySelectedId=11137&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11137,43990000) graphics card and I was wondering if it needed a PCI-E 6 pin power connector because there is none on my PSU ?As i don't see any external power plug here (http://www.xfxforce.com/media/seriesSpecSheet/c8a0fc5711ebe50a0111fb42f5e90008/XFX_8600GT_B.pdf), i would say. No, you don't need an 6PIN.


2. I have just installed the M/B and the PSU is connected up to it and the various connectors connected to it. It has no processor in it yet or Graphics card or HDD but I was wondering would it be safe to power the PC on so I can check to see if a ll the fans etc. are working?Only the motherboard wouldn't be an problem, you only get bleeps that the CPU/memory etc. isn't there.


3. I am going to get this (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338081) processor and probably overclock it to around the 2.7Ghz mark. Would that be possible if I had a good CPU fan and heatsink ? .. Donno, think so yes, those are overclock-beast, but you should ask anyone that has experience or knowledge in overclocking :up:


4. I was also wondering whether 2GB of RAM would be adequate enough for gaming ?Use 2GB my own (Corsair Twin2x2048 PC6400CL4) and it all goes really smoothly. (but i use XP-PRO, donno if you want to use Vista?.. No exprience with that.)


5. I have place for both IDE drives and SATA drives so what type of a DVD drive would I be better going for (IDE or SATA) ?Doesn't matter much Imho. Get the SATA one if you want to have an clean looking case and it improves the airflow a bit.
Get the IDE if you have only some SATA ports, so you can use those later for more Harddisks.


Thanks in advance for any help you give me !:clap:Hope you can do something with this :)

Good luck with your build :up:

[cian1500ww]

That was very helpful Source, thanks very much for your help !

[cian1500ww]

Well I powered up and tried everything but the case speaker didn't work, I tried connecting it the other way around but it didn't make any difference. Any advice ?

[hardrail]

Well I powered up and tried everything but the case speaker didn't work, I tried connecting it the other way around but it didn't make any difference. Any advice ?

If the case speaker is the only thing that doesn't work. Great job on the build.

[Source]

Agree, think you did it great for first build if everything works good except speakers.

Think that is an Software-related problem..

- You installed the drivers on the CD of your Motherboard or your Soundcard?

- If you have an separate Sound card (not on your Motherboard), do you selected that one in your Sound-configuration?

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/650/naamloosud7.jpg

Where {In my case} the first one is my Soundcard and the second one is my Motherboard.

[cian1500ww]

I have just the bare motherboard itself so I have no graphics card or any other device yet so I haven't installed the CD that came with the motherboard yet.
Thanks for your help, I might be needing more advice yet !

[cian1500ww]

I have yet another question for you !

CAn you recommend a good CPU fan/heatsink for an E6550 processor which I'll try to overclock to maybe 3Ghz ?
Thanks again !

[PyroFire]

dont buy that graphics card, the 8600gt is very poor

also for a hsf for a 6550 try the thermalright xp not sure of exact number (go check air cooling forum), these are supposed to be the best at the moment but cost quite a bit.

[Source]

I'll recommend the Scythe Mine.
Not the best, but still an very good CPU cooler for an reasonable price :)

See this (http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=8757&page=119) review.

2nd place
Scythe Miné

While Scythe might not class the Miné as a high-performance cooler, we most certainly do. It delivers exceptional performance and at a price – well under £30 – that even deep-pocketed enthusiasts won't begrudge.

Worthy of overall second place without a doubt and deserved winner of an eXtreme Recommended award and also an eXtreme Value award.Some pages back are the Benchmarks..
Scythe Mine comes out really good at most (if not all).
..Keep in mind that the Cooler cost around €30,- .. And should be compared to that price-range :P

http://img.hexus.net/v2/cooling/775megatest/thermalsload.png

See for CPU cooling also this:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106971

[hardrail]

All of the heatsinks referred to above will cool that chip great. Can't go wrong with a Zalman 9500 either.

[Monstru]

1. I was thinking of getting this graphics card and I was wondering if it needed a PCI-E 6 pin power connector because there is none on my PSU ?

Even if you would have needed one, this board usually come with molex=>> 6 pin adapters included in the package, so no worries about that. But....simple 8600GT doesn't perform that great. You could either take a 8600GTS, or 7900GS / 1950Pro / 2600XT if you want something cheaper

3. I am going to get this processor and probably overclock it to around the 2.7Ghz mark. Would that be possible if I had a good CPU fan and heatsink ?

That is possible but it always depends on how good that chip really is..It's a matter of luck if you will. But....generally speaking, that CPU shouldn't have any problems in reaching 2.7Ghz.

4. I was also wondering whether 2GB of RAM would be adequate enough for gaming ?

In my opinion, yes. 2gb is a fair amount of ram. The video card has a much bigger importance when it comes to performance in games, so, if you have some extra cash, you should better spend it on a better video card, not on another 2Gb of Ram.

5. I have place for both IDE drives and SATA drives so what type of a DVD drive would I be better going for (IDE or SATA) ?

Go for the Sata DVD-Rw, because you will have an improved air-flow in the case and because they are already starting to make mobos without IDE ports. Soon, you won't find those on any new board.

CAn you recommend a good CPU fan/heatsink for an E6550 processor which I'll try to overclock to maybe 3Ghz ?

There are many options, it depends on the sum of money you want to spend on the heatsink. If you want a good heatsink but not a very expensive one, you can go for an Arctic Cooling 7 Pro or a Scythe Mine or Katana2. But if you want a really good heatsink, you could take Scythe Ninja or Infinity or Andy Sammurai Master, Thermalright Ultra 120 Xtreme or Thermaltake Big Typhoon VX.

You have to find the best balance between cost/performance/silence, depending on what you are looking for. Also, don't forget to get a good PSU!

Lot's of luck mate!

[cian1500ww]

Your advice co far has been very helpful to me.I owe all of you a big thank you !

I was looking at the X1950pro and then I seen the 8600 and I was wondering which would be the better choice ?

I would pay up to the €60 mark for a good CPU fan that I know would be reliable. What about this (http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4C8D&CategorySelectedId=11258&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11258,4294956808) one ?

[Source]

I would look into this four:
http://www.komplett.ie/k/kcp.aspx?sku=332708&sku=330007&sku=320978&sku=328057
(don't know if link will work)

..Had good experience with the Miné and Ninja+.
And have no doubt the others that are mentioned above are also very good (see benchmarks here (http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106971&highlight=Scythe%20Ninja&highlight=Scythe%20Infinity))

[cian1500ww]

What about this (http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=328057) one ?

[Source]

Comes first in most tests,
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=8757&page=119

So should do fine, as this benchmark says
Two other benchmarks give it also 10/10 (http://www.thinkcomputers.org/index.php?x=reviews&id=512&page=4) and an golden award (http://hi-techreviews.com/reviews_2006/Big_Typhoon_VX/P4.htm)

In my opinion you get yourself an nice cooler, it performs they same as the Andy Samurai Master, as said in this (http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/scythe-enzotech_10.html#sect0) test

Those benchmarks say some of the performance and what the cooler is capable of.
But keep in mind that the airflow in your case, the CPU you use, etc. also play an part in how hot your CPU will run.

As example; you have almost no airflow, the VGA gets hot and hot air gets up to your CPU. now the cooler can only suck in hot air and cool it a little.

So, keep in mind that you also need decent airflow in your case
(I recommend: Front/side fans -> suck in the case ..|.. back/top -> blow out the case.)

[cian1500ww]

I have four case fans and I'm putting a further 3 in it so it should have adequate cooling.
I think I'll go for the typhoon. Thanks for your help so far !!

[Source]

Would be loud than :D
7 fans running + 1 from Big Typhoon + 1 mini from GPU :P

-----

Nice one on the Big-Typ VX

Keep us updated and post some photo's when you're done building ;)
See forward how you did it and how it looks when you're done :)

[Monstru]

I was looking at the X1950pro and then I seen the 8600 and I was wondering which would be the better choice ?

It depends. 8600GT is weak...8600GTS performas much better, similar to 1950Pro. Taking in consideration the fact that 8600gts offers support for DX10, maybe this is our choice.

I would pay up to the €60 mark for a good CPU fan that I know would be reliable. What about this one ?

That Zalman is ok, but the Typhoon ot the Scythe products are a little bit more versatile.

Best of luck and come back with pictures. Btw...what Mobo, PSU and case do you have?

[cian1500ww]

Here is the specs of it so far:
Abit IP35-E
Black Ultimate Gaming Case
500W PSU

My intended part list is in my sig below

As for the Graphics card I'll probably go for the X1950PRO

All the case fans are silent but the two ones on the PSU make the most noise.

Here is two pics of it so far:
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/644/dsc00088nz9.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3739/dsc00087jo5.jpg

I have a temperature sensor for the CPU and I was wondering whether I should put it onto the heatsink of the fan or in the thermal paste ?

[Monstru]

1. what is the manufacturer of the PSU?
2. it is probably not a good idea to put the sensor in the thermal paste, because that will worsen the contact between the Heatsink and the CPU.

[cian1500ww]

The manufacturer is Mhel

Would I put the sensor on the heatsink then ?

[cian1500ww]

The Thermaltake Big Typhoon is too big for my case

[Source]

Get te Scythe Mine or Andy Samurai Master then, those are smaller but equal if not better in cooling performance then the Big Typhoon.

[Monstru]

You could also get the Ninja Mini (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185046) or Ninja (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185038) foer a very good price, so it is only a matter of which one you like better :)