Will this PC Setup Work? - Do I Need Anything Else?

[MattUK]

I'm building myself a new PC for the first time, and i want to know if the setup i've come up with is compatible, and if i've missed anything out from the specs.

Also, if anyone knows, the level that this PC could play current releases etc.

 

AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 970 Black Edition 140W 3.50GHz C3 (Socket AM3) Processor - Retail (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/AMD+Phenom+II+X4+Quad+Core+970+Black+Edition+140W+3.50GHz+C3+%28Socket+AM3%29+Processor+-+Retail+?productId=41581)

ASUS M5A99X EVO AMD 990X (Socket AM3+) DDR3 PCI-Express ATX Motherboard (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/ASUS+M5A99X+EVO+AMD+990X+%28Socket+AM3%2B%29+DDR3+PCI-Express+ATX+Motherboard+?productId=44760)

VTX ATI Radeon HD 6950 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/VTX+ATI+Radeon+HD+6950+2048MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=45776)

Lian Li PC-60FNWB Midi Tower Aluminium Chassis (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Lian+Li+PC-60FNWB+Midi+Tower+Aluminium+Chassis+?productId=46000)

4GB Mushkin Blackline #992015 (1x4GB) DDR3 2133MHz (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/4GB+Mushkin+Blackline+%23992015+%281x4GB%29+DDR3+2133MHz+10-11-10-28+?productId=45906)

500GB Western Digital RE4 WD5003ABYX 3.5" SATA II Hard Drive (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/500GB+Western+Digital+RE4+WD5003ABYX+3.5%22+SATA+II+Hard+Drive+?productId=45424)

Hewlett Packard / HP GSA-H53L DVD+/- RW 16x IDE Dual Layer Light Scribe Drive (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Blu-Ray+%2F+DVD+Drives/DVD%C2%B1RW+Dual+Layer+Writers/Hewlett+Packard+%2F+HP+GSA-H53L+DVD%2B%2F-+RW+16x+IDE+Dual+Layer+Light+Scribe+Drive+?productId=44544)

800W Mushkin Enhanced Joule ATX2.3 Power Supply (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/800W+Mushkin+Enhanced+Joule+ATX2.3+Power+Supply+?productId=43772)

19" Arianet E941VWA Widescreen LED Monitor (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/19%22+Arianet+E941VWA+Widescreen+LED+Monitor+?productId=43668)

 

If you've made it this far, thanks, and can you help me out with my PC?

Edited September 12, 2011 by MattUK

[KenB]

Hi,

I am probably not the best person to comment - especially when you are spending your hard-earned cash.

 

A few things come to mind

:

1. It looks like a good choice of Video Card.

It gets a good write-up here:

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-graphics-card,2964-4.html

 

2. I have not come across Mushkin before.

I note you are buying their RAM.

 

With RAM it is not a good idea to buy the cheapest. ( It obviously depends on your finances )

Corsair / Crucial / Kingston are good makes - and more expensive.

 

3. You are buying 1 x 4GB RAM.

Not a good idea in my opinion. You would be better with 2 x 2GB

If one of the modules goes down - you can take it out and use the other by itself.

 

4. If you want to play games then more RAM is good. ( again - depends what you can afford )

The m/board supports up to 32GB ( Assuming you are using Win7 ? )

 

5. What goes for RAM also applies to PSUs. ( again - finances may dictate )

[MattUK]

Does Win7 32-Bit allow more than 4GBs of RAM?

I was under the impression only 64-Bit OSs (i'm running Win7 32) supported anything more than 4GB. Is this outdated knowledge?

Also, if that is true, would you recommend 64-Bit greatly over 32-Bit? I have a hard copy of 7-32, but if it is a large upgrade i could always torrent a 64-Bit copy, but to be honest i'd rather not.

 

Also, i know nothing about PSUs. I chose one with a relatively high wattage because i didn't know what was necessary. If you can suggest one, i'd be grateful.

 

I assume everything you didn't mention is fine?

 

Thanks, Matt

[KenB]

Does Win7 32-Bit allow more than 4GBs of RAM?

Sorry I should have beem more specific - no any 32bit system only supports up to 4GB.

 

i could always torrent a 64-Bit copy

This would be illegal.

 

64 bit or 32 bit Win7

See here

 

PSU options

http://www.gamingpcbuilds.com/power-supplypsu/best-gaming-power-supplies-psu/

 

As far as I can tell the rest of your system choices look fine.

[MattUK]

This would be illegal.

 

Which is exactly why i said i would rather not do it.

Regardless, how much of an impact does it have on a PC, do you think it would be worth the extra money?

[Jelly Bean]

If you want the usage of the 4 gig RAM or higher I would go for the 64 bit....

 

Excellemt choice on PSU KenB.

 

I have the said PSU only the 600 watt.....I recently bought it....

[KenB]

64 bit Win7 is, to all intents and purposes, future proof.

 

More and more software is being produced for it and, if your funds are a bit limited, you could run it on 2GB RAM for the time being then add RAM later.

 

All packaged retail editions of Windows 7 (except for Home Basic) include both 32 and 64 bit software.

(Not OEM versions)

There is a short video here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/videos/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-7

You will need to install MS Silverlight

[MattUK]

Ok, thank you for all your help, i'm going to run it on Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit, and i'm posting the revised specs here, more for my own reference than anything else, as the website i'm purchasing off is refusing to save my shopping basket details xD

 

 

AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 970 Black Edition 140W 3.50GHz C3 (Socket AM3) Processor - Retail (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...roductId=41581)

ASUS M5A99X EVO AMD 990X (Socket AM3+) DDR3 PCI-Express ATX Motherboard (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...roductId=44760)

VTX ATI Radeon HD 6950 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...roductId=45776)

Lian Li PC-60FNWB Midi Tower Aluminium Chassis (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...roductId=46000)

2x 4GB Kingston HyperX Blu (2x2GB) PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Memory Kit (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Memory/DDR3/Dual+Channel+1600MHz/4GB+Kingston+HyperX+Blu+%282x2GB%29+PC3-12800C9+1600MHz+Dual+Channel+Memory+Kit+?productId=42416)

500GB Western Digital RE4 WD5003ABYX 3.5" SATA II Hard Drive (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...roductId=45424)

Hewlett Packard / HP GSA-H53L DVD+/- RW 16x IDE Dual Layer Light Scribe Drive (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=44544)

550W OCZ ZS Series ATX2.2 80PLUS Bronze Power Supply (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/650W+or+less/550W+OCZ+ZS+Series+ATX2.2+80PLUS+Bronze+Power+Supply+?productId=45457)

22" Arianet MN22AOCF22+ Widescreen LCD Monitor (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/22%22+Arianet+MN22AOCF22%2B+Widescreen+LCD+Monitor+?productId=41892)

 

PSU, RAM and Monitor changed from original.

 

Thanks for all the help.

[Jelly Bean]

As your planning to run a quad core I would certainly go for 4 gig and 64 bit.....

 

The monitor choice to be honest I would go for Samsung or LG,I have dual Dells.....Go for a good branded one,do NOT go for AOC,cheap,nasty and possible ghosting...

 

I would go for the Kingston RAM or even look at Corsair....As your adding 4 gig you realy dont need top speed RAM......You could save cash and get a lower speed,just a thought......You may not get the usage of the speed...

 

PSU is fine.......If you plan to upgrade or add more hardware at a later date you may wish to up that to a 600......

 

Your case,I didnt notice if there was side ventilation.....I see front........Personaly I would go for something with a side vent as well.......But case looks fine.....

 

I will add a small item to the list....Small cable ties.......Use these to tie cables out of the way to give better cooling and airflow......

[MattUK]

Update, after speaking to a friend of mine who works in computers, i've had a little reshuffle of parts of the PC.

Final list below.

 

Motherboard: Asus M5A88-V EVO AMD 880 (Socket AM3) DDR3 PCI-Express Motherboard (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/AMD+AM3%2B+Ready/Asus+M5A88-V+EVO+AMD+880+%28Socket+AM3%29+DDR3+PCI-Express+Motherboard+?operation=shoppingBasketAdd&productId=45535&context=)

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 970 Black Edition 140W 3.50GHz C3 (Socket AM3) Processor (https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/AMD+Phenom+II+X4+Quad+Core+970+Black+Edition+140W+3.50GHz+C3+%28Socket+AM3%29+Processor+-+Retail+?productId=41581)

Graphics Card: MSI ATI Radeon HD 6950 Twin FrozR II OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/MSI+ATI+Radeon+HD+6950+Twin+FrozR+II+OC+2048MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?operation=shoppingBasketAdd&productId=43820&context=superSpecial)

Hard Drive: 500GB Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKX 3.5" SATA III Hard Drive (http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/500GB+Western+Digital+Caviar+Blue+WD5000AAKX+3.5%22+SATA+III+Hard+Drive+?operation=shoppingBasketAdd&productId=43780&context=superSpecial)

Memory: 2x4GB Corsair Vengeance Blue LP (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Memory/DDR3/Dual+Channel+1600MHz/4GB+Corsair+Vengeance+Blue+LP+%282x2GB%29+DDR3+PC3-12800C9+1600MHz+Dual+Channel+Kit+-+CML4GX3M2A1600C9B+?operation=shoppingBasketAdd&productId=45512&context=)

Case: Coolermaster CM 690 II Lite Dominator Chassis (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Coolermaster+CM+690+II+Lite+Dominator+Chassis+?operation=shoppingBasketAdd&productId=44448&context=)

PSU: 750W Corsair TX750 V2 ATX2.3 SLI/Crossfire Compliant Power Supply (http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/700-950W/750W+Corsair+TX750+V2+ATX2.3+SLI%2FCrossfire+Compliant+Power+Supply+?operation=shoppingBasketAdd&productId=43906&context=)

Monitor: 22" IIyama Prolite E2271HDS Widescreen LED Monitor - Black (http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/22%22+IIyama+Prolite+E2271HDS+Widescreen+LED+Monitor+-+Black+?operation=shoppingBasketAdd&productId=45202&context=superSpecial)

 

Thanks for all the work leading to this, hopefully it will be a successful build.

[Jelly Bean]

Hey it is worth asking others for advice.......

 

Glad we could help you....

 

Prefers the ASUS motherboard.....

 

That coolmaster case is much better......I just think if your building a good machine and if your a gamer cooling is a must.....

 

If you plan to Over Clock wich I dont advise as your building a decent machine,renew the CPU stock cooler.....

 

Let us know how it goes....

 

There is nothing better than building your own machine....

 

Nice wireless keyboard and mouse is needed now....

[MattUK]

I'm going wired, because i'm pedantic about response times, and i already have a good 8 button mouse in this PC, so i just need a keyboard.

And i'm not overclocking, i wouldn't want to risk any damage to an expensive powerful machine like this. No PC i've used before this one has cost me more than £300 from a retailer ;)

[Jelly Bean]

I wouldnt over clock my baby I built either..I realy dont think it is worth the risk of hardware damage.......

 

Your putting in a quad with 4 gig RAM...Why OC it?

 

A bad OC and you have wrecked it.....

[KenB]

I think you will be happier with your new choices.

If you are spending that sort of money - it is worthwhile spending a little more on quality.

 

Let us know how the build goes :)