Is this a good set up?

[AndyMosh]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/117216...roduct_reviews

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136384

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140478...roduct_reviews

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114499...roduct_reviews x 2

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/115010...roduct_reviews

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/140714...roduct_reviews

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/134798...roduct_reviews

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/44657/...roduct_reviews x 2 for back of case.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131300...roduct_reviews


I am waiting a while before I get this, prices may drop, so if anyone get suggest better stuff, only from ebuyer, can you please say whether this is good or bad.

[PhonicUK]

Motherboard is a bit dated. Go with one based on the nForce 590, which cost about the same.

Also dont use the Extra Value RAM. They perform quite badly. Getting an OCZ kit will not cost much more and will make a big impact on performance.

The 6400 is a competent chip, the Black Edition is the same price though and can be overclocked. Also some of the lower end Phenom Tri/Quad cores are in the same kind of price range.

The case is okay but that front fan really is just for show. They tend not to do so well. A more modest but better designed case will have better thermal properties.

Also if you're using an nForce chipset, get an nVidia GPU. Something like the 8800GT will do nicely at a similar price range.

[AndyMosh]

Extra Value RAM is fine. I don't see any bad reviews, do you? And the front fan spins, it isn't for show, and they do do well. It has 4 fans, what other thermal properties do you need? An ATI will work just as fine on any motherboard as a Nvidia. Thanks.

[PhonicUK]

Originally Posted by AndyMosh

Extra Value RAM is fine. I don't see any bad reviews, do you? And the front fan spins, it isn't for show, and they do do well. It has 4 fans, what other thermal properties do you need? An ATI will work just as fine on any motherboard as a Nvidia. Thanks.

An nVidia GPU on an nForce board takes advantage of GPU EX which accelerates throughput - Giving better performance. You will loose out on this with an ATI card so it won't perform as well.

There tend not to be bad reviews, gamers know better than to use low-speed value ram (The clock speed isn't everything, check the memory timings!) Also the memory you picked out is too slow.

4 GB of PC4200 will perform *worse* than 2GB of low-latency PC6400. http://www.ebuyer.com/product/116755 and theres like £8 difference.
Also if you have 4GB, remember you need a 64-bit OS to use all of it. 32-bit XP will only let you use 3.2-3.5GB of it.

By thermal properties I'm talking about features for cable management and improving airflow which is absent in the value cases.

For that case, you'll notice that behind the faux turbine is a 120mm fan, the 'turbine' doesn't spin on its own but rather just goes around from the airflow from the normal 120mm fan behind it. Its only purpose is for teenagers to go "Woot I have a jet engine!" but they actually reduce airflow.

Save up a little more and get something like a Thermaltake Soprano http://www.ebuyer.com/product/101931

The value versions are a false economy. Examine the details, don't be in a rush to buy.

[AndyMosh]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/111439

I'll get that then, corsair is brilliant, and the fact that i'm 14 does mean I will go:

"Woot I have a jet engine!"

I like the window, I like glowing stuff, I like the fact it's £19 and the fact it has 4 fans.

I changed the GPU i'd like to:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139327

It comes with a free black box I'm not bothered about taking advantage of Nvidia stuff.

And PSU:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/133113

I'm happy with that set up.

[PhonicUK]

I guessed you where around that age. I do think you have something of a case of ATI fanboyism. ATI card + nVidia chipset = bleugh. Stick an ATI in an AMD chipset and nVidia in nVidia chipset to get the best performance.

That memory though is fine, the PSU is okay, An 8800GT at the same price would perform better.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143325

End of the day its your machine, so as long as you're happy with it I guess thats where it counts :P