Building a new Computer, Shopping List

[RikuoAmero]

Okay, I'm going to build a custom rig, and here's my parts. As of the time of writing, I've already ordered the case, will be arriving in a few days.

Case: Darkfleet DF-85 Force

CPU: Intel Core i7 2600K, Quad Core @ 3.4GHz, overclockable

CPU Cooling: Zalman CNPS 10X

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbyRp6167-w

(if anyone can recommend a good CPU cooler, please chime in. I've looked up the Zalman and its advertised as being Socket 1155 compatible.

RAM: 2 x 4GB @ 1600MHz

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003E1TQCK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&m=A1F8YGP86NG3IP

Motherboard: Asus P8Z68 Deluxe

Sound Card: Creative XB X-Fi Titanium

(I already have one of these, and its done me a world of good, and yes, I am aware of their reputation)

OS Drive: Intel Solid State Drive 160GB

http://www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?productcode=ECE2178145

Optical: LiteOn BD-Burner

http://www.elara.ie/productdetail.aspx?productcode=MMEB940668

GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX 580 x 2 (haven't decided yet on which brand and whether or not to get the 1.5GB or 3GB versions...and yes, I want two, I'm just greedy that way)

PSU: Silverstone ST1500

(yes, I know its overkill, if someone can suggest something different, go ahead! Remember, the PSU must be able to power two GTX 580's, so that means two 6-pin and two 8-pin connectors.)

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium x64

Now...you may have noticed that I am not going for liquid cooling. I have never seen a liquid cooled computer in person and thus, I don't want to bother with all the extra hassle. The noise of an air-cooled system won't bother me, since I wear headphones. Just would like to ask, can I easily install extra fans on the case?

[† ballard]

This is a really nice build. If you want to save some money you could always reuse your current sound card since it's still really good. Unless you want to keep your current computer as it is. As for the 580s... if you're not worried about spending the extra money go for the 3GB version. Otherwise I suggest just getting the 1.5GB version since it will easily plow through any modern game. (Especially 2 of them.) The case is good. As long as you have all the front, back, and top fans installed ventilation shouldn't be a problem.

[ZeroPenguins]

Great build, I'm using a Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme I don't know if it's better, but it's a darn decent heatsink, that's for sure! Maybe have your RAM in triple channel? So 3x4GB, you get a little speed boost in RAM memory transfer. Don't really care much about PSU, I have a crappy one but been running fine for two years now.

[lemmingllama]

Im envious that you get to purchase this, but to me it looks good and you shouldnt have problems with cooling. So I hope you get your rig together soon.

[† Irish]

that looks like a decent build. planning on gaming alot on it or something?

[RikuoAmero]

that looks like a decent build. planning on gaming alot on it or something?

My, however did you guess ^^

[† Irish]

I was merely having a nergasm over the specs, and as far as fans go, it should have places where you can install more fans to increase cooling.

[RikuoAmero]

Question guys, when it comes to the tools and actually building the thing, what exactly do I need? I saw PC tools kits on Amazon, which of these should I get

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-PC-Tool-Kit-Professional/dp/B00005V39V/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320871708&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sprotek-Piece-Laptop-Computer-Maintenance/dp/B00361MYGS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320871708&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-Tools-36039-piece-Mini/dp/B000WDXMG4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1320871708&sr=8-3

I think I also need a can of compressed air and thermal cooling paste. Can anyone recommend me some from Amazon UK? Note, the UK site, not US.

[lemmingllama]

Question guys, when it comes to the tools and actually building the thing, what exactly do I need? I saw PC tools kits on Amazon, which of these should I get

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-PC-Tool-Kit-Professional/dp/B00005V39V/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320871708&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sprotek-Piece-Laptop-Computer-Maintenance/dp/B00361MYGS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320871708&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rolson-Tools-36039-piece-Mini/dp/B000WDXMG4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1320871708&sr=8-3

I think I also need a can of compressed air and thermal cooling paste. Can anyone recommend me some from Amazon UK? Note, the UK site, not US.

Honestly, why do you need special PC tool kits? You just need a good multibit screwdriver and you can put together any normal PC. But if you dont have those, then I would reccomend either the first or third links, simply because the second is for laptops and you will most likely never use most of the tools. As for compressed air and cooling paste, I havent heard that you need these, but I would have to look into it more thoroughly to know for sure.

[→Speed←]

Nice parts man! You are definitly right about the PSU being overkill(even for 2 of those graphic cards)-(i use an Antec 850 watt in my Beast and I know it could still power a 2nd ATI 6970 xD) Nvidia do use a bit more power but not an extra 650 watts! xDD Also did you see how big that CPU cooler is? even if its fariler lightwieght its going to more than likely be in your way(just my personal opinion). I know you said you have never seen a water cooled computer before so I will make a video and add it here as an edit within the next few minutes! =) I will show idle and max temps with all three settings also.. Although that being said, my computer isnt 100% water cooled because I use a Corsair H100(the radiator is much smaller than I was thinking so I could only screw in one side of it to my case.. xDD)

Edit1: compressed air(in a can) is usually just used for cleaning dust. xD(not kidding) and about the thermal paste.. you should compare the price and usability(space taken up or cleared up) of that cooler and a corsair water cooler.. Also you don't need any "tools" for that case all you would need is a small flathead screwdriver to secure the motherboard in and the CPU's cooler! =) beware though.. philips screwdrivers tend to strip sometimes..

[vcxz]

Great build Rikuo

First thing though, have you considered waiting for Ivy Bridge?

I think going air cool over water cool is a good idea, most air coolers are silent so even if you weren't wearing headphones it still wouldn't bother you. I'm sure you have already read reviews on your cooler on multiple sites having to do with noise/performance/quality/etc

All the best!

[→Speed←]

Great build Rikuo

First thing though, have you considered waiting for Ivy Bridge?

I think going air cool over water cool is a good idea, most air coolers are silent so even if you weren't wearing headphones it still wouldn't bother you. I'm sure you have already read reviews on your cooler on multiple sites having to do with noise/performance/quality/etc

All the best!

air cooling is usually not as effective and not as quiet as water.. plus air coolers usually take up far more space than water do!(you have it backwards, no offense xD).

Edit1: Although id like to know about your "have you considered waiting for Ivy Bridge?" question.. its going to be a bigger socket type but will supposedly be 30% faster/better than the i2600k..

[vcxz]

air cooling is usually not as effective and not as quiet as water.. plus air coolers usually take up far more space than water do!(you have it backwards' date=' no offense xD).[/quote']

Naw, liquid cooling is superior in every way (even costs sometimes). With the i7 2600K, Rikuo should be able to OC without the need for liquid cooling.

Easy

[† ballard]

For thermal paste I highly recommend arctic silver 5. Be sure not to use a lot though (A small dab about the size of a single grain of rice will do fine. Spread it around evenly with a credit card or something of that nature. Be sure to only put it on the processor since putting it on both the processor and heatsink would be too much paste.)... You only need a little bit of it so that the heatsink and processor make proper contact with each other and fill in any imperfections so that there is no trapped air.

As far as tools go... I've never needed anything more than a basic philips screwdriver.

[RikuoAmero]

To answer the question about waiting for Ivy Bridge...I want to get this computer built and setup before Christmas. I've been trying to get a new computer for the past few months and I'm sick of waiting.

[Leviathan87]

nice list there but i would go with 6gb memory. i had problems with 4gb. now for gpu brand evga has amazing support and rma

[vcxz]

To answer the question about waiting for Ivy Bridge...I want to get this computer built and setup before Christmas. I've been trying to get a new computer for the past few months and I'm sick of waiting.

Mmmm, there won't be too much of a difference between SB and IB. Ivy Bridge will come with a huge price tag too. The build you have here I think offers more than enough power and most of the Kametsu fam is just envious as Lemmingllama said.

Not fair

[→Speed←]

nice list there but i would go with 6gb memory. i had problems with 4gb. now for gpu brand evga has amazing support and rma

do people not understand triple channel isnt possible yet with the i2600 or i2600k? lol in other words he cant have tripple channel(6gb) xD nothing is wrong with 8 or 16 because i have 8 gb in my other PC and 16 in this one.. they both never have problems! =) and ikuo sorry i didnt put the vid up yet ill get busy with it later since im late with homework @_@ i passed out last night and overslept just a tiny bit xD

Edit1: my bad i didnt notice you didnt say triple channel xD 6 gb still isnt possible though considering there isnt 2, 3gb sticks for dual channel..

[RikuoAmero]

Mmmm, there won't be too much of a difference between SB and IB. Ivy Bridge will come with a huge price tag too. The build you have here I think offers more than enough power and most of the Kametsu fam is just envious as Lemmingllama said.

Not fair

Just to be extra nice, I'll do unboxing videos and photos of each component as they get delivered

And Naito...you might want to re-read my shopping list. I wrote 2 x 4GB, as in 2 sticks of RAM, each one being 4GB, giving me a total of 8GB. I would have gone higher but the motherboard manual I got off the Asus website said that at 1600MHz speeds, the highest I can go is 2 x 4GB. At least, I'm pretty sure that's what it meant.

[Koby]

and yet your PC listed in your signature was already leagues ahead of mine, lol. Mine is a pre-built 2008 PC with only a 1.6 GHz Processor, 2 GB ram (added one myself), and 160 GB HHD (I also added a Blu-ray reading/burning drive). Nothing worth mentioning at all. Use to play 720p fine, but it's gotten laggy on some now and will not keep up with any 720p encoded at Hi10 (10-bit). It does fairly well at gaming on the games I play with normal to low specs but I don't game a whole lot and most of the games are 10+ years old.

Was this topic to simply brag about it or was it asking what could have been done differently or something?