Check my spec

[Matblack]

OK

I'm going to upgrade the home PC, this is what I have got so far

Its going to be an HTPC primerily but is also my main rig so it needs to be capable of doing all the usually stuff (not playing games though) and also be reasonably quiet and discrete.

The jury is still out on the Quad Core but this one has a lower power consumption so hopefully wouldn't put out too much heat.

LN19488
https://secure.scan.co.uk/images/in_stock.gif (http://javascript<b></b>://)Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0 SLACR, 95W, S775, 2.40 GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 8MB Cache, Retail[/URL]£149.99£176.24 (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=643237) LN12200

https://secure.scan.co.uk/images/in_stock.gif (http://javascript<b></b>://)2Gb (2X1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC5400 (667), 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 4-4-4-12£44.54£52.33 LN18964

https://secure.scan.co.uk/images/in_stock.gif (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=291363)Gigabyte GA G33M-S2 iG33 Express, S775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 667/800, SATA II, ATX, On Board VGA£54.39£63.91 (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=600245) LN17166

https://secure.scan.co.uk/images/in_stock.gif (http://javascript<b></b>://)Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64Bit 1Pk OEM (DVD)£58.87£69.17 (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=527300) LN16546

https://secure.scan.co.uk/images/in_stock.gif (http://javascript<b></b>://)500 Gb Samsung HD501LJ Spinpoint T, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ£52.89£62.15 (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=494552) LN16974

https://secure.scan.co.uk/images/in_stock.gif (http://javascript<b></b>://)Silverstone Grandia GD01B-MXR Black Desktop Alu' Case with Card Reader MCE/Vista Ready w/o PSU£106.00£124.55 (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=518649) LN16131

https://secure.scan.co.uk/images/in_stock.gif (http://javascript<b></b>://)400W Silverstone SST-ST40EF+ super silent, 80%+ eFF' , v.1 ROHS£42.00£49.35 (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=483484) LN14034

https://secure.scan.co.uk/images/in_stock.gif (http://javascript<b></b>://)Silverstone SST-NT06 V2 CPU cooler P4 Socket 478, LGA775, AMD Socket 754, 939, 940, AM2 RoHS[URL="http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=394449"]£29.49£34.65

Might get one of those SATA DVDs too :)
MB

[Feek]

Hard drive is a good 'un, I run a pair of them.

[Daz]

Quad-core really is a waste of money and power for the desktop - except possibly the most uber of gaming systems. Hell, I have database servers supporting hundreds of users that dont need more than 2 cores to do their job. The Core2's are relatively cheap, well established now and will give you all the performance you need - so I'd save yourself the money tbh, few people will really be able to justify the risk of being an early adopter.

Only other thing I'd suggest is maybe going for 2X250/300GB disks rather than 1 big one and RAID them - assuming you already have some sort of separate backup device in place anyway.

[Matblack]

Raid for speed or Raid for redundancy?

MB

[Daz]

Speed. If you're generally responsible with your data (ie, back it up often) then there's no reason not to. While the speed of CPU/memory have gone up rapidly the speed of a single disk hasn't really followed the same trend. None of my desktop/workstation systems have anything other than RAID-0 or 10, simply because I couldn't go back now - having the extra disk bandwidth (we have the bus' to take it now) makes for a more balanced system these days. No point in having a system that can churn through reams of data if it's waiting for it to be read off a disk.

[Stan_Lite]

I only really got my quad for Folding, since I stopped that, I can't say I've noticed any time when I've used more than 2 cores. However, if you would be doing a lot of multitasking then 4 cores may occasionally come in handy. Otherwise, the only reason really to get one would be future proofing - I'm sure there will be applications in the future which will utilise all 4 cores.

[Feek]

/me ponders if FSX uses all four

/edit, yes :)

[Daz]

The same is true of dual-core though - any multi-threaded apps will happily use every core it can get it's hands on, but unless those processes are particularly long real world difference will be minimal.

Folding is a good use though - bet it got pretty hot when all 4 cores were loaded? They're also damn useful if you're looking to license a SQL server but I imagine you're not :p

[Matblack]

Bugger, that mobo hasn't got raid and the one that does isn't in stock :(

MB

[Stan_Lite]

Folding is a good use though - bet it got pretty hot when all 4 cores were loaded?

Bloody right it did - 4 cores at 95-100% = about 80C according to Core-Temp, with one of those Amanda TEC coolers (idle temps were about 42C).

They're also damn useful if you're looking to license a SQL server but I imagine you're not :p

Oddly enough, not in the near future :p

[Matblack]

OK

I've ordered this

Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0 SLA 1 £149.99
2Gb (2X1GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR 1 £44.54
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premiu 1 £54.89
500 Gb Samsung HD501LJ Spinpoint T, 1 £52.89
Gigabyte GA-G33-DS3R iG33 Express, 1 £59.99
Samsung SH-S203/BEBN 20x DVD±R, 16x 1 £15.99
Silverstone Grandia GD01B-MXR Black 1 £106.00
430w Seasonic S12II-430 PSU, 12Cm f 1 £42.99
Scythe Mini Ninja Heatpipe CPU Cool 1 £23.99
80mm Sharkoon 1000 "Golf Ball" Ultr 4 £3.88

I've gone for the CPU as well Stan because it is a lower powered model and shouldn't set my HTPC on fire :D

I can always downgrade to the C2D if its too hot. Also ordered a load of Sharkoon Golf Ball fans which should be nice and quiet :)

MB

[Zirax]

If it is too hot you could just undervolt it?

[Matblack]

Aye

The Scythe Ninja Mini is supposed to be very good though, in one of the reviews that were running it with a D560 passively with tollerable temps so I think I'll be OK. As we've already established the chances of me stressing more than one core at a time are pretty low and I've really only chosen the C2Q for future proofing. If it comes to the crunch though I'll see about undervolting :)

MB

[Mark]

From Scan?

Looks like a good bet to me. I didn't order mine yet, and Scan are closed tomorrow, so not sure when I'll order now.

[Matblack]

Yep all from Scan :)

MB

[Matblack]

Well that all went swimmingly, I now have a super quiet super fast new machine which I'm not really using for anything much but it should last for a while :D

Replacing all the fans with low speed Sharkoon Golfballs makes it near as damn it silent too which is sooooooooooooo cool :) I definately recomenf those, they move a reasonably amount of air too, most impresive.

I'm beinging to think I ought to buy a decent graphics card to set this thing off properly, its not really fair to have a quad sat there with nothing much to do :D, maybe next month :)

MB

[Zirax]

If you aren't after a monster, get an x1950xt which is about £70. Next step up from that is the 320gts which is around 180 last I checked.

Although C&C on wireless keyboard/mouse projected onto your wall would seriously rock :)

[Stan_Lite]

Only thing with a decent graphics card is that, the better they perform, the noisier they tend to get. If you want to keep your rig quiet, it may be better to get an aftermarket cooler for it.

By far the noisiest part of my gaming rig is the 8800GTX.

[Davey_Pitch]

I have to say I'm amazed by how quiet my new setup is (even with an 8800 GTS). I'm sat next to my PC, and the 360 is on 10 feet away, and I can't hear my PC for the noise from the 360 (which is only on the dashboard so not very noisy). Lynne actually thought it was off earlier as she couldn't hear it ;D