Another new build thread

[Valerius Maximus]

just like the title says...here it goes. Any advice, suggestions are welcome.

Gigabyte GA_965P_DS4 Motherboard
Intel Core 2 DUO E6600
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA-II 16MB Cache
OCZ 2GB PC2-6400 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2
BFG GeForce 8800 GTX
Antec TruePower Trio 650W PSU
Antec P180 Advanced Super Midi Tower Case

these are the main parts obviously there are some other parts like optical drives and such...Planning on ordering from Overclockers.co.uk

This will be the first time i'll be buiding one myself.
Can the cpu be overclocked slightly with stock cooling?

My other option would be to order This PCThat's about 400 gbp more expensive than my build

[Doono]

always better to build yourself, You will be able to to overclock slightly on stock cooling but don't expect any miracles. Invest in a Arctic Freezer 7 pro and arctic silver thermal compound it won't add much to the cost (about £20 for both) and the overclocking margin should go alot higher.

[spartan_phalanx]

I just built for the first time and it was a snap. A few minor issues but everything went well overall. Definitely build it yourself, not only will it save you money you'll be able to get better components.

[felicissimus]

Overclocking sucks.You get 10 % usually performance increase very seldom 20% .And you must dunno turn everything upside down in your PC and pay special attention to the performance process to not overexceed some speed or smth.It's boring and not worth.

[Doono]

thats because you don't know what your doing, C2D processors can be overclocked with about a 40% boost in performance.

[felicissimus]

Except that you'll never notice that in practise,they just write so in books

[Aristocrat]

Except that you'll never notice that in practise,they just write so in books

I'm guessing you have never overclocked, or if you have, you failed so miserably it as forever warped your view.

Overclocking is a fine way to stave off dishing out money for an upgrade, and, as the PC ages, is often the difference between medium settings, and high settings, in new games.

[felicissimus]

I'm guessing you have never overclocked, or if you have, you failed so miserably it as forever warped your view.

Overclocking is a fine way to stave off dishing out money for an upgrade, and, as the PC ages, is often the difference between medium settings, and high settings, in new games.

And what do you practically overclock ? Only the processor.Even if you exchange it for a two times stronger one,you may not notice the performance of games being improved because it's merely not only the processor counting.AND MOREOVER USUALLY THE PROCESSOR IS AT THIRD PLACE OF FACTORS INFLUENCING GAME BEHAVIOR.I would just go for a new system if I need better game performance you specialists !

[Aristocrat]

And what do you practically overclock ? Only the processor.Even if you exchange it for a two times stronger one,you may not notice the performance of games being improved because it's merely not only the processor counting.AND MOREOVER USUALLY THE PROCESSOR IS AT THIRD PLACE OF FACTORS INFLUENCING GAME BEHAVIOR.I would just go for a new system if I need better game performance you specialists !

I sincerely hope you are more knowledgable on other things you consider yourself an expert in...because overclocking is definitely not your forte, seriously...and perhaps computers in general.

In gaming, performance is split between 3 major factors:

1. Processor/Cpu
2. Video Card
3. Ram

Now, all 3 are inherently just as important as the others to achieve good performance. I could have a 8ghz processor but a 128mb video card will kill my performance. (and so on). Or, I could have a 8800GTX, and 2-4 gb of ram, but if my processor isn't up to scratch, the game will run poorly, period.

Point is that all 3 determine performance, each being as important as the other.

Onto overclocking.
Go and do some reading. I suggest visiting Tomshardware.com
You can overclock a cpu.
You can overclock a video card.
You can overclock Ram. (Make it faster, transferring more data per second).

This is the part of the post where I point out that quite suddenly, your claim that "Only a cpu can be overclocked" is wrong, just like your point about a cpu being a minor factor in determining performance.

Now then, onto my point about upgrading.
Sure, when your computer, running at stock speeds, suddenly causes you to start having to sacrifice graphical settings and physics in new game, you could go out and splurge $500 - $1000 on upgrades.
Or, you could go and spend $50 on a some new fans, a new cpu heatsink, and some artic silver (thermal compound) and then overclock your system so you still play the newest games at the highest settings.

Hmm, maybe I'm wrong, but isn't $50 cheaper than $500-1000?

Oh...and for the record, you will find that most overclockers have machines that will leave yours whimpering in a corner, as they are enthusiasts, and new technology is like their drug of choice.

To further get my point across. The new Intel Core Duo series has e6300, e6400, e6600 and e6700 models (and the Extreme Edition 6800...but it is very pricey).
An e6300 can be overclocked (rather easily) to outperform the stock e6700, thereby saving people around $500 on one part.

These are facts...what you have been posting is pure tripe.

Edit: @ the OP, instead of the DS4 motherboard get the DS3, it overclocks better and is cheaper.

[Doono]

please stop talkign about stuff you don't understand anyone who has overclocked a core 2 duo processor knows its fairly easy to go from 2 ghz to 3ghz which is a 50% increase.

[Valerius Maximus]

not going for extreme overclocking, just wanna try it; seeing it is supposed to be fairly easy with a c2d cpu, and using the guides here on the site heh.

But another cpu cooler is a good idea.

also the people at overclockers told me that case would only fit the 8800 GTX when removing the top HDD bay; so maybe another case like the antec 900 gaming one...although i dont personally like a case with open side panels...what kind of cases do u guys with an 8800gtx have?

[spartan_phalanx]

I use the Cooler Master CM Stacker 830 RC-830-KKN2-GP No PS Full Tower Case (Black). It's big but provides a nice air cooling system (9x120mm). It's a bit pricey as well.

[King Edward I]

dont buy from oc uk!!!!

its a pain if you have to RMA anything (unless you live near their store)

check for reviews about RMAing to them..

[Doono]

if thats true then it might be worth looking at scan.co.uk which is definitly one of the best uk stores.

[Valerius Maximus]

hmm i checked some reviews for both ocuk and scan...and for both there were some very positive and some very negative ones...but i'll compare prices when i'm home tonight.

Maybe i'll order some of the cheaper parts first to see how it goes.

[Doono]

Every time you post about overclocking your making yourself look stupider and stupider just admit your wrong and stop.

[felicissimus]

Ya go on with your old machines overclocked ! That's surely much important. Never change them !

[Valerius Maximus]

well we are talking about overclocking new machines as well...
For me personally it's not just about the performance but also bout the overclocking itself. Never tried so i wanna give it a go

[Valerius Maximus]

@ the OP, instead of the DS4 motherboard get the DS3, it overclocks better and is cheaper

i kind of assumed that the ds4 was just an updated version of the ds3 version?

[Doono]

It probably is but id assume that maybe the architecture is different which dosen't always guarantee better performance. I would listen to what he says since he probably knows more than i do on the subject. I just overclock my low end components to save me cash im no enthusiast.

Due to overclocking im still able to play most games at high settings and a good res with a 7600GT, gig of DDR and a sempron 2800+ sock 754.

But it's definitly reached it's limit my rubbish mobo lacks a number of overclocking functions so im limited to mostly adjusting my Bus speed. Still it''s an easy extra 400Mhz boost by just pressing a couple of keys it's not ideal but without access to voltage and ram dividers not much I can do about it.

1.6-2.0ghz which is about the equivelent if not better than the 3400+ which is about 3 times the cost.