Advice on new computer

[Guest]

[bequick]

I recommend you my config.It's good,fast and cheap.
MB:Asus P5QL Pro;CPU:Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200(2500 MHz default) ,runs on 3.5 GHz LGA775; VC:Sapphire Radeon HD4850 1GB GDDR3(GPU clock:625->700 MHz;CPU clock:993->1123 MHz) ;RAM:A-data DDR2 Kit 2x2Gb 800+MHz(runs on 900 MHZ) ;HDD:HITACHI 250GB/7200/SATA2/8MB ;PSU(not the best):Fortron 450W PNR;Case:Foxconn TLA570A

[J2897]

Processor: AMD or Intel?

Intel i7 (it's 64-bit) with Triple Channel Memory (buy 'matched triplets'). Make sure the Memory Speed is equal to the Bus Speed.

These aren't typical Memory/Bus Speeds, but to make things simple to read/describe:

FSB = Front Side Bus.

• If you're CPU's Bus Speed is 3000MHz, I would buy a Motherboard with a Bus Speed of 3000MHz. (To Match the Bus Speed of the CPU.)
• If you're going to use 'Dual Channel' Memory, I would buy Memory with a Speed of 1500MHz. (To Match the Bus Speed of the CPU & Motherboard.)
• If you're going to use 'Triple Channel' Memory, I would buy Memory with a Speed of 1000MHz. (To Match the Bus Speed of the CPU & Motherboard.)

Note:
32-bit versions of Windows can only address up to 4GB's. Meaning that for Triple Channel operation, the System is stuck with a Maximum of 3GB's. 64-bit Operating Systems love Memory, so 6GB's would be best as the Minimum.

3GB's = 3 Giga Bytes. (Good for measuring 'Capacity or Space'.)
3GB/s = 3 Giga Bytes per Second. (Good for measuring 'Data Transfer Speed'.)
3MHz  = 3 Mega Hertz. (Also good for measuring 'Data Transfer Speed'.)

RAM: 4GB seems to be enough for me. I've heard that 2x2GB would give better performance than a single 4GB. Is that right?

It depends on the Bus Speed of your CPU, Memory and Motherboard.

For example, if the System's Bus Speed was 1600MHz (the CPU & Motherboard), and your Memory was capable of running at 1600MHz, then just one 4GB DIMM would be fine.

EDIT:
If the System's Bus Speed was 1600MHz (the CPU & Motherboard), and your Memory was only capable of running at 800MHz, then 2x 2GB DIMM's would be required, but they would also need to be placed in 'Dual Channel' Mode. (In this case, be sure that the Motherboard supports 'Dual Channel' Memory, and buy a 'matched pair'.)

Your System's Bus Speed depends on all three; CPU, Memory and Motherboard. What ever is the Lowest, will be your entire System's Bus Speed.

Imagine it like this:

CPU Bus Speed = 1MHz.
Memory Speed = 2MHz.
Motherboard Speed = 3MHz.

In this case, your System's overall Bus Speed (FSB), would be just 1MHz.

This is where n00bs will usually say, "Yeh', like I said, you need Faster RAM!". Then, you go out to buy the Fastest RAM money can buy, put it in your System, and notice that it has made absolutely no difference what so ever. (Because the System's Bus Speed is still the same.)

CPU cooling: I've thought about getting water cooling, as it's supposed to be way more effective than a fan, but how does it work?

It's not "way more effective than a fan", and I would advise you to buy a good quality Fan instead. If you want to make your self look special in front of n00bs, then go ahead, buy a Water Cooler.

Also, it's okay if you want to give feedback on other components, or any other information.

If you want to make your parts last a long time, peel your eyes away from Water Cooling, and look at PSU's. I would recommend a Low Power Tagan (450W).

N00b's look for a cheep as possible, High Wattage PSU. They later believe that the reason their Hardware (CPU, Motherboard, Memory or HDD) has died, is because of, "not enough Cooling". When its usually because of the cheep 'dirty current' PSU.

Pro's look for an average priced 'smooth current' Low Wattage PSU.

Also, don't get confused with 'SATA 150 and SATA 300'. Many n00b's believe that SATA 300 HDD's are twice as fast as SATA 150 HDD's. Just remember that the 150 is only the Maximum Interface Speed, and has nothing to do with the 'throughput' of the HDD.

HDD = Hard Disk Drive.

Imagine it like this:

Pro buy's an expensive SATA I Car:
"I have a Car which has been designed to not break apart into little pieces if I reach the Speed of 150MPH. My Cars Engine will allow the Car to reach around 140MPH."

N00b buy's a cheep SATA II Car:
"I have a Car which has been designed to not break apart into little pieces if I reach the Speed of 300MPH. My Cars Engine will allow the Car to reach around 40MPH."

Which Car is faster in this case? Exactly...

If you're buying a HDD. I would recommend buying Two:

• A Small Fast one (like a 36GB Raptor) for your Operating System and Applications.
• A Big Slow one for all of your Data, Big Files and Backups etc.

If you can only afford One, get a Small Fast one. You can always buy a Big Slow one when the Prices fall again later.

I believe Abit, Asus and Gigabyte make good boards.  

[Tarantela]

I have to disagree on two things

First most good ram companies offer lifetime grantees on their ram sticks.

Second the your temp of the WD HDD might be right on older units but I just upgraded my desktop with one and I can tell you it runs cooler than anything I have had before. Right now the temp in my room is 21C and the HDD is 30C. Also it's even quieter than my older seagate that is running as a backup drive. All I did is made sure that I got the Caviar Black which is an enterprise edition made for reliability.

Buffalo RAM does have a 10 year of guarantee look it up.
In my room i don't have an air condition.My room temperature now is 30C and
HDD temperature is 36C.
Both HDD from WD and Hitachi are recent.An the system is new.
I use HWMonitor to see fan speed and temperatures.

[languy99]

I never said the buffalo ram does not offer a 10 year guarantee, I said good companies offer lifetime guarantees on the ram.

I use Everest Ultimate to monitor my system and it's also good.

[Tarantela]

Sorry for misunderstanding and i only use free software because i don't have much money.

[HeffeD]

My last system was liquid cooled. I loved it until the controller fried without warning. CPU was not happy... Of course, fans can also crap out, but of all the fan cooled systems I've owned, you tend to know when a fan is unhappy.

As for recommendations, I've always liked AMD CPUs. Generally you get more bang for your buck. I've run both nVidia and ATI cards with them and can't say either of them performed better than the other with AMDs.

I've had good luck with ASUS and Gigabyte motherboards.

I like Thermaltake PSU's and fans.

Arctic Silver is nice heat sink goo.

I have no real preference on HDDs.

RAM? Mushkin all the way. 

[Creasy]

Too many cooks spoil the broth.


Everybody says "My system is great" " Your system is not good"

 

Processor:
-AMD or Intel: Intel.
-Core:For the purpose of multitasking-Quad, otherwise Dual. I think you don't need a Quad core.
-advantage(Quad): works great for multitasking. You can make your room worm and hot during winter.
-disadvantage(Quad):electric charges go High.
-32-bit or 64-bit: most of CPUs support 32, 64 both of them.

RAM:4GB fine, 2x2 better.

CPU cooling: You will not do extreme overclocking.
So you don't need a water cooling system. Think about a car radiator.

[dee_]

Processor: AMD Phenom II 955 (+ Scythe Mugen 2 for cooling)
MB: Average AM3-board (ddr3), ~$120
Memory: 4GB of cheapest DDR3 1333MHz
Video: GeForce GTX260 _55nm_ with cheapest brand
HDD: Cheapest 1GB SATAII with 32MB cache
PSU: Corsair CX400W, Corsair HX450 or Enermax Modu82+ 425W

[Tarantela]

What do cooks have to do with computers?
Sounds more like cookies have to do with computers.
A car radiator seems like a good idea. 

[J2897]

What do cooks have to do with computers?

[ How to fry an egg ]

[Tarantela]

A cook it is not,a computer expert maybe, a someone who needs to mend
its ways definitely.

[OmeletParty]

[ How to fry an egg ]

Thats my department, JK lol

But i would say get a SSD not a HDD.

[Tarantela]

Yes and it goes well with fish and "chips".

[J2897]

Arctic Silver is nice heat sink goo.

I would also recommend 'Arctic Silver'. 

But don't put too much on. When you apply it, just acknowledge the fact that you are about to fill-in the microscopic pockets of Air in between the CPU and Heatsink. The Air is what prevents the Heat from being transferred to the Heatsink. But too much goo will also prevent Heat from being transferred to the Heatsink; use a tiny amount.

But i would say get a SSD not a HDD.

Last time I looked at Small SSD's, they were way too expensive. Though now, the prices seem to be coming down fast! 

[ Mtron Professional Series 16GB Solid State Drive ]

... The 32GB Model is currently around £100 in the UK. 

Yes and it goes well with fish and "chips".

If you want fish and chips, you'll need something like 'this'.

[J2897]

Ever thought about a 'RAID Configuration'? 

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