Core Components for New Build

J

john10001

New Member
I'm playing with the idea of building a new system soon as my present one is caput. I'm using the defibrilators but no life has come back into it yet.

It's not going to be a gaming system, though I may ocasionally play the odd game or flight simulator, it is mainly going to be a system for editing audio, but also some video and still images too.

These are the base components options I am thinking of using in my new system:


1) Argon Extreme Intel Core i3 540 3.06GHz @ 4.40GHz USB3 Overclocked Bundle

- CPU: Intel Core i3 540 3.06GHz @ 4.40GHz
- Motherboard: Asus P7H55-M/USB3 Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 Motherboard
- RAM: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel
- Cooler: Akasa Nero S CPU Cooler (H70 Upgrade available)



2) Radon Intel Core i5 760 2.80GHz @ 4.00GHz Overclocked Bundle

- CPU: Intel Core i5 760 2.80GHz @ 4.00GHz
- Motherboard: Gigabyte P55-USB3 Intel P55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 Motherboard
- RAM: Corsair Dominator 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel
- Cooler: Akasa Nero S CPU Cooler (Upgrade options available)
- Artic Silver 5 Thermal Compound



Do you think I'd be better off with the i5 and the extra cores or the extra raw speed of the i3 for this type of non-gaming setup?

I was going to continue with XP Pro SP3 32-bit for now. I also have some other components I can salvage from my old system and make do with until the time is right such as the hard drives (SATA2) and DVD-RW. I will definitely need a new case though and graphics card. Thinking of going with a single GTX 460.

Any thoughts on which of these bundles would be better and recommendations for cases or better coolers? I am thinking the bigger any fans the better because they wont make as much noise?

Cheers for your advice,

John
 
john10001 said:
I'm playing with the idea of building a new system soon as my present one is caput. I'm using the defibrilators but no life has come back into it yet.

It's not going to be a gaming system, though I may ocasionally play the odd game or flight simulator, it is mainly going to be a system for editing audio, but also some video and still images too.

These are the base components options I am thinking of using in my new system:


1) Argon Extreme Intel Core i3 540 3.06GHz @ 4.40GHz USB3 Overclocked Bundle

- CPU: Intel Core i3 540 3.06GHz @ 4.40GHz
- Motherboard: Asus P7H55-M/USB3 Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 Motherboard
- RAM: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel
- Cooler: Akasa Nero S CPU Cooler (H70 Upgrade available)



2) Radon Intel Core i5 760 2.80GHz @ 4.00GHz Overclocked Bundle

- CPU: Intel Core i5 760 2.80GHz @ 4.00GHz
- Motherboard: Gigabyte P55-USB3 Intel P55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 Motherboard
- RAM: Corsair Dominator 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel
- Cooler: Akasa Nero S CPU Cooler (Upgrade options available)
- Artic Silver 5 Thermal Compound



Do you think I'd be better off with the i5 and the extra cores or the extra raw speed of the i3 for this type of non-gaming setup?

I was going to continue with XP Pro SP3 32-bit for now. I also have some other components I can salvage from my old system and make do with until the time is right such as the hard drives (SATA2) and DVD-RW. I will definitely need a new case though and graphics card. Thinking of going with a single GTX 460.

Any thoughts on which of these bundles would be better and recommendations for cases or better coolers? I am thinking the bigger any fans the better because they wont make as much noise?

Cheers for your advice,

John
Click to expand...

The i5-760 one will be faster in everything but lightly threaded apps. I'd recommend Thermaltake Frio, gelid tranquillo. Usually the bigger the fan, the less noise, but this isn't always the case. You won't be able to use all 4GB of RAM in XP32-bit, also there is no point getting a DX11 GPU if you're using XP, XP only supports up to DX10.
 
Zangetsu said:
Wasn't XP limited at DX9?
Click to expand...

Sorry, my mistake. I thought SP3 supported DX10. I'd get windows 7 home premium x64 in your situation then. However; DX10 GPU will play DX9 games beautifully. Getting a GTX460 will enable you to max out any game in DX9 mode, then you could upgrade your OS later. What wattage power supply do you have, and what brand?
 
fastdude said:
Sorry, my mistake. I thought SP3 supported DX10. I'd get windows 7 home premium x64 in your situation then. However; DX10 GPU will play DX9 games beautifully. Getting a GTX460 will enable you to max out any game in DX9 mode, then you could upgrade your OS later. What wattage power supply do you have, and what brand?
Click to expand...

I thought SP3 supported DX10 as well but I may be wrong.

I was going to hold off and stick with XP because a lot of the audio applications etc I use there not supported yet in Win 7 or even Vista, and have no drivers etc. I have also heard on the grapevine that Windows 8 is on the way in a years time? I was hoping it would be a follow on from XP and not based on Vista. I know Win 7 is a lot better than Vista but I think there may still be the odd issues that I'm not convinced they have ironed out and fixed.

I will definitely need a new PSU as well that's one of the other things I'll have to get. I was thinking of getting a Corsair TX 650W ATX as I heard nothing but good things about them.

Can XP not make use of 4GB of ram?

I'm not sure if I will need DX11 or even 10 straight away, but won't a DX 11 card be able to support previous versions as well and keep me future compatible for any DX10 and 11 stuff I may get in the near future? I am thinking if Microsoft release Flight Simulator 11 that's something I'll definitely get.

I am leaning more towards the i5 as the advice I have received about some of the applications I use is that they benefit from more cores and make use of them. The i5 components I listed are about £100 more than the i3 though but I still think its good value for the extra cores.

Cheers,
John
 
fastdude said:
The i5-760 one will be faster in everything but lightly threaded apps. I'd recommend Thermaltake Frio, gelid tranquillo. Usually the bigger the fan, the less noise, but this isn't always the case. You won't be able to use all 4GB of RAM in XP32-bit, also there is no point getting a DX11 GPU if you're using XP, XP only supports up to DX10.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will look into the Frio and tranquillo.

What are your thoughts on the Prolimatech Megahalems Rev B Cooler?

Can XP not use 4GB or ram? What is the max it can use upto?

Will DX11 card not work for previous versions of DirectX? So would it just be not compatible at all in XP? Or would it still work in DX10 or 9 mode?

Cheers for the advice,
John
 
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