Im looking at buying a new computer...im on a tight budget and i hope to OC. Im going to be hopefully buying this tomorrow.

Core 2 E4500
Asus P5K-C
Crucial Ballistix 8500
HD 3870
Thermaltake Purepower 500W
CPU Cooler

My main concern is the CPU Cooler and the PSU I have selected. I know there is much better PSUs out there, but im on a budget and must buy from a certain store! So how is the selected PSU?

About the CPU Cooler...i have to pick one of the following. Which one is the best? Are any of them good?

Code:

・CoolerMaster CPU 80mm Fan with Heatsink for Socket-478  	$18.00
・Thermaltake Golden Orb-II Ultra Silent Blue LED fan for P4 L775 & AMD K8 	$29.99
・CoolerMaster Hyper TX2 CPU Cooler 	$30.00
・ZALMAN CPU COOLE CNPS7000-Alcu Alumi-Core Fan Speed Controller 	$35.00
・ZALMAN CNPS 7000B-CU LED CPU FAN for Socket 478 	$39.00
・Zalman CPU Cooler CNPS7700-Cu Copper-Core Fan Speed Controller 	$42.00
・ZALMAN CNPS9500 For All Dual Core, P4, AMD CPUs 	$49.00
・Zalman CNPS9500 LED CNPS9500 LED For All Dual Core, P4, AMD CPUs 	$55.00

Apart from the memory and video card, it will be all bought from UComputer. (ill drive over)

Cant wait to play the OB in all it's glory!

Thanks for the advice!

PSU looks good.

Most CPU's come with a stock heatsink and fan so there is no need for a "cooler" unless you want a bit of an upgrade.

That motherboard might be a bit more than you need. How much is it?

You don't need the DDR3 RAM nor the dual PCI_E.

It is also a strictly SATA board. No ATA/IDE. None.

So you need SATA hard drives as well as a SATA DVD/CD. (or adapters).

Actually the specs show one PATA/ATA/IDE port but the Manual disputes this.

Correction: there is one "hidden" in the corner.


...

Hey Jephree thanks for the reply!

Well you see i want a new cooler becuase im going to be doing a bit of overclocking So i need an aftermarket HSF!

About the motherboard, i want to get something that i can keep for a while. Maybe late next year i could upgrade to Penryn! Nice 45nm!

I think on the ASUS site it says there is 1 IDE post, that's all i need! Just my DVD Drive. Motherboard will only be 140$. Actually...ill post all the prices.

E4500 - 140
P5KC - 140
Crucial Ball. - 90
Case - 30 (im fine with a black one)
HD 3870 - 260

Only thing that sucks is that the mobo doesnt have onboard video, so while i wait for my video card to arrive ill have to get a cheap-o PCI-E card to hold me off. Probably try and find a cheap 20$ one or something...

Thanks Jeph!

edit: Sorry Jephree, i gotta go to bed, ill reply to your post(if there is one) in the morning!

That is a good price for that board.

There are many issues with current boards claiming to be Penryn ready but I guess that is another topic. Many people are finding this "claim" to be a bit inaccurate on even some very high end boards.

It has DDR3 but that RAM at this point in time cost more than motherboards.

Anyway there is a lot you can upgrade.

I didn't check the BIOS for overclocking but there are many boards made for overclocking and many are not. You might want to check. I'll look in the manual in a minute.

If you want good chill go liquid!

This Thermaltake basic system is easy and inexpensive @ $100 US:

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/L...l-w0005-01.asp

I used this my first time and it is sweet.

Otherwise just check for reviews on those other coolers which are basically heatsink upgrades. I see one that does not match your socket. Make sure they are socket 775 as is your motherboard.

There are not many motherboards that still have VGA on board.

As to PCI_E you can get inexpensive ones. Don't know how well they will run high end games.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...CI+Express+x16

That BIOS is "overclocker" friendly.

If you can afford a liquid cooler you will drop your temps 30 to 40 percent below any air cooler.

Hence more ease at overclocking plus extended CPU usage as well as a "happier" CPU.

I dont know if im going to be getting water cooling! A little out of budget!

But i really cant wait to buy this. I am going to need to buy a very cheap low end video card because i have to wait for my HD 3870 to arrive. So in the meantime ill just be using that.

Thanks Jephree! Ill buy with confidence!

I got the computer!

Core 2 Duo E4500
Gigabyte P35-DS3R
Crucial Ballistix DDR21066
Corsair 550VX
eVGA 8800GT

Cant wait to play!

Cool!

Let us know how it goes.