My First Build

It all started when I found out about Dragon Age: Origins. I had a Gateway at the time (don't remember the model number) but the only thing I had done to it was put in a EVGA 8600GT and a X-Power 585W PSU. So, I tried to play DAO and low and behold !!CRASH!! It just so happened at that time that I had some extra cash, so I started researching....and researching...and researching... You get the picture. I wanted to build the baddest machine on my small budget. So I picked up the following parts:

MOBO - ASUS M4A88T-M
CPU - AMD Phenom II x2 560 BE
GPU - EVGA GTS 450
RAM - Corsair 1333GHz (2x2G)

I ripped out everything from my old computer except for the HDD and the X-Power PSU and installed all the new components. WOW!!! I was completely amazed at what I had. I brought DAO to its knees. So, I was pretty happy, to say the least. Then I started watching my temps and they were not ideal. My CPU was upwards of 40c at idol. So I started researching cooling systems, fans, cases and came to the conclusion that I wanted a new case. I ended up getting the XClio 380Color. The case looks killer and everything installed without a problem. My CPU temp stays right around 30c now.

Well, as you all know, this becomes an addiction. So next I bought and installed a Hitachi 7x1000.c HDD, 7200RPM, 32MB Cache 1TB. I now use it as my primary drive and my old WD as my back-up disk. I also had on old 30G WD out of an old Dell I had and installed it as well. I use it for picture and document storage. I wasn't done there. Just the other day I went and picked up another set of Corsair 1333GHz 2G for a total of 8G for my Windows 7 64 Home Premium.

At this point, it looks like I might be done for a while but I'm very happy with my build. Oh, I forgot to mention that I unlocked my other two cores on the AMD BE and am successfully running all 4 cores. Life is good! And my grand total in the system is $703. Not bad at all.

 

I have some revisions here. I've added quite a bit more hardware and I'm now running 4 cores @ 3.9 GHz with a max temp ranging between 44-50c on the cores and 50-55c at the socket at max load. It idles at 24-26c on the cores and 32c at the socket. Here is the entire list of hardware and the pics I promised. Let me know what you all think.

MOBO - ASUS M4A88T-M
CPU - AMD Phenom II x2 560 BE (4 cores @ 3.98GHz)
GPU - EVGA GTS 450
RAM - Corsair 4x2, 1333MHz
PSU - Corsair GS600
HDD1 - SATA Hitachi 1TB, 7200RPM, 32MB Cache
HDD2 - SATA WD 300G, 7200RPM, 16MB Cache
HDD3 - IDE WD 30G, 5400RPM, 8MB Cache
Case - XClio A380Color
Cooler - Cool Master GeminII S

 

Here are the pics

 

All looking good.Thanks for posting.

I have almost the same set up, but in a different case, in one of my Computers.

I like that case you have. Should have no probs with cooling.

 

Nope, it stays very cool. Quiet as a mouse too.