New PC - Opinions

I looked and a more up-to-date and easier to follow version is on this page:

http://www.sars.gov.za/home.asp?pid=2630

edit: oh and yes, I checked through the whole list of ordinary duty too and under:

Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, "smart cards" and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs (excluding products of Chapter 37)

Optical media (unrecorded or recorded) is indeed duty free.
 
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I know you said you have your GPU already but for interest sake what is it?

I went into a pc store the other day and was just looking around and i stopped by their graphics cads just to see what they have... so the sales guy comes charging at me (i think he got excited) and he just randomly started asking me questions about my Rig so he hears I have Intel and then starts telling me some bs about how nvidia's GPU's ONLY work on intel and AMD ONLY on AMD. I just laughed and walked away.
 
HOLY MAnIAC said:
I know you said you have your GPU already but for interest sake what is it?

I went into a pc store the other day and was just looking around and i stopped by their graphics cads just to see what they have... so the sales guy comes charging at me (i think he got excited) and he just randomly started asking me questions about my Rig so he hears I have Intel and then starts telling me some bs about how nvidia's GPU's ONLY work on intel and AMD ONLY on AMD. I just laughed and walked away.
Click to expand...

LOL, he must thought you look like a nooblet :D
 
Zero Cool,

For what it's worth: if your budget is R6,000 you should - IMHO - consider building an i5 system. I'm also buying/building a new PC (on a budget of R10,000) and so have been doing a fair bit of research over the past week or two. My feeling is that you need 12-13K (excl. peripherals but incl. VAT :-) ) to do the top-end i7s real justice.

What GPU are you planning to use?

Intel Core i7 2600k Processor-3.40GHz
< Perhaps consider dropping to the i7 2600; although the price difference ain't much. The i5-2500K would be a good choice. >

UniQue 500W ATX Power Supply
< Could be marginal, depending on what GPU you're using and whether or not you're planning to overclock. If you are, then I'd suggest at least 600W. Both Cooler Mater and Thermalright offer quite useful power calculators on their sites. >


The components I'm currently considering for my build are:

Board: ASRock Z68 Pro3 Gen3 (Local importer/supplier up in KZN offering these for around R1,400 although I should probably throw in an additional R1,000 and get something really decent.)
CPU: i7 (Not sure which one; temped to get the 2700K)
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 TOXIC Edition
RAM: Corsair 8GB
PSU: At least 600W; will probably go for an Antec-branded model
Cooling solution T.B.D.; possibly Zalman
Case: Something cheap and cheerful and without any lighting... :-)
HDDs, Optical drives and all peripherals (e.g. monitor) already accounted for.
 
Watch out for those Unique power supplies. They are dodgy.

Always a better idea to go for a trusted name brand such as Corsair or Seasonic etc.

That 500w PSU can probably only output 500w for 2 minutes in 20 degree temps.

Just my 2c
 
ajc said:
Zero Cool,

For what it's worth: if your budget is R6,000 you should - IMHO - consider building an i5 system. I'm also buying/building a new PC (on a budget of R10,000) and so have been doing a fair bit of research over the past week or two. My feeling is that you need 12-13K (excl. peripherals but incl. VAT :-) ) to do the top-end i7s real justice.

What GPU are you planning to use?

Intel Core i7 2600k Processor-3.40GHz
< Perhaps consider dropping to the i7 2600; although the price difference ain't much. The i5-2500K would be a good choice. >

UniQue 500W ATX Power Supply
< Could be marginal, depending on what GPU you're using and whether or not you're planning to overclock. If you are, then I'd suggest at least 600W. Both Cooler Mater and Thermalright offer quite useful power calculators on their sites. >


The components I'm currently considering for my build are:

Board: ASRock Z68 Pro3 Gen3 (Local importer/supplier up in KZN offering these for around R1,400 although I should probably throw in an additional R1,000 and get something really decent.)
CPU: i7 (Not sure which one; temped to get the 2700K)
GPU: Sapphire Radeon HD 6870 TOXIC Edition
RAM: Corsair 8GB
PSU: At least 600W; will probably go for an Antec-branded model
Cooling solution T.B.D.; possibly Zalman
Case: Something cheap and cheerful and without any lighting... :-)
HDDs, Optical drives and all peripherals (e.g. monitor) already accounted for.
Click to expand...

I have a GTX 570
 
Reaper84 said:
Watch out for those Unique power supplies. They are dodgy.

Always a better idea to go for a trusted name brand such as Corsair or Seasonic etc.

That 500w PSU can probably only output 500w for 2 minutes in 20 degree temps.

Just my 2c
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've heard a lot of people have fried their systems with UniQue PSU's so i'm going for a

Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus Series 500W @ $40
 
Zero Cool said:
I have a GTX 570
Click to expand...

500W fongkonk PSU + GTX570 + overclocked 2600k = boom.

The CM 500W you're looking at provides a maximum of 2x18 (=36A) on the 12V rails. The 570, according to Nvidia, requires 38A. Reviews tested it to require about 35A.... I think you're cutting it too close, considering that not only your gfx uses the 12V rails.
 
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froot said:
500W fongkonk PSU + GTX570 + overclocked 2600k = boom.

The CM 500W you're looking at provides a maximum of 2x18 (=36A) on the 12V rails. The 570, according to Nvidia, requires 38A. Reviews tested it to require about 35A.... I think you're cutting it too close, considering that not only your gfx uses the 12V rails.
Click to expand...

I'll try and look for a good 650W in the next few days. I'll place my order for my new PC at the end of this month.
 
Zero Cool said:
I'll get a Corsair CX600 @ $60, found it on amazon, the Antec is too pricey
Click to expand...

The Corsair CX600 is a good choice! FYI: you can pick up the Antec HCG 520 locally for around R75 less.
Personally, I'm taking a shine to the Antec TP 650W...
 
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ajc said:
The Corsair CX600 is a good choice! FYI: you can pick up the Antec HCG 520 locally for around R75 less.
Personally, I'm taking a shine to the Antec TP 650W...
Click to expand...

Why though? Uses outdated quad rail design, delivering less amps per rail. Most agree single rail is better.
 
The CX600 supplies 40A on its (single rail) 12V. It would still be a tad better if you would go for a bigger PSU. At least 650W (Corsair) to be safe.
 
PostmanPot said:
Why? CX500 is more than enough for i7/GTX570.
Click to expand...

It provides 40A on 12V, The 570 uses 35A (recommended 38A).... then if he overclocks like he wants to he's going to be using a tad more wattage. I know the Corsair psu's can push out a lot of juice (my old Corsair VX450 maxed out at 600W) but it's probably better to be safe.
 
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