New system! £700-ish budget

GeminiUKGeminiUK Join Date: 2003-12-30 Member: 24880Members, Constellation
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Please help clueless Gemini</div>Hey everyone, It's high time I got myself a new PC but my hardware knowledge is very limited. I was planning on looking for a high spec base unit on a site like pcspecialist.co.uk and then simply ordering each of the components individually and then building it myself - but to be honest I can't really tell what offers the best performance and good value for money.

I have a good monitor and everything else so I just need a base unit and an OS - I quite like the look of vista.

My budget is around £700 but that can stretch if I will be getting a big benefit for just a little more money. Could you guys point me towards any good systems online for me to copy?

Someone has advised this to me - what you guys think?

<a href="http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg143/bigtallanddopey/ebspec1.jpg" target="_blank">Spec</a>

Thanks!
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Comments

  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    edited August 2008
    If you want to use that PC mainly for gaming, then getting a dualcore CPU instead of a quadcore and investing that difference in a better GPU will result in better performance.

    For those 287 pounds you are spending on CPU+GPU atm i would get a

    Intel Core 2 Duo E7200
    +
    Asus ENGTX260/HTDP
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  • GeminiUKGeminiUK Join Date: 2003-12-30 Member: 24880Members, Constellation
    Thanks Faskalia.

    Yes I should have mentioned - this is purely for gaming!
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  • sherpasherpa stopcommandermode Join Date: 2006-11-04 Member: 58338Members
    If it's £700 on just the components I'd plow most of it into the fastest dual core available and a decent graphics card.

    If you're on WinXP 2GB of RAM is enough so that'd only set you back £50- maybe less.

    £100 on a brand motherboard will do the trick.

    Get yourself a soundcard too- Creative's X-Fi series is ace.

    I find ebuyer.com to be best for components.
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  • marksmarks Join Date: 2008-07-28 Member: 64720Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1686545:date=Aug 24 2008, 10:27 PM:name=sherpa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sherpa @ Aug 24 2008, 10:27 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1686545"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If you're on WinXP 2GB of RAM is enough so that'd only set you back £50- maybe less.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Get 4gb of RAM, RAM is so goddam cheap nowadays its stupid to get less than 4gb, get 8gm if you have the money. It's absurdly cheap compared to how much it used to cost.
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  • remiremi remedy [blu.knight] Join Date: 2003-11-18 Member: 23112Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester
    <!--quoteo(post=1686550:date=Aug 24 2008, 07:00 PM:name=marks)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(marks @ Aug 24 2008, 07:00 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1686550"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Get 4gb of RAM, RAM is so goddam cheap nowadays its stupid to get less than 4gb, get 8gm if you have the money. It's absurdly cheap compared to how much it used to cost.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Getting 8 gigs is pretty stupid, 32 bit windows can only use 4 gigs, and 64 bit windows (when I tried to run it) gave me tons of driver issues.

    Personally, I like looking at <a href="http://tomshardware.com" target="_blank">http://tomshardware.com</a> , especially their system building guides and the "best graphics card for the money" type articles.

    I just built a system with an Athlon 64 X2 6400+ and an ATI Radeon HD3870. Works very well, and according to the site the gfx card is one of the best you can get for the cheap price. (130 USD)

    I got the 64X2 instead of a Phenom or whatever it is called because the dual core outperforms a quad core when it comes to gaming. The increased clock speed is more important because games are not very good at multi-threading.

    For rendering video quad core definitely wins, but I play games more often than I compile code or render images.
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  • ZupiCoZupiCo Custom titles rule&#33; Join Date: 2003-03-22 Member: 14792Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1686537:date=Aug 24 2008, 08:17 PM:name=Faskalia)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Faskalia @ Aug 24 2008, 08:17 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1686537"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If you want to use that PC mainly for gaming, then getting a dualcore CPU instead of a quadcore and investing that difference in a better GPU will result in better performance.

    For those 287 pounds you are spending on CPU+GPU atm i would get a

    Intel Core 2 Duo E7200
    +
    Asus ENGTX260/HTDP<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I would get an HD4870 instead of the GTX260, better performance for less money, otherwise I agree.
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  • SvenpaSvenpa Wait, what? Join Date: 2004-01-03 Member: 25012Members, Constellation
    Isn't it just a matter of time before many new games will support quad core, like Alan Wake? I'm guessing this is the main issue, support, not raw power that makes dualcore better then quad for games.
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  • GeminiUKGeminiUK Join Date: 2003-12-30 Member: 24880Members, Constellation
    Hey everyone,

    Turns out a friend can give me a spare copy of vista for free so no need to include that into the price any more.

    This is the buy list at the moment:

    <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v639/GeminiUK/?action=view&current=Spec.jpg" target="_blank">New spec</a>

    Look good?

    Only £545! I was willing to spend up to £700 tbh!
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  • FaskaliaFaskalia Wechsellichtzeichenanlage Join Date: 2004-09-12 Member: 31651Members, Constellation
    edited August 2008
    <!--quoteo(post=1686579:date=Aug 25 2008, 02:24 PM:name=GeminiUK)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeminiUK @ Aug 25 2008, 02:24 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1686579"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Hey everyone,

    Turns out a friend can give me a spare copy of vista for free so no need to include that into the price any more.

    This is the buy list at the moment:

    <a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v639/GeminiUK/?action=view&current=Spec.jpg" target="_blank">New spec</a>

    Look good?

    Only £545! I was willing to spend up to £700 tbh!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    There are two long-term components you an always spend more money on, without regretting it anytime soon.

    Case and Harddrives.
    Getting a nice big block of aluminium from Silverstone might not look that cool, but it will help you keep your PC easily upgradeable. Have a look at the thermojin series. TJ09 and TJ10 are both very good (albeit expensive) cases.

    And you can also never have enough storage. 500GB Sata drives should be around 60 pounds.

    Edit:
    Another thing:
    If you want 4 GB of RAM go 64bit straight away.
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  • CrispyCrispy Jaded GD Join Date: 2004-08-22 Member: 30793Members, Constellation
    edited August 2008
    <!--quoteo(post=1686578:date=Aug 25 2008, 12:38 PM:name=Svenpa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Svenpa @ Aug 25 2008, 12:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1686578"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Isn't it just a matter of time before many new games will support quad core, like Alan Wake? I'm guessing this is the main issue, support, not raw power that makes dualcore better then quad for games.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->For £700 (if you're buying in the UK or shipping to a UK address) you can't afford to build for the future of gaming. You have to be realistic and build for current gen. That means no quad core and don't bother with SLI/Crossfire unless you can spare the cash.

    To add to Faskalia's list of longterm investments, power is an increasing burden on PC gaming rigs. A solid power supply unit is a good investment, but it looks like you have that under control. I'm not too sure if Corsair is the brand to be getting for PSUs though. I use it exclusively for RAM but that's another breed. Check it out on TomsHardware before deciding for sure on that item.
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    OCZ is also very good memory, it be beyond speedy <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
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  • spellman23spellman23 NS1 Theorycraft Expert Join Date: 2007-05-17 Member: 60920Members
    I personally am using an Antec PSU, and it's pretty solid. My GeForce 8800 works without a hiccup.

    4GB of RAM = standard mid to high systems nowadays.

    Sink it up on a good graphics card, solid expandable mobo, and at least a dual core CPU. CPU isn't top priority unless you're playing RTS and physics heavy games, or crunching map/video renderings. Don't bother getting an upgraded CPU fan unless you're gonna seriously overclock, and even then usually the stock is sufficient.

    Another thing to look at is if you can get low power versions. They're a bit more expensive, but can save you on your power bill and still crank out decent performance. The AMD Brisbane lines of dual cores is pretty good, surprisingly on par if not better bang for your buck than the Core 2 low power versions. Just something to think about. However, they have almost zero overclocking potential.
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  • LonyoLonyo Join Date: 2006-11-02 Member: 58201Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1686600:date=Aug 25 2008, 04:57 PM:name=Crispy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Crispy @ Aug 25 2008, 04:57 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1686600"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->For £700 (if you're buying in the UK or shipping to a UK address) you can't afford to build for the future of gaming. You have to be realistic and build for current gen. That means no quad core and don't bother with SLI/Crossfire unless you can spare the cash.

    To add to Faskalia's list of longterm investments, power is an increasing burden on PC gaming rigs. A solid power supply unit is a good investment, but it looks like you have that under control. I'm not too sure if Corsair is the brand to be getting for PSUs though. I use it exclusively for RAM but that's another breed. Check it out on TomsHardware before deciding for sure on that item.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I respectfully disagree.

    <img src="http://xs230.xs.to/xs230/08354/computer685.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
    Quad core with option to overclock, option to upgrade to Crossfire, option for another 4GB RAM in the future if really desired.
    Only thing not included is a case, because that's usually more a personal preference thing.
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