Proposed PC specs

[Sinkhead]

I think I should drop this for the time being and start to re-design when I have the money or when I nearly have it as like some people have already said, the PC world changes a lot in a few months.

Thanks for everyone's help anyway, but this isn't the right time for me to discuss this
- Sam

Please take a look and rate, I'm going to get this in a few months when I've saved up

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pCn...CkqtRzWK9hifONg

Edit: Ok, I'm getting a lot of feedback here. I should probably make it clear what I want this rig to do. I'm not an avid gamer, I play a few games (notably Counter Strike: Source and Half Life 2) so don't go suggesting components that are far too expensive or not worth it for me. I have a budget of £500 not including OS and screen and any components in the last block of the spreadsheet have not been decided on yet, they're sort of my bookmarks for this build, placeholders if you will. If you say something please give reasons. And this is my first build.

Things I know I need to improve on
Graphics card, get a better one
Case, apparently the current one is fugly
Cooler, there's no point having it

- Sam

 

[Linkiboy]

It's pretty nice, but can we get the final cost in non funny-money? aka USD

 

[Sinkhead]

It's pretty nice, but can we get the final cost in non funny-money? aka USD

Sorry, just double it to get an accurate conversion. (Current rate is exactly $2 to £1)

- Sam

 

[kellyan95]

The LCD and video card could be much better. DX10 card (8800GTS) and a Samsung LCD (206BW?)

 

[jimmy j]

It's pretty nice, but can we get the final cost in non funny-money? aka USD

Funny money?How dare you sir!

£ FTW

 

[mcp2]

That's a pretty good computer for under £500, does that include tax?

 

[kellyan95]

Oh, and why are you buying games?

 

[outphase]

497.68 GBP = 1,003.22 USD as of 7.9.07

Do you plan on using this as a gaming machine? If so, I would think about throwing maybe 4GB of RAM for the added boost.

I built a non-gaming PC with the following specs:

Shuttle SD30G2B case $210
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8GHz $117
Maxtor 320GB 7200.10 SATA $60
Super Talent 2GB DDR2-667 $60
MSI GeForce 7300LE 128MB PCI-e $35
LG 18x SATA DVD+-RW DL $31

Samsung 20" widescreen 1680x1050 monitor $200

Use those as references I guess.

 

[kellyan95]

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=546950
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=604046

(Not the exact video card and monitor I would recommend for a budget, but close. Samsung 206BW is what you want, with an EVGA or PNY 8800GTS, they both cost much less if you can find them)

Don't get 4GB of ram, upgrade that video card. 2GB is more than enough, especially at PC6400 (DDR2 800)

 

[imgod22222]

I suggest a Nvidia card from the 8800 series
also a stronger PSU, 700w or 800w. Never heard of that brand either. I know OCZ is good stuff.

And now that I've made my own computer, i wish i had bought a larger case, because cables restrict my airflow. Advice I give is to get a modular PSU, probably if you can afford it. I'm supposing you need a mid sized tower to fit some space requirement, etc.

Also, are you going to be using onboard sound or not? If you're going to play DX10 games, don't bother but I bought a dedicated sound card and it makes a difference IMO. But if you aren't a quality whore (like me) then don't bother.

 

[jimmy j]

497.68 GBP = 1,003.22 USD as of 7.9.07

Do you plan on using this as a gaming machine? If so, I would think about throwing maybe 4GB of RAM for the added boost.

I built a non-gaming PC with the following specs:

Shuttle SD30G2B case $210
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8GHz $117
Maxtor 320GB 7200.10 SATA $60
Super Talent 2GB DDR2-667 $60
MSI GeForce 7300LE 128MB PCI-e $35
LG 18x SATA DVD+-RW DL $31

Samsung 20" widescreen 1680x1050 monitor $200

Use those as references I guess.

Wher did you get the samsung widescreen and what model?

 

[Sinkhead]

Oh, and why are you buying games?

Because I believe these are excellent value and they are great games.
1 DS game is not worth £30
17 awesome PC games are, in my opinion worth £40

By the time I buy this I'm hoping prices have gone down so I can get a better graphics card

Thanks for the feedback
- Sam

 

[kellyan95]

497.68 GBP = 1,003.22 USD as of 7.9.07

Do you plan on using this as a gaming machine? If so, I would think about throwing maybe 4GB of RAM for the added boost.

I built a non-gaming PC with the following specs:

Shuttle SD30G2B case $210
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8GHz $117
Maxtor 320GB 7200.10 SATA $60
Super Talent 2GB DDR2-667 $60
MSI GeForce 7300LE 128MB PCI-e $35
LG 18x SATA DVD+-RW DL $31

Samsung 20" widescreen 1680x1050 monitor $200

Use those as references I guess.


Wher did you get the samsung widescreen and what model?

That's probably a 206 or 205, about that price on newegg

 

[FAST6191]

Motherboard Asus P5B-VM iG965 £69.47 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=462645

You might not be able to overclock it that well but a nice choice.

Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Socket 775 2.4GHz £139.68 http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=44HD

Perhaps still the best processor on the market for those with a decent limit, overclocks very nicely. Lower core2 processors have less cache (which can make a nice bit of difference, especially with multithreaded apps, so be warned.

RAM GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C5 800MHz Value DDR2 £54.04 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct....rodid=MY-064-GL

"Value" ram goes against most of what I believe in but go it, again serious overclocking might be a problem.

Hard Drive 250GB Samsung SpinPoint P120, SATA300 £37.60 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=247245

If you can find a SATA 150 you will likely not see the difference and I would say go bigger if you can.

Graphics 256MB XFX 7900GS, Mem 1320 MHz, GPU 450 MHz £91.40 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=499273

Should play most of the latest and greatest in sensible resolution. You might be able to get a better card though and maybe even the lowest of low in directx10 (not worth it in my opinion) for £10 more

Optical Drive Samsung DVD+-R/RW SATA LightScribe Black £18.78 http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4J7X

drive=drive=drive

Case Casecom Black Mid Tower Case £17.99 http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/115479



PSU 500W AKASA Ultra quiet Active PFC ATX 2.2 £52.75 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=465703

Upgrading may be a pain as you are right one the limit and do not make an SLI rig in the future (your board will not do it either), fine otherwise.

Cooling Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro £15.97 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/productinfo...roductID=340995

No need in my opinion (spend the extra on a bigger HDD), the stock cooler is pretty good in this regard.

Sound Yatai 5.1 Black/Silver 33W RMS Surround Sound £29.99 http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/122903

Try looking at the specs for your motherboard harder: 1 x 7.1 Audio I/O, ASUS do decent onboard sound as well.

Card Reader Enlight Black 26-in-1 Internal 3.5" Card Reader £8.98 http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/125247

To each their own.

Game Valve Complete Pack £40.00 http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?ar...&SubId=81&cc=GB

Same again.

2nd Screen 19" Daewoo Widescreen LCD Monitor 1440x900 £117.37 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=534302

I do not get monitors often enough to comment.



As a final note might I also suggest a decent keyboard and mouse: for all that is under the hood what you actually deal with is the mouse, monitor and keyboard.

 

[mcp2]

If you can import compatible hardware from abroad then I would do that. It will be cheaper and whatever you can't find froma trusted seller can be bought from here anyway. You'll probably save a few bob.

You should really be getting a DX10 compatible GFX card.

 

[Sinkhead]

RAM GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C5 800MHz Value DDR2 £54.04 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct....rodid=MY-064-GL

"Value" ram goes against most of what I believe in but go it.
Hm, I was recommended this on another forum. Do you think I will notice the difference?

Graphics 256MB XFX 7900GS, Mem 1320 MHz, GPU 450 MHz £91.40 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=499273

Should play most of the latest and greatest in sensible resolution.
By the time I buy this I will hopefully be able to get a better graphics card

Sound Yatai 5.1 Black/Silver 33W RMS Surround Sound £29.99 http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/122903

Try looking at the specs for your motherboard harder: 1 x 7.1 Audio I/O, ASUS do decent onboard sound as well.
I saw that but I'm not sure if I even want surround sound, I just put this in temporarily. Kind of.

As a final note might I also suggest a decent keyboard and mouse: for all that is under the hood what you actually deal with is the mouse, monitor and keyboard.

I'm still looking for these, any recommendations?

QUOTE(mcp2 @ Jul 9 2007, 06:57 PM)

You should really be getting a DX10 compatible GFX card.

To be honest I'm not exactly a big gamer and I can't justify the massive price increase for something this computer will probably not use. In my next build in a few years I will definitely look at DX10.

Thanks
- Sam

 

[kellyan95]

Most widescreen monitors that are good for gaming, are 16:10. And most games that support that (newer games) need a better video card. Also, the native resolution will really tax that video card in those games. It's really important to get a better card

 

[skullstatue]

Pretty nice, but that case is fugly, I would suggest some of NZXT's stuff...

 

[Sinkhead]

Pretty nice, but that case is fugly, I would suggest some of NZXT's stuff...

At that price? I think not. And besides, I don't think it's that bad.

- Sam

 

[kellyan95]

I got a black Aspire X-cruiser. It's awesome, and pretty cheap