Ok right .... Looks like Im back on for a new build this spring. Ive been sweatin bullets tryin to figure this out!
Ive been thinking about 64 bit tho... Thx loads for the feed back m8s.

drivers aren't quite at the same level in x64, but not too far I suspect. If u want to have loads of ram then maybe wait until they are.

Well maybe by next spring they will have a lot more sorted out.

Ryan , I am running 4 DIMM's but I lost the ability to run @ T1 while it was still on 2 Gig due to level of OC , so there was not loss simply adding another 2Gig ( 2x1GB ) . NN

I'm running 4gb of RAM on Vista 64, seems fine so far - very fast ingame, and no driver problems yet

i brought Pc Gamer magazine yesterday - hefty price of £5.99 but was a good read in there about the orange box set.

There's also a way of building a DX10 Pc for as cheap as £600 and since my funds are pukka tight I may look them up on the set up they recommend, in the next issue its also goin to tell how to maximise teh Oc potential. So hopefully real soon I may be joining the fun.

Ive all but given up on my old Pc and to be honest I havnt a clue what is up with it and what parts I can actually sell as working and good condition - Shame really cause my G.Card and Ram isnt even that old.

I would not trust a word pc gamer says shag, they really do have very little clue about anything.
As one example in the wic review, they gave it a minus point because its not Bioshock, no ****ing shit it aint, bioshock is a fps not rts.
Paste the hardware you are looking at in here for us to double check, but really don't put your trust and money with pc gamer mate.

as listed in Pc gamer

£576

Mobo £65 Asus P5B
Proc: £103 intel core 2 e6320
Mem: £66 OCZ pc6400 5.5.5.12
gfx: £181 Gforce8800gts
Hard D: £64 Seagate Barracuda 7200
Dvd drive £20 altho my current is better
Case £28 basic
PSU £41 EZ cool ps900 Tornado 700w


I know for a few quid here and there this can easily be bettered but on a budget can better be done?

Like I said in teh next issue they gunna do a guide on how to push it

I dont think much of nec writers have had a few, I would go for a pioneer as they are about the same sort of price.
Also the hard drive is nice but if you can get it, get the WD caviar SE16 as its faster in nearly every way.
The cpu is a low clock speed but a better one will be about 50 quid extra, that mem is probs going to seriously limit you when it comes to ocing the fsb mind.
The g card is ideal for the cash.
Dont forget you will want vista if you are going to be using dx10.

that ram is too expensive and too slow.

You can get 2gb of 4-4-4-12 ddr2-800(6400) ram for under £40

I would add that if you are serious, I'll spec you up a cheaper and faster machine. Maybe we should make an article of it?

that'll be cool mani - Seeing as my birthday is comin up everyone could put towards it and it would be a sponsered machine just looked after 24/7 by myself.. am pretty serious about gettin somethin in the comin months tho even if bit by bit

Shags I would go for an e4300 as opposed to the e6320 - they o/c much better due to higher multiplier ,go to ebuyer.co.uk & try this out m8 :
ASUS P5B = QuickFind Code: 113965 £60.74 Inc. VAT

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 = QuickFind Code: 121407 £75.85 Inc. VAT ( I have mine @ 3.2Ghz on standard cooling & it is super fast )

OCZ 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 CL 4-4-4-15 PLATINUM XTC quickfind code: 116755 = £64.05 inc VAT ( don't skimp on the ram mate as it makes a major difference to O/C performance . ( My ram is hitting 1420 Mhz on stock voltage )

PowerColour A60C-PVE3 2900Pro 512mb = quickfind code: 132737 # £163.84 inc VAT ( these over clock to XT speed no pobs )

EZ cool ps900 Tornado 700w = QuickFind Code: 133113 £39.99 Inc. VAT

Hard drive , case & DVD RW are down to you t pick but I can vouch for the ram , CPU & I know the MoBo rocks . You biggest problem is the HD2900 Pro as they are not going to be around for long & its a fast card even before you breathe on it .
good luck m8 .

Sure it's worth spending a bit more and getting a Q6600?

Do you know guys - I was adressing Shags kit list & not that of Maz ... DOH . Forget my kit list .

Be careful with that OCZ memory and an Asus board, I know in an early post it said a P5B board but with the P5K the ram/board are NOT compatible.

Only took me nearly a week to figure out the problem, I adjusted timings, voltage and everything. Runs fine with 1 stick at a time but try to use two and your fubar. I guess I should of used google in the first place

Side note I have 2gb dual chan available if anyone is interested.

its on baby - im cashin in my savings and starting a pension - which is freeing up some cash.

if everyone agrees with the budget options spit listed im goin to go with most of them -

AS in the processor, ram and mobo. Vista home premium


as for Gcards i fancy getting BFG GFORCE 8800gt 0c2 as listed for £200 or this currently out of stock everywhere Zotac Geforce 700mhz bad boy, there is one by the same company for £30 cheaper on play.com altho a little slower - is it worth saving the cash and getting one a tiny bit slower?

just got to wait for paper work to turn up then 10 workin days later

You can start a new thread if you want Shag ;-)

The updated 8800GTS 640 might be better though, it should be out in a couple of weeks.