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Upgrading my PC.
Nath

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05 September 2009 21:24 Reply (Quote this message)
So I plan on upgrading my PC in a couple of weeks and I'm pretty useless at this sort of thing so I am in need of help. The PC will be used for gaming and I have around 400 - 500 pounds to spend. I can get it built for me so I'm not looking for a new computer all together.

My friend came up with this: http://i32.tinypic.com/2pzlk7d.jpg

Not sure if its good for the money or if I could get better..

Thanks in advance!



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Maz

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05 September 2009 22:42  Edited by Maz on 05-Sep-09 at 22:53 Reply (Quote this message)
You could get much better Nath, assuming you have £400-500 for the tower and don't need to buy any accessories/ a monitor.

Just a pair of systems, with much better CPU + GFX and a more "upgrade" friendly motherboard (more memory slots etc).

The powersupplies are just dummy ones- I couldn't be bothered checking that they were the correct connectors for the Mobo's
[edit] - liam says the Asus mobo's are crap at present, so the gigabite one in the second "build" is a better choice.

The pictures have cropped

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/9818/nathpc.jpg

This system is identical to the below, only two differences

1. different motherboard - same spec's more or less.
2. different CPU, the above is dual core, below is quad.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5392/nathpc1.jpg


Things to note;

These are both pretty high up your budget, but that's mostly down to the better CPU and GFX - the XFX 4890HD is a fantastic piece of kit, and will run most modern games without lowering settings. (it might struggle with the very new stuff, but mine eats Crysis and gives ~40 fps with max settings at 1080p with 8x AA in DX10 mode.)

The Intel 65nm cpu's don't run too hot on stock cooling, but adding a couple of 120 silent fans to your tower will help airflow especially to your GFX and Memory.



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Nath

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05 September 2009 23:57 Reply (Quote this message)
Nice-one Maz for that Just a question: My Dad reckons that the 8800 gtx is the dog's bollocks for gaming ect..would that be true or is the gfx cards you have posted be better?



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Maz

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06 September 2009 00:20  Edited by Maz on 06-Sep-09 at 00:27 Reply (Quote this message)
I upgraded from the 8800GTX, and the 4890 is definatly better

it's also better value than the current equivelent Nvidia card.

To be fair though if you have an 8800GTX kicking about, use that and upgrade to a better midrange card after xmas when the new DX11 stuff comes out.



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D3CYPH3R

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06 September 2009 11:10  Edited by D3CYPH3R on 06-Sep-09 at 11:24 Reply (Quote this message)


Thats my reccomendation, it will outperform a core2 setup, ive chosen a better case for airflow and better for routing cables so its doesn't get all messy inside. If you want to overclock this cpu will hit 3.4-3.8 with the cooler i've suggested. Even if u don't its a very fast cpu.

Intel only powers ahead when you hit corei7 which isn't in your budget so this imo is a better choice than a core2.


Maz

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06 September 2009 11:21 Reply (Quote this message)
DUNDUNDUN!!!!



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Mani

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06 September 2009 15:09 Reply (Quote this message)
I'm not gonna get involved, went for an I8 myself but it ended up costing a small fortune. But I still run with an ATI 4890HD, nVidia don't seem that great value at present.



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Nath

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06 September 2009 15:19 Reply (Quote this message)
Quote: D3CYPH3R


Thats my reccomendation, it will outperform a core2 setup, ive chosen a better case for airflow and better for routing cables so its doesn't get all messy inside. If you want to overclock this cpu will hit 3.4-3.8 with the cooler i've suggested. Even if u don't its a very fast cpu.

Intel only powers ahead when you hit corei7 which isn't in your budget so this imo is a better choice than a core2.


Any chance you could post the pic like Maz has so I can see price ect mate? Since its been cropped!



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D3CYPH3R

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06 September 2009 17:19 Reply (Quote this message)
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r14/d3cyph3r/nathpc.jpg

Like Mani said i'd get an i7 but your talking a different budget all together


Maz

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06 September 2009 17:46  Edited by Maz on 06-Sep-09 at 17:58 Reply (Quote this message)
Total for the machine Liam did is - £501.13 inc VAT + Postage (~£12 I think)

I agree with Liam about the I7 but yway out of the budget, your looking £200 for bottom end single core I7 and then everything else.

My Q6600 G0 step still has miles to go, I've bearley touched the clock settings, but i've yet to see it go above 45% load on more than two cores.



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Issue the orders Sir, and I will storm Hell.
D3CYPH3R

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06 September 2009 17:59 Reply (Quote this message)
Quote: Maz
Total for the machine Liam did is - £501.13 inc VAT + Postage (~£12 I think)

I agree with Liam about the I7 but yway out of the budget, your looking £200 for bottom end single core I7 and then everything else.

My Q6600 G0 step still has miles to go, I've bearley touched the clock settings, but i've yet to see it go above 45% load on more than two cores.


thats coz next to nothing needs quad core, well gaming anyway.


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06 September 2009 18:07 Reply (Quote this message)
Makes video rendering & file conversion fast though



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D3CYPH3R

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07 September 2009 14:52 Reply (Quote this message)
Quote: Maz
Makes video rendering & file conversion fast though


http://ixbtlabs.com/articles3/cpu/amd-phenom-2-720-810-920-p1.html

The Phenom still beats quadcore on most redndering/photo elements and come across better across the board. Tho none of this is gaming which i'm sure nath is only really bothered about.


D3CYPH3R

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07 September 2009 15:06 Reply (Quote this message)
Comparrison

Direct comparrison for the intel and amd procesors listed above, you can work out which parts are more important and chooses from that.


Felon

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07 September 2009 23:26 Reply (Quote this message)
Thanks for the heads up, is scan still the cheapest?

And is anyone playing games other than shitty mmo? Not seen any decent shooter team games knocking about since bf2



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D3CYPH3R

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08 September 2009 09:08  Edited by D3CYPH3R on 08-Sep-09 at 09:10 Reply (Quote this message)
I think the biggie is Operation Flashpoint 2, hopefully it's as good as it looks
As for the cheapest it's variable, Ebuyer has free delivery but is more costly on some items, scan and ocuk are both cheap for some stuff, i normally find who is the cheapest for each item , work out the p&p will be from different places and see if its best to buy all from one place with 1 p&p or if you save enough to buy from multiple sources.


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08 September 2009 15:56 Reply (Quote this message)
Bought my latest rig form all over the place.

Didn't compromise for once and bought the exact components I wanted, 95% of it came from either Ocuk or Scan though with a quick trip up to CCL thrown in.



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08 September 2009 18:05 Reply (Quote this message)
Scan & OcUK are pretty close in terms of price, but dont stock all the same components

You'll probably find with any of the builds listed above, there isn't much of a price difference in them, so it might be a £1-5 saving by splitting the order at best.


As for FPS/Shooters,

BF2 was the last BIG one and has made a slight comeback, although TF2, L4D & Quake live are what most people are playing.

Operation Flashpoint is my next game



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Issue the orders Sir, and I will storm Hell.
Scrappy

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10 September 2009 00:40 Reply (Quote this message)
Pushing it just running a 500W PSU no???!


D3CYPH3R

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10 September 2009 00:44 Reply (Quote this message)
Not really, i run an oc'd core2 at 3.8, 8gb ram, 4 HDD's and 2x HD4870's 6x120mm fans and 1 200mm fan on a 650w Seasonic. As long as you get a good efficient one you should be ok


Upgrading my PC.
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