Is this the best for my money? (Specced System)

MarkLP · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:36

Hi there,

I have been out of the loop for a while now and interested in building myself a new system.

I've specced this up and just wonder if anyone in the know would be able to tell me if this is the best I could buy for the money (Don't really want to spend much more then this)

I'll be using the system for photo editing using Photoshop CS3, Gaming - LFS, maybe new titles that come out, New Call of duty (if there is one?!) etc..

Thanks

Badas · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:40

you could save money by getting rid of the SSD as 40GB isn't going to hold much after you install your OS and main programs and games

do you have a GPU already as there isn't one in your shopping list :S?

and the newest cal of duty is Modern Warfair 2

RJC · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:44

Nice spec, but you have chosen Triple channel memory for a dual channel board.

Edit: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-025-PA&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:53

MarkLP said:
Hi there,

I have been out of the loop for a while now and interested in building myself a new system.

I've specced this up and just wonder if anyone in the know would be able to tell me if this is the best I could buy for the money (Don't really want to spend much more then this)

I'll be using the system for photo editing using Photoshop CS3, Gaming - LFS, maybe new titles that come out, New Call of duty (if there is one?!) etc..

Thanks

Unless you really need a motherboard which can do Crossfire at PCI-E 2.0 16X get this much cheaper one which does it at PCI-E 2.0 8X:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-366-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1481

Either of these RAM sets should do the job:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-154-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-154-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

I would probably get a Samsung F3 500GB instead of the SSD:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-081-SA

The money saved on the SSD can be used to buy 8GB of DDR3 instead of 4GB.

I would also get this modular PSU too:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-117-AN

It has 4 PCI-E power connectors.

I would also spend the extra on the Antec 300 case:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-101-AN

These changes will drop the cost of the build down to around £800.

Ricardox1 · 2 Feb 2010 at 18:54

Thats about right

MarkLP · 2 Feb 2010 at 20:53

Thanks for that, as I said I've been out the loop for a while and not sure on the latest technology at all.

Ideally I want a very quiet PC, Noise is a big issue so if there is a PSU to choose because of noise I'd go with that one.

Thanks

EDIT/ Yes I do also need a Graphics card, doh! forgot it.

MarkLP · 2 Feb 2010 at 21:40

How about this?

Ive kept the case due to the maximum size case I can fit is just over 400mm.

Club 3D ATI Radeon HD 5850 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £210.99
£210.99

AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 965 Black Edition 3.40GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £143.98
£143.98

Patrtiot G Series Sector 5 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-16000C9 2000MHz Dual Channel (PGV34G2000ELK) £115.98
£115.98

OCZ Agility Series 30GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-1AGT30G) £89.99
£89.99

Antec TruePower New Modular 650W Power Supply £88.88
£88.88

Asus M4A79XTD Evo (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £85.99
£85.99

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £81.99
£81.99

Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB SATA-II 64MB Cache - OEM (WD10EARS) £67.99
£67.99

Coolermaster Elite 335 Case - Black £31.67
£31.67

ThermoLab Baram CPU Cooler (Socket AM2/AM3/LGA775/LGA1366) £29.99
£29.99

Scythe Kaze-Master 5.25" Fan Controller - Black £26.99
£26.99

Sony Optiarc AD-7240S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
£16.99

Fractal Design 120mm Silent Cooling Fan £9.99
£19.98

Sub Total : £860.77

FREE SHIPPING (DPD Next Day)

Total : £1,011.40

RJC · 2 Feb 2010 at 21:45

Memory a bit overkill 1600mhz will be fine and perhaps go for the 955.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 2 Feb 2010 at 21:47

I would go for cheaper DDR3:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-026-PA&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-154-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

I would spend the extra on an Antec 300:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-101-AN

I am uncertain whether the Elite 335 card will be long enough for the graphics card.

I would also go with this Zalman cooler instead of the ThermoLab Baram and 120MM fan:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-041-ZA&groupid=701&catid=57&subcat=1395

It has got a very good review:

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=2475&page=1

You can also save some money going for the Phenom II X4 955BE instead of the Phenom II X4 965BE.

MarkLP · 2 Feb 2010 at 23:37

Thanks will have a look at that memory and CPU Cooler

Only reason I picked the fanless cooler was due to noise levels, I want to keep it quiet as possible.

Unfortunately the 300 case is no good for me as its to large, maximum I can have is just over 400mm.

Thanks

Ricardox1 · 2 Feb 2010 at 23:39

I'd swap the sd hardrive because if your a gamer then 40gb will be took up really quickly and you will be limited on what you can install and play.

MarkLP · 3 Feb 2010 at 22:18

I was planning to put games on the 1TB hard drive along with not so important applications.

Should I worry about anoything using the 64-bit rather then 32-bit?

Heres my last spec, measure it up and the Antec 300 will work

Club 3D ATI Radeon HD 5850 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £210.99

AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £121.89

OCZ Vertex Series 30GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-1VTX30G) £99.99

Antec TruePower New Modular 650W Power Supply £88.88

Asus M4A79XTD Evo (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £85.99

Patriot Sector 5 Viper II 4GB (2x2GB) PC3-12800 1600MHz Dual Channel + 3D Mark Vantage (PVV34G1600LLKB) £82.76

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £75.99

Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB SATA-II 64MB Cache - OEM (WD10EARS) £72.99

Antec 300 Three Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case - Black £42.99

ThermoLab Baram CPU Cooler (Socket AM2/AM3/LGA775/LGA1366) £29.99

Sony Optiarc AD-7240S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99

Sub Total : £791.02

Total : £929.45

I've left in the fanless due to noise levels, unless the Zalman cooler is very quiet?

Thanks