1k Spec Please lads,

Datamonkey

Datamonkey

Datamonkey

Soldato
Joined
21 Jan 2003
Posts
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Location
Northamptonshire
Hi Guys,

Im looking to spend 1k on a new build.

Prefer Intel but could be swayed by dual core amd.

Pc mainly used for games and media cent.

Items i dont need.

Hdd's already have 2 x maxtor sata 2's with 16mb cache and a 120gb drive.
DVD-Rom already have a pioneer 109 which i am happy with.
Screen, this build will be running on a Sammy 26" lcd tv.
I have a logitech G15 keyboard and m518 mouse.

So im looking for,

CPU,
Mobo,
2gb Ram,
GFX Card, Not interested in SLI or crossfire. Screen runs 1360x768, but i want to have all eye candy on with no hits. I am currenlty using a x850xt.
Case,
PSU.


Also already have my existing windows xp pro and mce o/s's non oem so thats covered.

What do you guys think i should go for.

I want to play games, general multi task, and overclock.

One thing to note, i did have an a 64 3500+ 939 when they came out and i wasnt impressed with general windows performance, compaired to an intel p4 setup it fell sluggish has this changed with the introduction of dual cores?


Cheers
 
I don't know much about Intel so how about this? You have a good CPU with 1mb L2 cache, it should clock quite well also. Good Ram, the fastest single graphics card you can buy and a solid case and it is just about bang on the budget :)

MB-129-AS Asus A8R-MVP Crossfire (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-129-AS)
£69.95 £69.95
MY-000-MK Mushkin 2GB DDR XP4000 Extreme Performance Dual Channel Kit (2x1GB) CAS3 (991483) (MY-000-MK)
£144.95 £144.95
GX-047-HT HIS Excalibur ATI Radeon X1900 XT-X 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-047-HT)
£299.95 £299.95
CA-048-AN Antec SLK3800BUK Black Quiet Midi Tower Case - 400W SmartPower PSU (CA-048-AN)
£51.95 £51.95
CP-127-AM AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4400+ (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA4400CDBOX) (CP-127-AM)
£284.95 £284.95
Subtotal £851.75
VAT £149.06
Total £1,000.81
 
I'd go for the Arctic Case with the 450W seasonic as you've got a hefty Graphics card. Other than that Semi's spec is spot on. could save money with the Geil Value ram though as it's a lot better than the value tag would suggest.
 
BigDom said:
I'd go for the Arctic Case with the 450W seasonic as you've got a hefty Graphics card. Other than that Semi's spec is spot on. could save money with the Geil Value ram though as it's a lot better than the value tag would suggest.
Click to expand...


I like the look of that case,

cheers for the input.

Also would the value ram clock as well as the other stuff?
 
Datamonkey said:
I like the look of that case,

cheers for the input.

Also would the value ram clock as well as the other stuff?
Click to expand...
Won't clock as well as Mushkin but does clock reasonably. But clocking ram isn't a big issue as you can run it at a divider with minimal perfomance loss. Geil on slack timings and a small voltage boost should hit 220-230 though.
 
Cheers fella,


Ok so has no one got an intel solution for me??

I was thinking of the 9xxd cpu's


Anyone want to throw one into the works?
 
BigDom said:
I'd go for the Arctic Case with the 450W seasonic as you've got a hefty Graphics card.
Click to expand...

The case is 450w max and 350w continuous though, that said it should easily cope either way and it is a good case and PSU. I don't know about the Antec's efficiency but they do tend to make good cases and PSUs :)

The stock cooler will be fine even for some fairly mild overclocking but if you want to push it then you are probably better to get another, maybe an Arctic Freezer 64 or similar.

//edit I'm not sure that you will get too many Intel options at all, especially as you are gaming and AMDs are notably better. Either way though you probably won't notice a huge difference even if you do get an Intel.
 
BigDom said:
I'd go for the Arctic Case with the 450W seasonic as you've got a hefty Graphics card. Other than that Semi's spec is spot on. could save money with the Geil Value ram though as it's a lot better than the value tag would suggest.
Click to expand...

i did some investigation into the PSU for this phoning OCuk and emailing arctic.

they said that it would be fine for a couple of hd's etc...but, with an x2 chip, hdds, cd drive, high end graphics card etc it would be on its limit.

that and OC'ing could push it over the edge?

I have a T2 case, but thought I would have to replace it to go 64bit (full overhaul which is comming soon)
 
lozza23_uk said:
i did some investigation into the PSU for this phoning OCuk and emailing arctic.

they said that it would be fine for a couple of hd's etc...but, with an x2 chip, hdds, cd drive, high end graphics card etc it would be on its limit.

that and OC'ing could push it over the edge?

I have a T2 case, but thought I would have to replace it to go 64bit (full overhaul which is comming soon)
Click to expand...
If your case is a normal ATX case then just replacing the PSU will be fine.. something like a Tagan Modular 480W will be plenty.
 
BigDom said:
If your case is a normal ATX case then just replacing the PSU will be fine.. something like a Tagan Modular 480W will be plenty.
Click to expand...

the arctic cooling cases have integrated PSU's...hence the investigation.

sod it in 4-6 weeks I will just buy a load of 64bit stuff, mobo etc and see if it works or not.
 
Datamonkey said:
Come on, some one must be able to suggest an intel build for me lol
Click to expand...

LOL i dont think anybody likes intel on here! :p + amd are much better

I would go for the above rig, but change the Ram & Psu. No need for that ram really, i think a better psu would be best, IMO ;)
 
Lol ok,

how about throwing an opteron into the equation?

Are they any good?

I know nothing about the amd side of things.


Cheers
 
Opterons tend to overclock better and the dual core ones have 2mb L2 cache rather than 1mb, probably a 165 or 170 given your budget. I wouldn't change anything much on my recommendations if you were to go for an Opteron but be aware that without overclocking them you are wasting them, they will also be slower than a 4400 at stock :)
 
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