£200 to spend on a new component.

jamesy · 9 Jul 2008 at 11:52

I have £200 pounds to spend on my pc. I mainly use it for gaming and internet only.
Question is what component would give the most improvement for the price to my current set-up?

Akasa Eclipse
Asus Maximus Formula
G.Skill 4GB DDR2 PK PC2-8500C5 (2x2GB)
Intel Core 2 Duo E2200 oc’d to 3.2
Xigmatek HDT-S1283
Corsair HX520
Sapphire Ati HD 4850 512mb
Samsung SpinPoint HD501LJ 500GB SATAII Hard Drive 16MB Cache
19” Samsung 920WM Widescreen Monitor
Vista 64bit
NEC DVD SATA drive

I’m thinking of either a new 22” Monitor, another HD 4850 or a new processor.
Any ideas?

Tetsu · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:41

If I had that rig i'd leave it be....looks awesome. Just go for the 22" monitor and do it justice

Biffa · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:43

Sell CPU and existing monitor and get a E8200 and 22" monitor

Problem is if you want another 4850 you will probably be looking at spending more dosh on a better PSU and probably another 4GB of memory for Vista.

Teaf · 9 Jul 2008 at 12:44

Monitor!

Either: Stretch to £235 and get the OcUK 24", or pick a nice 22" (Dell/Sammy).

I wouldn't change that system, it's perfectly fine the way it is, the only long term upgrade you could buy for that machine would be a monitor. The only other "maybe" would be a CPU but with Nehalem looming if it were me I'd just get a new monitor :-)

jamesy · 9 Jul 2008 at 13:11

Cheers for the responses guys.

I think you're right as regards the monitor. I can afford a decent 22", or maybe even stretch to the OCUK 24"

I'll probally look to getting another HD4850 in a few months or so.
As regards PSU I've been told that my Corsair HD520 should be adequate to run 2 4850's in xfire...............fingers crossed

Wayne~ · 9 Jul 2008 at 13:13

I'd stretch to the 24", although I only have a 22 there is a massive difference

reflux · 9 Jul 2008 at 13:15

Sell your CPU/screen and get an E8200 and 22'', as suggested above.

jamesy · 9 Jul 2008 at 13:23

Yeah, forgot i'll also have the cash from the bay to put in as well.......
How much do you think I could realistically get for my monitor and (retail) cpu?

mp260767 · 9 Jul 2008 at 14:07

jamesy said:
I'll probally look to getting another HD4850 in a few months or so.
As regards PSU I've been told that my Corsair HD520 should be adequate to run 2 4850's in xfire...............fingers crossed

it will be ok it only needs 1 pci-e power connector per card, 4870s need 2.

nib95 · 9 Jul 2008 at 16:17

I'd save up for a 22"/24" monitor. Of course, if you do that, you'll probably want to buy another 4850 or go 4870 as well!

Greenlizard0 · 9 Jul 2008 at 16:58

Slightly off topic - but in my own experience I'd just keep the cash until something compells / forces you to upgrade (sods law and all says you'll spend that money and then have none if god forbid you need it in the not so far future). I wouldn't do it just because you have the money. My two cents.

PhoenixUK · 9 Jul 2008 at 18:10

22" monitor is a waste of money, you either buy 20 or 24....

I would get few extra quid and go for the 24" monitor.

Or you can get another 4850 (PSU will be fine, it's not 4870) and change the CPU for E8400.

Personally I would go with the monitor since the rest will hold everything for quite a bit yet.