£550 set up

asillars · 8 Feb 2010 at 11:57

Can you improve on this set up for me?

I am playing around with a set up on a £550 budget including windows. What are the main benefits of windows 7 retail over OEM? Not sure which would be better for me.

Main uses are internet, photoshop, dvd watching, and occasional/rare game use. Mainly total war games and the sims 2.

This is what i came up with

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 8 Feb 2010 at 14:30

The OEM version of Windows 7 is locked to your motherboard. If you decide to get a different model of motherboard or get a new computer you cannot re-use the license.

I would go for this graphics card for some light gaming though:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-184-SP

I would also look at this hard disk as it is faster than the one you have listed AFAIK:

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

This PSU would also be enough for your system:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-017-CS

It is made by Seasonic and has got a good review:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/750

asillars · 8 Feb 2010 at 14:34

Nice one, cheers for that. Is the graphics card you mentioned a better card pound for pound? Suppose i may as well go with the OEM version as by the time i will upgrade again there will probably be a new version of windows out. (3-5 years later)

wakayoda · 8 Feb 2010 at 14:43

thats a decent mobo so i wouldnt worry about that, my pc cost about half the price of yours so for that reason I am using xp till I go DDR3

PhoenixUK · 8 Feb 2010 at 15:29

I'd go with x3 435, 26quid less and there isn't much diff between them. The 620 isn't really the best option if you look at price/performance ratio.

Essexraptor · 8 Feb 2010 at 15:34

I thought that if your motherboard dies (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) you could contact Microsoft and transfer the OEM license to your "new" replacement board?

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 8 Feb 2010 at 16:12

PhoenixUK said:
I'd go with x3 435, 26quid less and there isn't much diff between them. The 620 isn't really the best option if you look at price/performance ratio.

I would also go for an X3 435 or even an X3 440 over the X4 620.

Here are comparisons of the X3 435 and X3 440 with the X4 620:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=112&p2=106&c=1

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=119&p2=106&c=1

asillars · 8 Feb 2010 at 16:37

or this - AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition?? same price as AMD Athlon II X3 435.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 8 Feb 2010 at 17:25

asillars said:
or this - AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition?? same price as AMD Athlon II X3 435.

I would look at this comparison between the two processors:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/default.aspx?p=112&p2=97&c=1

asillars · 8 Feb 2010 at 17:59

So updated a little bit. What you think?

Extra £15-20 to spare if there is anything that can be improved anywhere.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 8 Feb 2010 at 18:02

The build looks fine IMHO. OTH,for non-gaming use the X4 620 is still the best choice IMHO.

The X2 550BE can be unlocked to a quad core but this is not guaranteed!

asillars · 8 Feb 2010 at 18:13

thanks all for the input

Cookeh · 8 Feb 2010 at 18:36

yeah looks good to me

(I fear I arrived too late to add anything

)