ADVICE for a perosn new to computing and building a computer for first time

sagarshah

sagarshah

sagarshah

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7 Sep 2009
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Barnet
to some of you this thread might be a waste of time but to those of you who are freindly and willing to help i thank you in advance.

hi, i'm 15 and planning to build my very own computer for the first time. I am new to the whole computer modding and PC gaming scene but now im in to it and I LOVE IT (even though im still a noob :D:confused:)

basically, my computer at the moment is crap and as i now play games often, for my birthday im going to build a new computer. my current specs are:

[IMPORTANT STUFF STARTS HERE:]

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
Hewlett-Packard HP Compaq dc5800 Microtower
3.00 gigahertz Intel Core2 Duo
Board: Hewlett-Packard 2820h
750.14 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
2022 Megabytes Installed Memory
Intel(R) Q33 Express Chipset Family
SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio
Intel(R) 82566DM Gigabit Network Connection
case: 37.72 x 17.65 x 42.8 cm
300-watt passive PFC

i am going to scrap everything (sell it or keep as spares) EXCEPT the core2 due proccessor and the hard drives (one 220gb internal and one 500gb external), and the optical CD/DVD drive....

the things that i think i want for the new PC are: (all from this website because it is awesome ;) )

case: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-017-NX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=35
motherboard: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-159-GI

i am going to purchase windows 7 home edition and dual-boot it with my windows XP (is this possible :confused:)

RAM, Graphics card, PSU and cooling and still completely undecided which is where i need HELP!!

all the things i mentioned here are changeable if you think that i've picked the wrong stuff or need better stuff then don't hesitaste to tell me what else to get and why...+ if you need any other information about my PC just ask and please tell me how/where to get it as i might not be sure :)

BTW: my budget is set around £400 but this is mildly flexible and any way i can cut costs is appreciated. Also, if there's any new technology that i should wait for please tell me.

THANKS IN ADVANCE
 
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it all sounds really good except for the grafix card....a friend of mine said that i should stick with Nvidia and not ATI because apperently ATI nearly went out of business and are having financial problems....is this true? otherwise i think this setup should be amazing...and should i get an i7 or i5 and just get a new mthrbrd? THANKS!
 
thank all...i think im coming to the end of my decisions and will start buying and building as soon as i get a copy of windows 7 (end of october)

i am going to keep my existing RAM (which is 2GB of DDR2) as i dont want to overclock.
also, im going to go for the ATI 4890 because its slightly cheaper and seems to do what i want.

sorry guys but im going to have to disagree with you, i am going to go for the case that i originally chose (NZXT) because i like it asthetically and as a first build i want my work to show in a cool case + im not too worried about sound/vibrations etc.

for the PSU i will go for a OCZ 600w as ive had good reviews from it so far and dont worry my friend is quite good with computers (has built one before) and will help me in building process + im read greywolf's guide carefully (its a really good guide btw :))

so for sure the things i have chosen are: case, PSU, RAM, grafix

NOW MY NEW DILEMMA :confused: lol (sorry for the hassle)

i want to make my kit really future proof and dont mind spending extra to make it. So, is it better for me to go for an intel i5/i7 kit.....will this mean i have to change all my choices? which is better, i5 or i7? what motherboard do i need for an i5/i7? will i nee dnew RAM? btw my CPU is a core2 duo @ 2.99GHz (not overclocked)

+++ you guys are talking about selling my RAM...do you mean online/privately? also, will i be able to do this with other parts, like the case, motherboard, CPU (if i get a new one), PSU

thanks again all
 
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ok, well i suppose the most hardcore game that im going to play is really COD6 so if my new system can take this with just a core2 duo then i'll sitck with that.....
although i read somewhere that windows 7 will need at least 4GB or RAM or am i just imagining things....if it does need this much then can i simply just buy more RAM?
 
okay thanks all but ive come up with two final setups....the first is my original idea with keeping the core2 duo and the seocnd is the basket ready for the future with an i5.
tell me if everything is correct and works with eachother+ if possible give me hand on which one i should finally go for
thanks a million to all of you....great forum+great webiste+great people :D
core 2 duo kit:
compcore2duo.jpg


intel i5 kit:
computeri5.jpg
 
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