Advice needed

Jimtec · 29 Jan 2007 at 11:44

Hi folks,

Looking at ordering some bits today,

Machine is used for internet, music and games! Wanting some good graphics,

Want to keep it under £500 and it has to be an AMD System.

New Case: £30
MSI K9NGM-L nForce 410 Socket AM2
Corsair DDR2 667 2x 1GB Sticks
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core (2.0GHz) Socket AM2
Sapphire X1950Pro 256MB
Western Digital 250GB SATA HDD
NEC OEM DVD±RW

What dya think? Anygood?

steve258 · 29 Jan 2007 at 11:56

Looks OK, if money is tight go for OCUK or TEAM RAM PC6400 2Gb.

What about PSU??

Any reason not going for Intel??

Jimtec · 29 Jan 2007 at 11:58

Looks ok? Dya think i might have problems?

The PSU is a 350W, and comes with the case so thats alright really which is ideal.

I just prefer AMD

Jimtec · 29 Jan 2007 at 12:05

Also, my main issue is the mobo, I just seem to have doubts about it. :confused:

steve258 · 29 Jan 2007 at 12:20

I'd worry about the PSU first tbh, £30 for case & PSU doesn't sound too convincing. I'd at least get this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-052-AN

That mobo looks like a mATX with integrated graphics, are you going to overclock?? You are using a seperate graphics card so I'd get a standard ATX mobo.

Jimtec · 29 Jan 2007 at 12:24

Steve,

Just found a EYE-T Black Warrior with a 450W PSU for a few pounds more.

Would the mATX mobo suffer if i used that gfx card? I wont be doing any overclocking... That will be my next build

steve258 · 29 Jan 2007 at 12:34

No not at all you just need to go into bios and disable the onboard graphics, and you will get fewer PCI slots that's all. If you are not overclocking then a mATX will do just fine.

kmistry · 29 Jan 2007 at 12:38

It looks good although I would strongly suggest getting a conroe. I know you said that you prefer AMD (so did I) but price/performance you honestly wont get better than a conroe. What you should be asking is what you get for your money.....As for the PSU and case I would steer clear of OEM PSUs as if they go boom they will more than likely take other components with them, I agree with steve 258 the Antec cases are good and the PSUs that come with them are good also (I know as I have an Antec Sonata II with a 450w smartpower PSU)

Kiz

artaxerxes · 29 Jan 2007 at 12:43

Have to agree with kmistry. I have never built anything but AMD for myself, but I am now recommending Core 2 Duos to my friends, the performance is just too compelling.

If your budget was restricted then I would be advising AMD as they have slashed their prices, however 500 is plenty to make a future proof Core 2 Duo.

Jimtec · 29 Jan 2007 at 12:50

Ive been umming and arring over the Intel's. Ive not heard/read much about this conroe stuff?

Im wanting to build something decent that is upgradeable in the future. Being an AMD fan i wanted to stick with them but i do have an Intel Centrino laptop and thats alright i guess, no real complaints.

artaxerxes · 29 Jan 2007 at 12:57

Performance crown belongs to Intel.

I have been a long term supporter of AMD, and there was a time when it was AMD or nothing! Now AMD has done it's job - and we see proper competition in the marketplace. Intel has abandoned the stupid NetBurst technology and has embraced a a genuine advanced computing package, forced into this position by AMD, whereas before they arrogantly dictated stupid stuff like RAMBUS.

My money is now earmarked for the price/performance king.