Another Build me a PC thread =] (£500)

Ewaf · 23 Jan 2010 at 01:55

Hello guys!

I am finally letting the moths escape from my wallet and buying myself a new PC. However, having not bought one for 4 years now, I am confused and overwhelmed by the components available today. As mentioned, I have around £500 budget.

I need a new gaming rig that is future proof and easily upgradeable. I have a 74gb Western Digital raptor i can recycle (Although ideally i want a new HDD because I have a feeling mine is dying), and I have a brand new 600watt tagan i-xeye (If a new one is needed give me a heads up). I only need the tower, no monitor, keyboard etc etc.

I am capable of building a system myself, although like I said I havnt built one for 4 years and I dont want to screw it up (although not much could have changed in 4 years)

So far the pre-overclocked bundles have caught my eye, aswell as this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-210-OK&groupid=43&catid=1445&subcat=

(I also don't need an OS)

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Aleksandrs · 23 Jan 2010 at 02:00

What sort of resolution you planning to play at? Out of curiosity.

Ewaf · 23 Jan 2010 at 02:22

Well with my 19" widescreen monitor i use 1440x900 (i think its the highest res mine can go?)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-014-AS

Its the older 19" model of that.

Cheers

Aleksandrs · 23 Jan 2010 at 02:36

Ah okay so a gaming spec that runs that shouldn't be too expensive. Not sure how future proof you can make yourself with that price though.

I wasn't clued up when I bought my rig about a month and a half ago and paid against the odds (Around 650 - 700 for case, psu, mobo, cpu, gpu, mem, hdd, cpu cooler, fans) for a computer which really cant be upgraded with spending a pretty big price. Hexcore is coming to AM3 and 1366 socket motherboards so I guess it's worth pointing you in those directions (Unless someone objects?).

Ewaf · 23 Jan 2010 at 02:45

I realise I cant get a future proof one really, but one that has lots of space for upgrades in the future is fine.

Cheers

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 23 Jan 2010 at 02:55

Aleksandrs · 23 Jan 2010 at 02:59

I wasn't sure if you needed HDDs and Optical drives as most people seem to have them from previous computers, but I suggest the Samsung F3 1TB as mentioned above. I also didn't add a case because I dont know what style you like.

I got this:

I'm sure some with more knowledge of the AM3 might suggest a better mobo for the money, but it looked plenty good enough.

Ewaf · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:05

Thanks for the advice Cat, looks like a solid build although something is confusing me abit:

How come the AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 620 2.60GHz has 2.60GHz, yet the processor you linked has 3 cores and is faster?

Also forgot to mention I have an optical drive etc. and like I said I have a 600w tagan PSU lying around I won at a LAN, so that makes the total price £438 quid. Although I would want a better case than that ideally, was looking at the Coolermaster Storm Scout, but thats 70quid. But tbh spending extra on the looks where I can get better components is a bad thing i guess :\

Cheers for the help!

Ewaf · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:08

@Alek thats a nice build, I have a 600w PSU, and I do need a new HDD ideally, and obviously a case so looks like that would be coming in at around £550 with that added.

Aleksandrs · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:14

Ewaf said:
Although I would want a better case than that ideally, was looking at the Coolermaster Storm Scout, but thats 70quid. But tbh spending extra on the looks where I can get better components is a bad thing i guess :\

The Storm Scout doesn't look too bad really but it's your call. You'll kinda regret getting an ugly case!

stulid · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:19

Alexsandrs spec is spot on.

Elfmeister. · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:22

I'd look at AM3 DX11 USB3 SATA3 setup nowdays,

This lot maybe?
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 5770 Vapor-X
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-222-SP
AMD Phenom II X3 Tri Core 720
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-238-AM
Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-231-GI
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-203-CS
Coolermaster Storm 'Scout' Gaming Case - Black
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-175-CM

With your Raptor and PSU this lot comes to £508 inc VAT & Del.

Ewaf · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:26

I think I need a new HDD though. Like I said ive had mine for a long time and I think its on its last legs, for example I did a fresh reinstall and got random bsods. Not entirely sure if this is due to the HDD but..

stulid · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:30

His raptor is dying, a samsung F3 500Gb is only £40

Aleksandrs · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:34

I have Asus blinkers, but that gigabyte one seems fair enough

Ewaf · 23 Jan 2010 at 03:41

At the moment im leaning towards Aleks suggestion even though its gonna end up over 500squids when I add a HDD and case and remove the PSU, and if its worth it I am tempted to stretch out to that price,

Cheers for the help so far my nocturnal friends.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 23 Jan 2010 at 12:23

Ewaf said:
Thanks for the advice Cat, looks like a solid build although something is confusing me abit:

How come the AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 620 2.60GHz has 2.60GHz, yet the processor you linked has 3 cores and is faster?

Also forgot to mention I have an optical drive etc. and like I said I have a 600w tagan PSU lying around I won at a LAN, so that makes the total price £438 quid. Although I would want a better case than that ideally, was looking at the Coolermaster Storm Scout, but thats 70quid. But tbh spending extra on the looks where I can get better components is a bad thing i guess :\

Cheers for the help!

I changed the build spec a bit so please check my post again!!

I did not realise you already have a PSU so this is why I changed it.

The reason why the Phenom II X3 720 is faster than an Athlon II X4 620 in games is since the Phenom II has L3 cache(and more L2 cache too) than an Athlon II.

Ewaf · 23 Jan 2010 at 16:35

Looked at your new build, that looks pretty spot on aswell and comes to under 500quid when i add a case that i want. Ahhh decisions!

Ewaf · 24 Jan 2010 at 21:55

Hello again,

Still deciding what action to take, but something else is concerning me. Is there a way to tell if a PSU works without having to plug it into a computer? Because I am not 100% sure if the one I have laying around works. I have plugged it into the wall and turned it on, but if im not mistaken you have to have it actually plugged into a PC?

RJC · 24 Jan 2010 at 21:58

Link out pins 13 & 14 on the main ATX connector, I tend to put a fan on one of the molex connectors.