Another check my spec...

[ringo747]

My bro is looking for a new build to replace his ancient system.

He does quite a bit of photography stuff and heavy photoshop usage. He also wants to be able to run the latest games like BFBC2 for example.

How does this spec look? Is the i3 good enough for high end gaming?

 

[Stupot_]

Looks great, need an optical drive?

 

[stulid]

Is the i3 good enough for high end gaming?

yep, and at that speed, double yes

 

[ringo747]

O yes I forgot to add optical drive. Thanks!

I have an i5 bundle myself at 4Ghz that runs all the games great. Wasn't sure how much 'worse' an i3 was.

 

[stulid]

I have an i5 bundle myself at 4Ghz that runs all the games great. Wasn't sure how much 'worse' an i3 was.

if yours is a i5 750(quad core) at 4ghz, then its a beast. the i3 will never keep up.

 

[ringo747]

Yep thats the one I have. I am guessing the i3 with a 5850 will still run the latest games at maxed settings?

 

[stulid]

its still a fast CPU at that speed, and will make for a powerful pc with a 5850.

 

[ringo747]

Thanks. Appreciate the input.

 

[ringo747]

If I wanted to drop down to a lower gfx card that is cheaper but still gives good value for money what recommendations would people offer? Need to cut this price down a bit apparently.

 

[stulid]

Er.

5830?= http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-238-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1711

the problem is, its a big drop.

The other problem is, you cant crossfire on that motherboard, so get the best single card you can.

Cheaper psu that will still manage fine?= http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-118-AN&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1088

P.S that Asus 5850 has been on pre-order for ever, its not coming back, the Directcu have replaced it.

 

[ringo747]

Might try and cut some money by going for a 550W PSU then. The bro says it will mostly be for photoshop with only light gaming, maybe the occasional bit of BFBC2 or COD but nothing else really.

 

[Strepsils]

its still a fast CPU at that speed, and will make for a powerful pc with a 5850.

this

 

[Stupot_]

In which case drop down to a 5770, or even a 4850 if you want to save a lot more. I'm playing BFBC2 on an 8800GT and it runs fine.

 

[snaggster]

will he be using cs5? If he is it could be worth him looking at nvidia cards.

 

[stulid]

There isn't a Nvidia card worth buying that is cheaper than a 5850 and that can play modern games.

The 4** is overpriced against its ATI equivalent.

The 9800GT/250 are just to slow and old tech now.

The cheapest GTX260 is £139, when a 5770 1Gb is cheaper at £124.

The cheapest GTX285 is £269 which is more than a 5850 at £232.

 

[ringo747]

Yep he might be using CS5 but only CS4 at the moment. Why it nVidia better for CS5? I think a 5770 would probably do grand.

 

[snaggster]

cs5 can use cuda, and it vastly improves rendering times. And just makes the programe run a lot quicker. Hopefully by the time your brother wants to get his system, the gtx460 will be relised. It should be priced around the same as an 5830. And roughly the same performance.

 

[stulid]

cs5 can use cuda, and it vastly improves rendering times. And just makes the programe run a lot quicker. Hopefully by the time your brother wants to get his system, the gtx460 will be relised. It should be priced around the same as an 5830. And roughly the same performance.

the GTX460 either won't have the same performance, or will be £100 more, just like the rest of the 4** series is against the ATI equivalent.

 

[snaggster]

the GTX460 either won't have the same performance, or will be £100 more, just like the rest of the 4** series is against the ATI equivalent.

Have faith my friend...lol... Nvidia have to come though soon. The card has to come in under £200, or it will be the worlds biggest flop.

 

[wilko49]

got to disagree there snaggster, nVidia have truly ****** up on this generation