Another help me spec a gaming system up: 600 squids, only a few bits to get.

Hellsmk2 · 16 Dec 2006 at 13:09

Hi all,

This is yet another "spec me up a rig" thread, but I'm out of kilt with the current hardware and don't know what's best. I was thinking a system built around the E6600 (2.40ghz Dual core) would be rather sweet. I have around £600 to spend. I only need the following parts:

Motherboard
Graphics
RAM
Soundcard (although if the mobo onboard sound is adequate, this money could be used elsewhere).

I have a 400w PSU as well, but if that isn't enough... throw one of those in too.

Also, do PC parts usually substantially drop in price, more so than usual, after Christmas? Is it worth waiting?

I won't be overclocking or doing anything else on this PC other than gaming. Any suggestions would be quite awesome

FreeStream · 16 Dec 2006 at 13:32

P5B Deluxe: £120ish
2Gb Geil PC6400 C4: £170
Audigy 4: £40ish
X1950XT IceQ His
Seasonic 500W PSU.

Job done

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) £137.99 (£162.14)
Asus P5B Deluxe (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £104.99 (£123.36)
Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Soundcard - Retail £49.99 (£58.74)
Seasonic S12 600W Silent ATX2.0 Power Supply £79.99 (£93.99)HIS ATI Radeon X1950 XT ICEQ 3 TURBO SILENT Heatpipe 256MB GDDR3 VIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (H195XT256DV-R) £169.99 (£199.74)
Sub Total : £542.95
Shipping : £9.95
Vat : £96.76
Total : £649.66

Save yourself some dosh by getting a Audigy 4, a 500W PSU and/or a X1950 pro

Hellsmk2 · 16 Dec 2006 at 13:36

That was quick. Another QQ though. I currently have a 9800Pro spare. I just read the mega thread and there's the ATI equivilent of SLI (xfire or something) where you have a master ard, and then one similar to it.

Is this worth doing? If so... I'm sorry... what would be a good setup for that with the same budget? Otherwise, that setup seems very reasonable!

FreeStream · 16 Dec 2006 at 13:52

No hope in that budget, but yes, in the future you can have hardware or software crossfire.

Software being two normal ATi Cards (X1900XTX and another X1900XTX) and it communicates through the mobo (slower than hardware)

Hardware being a master card and slave card (X1900 Master - X1900XTX), this is the quickest crossfire.

And IMO, its not worth it, because in 6 months there will be new cards, which cost the same and are the same speed as two cards and it will use less power etc.

So i'd stick with what i've put