Another spec me a new build thread.

Scientific

Scientific

Scientific

Associate
Joined
31 Jul 2004
Posts
480
Need some help here guys as I have been looking around for a new system for a while now and have decided the best option is to build my own system.

I built my last system a good while back now and the system has long passed and since I no longer work in a computer store I have really fallen out of the loop on what's good and what's not.

So here is the criteria:
I have an Xbox so gaming is not necessary.
It will mainly be used for web browsing, videos, music and that is really it. I would like the system to be powerful enough that should I push it slightly it wont struggle.

I've had a look at the Dual and Quad Cores but having read a few threads I get the feeling that AMD's are now a lot more reliable then in the time I used to build pc's so again this is an option. One thing I would like is a dedicated sound card nothing too high spec but one that can produce good quality audio.

And finally my budget, ideally I would not want to go over £500 and even that is a push, considering what the system would be used for I feel that price is about right, I've had a look at some competitors and honestly dont feel I would be getting the same value for money.

Oh and Windows 7 is a must OEM or Retail, I doubt I would be changing the motherboard so if the OEM is locked to one motherboard then so be it.

Thanks in advance...:)
 
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Sorry should have said all new mate, the old one is seriously old and I'd rather just start again.

Spec wise it was a P4 3.0GHz, 2gb ram and about 300gb hdd (3 drives in total). Built it back in 2003 and it lasted well but psu was replaced 4 times and finally the whole thing blew!
 
pc2.jpg

That is what i came up with, the psu may be a bit excessive and the case is pretty much up to you, i put in the lancool because i have heard good things about the tool-less design.
if anybody has anything better then i will bow to your superior knowledge :P
 
I like the look of that spec, I know reading up here the last few days that the biggest mistake I could make is going for a cheap PSU and even case so I am more than willing to pay now then have to take the risk of problems later.
 
By the way the CPU you have picked I assume is a good one, the reason I ask is that its a massive saving over the dual core pentium I was looking at. I assume for what I will be using this system for the CPU is more than enough?

Once again apologies about the silly questions I havent looked at building my own system in years.
 
in terms of speed, 3.1GHz will be plenty for your needs. I am running an e8400 (3ghz dual core) intel and that is fine even for high-end gaming, in normal use it doesn't miss a beat. I tend to stick to intel so i am not sure about how the new AMD CPUs compare, it would definitely be worth reading around and looking at reviews to choose the right CPU. if it were my system i would ditch the sound card and get an intel dual core. is the sound card really necessary?
 
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I was thinking the same thing, as long as the sound from the on board is good enough for music and the like then no its not.

Again in the past I used to have the creative set which worked well with the speakers I had at the time so its really old habits I guess.

The e8400 is the Intel CPU I was looking at and I guess the price saved on the sound card would be better spent on that.
 
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