Bang4Buck Challenge

ev0styLe

ev0styLe

ev0styLe

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Joined
7 Dec 2008
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144
Location
Brighton
Hey there guys so basically im having a really hard time deciding on what new build to go for, ive looked at so many systems im ready to jump off a bridge with confusion. I very nearly went for an i7 system:

CPU: Intel® Core i7 920
CPU Cooler: Stock
Motherboard: Asus P6T Deluxe (Intel X58 chipset, SLI/Crossfire)
Memory: 3.0GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz XMS3 CL9 (3x1GB)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB S-ATAII 3.0Gb/s 32MB Cache
Optical Drive: Sony DRU-190A 20X DVD±RW
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 1GB
PSU: Corsair TX 750W
Case: Antec Nine Hundred

I then realised i7 may not be the right option for me as it means buying into an enthusiasts platform. Im not into overclocking yet therefore not as knowledgeble as your average enthusiast either. I game now and then but dont render or multi-task so was thinking i7 would be a waste of my money seeing as though games arent optimized for i7 yet? But seeing as i hardly ever upgrade i thought the latest CPU architecture would do me well.

My current specs are:
CPU: AMD Athlon 2600+
Motherboard: Biostar M7NCD
Memory: 1GB Crucial (2x 512MB)
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon X1550

So this is where u guys come in, instead of streching my budget and jumping to high end i7, i was thinking of going for the most bang for buck in terms of price vs quality and performance. What ya think?

I will be gaming on 1920x1080 and will be using XP 32-bit. This is what ive come up with so far:

CPU: Intel® Core 2 Duo E8400
CPU Cooler: Stock
Motherboard: Asus P5Q Pro (Intel P45 chipset, Crossfire)
Memory: 4.0GB Corsair DDR2 800MHz XMS2 (2x 2GB)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB S-ATAII 3.0GB/s 32MB Cache
Optical Drive: Sony DRU-190A 20X DVD±RW
Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon HD 4870 1GB
Sound card: Onboard 7.1 Audio
PSU: Corsair TX 650W
Case: Antec Three Hundred

The reason i chose 4GB of memory is because 4GB only cost a little extra as opposed to the 2GB even though XP 32-bit can only address something like 3.5GB RAM.

So for all u system builders out there what would be the most bang for buck rig at the moment?
 


Personally, I think that roughly that sort of system is the best bang4buck you can get.

Great cpu you can push to roughly 4ghz, good gpu, reckon it could prob play games at 1900
 
for this game, so long as your going to be clocking, the e5200 comes highly reccomended.

Im currently looking at upgrading my increasingly creaky amd 3700+ system and have a e5200 based rig priced up at just over 600 quid, compare that to the 740 i paid for my current setup and it looks pretty spot on value wise
 
Core i7 only really excels over the 45nm LGA775 cpus in multithreaded tasks, as you've listed that your only real taxing use is gaming then the best bang per buck would be a high clocked dual core.

Your core 2 duo spec is a very good spec, although even without overclocking I'd recommend a better hsf than the stock intel one. Something cheap but effective such as the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro.

Also this is more personal preference, but I'd recommend a Samsung F1 over the WD hdd you listed. See if you can afford the 640GB version so as to get higher density platters.

Finally I'd also suggest going for a Corsair HX PSU, i.e. modular. This will improve cable management within your case - however if you're good at cable management then its not really relevant :)
 
with you choosing the 4870 1Gb version and 32bit XP there's no point in getting 4Gb or ram as you will only see and be able to use 2.5Gb

my current system has 3Gb ram and 2 8800 gts 320Mb cards and it only see's 2.5Gb of my current ram.
Thats both with XP32 bit and Vista 32bit
so i would recommend only getting 2Gb ram with your current proposed upgrade or change O/S to a 64 bit version
 
AlexTrickle said:
As you've listed that your only real taxing use is gaming then the best bang per buck would be a high clocked dual core.
Click to expand...

For how long will a dual core last me in the world of multi-threading is my worry.

AlexTrickle said:
Finally I'd also suggest going for a Corsair HX PSU, i.e. modular. This will improve cable management within your case - however if you're good at cable management then its not really relevant :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip ;) But seeing as ive never built a comp before, i dont really want to take it on myself and ruin my new hardware.

Im getting a local PC builder to put it together for me but stuck on whether to purchase the components myself and let them assemble, but id be responsible for the warranty if anything goes wrong. Or pay extra for them to get hold of the components but at least if anything went wrong they would be responsible and im guessing they would have a better relationship with their suppliers to get it sorted easier. What ya think?
 
sir-les-mp said:
with you choosing the 4870 1Gb version and 32bit XP there's no point in getting 4Gb or ram as you will only see and be able to use 2.5Gb

my current system has 3Gb ram and 2 8800 gts 320Mb cards and it only see's 2.5Gb of my current ram.
Thats both with XP32 bit and Vista 32bit
so i would recommend only getting 2Gb ram with your current proposed upgrade or change O/S to a 64 bit version
Click to expand...

It varies on your devices.

I have 4gb and a 512mb 9800GT, and I have 3.25gb of ram available in windows xp, so I'd say the 4gb is worth it.
 
ev0styLe said:
For how long will a dual core last me in the world of multi-threading is my worry.



Thanks for the tip ;) But seeing as ive never built a comp before, i dont really want to take it on myself and ruin my new hardware.

Im getting a local PC builder to put it together for me but stuck on whether to purchase the components myself and let them assemble, but id be responsible for the warranty if anything goes wrong. Or pay extra for them to get hold of the components but at least if anything went wrong they would be responsible and im guessing they would have a better relationship with their suppliers to get it sorted easier. What ya think?
Click to expand...

seriously mate, have a go yourself, the spec posted above at around 540 quid is a steal.

Building a pc is not really that hard, yeah, your first attempt will be a mess of cables and without a doubt there will be a few sweaty moments , i can remember putting the fan/heatsink assembly onto the mobo on mine... i thought i was gonna break the table i was working on nevermind the mobo!!, but it IS worth it. Pretty much everything fits only one way and there is always the good people on here to call on if you get really stuck!

Do it!!
 
AlexTrickle said:
Core i7 only really excels over the 45nm LGA775 cpus in multithreaded tasks, as you've listed that your only real taxing use is gaming then the best bang per buck would be a high clocked dual core.
)
Click to expand...

But he doesn't over clock and doesn't upgrade. In which case I would get i7 it will last you the longest. If you can afford it, within your budget. I would certainly go quad core as the system will have to last a good few years.

Unfortunately bang for buck and not upgrading for years does not go together. Bang for buck only works (and works very well) if you do steady upgrades.
 
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The above poster is right. EIther try to future proof or go for bang for buck, you can't really do both.

Have a bash at building it yourself I'd say. I found it a horrible, terrifying, sweaty experience but the feeling when it bloody worked was fantastic :D

Once youve done it once you'll save money for ever ;)
 
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