Check my Spec!

Cannaton · 15 Mar 2009 at 17:44

Hey guys,

I'm hoping to click buy on this some time this evening, building a mid-spec office work/ gaming machine for the missus with a budget of around £685 (inc monitor and kb, already has mouse). She is deffinetly inclined to the smaller side of things so i've gone M-ATX. Anyway, can any of you spot anything wrong with this or any options which might get me more 'bang for buck'? Cheers,

EDIT: already have one 120mm fan, thats why i've only bought one.

mjones1 · 15 Mar 2009 at 17:47

I would change the case to a coolmaster 335 elite

icey_haj · 15 Mar 2009 at 17:49

Looks fine, although I would personally change 3 things;

D D Danneh · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:00

+1 for Icey's suggestion.

Also, what about the P5QL-CM mobo? It's cheaper, and the only difference I can see is the integrated graphics, but it has a PCI-E slot so you can still use your GPU and disable the integrated chip.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-304-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=326

Does she need such a powerful GPU? Does she plan on gaming a lot? A 4850 512MB/1GB may be sufficient, depending on what she does with it.

Also, with a CPU cooler, you could perhaps overclock it to about 3-3.5GHz. Not required though, as I've heard e5200's aren't brilliant overclockers. If you went for the 4850, you could get a wolfdale, which are amazing overclockers.

But like I said, it depends what she does with it. For a lot of streaming videos, or working, the wolfdale CPU might be a better choice. If she does a lot of gaming, the 4870 would be a better choice.

reflux · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:06

mjones1 said:
I would change the case to a coolmaster 335 elite

...which is not m-atx.

Gunni Parker · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:29

Dont skimp on the PSU! Its one of the most components in the PC.

Cannaton · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:30

As reflux says that isn't m-atx, she wants small lol! Do you think that PSU isnt strong enough?? She wants to play the Sims 3 reasonably well when that comes out thats why i favoured the more powerful GPU. I use a 4850 myself and know that its a great card, just thought while the 4870 is on offer and all...

Gunni Parker · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:38

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-031-OC&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1098 I would tap that! Modular e.g. easier build, & I agree if she don't do a lot of gaming and depending on what she plays a 4870 is a tad bit to much.

Blackwhite · 15 Mar 2009 at 18:53

+1 for Modular.

Cannaton · 15 Mar 2009 at 19:15

Cheers for that nighthawk ill look into that psu and knock down the gpu! (should cost bout the same)

andyinoz · 15 Mar 2009 at 19:26

buy the 4870 anyway and just stick the 4850 u already own into her new build? nice little sneaky upgrade for urself there?

Cannaton · 15 Mar 2009 at 19:48

Thats what im thinking ^^

sketch145 · 15 Mar 2009 at 19:56

+1 for a sly graphics exchange

, also definitely go with a modular PSU, they're so much easier and the price for the 600W OCZ recommended above is great.

sketch145 · 15 Mar 2009 at 19:58

or you could get this PSU for the same price as the one in you're original build

95thrifles · 15 Mar 2009 at 20:04

Am I the only one reading into the comment "she likes small things"? lol

icey_haj · 15 Mar 2009 at 20:19

95thrifles said:
Am I the only one reading into the comment "she likes small things"? lol

You know about small things, don't ya thrifty?

Cannaton · 15 Mar 2009 at 20:46

Its just like overclocking mate, its not how big it is, its what you do with it!