Complete Noob, pls point in the right direction

beanbomb

beanbomb

beanbomb

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23 Feb 2012
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4
Hi it's been a long time since I felt I had any clue about new computer components or graphics cards etc.

I currently run Windoze 7 (64bit) on an Intel Core i5 2.67GHz, with 4 gb ram, 1 TB Hd, and AT Radeon HD 5700. I run two 28" monitors off it.

Using it for some database work, playing low intensity games and playing some high intensity stuff like BF3.

Recently the secondary monitor has been flickering inconsistently and combine that with slight overall slowdown in performance and BF3 not running amazingly i'm very tempted to get a new rig. Considering what I have currently can people give me some advice as to how to speck up a computer on the assumption I cant be bothered to learn how to build it and am willing to pay for that part.

I ideally want to be able to run 3 monitors off the new machine so i'd need 2 gfx cards right? I have absolutely minimal hard drive requirements and little knowledge of what i'd want past 'upgrading to more expensive parts' on most components under the assumption that that makes things better :p

Oh I should probably specify how much aswell. Not really sure tbh, anywhere from £500 - <£2k.

Thanks in advance.
 
Why not just add some more RAM and a better video card (or two)? Seems like a pretty decent system to me. Can't imagine an i5 CPU is slowing you down much.
 
You dont need a new rig, but more info on your current one is needed ie power of PSU?

In short, just upgrade your graphics card for starters to something like a 6950 at least - 2 x 28inch monitors (depending on what resolution you are running) is quite an ask from all but the really expensive cards.
 
Hi thanks very much for responding.


I am capable enough to open the case and clean and fiddle, but utterly inexperienced in buying and installing new components (literally no idea how to check things will be what I want and will be compatible etc).

I also have no idea if I have space for stuff inside the case.

How would I go about checking these things.

Under the assumption that if possible i'd like to go from 2-3 monitors (I currently run both 28" hannsg widescreens under 1920x1200 I think). I've also got a 27" lcd phillips which runs at 1680x1050 (taking some getting used to).

is there anything I should know about multiple monitors with differing resolutions (also i'm not looking for bf3 over 3 monitors or anything I just want mass amounts of desktop workspace).


Im embarrassed to say I have no idea what psu I have.... do I have to open the box to find that out?
 
you may well be lucky enough to look thru the back of your pc and see the psu specs but a side or top of the box should enable you to identify it tbh,
 
PSU - Power supply and rating should be on the side of a box inside the computers main box with a big fan on it.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=123

Have a look at the Overclockers webpage for a pic.

To add another monitor you can go one of 2 main ways, google "eyefinity" and "Nvidia surround setup" - you will need another graphics card depending on which way you go but not having either I cant help there.

Main thing is you dont need to buy a new rig, installing a graphics card is quite simple, take side off box, take out old one (after disconnecting its power, insert new, reconnect power - other little bits but nothing this forum cant talk you through.
 
Well, adding RAM and swapping the video card is a piece of cake. As long as you get compatible stuff (folks in here will make sure of that) it really couldn't be easier. Trust me. Can you put bread into a toaster? Well, it's almost the same :D

The only danger is that you'll be like "Ohhh, that was easy....that was fun......now I must spend all of my monies on upgrades....every month!!!" ;)
 
The only danger is that you'll be like "Ohhh, that was easy....that was fun......now I must spend all of my monies on upgrades....every month!!!" ha ha ha ha how very true
 
Right so.

I don't want to break forum TandC ....


the psu is 'switching power supply iso400p' (that's all I can really make out). When I search that info it comes up with a whole load of similar psus which are all 300 whatever the measure is :p I'm pretty sure this was the utter base option when I got this computer.


So is the consensus, I want 2x good gfx cards, potentially a new psu and some more RAM and I should be all set?!

If so top bombing :)


what gfx cards should I be looking at? ATI infinity page suggests 6870/6970 for 'extreme gaming', for 'extreme productivity' 6850/5770.

How much RAM is 'my max' with this rig and what would people recommend?

If I require a PSU what one do I need?



Pics of box so you don't have to go on my awful descriptions...

Inside.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/828/photofjz.jpg/

Back
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/201/photo1vq.jpg/




Thanks so much for just reading this, even more thanks if you help :)



Also I'm deffo worried about finding it easy and suddenly building my own monster!! I got V carried away upgrading base models for new comps and then saw each of the prices and just shut the tab :p
 
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beanbomb said:
I ideally want to be able to run 3 monitors off the new machine so i'd need 2 gfx cards right?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. AMDs work with three monitors, however you need a displayport (or an active displayport->DVI/HDMI adapter).

Your base setup is fine. the i5 is still OK generally speaking.

I would upgrade the case, PSU, and GPU. IF you want a boost in productivity, a SSD (128GB).

beanbomb said:
the psu is 'switching power supply iso400p' (that's all I can really make out). When I search that info it comes up with a whole load of similar psus which are all 300 whatever the measure is :p I'm pretty sure this was the utter base option when I got this computer.
Click to expand...

Dump it and get a decent unit.

in order of priority imo...

- PSU (650W bronze / silver / gold). £65-£85.
- AMD GPU (depends on budget). £100-£220.
- 8GB / 16GB DDR3 RAM (dunno what the limit is on your motherboard). £30-£70.
- case (to do a clean rebuild). £50-£85.
- SSD, depending on capacity. £130-£250.

That's around £500-£600 upgrade.

If you want to upgrade the motherboard, HDDs... That would be an extra £500 to make it worth your while.
 
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something like that.

YOUR BASKET
1 x HIS HD 6950 IceQ X PLUS Edition 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE Deus Ex PC Game £215.99
1 x Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail £167.99
1 x Crucial RealSSD M4 128GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive (CT128M4SSD2) £136.99
1 x Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £99.98
1 x Seagate Barracuda Green 2TB SATA 6Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM (ST2000DL003) £94.99
1 x Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 600W Power Supply £79.99
1 x Corsair Carbide 300R Mid Tower Case - Black £59.99
2 x Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) £43.99 (£87.98)
1 x Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366) £25.99
Total : £986.40 (includes shipping : £13.75).



GPU is a bit OTT. But it's cool, quiet, powerful enough. Not to mention ugly :)

You will need to lose one of the hard rive cage to fit the GPU in that particular case. a HD6850 might just fit with it, or your old case.

Lots of things can be downgraded, but if you have the dough, it's nice to get some quality components. You can leave the motherboard, cooler, CPU and use your own i5.
 
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