Components or new PC?

[omi]

just wondering does it work out cheaper and better to replace the components in my PC or just buy a new one.

i think my MB is dead.

so might as well replace some other bits,

if i get a core2duo, will need a new MB, memory and gfx card (my current is a AGP).

so the only bits i will re-use are the case, monitor, keyb+mouse, soundcard, PSU, HDDs, DVD drive and cables.

I had a look at some stores and some very nice systems for around 400GBP to do what I want. (Core2, nvidia 8500gt)

not sure if I can get components for that kinda price?

or are they other better places to look as well

 

[Nebzor]

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC)
Gigabyte GA_P35_DS3R (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.80GHz (800FSB) - Retail
PowerColor ATI Radeon X1950 XT Extreme SILENT Heatpipe 512MB GDDR3 VIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)

£402 including VAT and delivery.

 

[pastymuncher]

The biggest benefit in building your own is that you get to pick the components that you want and not the cheapest ones a retailer can chuck in a pc to maximise their profit margins.

You can get a CPU, Motherboard, Memory and graphics card for £400. If you are going to be gaming the 8500gt is awful. Something like this should be ok

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
OcUK GeForce 8600 GTS 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £99.99 (£117.49)
G.Skill 2GB DDR2 NQ PC2-6400 (2x1GB) CAS5 Dual Channel Kit £54.99 (£64.61)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.13GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £104.99
(£123.36)
Gigabyte GA_P35C_DS3R (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 & DDR3 Motherboard £81.99 (£96.34)
Sub Total : £341.96
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £8.95
VAT is being charged at 17.5% VAT : £61.41
Total : £412.32

You may want to go for one of the newer 1333mhz fsb cpu's that are soon to be launched which would be a little more future proof. No doubt someone will come along with a better spec but this is just to give you an idea.

 

[Alex UK]

Try this...

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-5300C3 667MHz Dual Channel Kit (BL2KIT12864AA663)
(£64.61) £54.99

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 775)
(£17.61) £14.99

Gigabyte GA_P35C_DS3R (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 & DDR3 Motherboard
(£96.34) £81.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 "LGA775 Conroe" 1.86GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
(£105.74) £89.99

PowerColor ATI Radeon X1950 XT Extreme SILENT Heatpipe 256MB GDDR3 VIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
(£111.61) £94.99

Sub Total : £336.95
Shipping : £8.95
VAT : £60.53
Total : £406.43

This does entirely depend on your other components, could you tell us what PSU you have?

 

[omi]

thanks for the replies and advice,

my knowledge of components etc is years old so i havent got a clue whats good, whats value for money etc.

my PSU if I recall is a 500W antec blue. or was it 480W

i dont know much about gfx cards either anymore, i'm still on AGP cant remember what it is now, was a 9800pro.

correct me if i am wrong, wasnt there a conroe that you could OC like mad? the 1,6GHz one?

i dont need a supercomputer, some decent gaming with moderate settings. some photoshop work.

i possibly need a new DVD drive as well, my current one is a bit knackered as well. but i guess they are pretty cheap anyway.

saying that i have seen a quad core on offer for 500-ish not that i need one.