Critique My Build - Please

Martyn1989 · 12 Nov 2008 at 22:48

Hello,

I am building a new PC. My budget is £500, for a completely new build (including a monitor).

My basic requirements are; will run Team Fortress 2 on reasonably high settings, will actually run iTunes and Team Fortress 2 simultaneously (my previous computers have never met this requirment as they have been of poor quality).

I have come up with a basic build, and I basically would like you nice friendly people to give me some advice.

I currently have:

CPU: Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 2.5GHz Socket 775 800FSB 2MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor
Motherboard: ASUS P5KC AiLifestyle Series iP35 Socket 775 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
Hardrive: Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB SATA II 7200RPM 16MB Cache - OEM
RAM: OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 Dual Channel Vista Gold Series DDR2 (OCZ2G8004GK)
Graphics card: PNY GeForce 8800 GT 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
PSU: Corsair 650W TX Series PSU - 120mm Fan, 80+% Efficiency, Single +12V Rail
Case: Thermaltake VI1000BWS M9 Gaming Case with Window - Black
DVD-RW: LiteOn DH-20A3P 20X DVD±RW/DL/RAM Black Bare Drive - OEM
Wireless card: D-Link AirPlus-G DWL-G510 Wireless PCI Adapter
Samsung T190 19" TFT Monitor 1440x900 2ms 1000:1 VGA/DVI Rose Black 3 Years Onsite Warranty

Many thanks

Chimerical · 12 Nov 2008 at 23:05

Take out that P5KC (combo boards suck) and replace it with a P45 (preferably an Asus P5Q). Swap the 500GB for a faster 640GB HDD.

If possible, swap the 256Mb 8800GT for a 512Mb and the 19" monitor for a 20" (with a better resolution).

Martyn1989 · 13 Nov 2008 at 01:05

Chimerical said:
Take out that P5KC (combo boards suck) and replace it with a P45 (preferably an Asus P5Q). Swap the 500GB for a faster 640GB HDD.

If possible, swap the 256Mb 8800GT for a 512Mb and the 19" monitor for a 20" (with a better resolution).

I might change the board, as that one is now starting to be come discontinued. Why do combo boards suck though, enlighten me?

Also, what performance gain does getting a 640GB disk give? I have checked them out, they have the same cache, RPM speed and seek times.

Other opinions welcome.

C64 · 13 Nov 2008 at 02:17

The 640 aaks drives have 2x 320 gb platters they are just faster don't ask the technical gubbins they are just better is all you need to know

also maybe look at getting the western digital black 640 gig has a 5 year warranty and is slightly faster and not for much more £.

This thread will be very helpful to you http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17899307 usually bang on with the exact spec you should be getting at any given budget.