Dell to new build - possible?

True, if they haven’t got the confidence to strip a working machine down and rebuild it then a new build should be avoided.

A new build isn’t hard. With those all import few weeks of forum lurking and a bit of basic research assembling a PC is no harder than building a Lego kit.

Given the above it's amazing how many people:

  • Can't connect both power plugs to the motherboard, there are only two and it'll be quite clearly laid out in the motherboard manual.
  • Fail to connect the power plug(s) to the video card despite the big warning leaflet that's normally included with the card.
  • Can't correctly install motherboard standoffs into a case.
  • Can’t plug the memory into the correct slots, again something normally well documented if you bother to read the instructions.
  • Can’t connect a monitor to the correct output (or just fail to switch the monitor on).
  • Are more interested in the colour of the fans than anything else.
  • Fail to follow the basic trouble shooting steps they are given because they’re sure they did it right in the first place and can’t be bothered to reopen the case to check.
  • Forget that you do need to buy a copy of Windows.
 
Everything is keyed in a modern system (ie. only fits in one place with the right orientation) so there is no chance you can put anything in the wrong place.

Common new builder errors:
  • 8-pin EPS CPU power forgotten
  • GPU power forgotten
  • Motherboard standoffs forgotten
  • Front panel connectors forgotten

Just ask here if you need any help. What would be your budget for a new BF3 system?
 
Thanks for the responses guys much appreciated. :confused:

The main reason (other than BF3) that I would like to build a PC is that I'm currently doing a Computing degree and this knowledge may be useful in the future.
Yes, I know bugger all about PC building but I know quite a bit about busses, voltages, clock speeds etc.
Overclocking looks a breeze to do, I just have no interest in doing it. Not at the moment anyway.

I'm not going to chuck the Dell in the bin, it must be worth at least a tenner on the Ebays. :p

As mentioned, I have already replaced the Dells' PSU and GPU and did get as far as removing the PSU, GPU and HD before coming to these forums. I could have easily removed the CD Rom and motherboard (inc. CPU and RAM) if I wanted but I wanted to check with the experienced people here.

However, the answer I guess to my original question is yes I could take the Dell out of it's current case and put it into a new one, but at the end of the day it will be more hassle than it's worth and still rubbish.

I think I will compare prebuilt system prices with do-it-yourself alternatives. Like I said though I want the experience of a self build. :)

So... does Moore's law indicate 3rd generation chipsets coming soon before I go and invest?

This is a great website by the way, I've been suprised at how good and quick the response have been.


Initially I wanted to spend <£300 on upgrading my Dell (new PSU and GPU), but I'm willing to spend £500-£750 on a new build/pre-build.
 
Last edited:
generally you'll save around 10-30% if you build yourself, so if you want the experience of doing it yourself then i'd definitely recommend doing it.

will you need anything other than the tower and whats inside it, or will you need other stuff like the OS, monitor, keyboard, etc
 
Reaper 392 said:
generally you'll save around 10-30% if you build yourself
Click to expand...

The saving does appeal to me.

It's a shame manufacturers do away with any form of backwards compatability. I.e my quad core and RAM wouldn't fit into a new MB.

I think I'll build one on my own, just take it slowly. Ideally i'd like to take my HD Drive out of the Dell (as it has my stuff in it + Windows Vista) and sell the Dell. I don't really want to give Microsoft a further £70-£80 for Windows 7 (although it was mentioned that the 64 bit OS is recommended).

I was thinking of the following:
MSI ATI Radeon HD 6870 OC HAWK 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
£169.99
Intel Core i5-2500 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - Retail
£161.99
Asus P8H67-M PRO Intel H67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 MicroATX Motherboard - (Sandybridge) ** B3 REVISION **
£89.99
Antec 600 Six Hundred V2 Ultimate Gaming Case - Black
£74.99 (although I prefer the Corsair Obsidian so may splash out for that one)
Corsair Enthusiast Series TX 650W V2 High Performance '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CMPSU-650TXV2UK)
£74.99
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C8 1333MHz Dual-Channel (CMX4GX3M2A1333C8)
£31.99
Corsair A50 High-Performance CPU Cooler (Socket AM2/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366)
23.99 (not sure on the A80 liquid cooling thing - overkill if not clocking I assume?)

Total = £644.42

Some random pictures:
Got somewhere:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/AndrewNR/psugpuhdout.jpg

Before and After:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n574/AndrewNR/itworksJPG.jpg

As you can see I already have keyboard, mouse, monitor (dodgy) and speakers.
 
Last edited:
i know you said that you wont be overclocking, but the i5 2500k + p67 mobo actually works out cheaper and its there when you need it.
£170 is Nvidia's territory with the GTX560Ti


YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI GeForce GTX 560Ti Twin FrozR II 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £173.99
1 x Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - OEM £155.99
1 x Cooler Master Storm Enforcer Gaming Case - Black £72.98
1 x Asus P8P67 LE Intel P67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard ** B3 REVISION ** £70.98
1 x Antec TruePower New Modular 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £59.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX) £47.99
1 x Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366) £25.99
Total : £622.91 (includes shipping : £12.50).

 
Last edited:
If you skip out overclocking, you are missing a good 25-50% extra free performance for little effort. Go in to BIOS, up the multi to 40 it will boot at 4GHZ?
 
Aye, think i'll go for the 'k' chip afterall.

1 x Cooler Master Storm Enforcer Gaming Case - Black £72.98
Click to expand...

Not sure on the 'bling' look - I prefer something more subtle (boring). :)

How do you link things from the 'basket' like that, do you have to be a customer and go to checkout?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by billysielu
Chuck the Dell in the bin (it really is the worst thing ever) and get a prebuilt system from OCUK (because you'll fail at building your own).

????? My 5 year old could put a pc together from scratch, it ain't rocket science
Click to expand...

Indeed - millions of people must've built systems over the decades; I took this with a big pinch of the white stuff.
 
AndrewNR said:
Aye, think i'll go for the 'k' chip afterall.



Not sure on the 'bling' look - I prefer something more subtle (boring). :)

How do you link things from the 'basket' like that, do you have to be a customer and go to checkout?
Click to expand...

Olivier's add-on for Google Chrome, found it
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/empfloiadabicdlgahhamannadefhehj

and for the simple look, heres a few

Bitfenix Shinobi
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-008-BX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1850

Fractal Design R3
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-008-FD&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=1556

Cooler Master Silencio
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-236-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29

Cooler Master 690 II Lite
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-212-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29
 
Last edited:
AndrewNR said:
I took this with a big pinch of the white stuff.
Click to expand...

Bit early for marching powder?! :p

If you don't force anything, take your time and worth methodically it is a piece of cake. Forums are for asking questions, so if something doesn't work make a cuppa, try again then ask on here if that fails
 
If you don't force anything, take your time and worth methodically it is a piece of cake. Forums are for asking questions, so if something doesn't work make a cuppa, try again then ask on here if that fails
Click to expand...

Rome wasn't built single-handedly in a day afterall! :)
 
and for the simple look, heres a few

Bitfenix Shinobi
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=7&subcat=1850

Fractal Design R3
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=7&subcat=1556

Cooler Master Silencio
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...id=7&subcat=29

Cooler Master 690 II Lite
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...id=7&subcat=29
Click to expand...

The Fractal Design R3 floats my boat the most out of the four you've listed.
I think I might buy the best case I can at the moment as this is the only part of building that is pretty much future proof.

I do like:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-004-BX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
Bitfenix Colossus Venom Green LED Big Tower Case - Black
But would probably end up turning the LEDs off, so kinda pointless.

I think these are the contenders, what are your thoughts?:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-075-SV&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
Silverstone Raven 3 RV03B-W Full Tower Windowed Case - Black/Gold
£134.99
(This is only a fiver more than the Raven 2 but seems to offer a lot more)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-043-CS&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
Corsair Graphite 600T Midi Tower Case - Limited Edition White [CC600TWM-WHT]
£129.98
White is the new black, right?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-036-CS&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
Corsair Obsidian 650D Gaming Midi Tower - Black [CC650DW]
My favourite

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-110-AN&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
Antec 902 Nine Hundred Two (V3) Ultimate Gaming Case (with USB3.0 Support) - Black [0761345-08010-1]
£109.99

I think the Raven and the Antec are the only cases that support usb3.0 - I guess this isn't really an issue at the moment?

The cheaper alternatives I like are the Fractal Design linked in the quote and the Antec 600.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom