feel like a noob for asking....

lozza23_uk

lozza23_uk

lozza23_uk

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Joined
23 Jan 2006
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but here we go anyway. some spec help would be great please. and some compatability checking.

current bits I could do with keeping (or replaceing if needed)

arctic cooling T2 case (will this be suitable for all new stuff, i.e. 939 mobos?)
1 gig (2 x 512) pc2700 ram (i know I know, but could do with a cheap upgrade here)
512 (2x256) psc3200 ram (spare stuff got for a bargin, not using yet)
agp x800pro (could sell for capital raising)

so, after blowing up my dfi infinity board (might sell as broken on the bay) I am thinking of hitting an upgrade.
want to go 64 bit. want to do it cheap for now, but over the next 3months really get it up to spec.

so.....i need mobo, chip, pci-e graphics card, and I need to be able to use my OLD ram (1 gig would be best) , and OLD ata133 HD's etc.
I play WoW but dont get time for many other games. the x800 eats WoW so something similar or better really.

and I would like to spend 400quid (not including the sale of any old stuff)
is this possible?
i can easily stretch out though if a close figure can be reached.
or should I just bin the whole lot and buy a prebuilt titan from OCuk to save all the hassle? :)

many thanks in advance, i will update once I have found my idea of components that I would like to use.

edit...maybe going x2 would be an option?, as I am always playing with some kind of music software, plenty of tracks. Could do with some processor power.
 
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This is the cheapest X2 chip:

CP-152-AM AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-152-AM)
£164.95 £164.95
FG-000-AR Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)
£14.50 £14.50
Subtotal £179.45
VAT £31.41
Total £210.86

Once you add you mobo & ram it'll take you over you £400 budget. Only other option I can think of is to get the Foxconn mobo that has AGP as well as PCI-E, keep you gfx card (update later).

Other thing you need to think about is whether or not you need a new PSU
 
ahh i did look for an agp/pci e crossover board but couldnt see any on OCuk.
I will look into it.

the PSU in the artic cooling case was a concern of mine. can anyone confirm wether they are suitable or not?
I will email them later if I get time.

maybe I should just bite the bullet and get a pre-built, and add to it over time :)

edit.
ok this is what I am planning now.
asrock mobo (agp and PCI-e slot)
3800+ chip (really not sure on buying an X2, but for the sake of an extra 50quid is the performance difference huge?)
and stuff that with all my old stuff into the current case. and see how we get on :)

still havent heard from the case people though about their power supply.
and been on the OCuk support line for about 5mins now.

edit 2.
PSU will be on the limit, and any future decent graphics cards or extra HD's could well push it over the edge.
time for a re-think :)
 
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ok so heres what I ended up with.
all my systems have always been hashed over time, and not thought out properley and always having inferior components that need replacing.

so I bought a 25quid an7 socket a mobo to tide me through. which means I can get the 2500+ back in, and my gig of ram. Hoping I can make it last me a couple more months before my new drum software fully loads out the cpu.

then I need to really have a long hard think of the best way to put together a new machine.
I really think that i will need a x2. and a decent graphics card.
and of course a new case :(

so here we go.
x2 3800+ retail
gigabyte KN8 pro
2 gig geil value
BFG 7800 GS OC
antec sonata 2 (anyone got experience here?)
some sort of sata HD.
 
lozza23_uk said:
x2 3800+ retail
gigabyte KN8 pro
2 gig geil value
BFG 7800 GS OC
antec sonata 2 (anyone got experience here?)
some sort of sata HD.
Click to expand...

In order

Decent chip for X2 and has the potential to overclock well if you want to try.
Motherboard is fairly cheap for SLi but should be ok as it is based on a proven chipset.
Ram is fine, good value and reliable.
This is an AGP card so you can't use it with your chosen motherboard. You want either a 7800series card probably the 7800gt given your budget or preferably an X1800XT either the 256mb version or the 512mb if you have the cash as both are better than the 7800gt by quite a way.
Antec produce good solid cases and PSUs, from what other people have said about their Sonata's then it is a good choice.
Hard drive comes down to personal preference, I like Maxtors but just as many people don't, usually because of a bad experience although that could happen with almost any drive :)
 
hmm, how did I let a thing like that agp card slip through my grasp!

X1800xt? I will look into it.

also not fussed on SLI, but it seems that the only decent board have SLI on them.

will go back and have another look @ *** graphics cards.
cheers semi pro.
 
ok so how does this look?
I am hoping to clear enough CC bills to be able to buy this lot in maybe 1-2months time. we will see how it goes.

MB-038-GI Gigabyte K8N Pro SLi nForce4 SLi (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-038-GI)

MY-046-GL GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS3 (GE2GB3200BDC) (MY-046-GL)

CA-040-AN Antec Sonata II Piano Black Quiet Case - 450W Smart Power PSU (CA-040-AN)

HD-058-SE Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 NCQ 250GB ST3250824AS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-058-SE)

GX-048-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X1800 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-048-PC)
edit...this card is only a few extra quid...would be rude not to!

CP-152-AM AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-152-AM)

FG-000-AR Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)
 
lozza23_uk said:
ok so how does this look?
I am hoping to clear enough CC bills to be able to buy this lot in maybe 1-2months time. we will see how it goes.

MB-038-GI Gigabyte K8N Pro SLi nForce4 SLi (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-038-GI)

MY-046-GL GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS3 (GE2GB3200BDC) (MY-046-GL)

CA-040-AN Antec Sonata II Piano Black Quiet Case - 450W Smart Power PSU (CA-040-AN)

HD-058-SE Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 NCQ 250GB ST3250824AS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-058-SE)

GX-048-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X1800 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-048-PC)
edit...this card is only a few extra quid...would be rude not to!

CP-152-AM AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-152-AM)

FG-000-AR Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)
Click to expand...


Now thats a good rig.

The X2 3800+ is a great chip & should be very overclockable with the cooler you chose.
The X1800XT is a damn good card & best value for money card going.
 
I see no problems with that system at all, you won't be able to go SLi or Crossfire but it is easier to upgrade the card totally normally anyway and will give you more of a boost. The recommendations will probably have changed slightly in a month or two so you may want to post back just before you purchase to check :)
 
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