Hardware Advice

RoBird

RoBird

RoBird

Associate
Joined
21 Feb 2008
Posts
3
Dear All! To my horror my current system has seemingly reached the end of it's life!

P4c 3.2Ghz
Asus P4C800 Deluxe
1Gb DDR-400
ATI 9800XT recently replaced with HD2600 AGP.

On boot I have a message saying "System failed CPU test" with no display. Does not change when using different PSU or PCI graphics card. Replacement 478 processors seem difficult to source and see little point spending cash on a wild goose chase to fix an obsolete system.

Although happy with the performance of the old pc (really liked the setup!), I am looking to build a solid medium-spec replacement system that will last me a while. Mainly user of Flightsims mainly but do dabble in battlefield/COD and C&C.

Unfortunately haven't kept up with hardware since building my last system, so I am entirely baffled by the array of cores and different graphics options!

Am looking to spend roughly -
~£100 Processor
~£50 Motherboard
~£50 RAM
~£100 Graphics
Looking to use existing SATA disks, DVDRW, case, software and if possible akasa 400W PSU (!).

First question perhaps can it be done? But otherwise AMD 6000/6400 or Intel C2 duo E6550?

Many Thanks!
Rob
 
Thanks Chaps - Sorry to move the goalposts after your posts, I have come to the conclusion that a higher spec might be advised for sufficient future proofing - I don't plan to upgrade for another 5 years if I can avoid it!!! £400ish seems a little more realistic if not still a bit mean.

I'm inclined to stick with an Intel processor as I perceive them (perhaps wrongly?) to be of higher quality! I have been disappointed with ATI's Linux support so looking more at the NVIDIA cards. My other major considerations are quietness and longevity.

This seems to be in the ballpark -
Processor - E8200 (E8400 much better?) or Q6600
Cooler - Arctic Freezer 7
Motherboard - Asus P5k P35
Memory - CAS4 2Gb ~ £35
Graphics - 9600 or 8800 (or 3870)???

Since FSX is not multi threaded I assume there would be no advantage - possibly even a disadvantage to getting a quad core?

Cheers!
RoBird
 
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