Having issues finding a gaming machine (spec advice)

[wildheart]

Ok looking to get my dad a computer for xmas wanting to spend about £400 on the base unit

This is really only used to play games on and the odd connecting to the internet

But im having problems finding a computer or building a "good" one imo. The spec they were looking at from a competitor was:

- Intel Pentium D820 Processor Type
- 1GB DDR RAM
- 160GB Hard Disk Drive
- Multi-Format Dual Layer DVD RW Drive
- 512MB nVidia GeForce 7300 SE Graphics
- 8-In-1 Media Card Reader

for £400 now he wants to play games like company of heroes and C&C3 when it comes out... and IMO the graphics card will not be up to the job.................... so.............. spec me a pc for £400 PLEASE

Merry Xmas All!!

 

[Limehouse]

400 pounds, for a gaming pc? The graphics card alone, in order to play on high, will take up at least a quarter of that. I'm sorry but that's probably the best your going to get for that price.

 

[wildheart]

Yeah i was struggling

 

[4T5]

Couldn't you go for something like this

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-037-OK
Plus O.P. system and a 7800GS.
that'll ne around 400 quid and just an idea.

Clock the CPU and the card and it'll play anything that's out now.

 

[kmistry]

This is the best I could come up with:

Asrock ConroeXFire-eSATA2 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £49.99
(£58.74) £49.99
(£58.74)
Intel Pentium 4 820 Dual Core "LGA775 Smithfield" 2.8GHz (800FSB) - Retail Intel Pentium 4 820 Dual Core "LGA775 Smithfield" 2.8GHz (800FSB) - Retail £59.99
(£70.49) £59.99
(£70.49)
Corsair 1GB DDR2 Value Select PC5300 Dual Channel Kit (2x512MB) (VS1GBKIT667D2) ( Corsair 1GB DDR2 Value Select PC5300 Dual Channel Kit (2x512MB) (VS1GBKIT667D2) ( £72.99
(£85.76) £72.99
(£85.76)
Samsung SpinPoint P HD080HJ 80GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM Samsung SpinPoint P HD080HJ 80GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM £25.99
(£30.54) £25.99
(£30.54)
Antec NSK4400 Mini Tower Case - 380W SmartPower PSU Antec NSK4400 Mini Tower Case - 380W SmartPower PSU £46.99
(£55.21) £46.99
(£55.21)
BFG 3DFuzion GeForce 7600 GS 256MB DDR2 TV-Out/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail BFG 3DFuzion GeForce 7600 GS 256MB DDR2 TV-Out/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £64.99
(£76.36) £64.99
(£76.36)
Pioneer DVR-111DBK 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter - (Black) OEM Pioneer DVR-111DBK 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter - (Black) OEM £18.99
(£22.31) £18.99
(£22.31)
Sub Total : £339.93
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.95
Vat : £61.40
Total : £412.28

 

[pastymuncher]

It's a struggle and also £42 over budget including delivery but here you go:-

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Samsung SpinPoint P HD160JJ 160GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM £36.49
(£42.88) £36.49
(£42.88)
OcUK GeForce 7900 GS 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £99.99
(£117.49) £99.99
(£117.49)
NEC AD5170 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99
(£19.96) £16.99
(£19.96)
MSI K9N Neo-F nForce 550 (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £44.99
(£52.86) £44.99
(£52.86)
OcUK 1GB (2x512MB) PC2-6400 800MHz DDR2 Dual Channel Kit £64.99
(£76.36) £64.99
(£76.36)
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2.2GHz (Socket AM2) - Retail £54.99
(£64.61) £54.99
(£64.61)
Antec NSK4400 Mini Tower Case - 380W SmartPower PSU £46.99
(£55.21) £46.99
(£55.21)
Sub Total : £365.43
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.95
Vat : £65.87
Total : £442.25

You could save £30-40 by swapping the 7900GS for a 7600GS but he will not be able to play at the same detail. That would however bring you back into budget more or less. I went AM2 over the "old" Intel cpu's as you should have better gaming performance. You could save a lot more by building it based around socket 939 and shopping around but then you would have no upgrade path.