help with build ~£300

vis0r · 28 Nov 2012 at 12:27

Hello there. I am looking to build a desktop myself. I have got a OS/monitor, so looking for help with pc components.

I would spend more time watching movies/ online streams while surfing online, playing some rather old school games, so 8GB RAM + decent processor is the main thing I guess. Planning to get SSD as well (64GB more than enough I think for system+programs? Got external hard drive for media.)

Also just got LG 23’’ IPS HDMI Monitor, so I guess all of it should support HDMI to get most out of it.

I guess the idea is to buy value for money system which I could upgrade in future if required.

Budget is ~£300, but if there is much sense in spending another £50 to get a lot more I will.

Thanks in advance!

Bacon? · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:21

For £300 an SSD is not going to happen when you want it upgradable. Also do you need a HDD?

IncognitoX · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:32

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD A10-5800K Black Edition 3.80GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Quad Core Processor (AD580KWOHJBOX) £92.39
1 x OCZ Agility 3 60GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive (AGT3-25SAT3-60G) £62.99
1 x ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M AMD A75 Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £59.99
1 x OCZ CoreXtreme 500w '80 Plus' Power Supply £32.99
1 x BitFenix Merc Beta Gaming Case - Black £29.99
1 x Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (PV38G160C9K) £26.39
1 x Samsung SH-S222BB/RSMS 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black/Silver/Biege) - Retail £19.99
Total : £338.22 (includes shipping : £11.25).

Definitely in AMD bounds, This will run most games, has an on-board GPU.

Slighty over budget but SSD's are expensive. Eventhough the spec includes 60gb SSD, I'd advise more as windows can take 20gb +

Bacon? · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:37

Any particular reason for the expensive DVD-RW?

IncognitoX · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:42

Bacon? said:
Any particular reason for the expensive DVD-RW?

OCuk branded one is extremely loud. I have one currently. But suppose its upto the buyer what they consider to be good value.

Bacon? · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:45

I find any DVD-RW loud as I have a Samung one that is no different to the OcUK on.

IncognitoX · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:46

Bacon? said:
I find any DVD-RW loud as I have a Samung one that is no different to the OcUK on.

Fair enough, I just assumed the branded one would be quieter

My bad

Bacon? · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:47

If anything I would consider it to be louder as its faster

Generally we have got used to quieter and quieter components but I think a DVD-RW is going to be loud unless you put it under oil

IncognitoX · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:48

Bacon? said:
If anything I would consider it to be louder as its faster

Generally we have got used to quieter and quieter components but I think a DVD-RW is going to be loud unless you put it under oil

This is true haha, wonder how loud a blu-ray burner is :eek:

Bacon? · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:49

Quieter prolly as they are slower if the specs are anything to go by.
And wait is your OcUK always loud even when idle or only when loading and burning?

IncognitoX · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:50

Bacon? said:
Quieter prolly as they are slower if the specs are anything to go by.
And wait is your OcUK always loud even when idle or only when loading and burning?

Yes I'd probably get to that conclusion aswell.

Other from the drive can anything be improved on the spec posted?

Fire_fly · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:51

The OCUK drives are ones that they managed to get cheap, the manufactures vary, I had a Samsung drive off them and my mates was Sony both sent as OCUK value.

IncognitoX · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:51

Loading and burning... annoying mmmmmmmmm.

Fire_fly · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:52

IncognitoX said:
Other from the drive can anything be improved on the spec posted?

Cheaper SSD

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-026-IN

Bacon? · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:54

And better case:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-018-XG&groupid=2362&catid=2277&subcat=

IncognitoX · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:54

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD A10-5800K Black Edition 3.80GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Quad Core Processor (AD580KWOHJBOX) £92.39
1 x ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M AMD A75 Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £59.99
1 x Intel 330 Series 60GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive - Retail £55.99
1 x OCZ CoreXtreme 500w '80 Plus' Power Supply £32.99
1 x BitFenix Merc Beta Gaming Case - Black £29.99
1 x Patriot Viper "Black Mamba" Generation 3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (PV38G160C9K) £26.39
1 x OcUK 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
Total : £325.22 (includes shipping : £11.25).

Fire_fly · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:56

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD A10-5800K Black Edition 3.80GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Quad Core Processor (AD580KWOHJBOX) £92.39
1 x Intel 330 Series 60GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive - Retail £55.99
1 x MSI A55M-E33 AMD A55 Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £40.99
1 x Patriot Intel Extreme Masters 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-17000C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit (PVI38G213C1K) £35.99
1 x OCZ CoreXtreme 500w '80 Plus' Power Supply £32.99
1 x Zalman T1 Mini Tower Case - Black £17.99
1 x OcUK 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
Total : £302.33 (includes shipping : £10.00).

Motherboard and case are a bit basic but it'll work.

Bacon? · 28 Nov 2012 at 14:57

On that spec spend an extra £5 and get this RAM:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-137-GL&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1387

areksnumbr1sxylady · 28 Nov 2012 at 15:03

Nice to see that AMD is finally being used...

Make sure you get 2133mhz ram, 60gb SSD is going to run out very very fast Windows would eat up around 16gb, I would either get normal one, you`d be looking for 1tb for that price or at least 120gb.

If you dont plan on gaming, maybe intel 3220 would be better since AMD isnt really up to intel in terms of raw cpu power.

Bacon? · 28 Nov 2012 at 15:11

The AMD's will bite at the Pentiums and its very close between the A10 and the I3 but the Ivy Architecture does claw it back