Need help building a new system

Streeteh · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:32

Why hello there,

I'm looking to build a whole new system but i have completely lost touch with computer hardware over the past year. I did try and do some research but my god things have changed, to put it in perspective the last time i built a whole machine AMD were the daddy in the CPU market.

Since you guys are much more learned than me in these matters could someone possibly spec me a whole base unit (case, PSU, CPU, GPU etc, the works). Only conditions are i want it to be able to run 64bit Vista at a half decent pace so 4gig of ram is a must and i also want to have a decent sound card in there, i've heard good thing about that new compact sound card Asus have been making?

budget is £400

Thanks in advance

EdGey · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:50

are you doing any gaming at all? and if so what resolution.

this is assuming you are not gaming..

Streeteh · 25 Sep 2008 at 12:55

EdGey said:
are you doing any gaming at all? and if so what resolution

Oh god yeah, i forgot about that, sorry. Yes it will be used for some casual gaming at any widescreen resolution (1440x900 is cool, 1680x1050 preferably), would it be possible to get something like a 8800GT in there or would that be asking too much for the price? Worst case scenario i can just take out the sound card as i bet on board sound won't be much worse anyway

EdGey · 25 Sep 2008 at 13:03

in that case id do something like this..

sorry cut the price out there.. it comes too 413 squid. abit over budget sry

if you were willing to give up the sound card or get a lesser one, you could replace the 3850 graphics card with a 4850 which will be very good for your resolution. so what is more important? very good graphics and good frame rates, or good sound with average frame rates at medium settings depending on the game.

Streeteh · 25 Sep 2008 at 13:08

EdGey said:
if you were willing to give up the sound card or get a lesser one, you could replace the 3850 graphics card with a 4850 which will be very good for your resolution. so what is more important? very good graphics and good frame rates, or good sound with average frame rates at medium settings depending on the game.

You sir are a legend! That's absolutely perfect.

I won't be the primary user of the computer so I'll have to have a word with him but I'm sure we can work out which alternative he would prefer.

EdGey · 25 Sep 2008 at 13:19

id wait for someone els to comment just incase ive missed anything or there is room for improvement.

edge

Streeteh · 25 Sep 2008 at 14:04

One slight problem, the graphics card requires at least 450w. To solve this i simply chucked in the 500W antec PSU - the free shipping i get throws off extra this cost so that's not a problem.

What concerns me is a review that says:

Just one thing - it doesn't have an 8-pin ATX power connecter - just the 4-pin one - so I did need to get an adapter cable (OcUK should sell these). Does have 24-pin mainboard plug though.

Does this main board need an '8-pin ATX connector' or will it be fine with the 4-pin one on the PSU? Just need to know in case i need an adapter.

[EDIT] Ahhh, ignore me, done some research and apparently the motherboard only needs 4-pin. All is well!