New CPU/mobo/graphics/RAM for <£800

[eeper]

OK, my current system is as follows:

Athlon XP 3200+
MSI K7N2 Delta mobo
1Gb of RAM (not sure what type - its in 2x512Mb 184 pin DIMMs)
Powercolour Radeon X850XT AGP graphics card
2x250Gb SATA HDDs in RAID 1 config
Enermax Noisetaker 450W PSU
Soundblaster X-Fi soundcard

All this is encased in a very nice Lian-Li case with a couple of optical drives, a Saitek Eclipse keyboard and a Samsung 940b 19" monitor.

The time has come for a decent upgrade. I love the case so I don't really have the inclination (let alone the money!) for a completely new sytem. Trouble is that new CPU=new mobo=new graphics card=(probably) new RAM.

Could someone please spec me up a CPU/mobo/RAM/graphics card combo for under £800. As far as preferences go I would like to go Intel for my CPU, would prefer 2Gb of RAM and I have no real preference as to ATi vs nVidia (although I have traditionally used ATi). I would also like to keep the system noise down so if anyone knows of any relatively quiet graphics cards or CPU coolers then that would be preferable.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Dark_Angel]

You will more than likely require a new PSU, so I will place that in the spec too:

E4300 (mine is sitting on a retail cooler at the moment, at 3320MHZ) 110
DS3 OR P5N-E (I am using P5N-E Myself) around 80
8800 GTS 270
Corsair 520W PSU 70
Geil 2GB DDR2 6400 RAM 140 or so.

Leaves you with enough money left over to get a new case, or better cooling, or whatever else.

That is basically my system, other than I am waiting for the 320MB 8800 GTS's to come out, rather than the 640 MB ones.

If you want, you could get the E6600, but for gaming you probablly won't see a difference, so I say just get the cheaper E4300.

 

[mattpj]

opinion of dark angels seconded

 

[eeper]

Back to the top....

Hi folks,

A lot of time has passed since I asked this question. I still haven't done anything to my system (budgetary constraints), but I would like to know what people would do to my system for £800. Presumably things have changed a bit in the intervening period so I would appreciate any advice.

Or am I just better off buying a complete new system (minus monitor and peripherals).

Many thanks.

 

[semi-pro waster]

Well under budget but gives you the basis of almost an entirely new system while re-using your existing case and soundcard.

Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £154.99
(£182.11) £154.99
(£182.11)
NEC AD7170S Serial ATA 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM £15.99
(£18.79) £15.99
(£18.79)
Abit IP35-E (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £64.99
(£76.36) £64.99
(£76.36)
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2900 Pro SILENT Heatpipe 512MB GDDR3 VIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (21119-00-40R) £149.99
(£176.24) £149.99
(£176.24)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (ST3250410AS) £37.99
(£44.64) £37.99
(£44.64)
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Edition DVD - OEM - 1Pk (66I-00788) £59.99
(£70.49) £59.99
(£70.49)
OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) £41.99
(£49.34) £83.98
(£98.68)
Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-520HXUK) £57.99
(£68.14) £57.99
(£68.14)
Sub Total : £625.91
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £9.95
VAT is being charged at 17.5% VAT : £111.28
Total : £747.14

 

[mp260767]

how about the following :

Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £154.99 (£182.11)

OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) £41.99 (£49.34)

BFG GeForce 8800 GTX OC2 768MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £304.99 (£358.36)

Tuniq Tower 120 CPU Cooler (Socket 478/754/939/940/AM2/LGA775) £27.99
(£32.89)

Abit IP35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £79.99 (£93.99)

Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-520HXUK) £57.99 (£68.14)

Sub Total : £667.94
Shipping : £9.95
VAT : £118.63
Total : £796.52

 

[thehmsjellyfish]

how about the following :

Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 "Energy Efficient 95W Edition" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £154.99 (£182.11)

OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400C4 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2 (OCZ2P800R22GK) £41.99 (£49.34)

BFG GeForce 8800 GTX OC2 768MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £304.99 (£358.36)

Tuniq Tower 120 CPU Cooler (Socket 478/754/939/940/AM2/LGA775) £27.99
(£32.89)

Abit IP35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £79.99 (£93.99)

Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-520HXUK) £57.99 (£68.14)

Sub Total : £667.94
Shipping : £9.95
VAT : £118.63
Total : £796.52

Really nice spec there m8.

 

[eeper]

Thanks guys - food for thought. Just need to scrape together the cash and the will to tear apart my existing system.