New Desktop Advice Required

ROSS_TPO

ROSS_TPO

ROSS_TPO

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Joined
29 Oct 2012
Posts
29
Hey guys,

My PC is on it's last legs (it's struggling with the latest Java and Flash updates) so I am looking to upgrade. I've don't have any experience with building PCs so I am looking for a ready built job or one to be assembled for me.

Basically all I use my computer for it internet browsing, watching films, streaming live football games, playing Football Manager and doing basic Photoshop work. So I'm not looking for anything over the top - just a nice little system that is FAST and can handle doing more than one thing at once (which my current system can't).

I'm maybe pushing it a bit but say a £500 budget? If anyone could make any recommendations, I'd appreciate it.
 
Sparx said:
You could get a much better rig if you could muster some man confidence and build it yourself! :p I'll add a custom spec in a moment..

For now, the best build I can find on OcUK pre-built for your budget is this:

YOUR BASKET
1 x "Primo 6200i" Intel Core i5 3450 3.10GHz DDR3 Quad Core System £384.79
- 1 x Opt Out of FREE AV Software £0.01
- 1 x Microsoft Windows 8 64-Bit DVD - OEM (WN7-00403) **FREE SHIPPING** £79.99
- 1 x No Graphics Card Upgrade £0.00
- 1 x TeamGroup Elite 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (TED38GM1600HC11DC01) £26.99
- 1 x No Hard Drive Upgrade £0.00
Total : £491.78 (includes shipping : FREE).





EDIT: For £482 with no dedicated GPU, this looks pretty good! i5-3570K IB, 120GB SSD, 1TB HDD for storage, Z77 chipset, 8GB RAM, etc. The integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics will be able to handle Football Manager. You could save £80 and get rid of the SSD if you can't justify it (although I bet you can't!) and it'll be circa £400 instead.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £167.99
1 x Intel 330 Series 120GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive - Retail £81.98
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) £49.99
1 x XFX Pro 450W Core Edition '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £43.99
1 x BitFenix Merc Beta Gaming Case - Black £32.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX) £25.99
Total : £482.93 (includes shipping : FREE).

Click to expand...

Thanks for getting back to me :-)

I literally wouldn't know where to start when it came to building a PC. The only bit of hardware maintanence that I've done on my current system is changing over a power supply unit. But I do realise that I would get more for my money.

With the custom spec, I like the idea of the i5 but I don't have an OS so I'd have to buy software as well and that would bump the price up again.

What is the benefit to a SSD over a normal HDD?
 
Idleman said:
Do you have an OS or any sata hdd/odd you can reuse?
Click to expand...

Hey man. I don't have an OS that I could use and I believe the HDD in my current system is ribbons (it's about 8 years old so well in need of an upgrade).

Off the top of my head, my current system is a AMD Processor 2800+, 1.6 Ghz and 1GB of RAM.
 
Sparx said:
It's like putting a jigsaw together! ;) SSD is purely flash memory, no mechanical parts compared to a hard disk drive so read/write speeds are immense. Basically makes your PC feel so much more snappier and response! It allows your PC to boot-up, shutdown, general usage, loading applications, etc to be super quick - the difference is night and day!

Have a look at this YT video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM93In-F6AM

If you can't stretch the budget a little and need the OS; you'll have to drop the SSD and invest in one at a later date. :p

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £167.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Microsoft Windows 8 64-Bit DVD - OEM (WN7-00403) **FREE SHIPPING** £79.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) £49.99
1 x XFX Pro 450W Core Edition '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £43.99
1 x BitFenix Merc Beta Gaming Case - Black £32.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX) £25.99
Total : £480.94 (includes shipping : FREE).

Click to expand...

A jigsaw is a lot easier if you have a picture to look at for reference :-p

Haha, that video is ace. That's the kind of fast I was talking about. I want programs to open when I click on them, not three days later.

Do OcUK build PCs to specs? If so, any idea how much we are talking?
 
Sparx said:
I believe they do, yes! But you'll have to call their Sales line tomorrow when they are open or you could probably drop them a web note via the website. If you tell them the parts you want and ask how much it would be for them to build it for you, they'll give you a quote.

Just search on YT how to build a PC, lots of 'em. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_56kyib-Ls
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for all your help mate.
 
 
Idleman said:
AMD for a little light gaming and better onboard graphics. Also included an SSD for the OS.

YOUR BASKET
1 x AMD A10-5800K Black Edition 3.80GHz (Socket FM2) APU Trinity Quad Core Processor (AD580KWOHJBOX) £95.99
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02050) £83.99
1 x Gigabyte F2A75M-D3H AMD A75 Chipset (Socket FM2) DDR3 Micro ATX Motherboard £69.98
1 x Intel 330 Series 60GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive - Retail £52.99
1 x Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST1000DM003) £49.99
1 x Antec High Current Gamer 400W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £40
1 x GeIL EVO Leggera 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-17000C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit (GEL38GB2133C11DC) £39.95
1 x Zalman T1 Mini Tower Case - Black ** OcUK Exclusive ** £24.98
1 x Samsung SH-S222BB/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
Total : £484.46 (includes shipping : £10.50).

Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Would you say the AMD is better than the i5 for my needs?
 
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