New PC Build Recommendations & Spec Please

GodMac

GodMac

GodMac

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I'm currently running with the below spec and now I'm looking to upgrade to a 64bit platform as the pricing looks very competitive nowerdays. I'm going to pass on my existing system to my lad so its a complete new build. I would like to stay with AMD and am looking at the AMD 2x 64.

The majority of what I do is gaming and video rendering so disk speed, graphics is essential. I'm looking to stick with the system for 2-3 years.

I'm going to run with my existing 32bit XP-sp2 and migrate to Vista 64 in a years time or I'll go straight to Vista 32bit for the year and upgrade to 64bit in a year.

I've always used ASUS as I've found this very stable and I like the BIOS menu system, although the support site is not the greatest and I do think it takes them some time to get the drivers updated.

I'm looking for around 200gb to 300gb apps and data storage so will be running mirrored disks for data integrity. I will also have a backup drive IDE just to backup personal data.

I won't need dual gfx cards but if its standard I may use this feature in the future.

I would also like a good sturdy gaming case, plenty of air flow for cooling with the input fans on the left hand side of the case, looking very nice and a damn good power supply. Hiper are nice providing they have got rid of the cheaper plastic output fan which has split in the one I have.

I am looking to spend around £600 to £800 and I don't need a screen or keyboard.

Hope this has given enough info. Thanks in advance.
 
Can I just say, with no offence intended that almost everything you suggested is not the best you can get for performance/money value for Gaming and graphic design with the exception of maybe the Asus mobo bit.

The Core 2 Duos are far superior at rendering and gaming than any of the AMD solutions at the minute.

I have a AMD 4200+ X2 right now and its superpi benchmark is more than doubled by a cheaper Core 2 Duo.

Gaming cases tend to be based on the big X's all over the place ( cough X-Blade ) and generally have a poor build quality and none too perfect airflow ( although this is not always true in certain cases )

I will make you a spec which I beleive will give you best performance for your money but it will be an Intel based system. If this is ok with you :)
 
If I haven't been beaten to the specification this is what I'd probably go for, near the top end of your budget but will overclock very nicely and I've included two of the fastest 7200rpm drives available. Remember though that Raid1 is not a substitute for a good backup solution. :)

Noctua NH-U12F (Socket LGA775/754/939/940/AM2) Heatsink £32.99
(£38.76) £32.99
(£38.76)
Corsair HX 520W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-520HXUK) £59.99
(£70.49) £59.99
(£70.49)
Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower Case - Black £49.99
(£58.74) £49.99
(£58.74)
Optiarc NEC AD7170S Serial ATA 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM £17.99
(£21.14) £17.99
(£21.14)
Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB 3200AAKS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM £48.99
(£57.56) £97.98
(£115.12)
OcUK GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £149.99
(£176.24) £149.99
(£176.24)
Asus P5N-E SLi nForce 650 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £69.99
(£82.24) £69.99
(£82.24)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) £49.99
(£58.74) £49.99
(£58.74)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £124.99
(£146.86) £124.99
(£146.86)
Sub Total : £653.90
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 is being charged at 17.5% VAT : £116.35
Total : £781.20
 
Jaffa_Cake said:
That is 2 hdd's right? Doesn't actually say it from your copy paste job :p
Click to expand...

Just look at the price underneath the Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB 3200AAKS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM. ;) Yeah it is two hard drives, could just about fit in a Corsair HX 620w if SLi was a certainty but the 520w should cope anyway. :)
 
semi-pro waster said:
Just look at the price underneath the Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB 3200AAKS SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM. ;) Yeah it is two hard drives, could just about fit in a Corsair HX 620w if SLi was a certainty but the 520w should cope anyway. :)
Click to expand...

I was quite sure it was but it just looks like a mass of text tbh :D
 
Thanks Guys, I bow to your experience on this. I know the Conroe's are superior in speed so if that your recommendation then I will seriously consider it. I like what I see so far anyway, I just need to check out the case as its something I intend to keep for a number of years and I want it to be robust and smart looking. Can't check from work I'm afraid. But will when I get home.
 
Been looking at the case recommendations:

Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower Case - Black

Looks a nice case but doesn't really ring my bell if you know what I mean. I love the 2 x 120mm fans for the cooling but it doesn't make me want to make love to my system.....

At the moment I have a Global WIN case that was farely cheap when I bought it but its all in aluminium and everything is silver with a perspex from and clear designed side pannel with a side ball bearing fan, not expensive but in brushed aluminium it does look really nice. That sort of thing........
 
Now this looks and reads like a nice case:

Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gaming Case

Anyone have any better recommendations?
 
The Antec is apparantly a decent enough case although a bit of a dust magnet it seems, I also think it looks ugly as sin but then I don't have to live with it so if you like it go for it. :)
 
Semi-Pro Waster - I like the spec you've recommended and I really do value your views, so if you have another case then please recommend it/them. My view is that if you buy a Porche engine, you don't stick it in a Ford Mondeo.


What about the Thermaltake range, they look very nice but am I going to walk in and want to take my missus over it, you know where I'm coming from, something with the oooooooh factor!
 
I've got to admit I'm very much of the plain and unobtrusive school when it comes to cases which is why I like Lian-Li and Akasa (the Eclipse and Mirage in particular). However they don't appeal to everyone so obviously don't go with my suggestions if you don't like the look, the Case Central sub-forum has a lot of more knowledgeable people than me about to offer their opinions on the cases. :)
 
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