New PC needed and help requested with what to buy.

I don't think that it is worth you buying a whole new system. What you have at present is pretty good so I think that a few changes to what you have will make almost as much difference as a whole new system, be better in some areas, and cost a lot less.

Those changes would be:
Buy a new monitor, namely the U2311H. This uses superior panel technology (E-IPS) which makes it better than any of the TN panel monitors mentioned previously, it's a little more expensive (just over £200 if you shop around) but much better.
Overclock your cpu, you may need a new cpu cooler for this (for example the gelid tranquillo). You would be very unfortunate not to see over 3.2ghz with your current cpu provided your motherboard is half decent.
Buy a new graphics card, for example any reference ati 6950 which can be flashed to a 6970 which makes it outstanding value for money.
Buy a solid state hard drive
If you don't already have 4gb of RAM buy some more.

So you have changed quite a few things but retained your cpu, motherboard and RAM. If this doesn't give you the performance that you want then you can buy the i5 stuff. If/when you move to i5 you have lost nothing because the cpu cooler, gpu and SSD are transferrable (if you've bought some more DDR2 RAM you will lose some money, but that has a strong 2nd hand value) and you have got a better monitor that if you buy it all at once and go for a TN panel.
 
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Slade2 said:
ok, thanks again for all your help Stulid.

Just a few more questions and i think i am ready to order everything.

Will i need any extras? by that i mean cables and tyes and stuff like that? sata cables? power cables for the gfx card? do I have all needed fans for the case or would recommend purchasing extras? I want to make sure that If I book a day off work for the build that I`m not missing anything when the package arrives. I dont mind to buy extenders for stuff as well becuase I would ideally like everything neat and tidy in the case and do plan to take some time to build it but of course dont want to pay out money if I can avoid it :)
Click to expand...

You may want one extra SATA cable, as the spec includes 3 drives(DVD/HDD/SSD) just incase the motherboard only comes with two cables.

£2.50 - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-035-OK&groupid=1929&catid=1928&subcat=

Apart from that its all there:)
 
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Disco Boy said:
I don't think that it is worth you buying a whole new system. What you have at present is pretty good so I think that a few changes to what you have will make almost as much difference as a whole new system, be better in some areas, and cost a lot less.

Those changes would be:
Buy a new monitor, namely the U2311H. This uses superior panel technology (E-IPS) which makes it better than any of the TN panel monitors mentioned previously, it's a little more expensive (just over £200 if you shop around) but much better.
Overclock your cpu, you may need a new cpu cooler for this (for example the gelid tranquillo). You would be very unfortunate not to see over 3.2ghz with your current cpu provided your motherboard is half decent.
Buy a new graphics card, for example any reference ati 6950 which can be flashed to a 6970 which makes it outstanding value for money.
Buy a solid state hard drive
If you don't already have 4gb of RAM buy some more.

So you have changed quite a few things but retained your cpu, motherboard and RAM. If this doesn't give you the performance that you want then you can buy the i5 stuff. If/when you move to i5 you have lost nothing because the cpu cooler, gpu and SSD are transferrable (if you've bought some more DDR2 RAM you will lose some money, but that has a strong 2nd hand value) and you have got a better monitor that if you buy it all at once and go for a TN panel.
Click to expand...

I am not sure what I want to do with my `old PC` but to be honest I am looking forward to building the new PC now. My old PC has a locked motherboard so i am unable to overclock it is in current state as that was the orginal plan. Maybe i am able to get a setup together and sell my existing system for a profit and put it towards a Nas box that can then go in the loft but i am keen on getting the i5 system :)
 
That's more than fair enough.

I would like to suggest that you read some reviews about the Dell U2311H compared to the TN monitors which you were looking at though, it costs more but will be worth it in my opinion.
 
I would much prefer to spend the extra £40 or so for a much better monitor i take the dell is an IPS panel? I might check out some reviews actually before I press the submit button :)

Was going to post a pic of the basket I have together but its almost identical to the orginal spec that Stulid posted just i think a few price changes over the last few days (GFX card is £10 cheaper but says on pre-order and the power supply is more expensive now) Would there be an alternative card that you could suggest if I am unable to get the MSI one?.

Thanks again.
 
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i have gone for the modular PSU and there is still 1 of the MSI GPUs in stock so i am hoping all is ok when I press submit. Wish me luck :)
 
stulid said:
^
The monitor is more expensive and worse, lacks HDMi too.

Ram wont fit with the venom cooler.

Motherboard doesnt do SLI/Crossfire at an even 8X/8X like the MSI or Gigabyte does in both my specs.

Non reference 6950 cant be flashed to a 6970.
Click to expand...

Oh dear. I don't think he'll be speccing anyone anytime soon :P
 
get in quick, because the stock level on the page where all the 6950/6970 are listed say otherwise, its saying pre-order.
 
I have placed the order!!.

just have to wait now, actually decided on the Dell monitor in the end and went with the modular PSU as stated and the MSI Gfx card. I have ordered it all via Finance with hitachi which seemed straight forward just have to wait until Tuesday becuase I have no printer here to print out the damn contract papers to forward to them. Only 1 item from the order was showing as out of stock and that was

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SP-008-PT&groupid=702&catid=1058&subcat=

I hope the get some more stock in I liked the look of them :)

All being well I should have everything sorted to build it over next weekend.

Many Many thanks again to Stulid for all your help.

I will post some pics of the build as an when becuase I am sure I will probably need more help then :)
 
Seems like I might have missed the boat on the revision 1 versions of the 6950`s i spoke to the guy at OC and it seems they probably wont be getting any more revision 1`s in stock.

What card would anyone recommend if I cant get the 6950? or should i even get a revision 2.
 
Cheer Stulid,

I read on another thread that the Twin Frozr is non-reference and someone bricked theirs trying to flash it. I might put a little more money to it and get the 6870 anyway but i am unsure as of yet have to wait and see what happens this week :)
 
You are a Gem Stulid, I think i owe you several pints If I am ever in WSM i should look you up and purchase you serveral berverages!>

I will insist when i talk to OC sales team that I get an orginal one for the mark 3.

I am planning of course to do a good Build log and people keep telling me to check out the build log forum but I cant seem to find it here is it a seperate forum or something?
 
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