New PC(s) - Spec check and advice

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

NotAGolf

Soldato
Joined
22 Oct 2005
Posts
2,884
Location
Moving...
Hi guys,

I'm going to put together a new pc for the family. Will be used primarily for word processing/browsing but needs to be handle some light gaming. Budget is around the £300 mark (Don't need monitor/OS). I've come up with this spec so far:
computerse0.jpg

I will also throw in my old 7800GTX for £45 as I've just ordered an 8800GT.

Does this look ok?

The other thing is that I wouldn't mind putting another £100 or so into my system, and pass on the parts and use them in the new family PC. It's a lot easier than selling them off to anyone else:p. My current rig is as follows:

C2D E6420 @2.8GHz
Asus P5N-E SLi
Geil 2GB PC6400 DDR2
7800GTX - soon to be 8800GT
160GB Samsung + 250GB WD + 320GB WD External
OCZ Modstream 450W

Is there anything that I could improve fairly cheaply? I think my PSU is probably the weakest component but it doesn't actually 'improve' the system as such. I was thinking maybe 4GB of RAM or a new CPU but I dont think I can stretch to a quad core, plus I would probably need a new motherboard as well.

Any ideas?

Thanks.
 
well you could swop out that 160gb hdd for a larger one. maybe get another 250gb and have the option of a raid aray. or you could get yourself a 500gb and have the option of loosing both of them.

4gb is good. dunno if your running 32/64 but either way imho it is worth it either way.

not sure why you would need a new mobo for a quad. bios support? chipset suport?
 
I think you should change the HDD to the same sized Seagate since it's faster. Did you intend on including only a DVD-ROM, rather than a burner? If not, go for the Cheapest Samsung SATA DVD-RW. It's only a few quid more and you'll get a lot more functionality out of it.

That PSU won't power the rig and both the 8800 GT and the 7800 GTX. If you want to use both step up to the 520 W Corsair.
 
Thanks for the quick replies.

I think I'm gonna leave the hdd's for the minute unless I have to do fresh install for any reason, it's not worth the hassle because I've got quite a lot of work on atm.

I didn't realise it was only a dvd-rom Billy, I shall put in a burner. Thanks for that spot :).

I'm not planning to run both the GTX and the GT, I'm gonna stick the GTX in the family PC, it should be alright to power just the GT though (I hope!).

I'm running Vista 64 bit as well, forgot to mention. What would be the better upgrade in terms of performance increase for the price:
- Another 2GB of the same RAM taking it up to 4GB (4x1GB) for £30
OR
- A Q6600 for £160, plonk my E6420 in the family PC for £50, effectively making the cost £110 ish
 
BillytheImpaler said:
I think you should change the HDD to the same sized Seagate since it's faster. Did you intend on including only a DVD-ROM, rather than a burner? If not, go for the Cheapest Samsung SATA DVD-RW. It's only a few quid more and you'll get a lot more functionality out of it.

That PSU won't power the rig and both the 8800 GT and the 7800 GTX. If you want to use both step up to the 520 W Corsair.
Click to expand...

520w will do SLi GTX. id imagine the 450w may just do it perhaps, but probably putting unneeded strain.
 
Well I've had a think about it and don't think I can really justify spending £100 odd on a cpu as games don't really support it yet and there's not gonna be any other reason I will need 4 cores running at once, 2 should be ok for now.

That leaves just the RAM, I wouldn't mind spending £30 on another 2GB, but will this actually improve performance much - both in games and general windows?
 
I found going from 2Gb to 4Gb in Vista 64bit speeded up things noticably. Maybe stick an AC Freezer 7 in as well and then OC system for them.
 
Thanks Munkeh, that's good to know. I've already got a Noctua cooler on my cpu and overclocked it from 2.13GHz to 2.8GHz. I can get it higher in XP but it's not stable above 2.8 in Vista. The same is with the RAM, I overclocked it in XP from 800MHz to just under 900MHz and it was stable. However, anything above 800 in Vista made it unstable. It's a tad annoying but I don't think ther's much I can do about it :(.

Anyone else think going to 4GB is worth it?
 
Most new games are starting to need more then 2gb. On vista 64bit its worth it i think, vista 64bit handles data differntly to 32bit. It allows it to handle it faster at the expense of ram. Which is why 64bit needs more ram then 32bit. If you didn;'t get 4gb i doubt it would really effect you on 32bit. Depends how much of a gamer you are really.

As for overclocking that should be able to hit 3.4-3.6 with ease, i cant remember its multiplyer off hand though.

Are you upping its north bridge (mch) voltage? also are you making sure you keep the ram mhz down as it will overclock at the same time so you will need to keep ajusting its multiplyer when you overclock the cpu.

Vista shouldn't be affecting your overclocks.


Also with cpus either get a q6600 or a E2180. There is no reason to get anything between imo. An 2180 will do 3.2ghz on the stock cooler and the q6600 can do 3ghz on stock cooler but really you want to put a 3rd party cooler on it.

No one needs cpu's above 3.2ghz for gaming really, they just like to. The fastest cpu on the market is 3ghz. Games arn't made for cpu's running any faster nore do they require it.
 
Thanks for the advice, I shall probably get another 2GB when I order it all :)

8igdave said:
Are you upping its north bridge (mch) voltage? also are you making sure you keep the ram mhz down as it will overclock at the same time so you will need to keep ajusting its multiplyer when you overclock the cpu.
Click to expand...
I hadn't touched the northbridge voltage. I didn't know you had to (I'm a bit of a noob you see!:p). I shall give that a try later in the week. I was keeping the memory speed down though. What kind of stepping do you increase the voltage by and what's the maximum safe temperature for the northbridge? I know you cant give exact answer as it depends on the models etc but a rough guestimate would be much appreciated.

Thanks again
 
p[ut the northbridge up 1 notch or 2 and it should allow you to overclock a lot more. Then again, you shouldn't be limited by your northbridge voltages at such low clock speeds anyway/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom