New PC spec needed, to build or to buy?!

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17 Oct 2004
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My PC, specced as shown in my sig has died again. This time the hard drives have errored (I have two 1Tb drives in it, can't remember the brand, but quality stuff) The main C: drive is readable now, but tempramental, sometimes starts, sometimes not. And number two is just making high pitched noises! Anyway, while I pull all the data I can off of them both, I'm looking at a new PC.

I mainly use it for office work, with a good lump of gaming. I play MW2, and similar stuff. So I need a good healthy specification with minimal cost please!

I need:

A new case that has its I/O ports on the front, as the case will sit under a desk. Current case is fine, but I fancy something new! Not bothered about looks so much,a simple cheap case would be fine as long as it looks pleasant to the eye. Whats a good brand known for good air flow and ease of access to build it?

I'd like a really good motherboard with lots of SATA ports, and a low end i7 maybe? to allow later upgrade of CPU without the need for a new mobo.

Plenty of memory, but what type?

I have a 260 GTX graphics card which I'll pop in for now, and a black fronted CD/DVD drive.

I'd like a really good CPU cooler becasue I do tend to overclock my computers, not hugely but enough to need good cooling, whats best?

And I'll need a new PSU, my current one is a Zalman 500w unit, but its pretty much at its safe limit at the moment, so a new, cool, and quiet model would need to go in. I don't want overkill that uses so much power the lights dim!

I currently have a Creative XFi sound card which I could reuse, but I assume there are better ones out there now, or even on board sound?

I'll need a new operating system, which I guess will be Windows 7 home premium as I don;t need anything else.

Budget is variable, from maybe £400-£850 ish. I want this one to last at least the 3 years the current one has without major need to upgrade. (Current one only had new graphics in 3 years) My current PC cost in excess of £1100 when I bought the bits for it!

Final question, is it better to buy pre-built? If so, for my needs, what would do the job, maybe in OCUKs pre built and pre clocked range?
 
Firstly I wouldnt of thought your current PSU is on its limit but Ive included a new one here for your suggestion anyway, the case has front panel I/O as requested, rest also as you asked (lower end i7)


Intel Core i7 930 2.80GHz (Bloomfield) (Socket LGA1366) - Retail £209.14 (£177.99)
Asus P6X58D-E Intel X58 (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard £143.98 (£122.54)
Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 12800C9 1600MHz Triple Channel (CMX6GX3M3A1600C9) £117.49 (£99.99)
Corsair TX 650W ATX SLi Compliant Power Supply (CMPSU-650TXUK) £74.99 (£63.82)
Coolermaster Sileo 500 Silent Case - Black £63.99 (£54.46)
Titan Fenrir Evo CPU Cooler (Socket LGA775/LGA1156/LGA1366/AMD K8/AM2/AM2+/AM3) £35.99 (£30.63)
Total: £645.58

Edit: Oh and re the SC, Id recomend just try using the onboard for now, theyve come on a lot past 5 years, if youre not happy have a look at the asus xonar range which have been much better with driver compatibility than creative
 
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Many Thanks. I was thinking the PSU would be having trouble. Its strange, back when I bought the setup, 500w was perfectly adequate for the top end systems of the day, with a 750w PSU considered overkill!
 
I would try your psu before buying a new one, I have a 600W with a fair bit of kit no probs.
I would add a SSD - biggest improvement in speeds in last 3 years IMO
 
I've just been playing about with the OCUK store and the PC specced up for me, with a couple of 1Tb HDDs, or a 2Tb Hdd, and a copy of OEM Win 7 comes up to about £850. I just can't stretch to that much! PC building gets real expensive real fast!
 
I got:

Your basket
Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Intel Core i7 930 2.80GHz (Bloomfield) (Socket LGA1366) - Retail £209.14
(£177.99) £209.14
(£177.99)
Asus P6X58D-E Intel X58 (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard £143.98
(£122.54) £143.98
(£122.54)
Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive (CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1) £117.49
(£99.99) £117.49
(£99.99)
Geil Black Dragon 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 (1600MHz) Triple Channel (GB36GB1600C8TC) £114.99
(£97.86) £114.99
(£97.86)
Samsung SpinPoint F4 EcoGreen 2TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD204UI) £84.99
(£72.33) £84.99
(£72.33)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £79.89
(£67.99) £79.89
(£67.99)
Coolermaster RC-600 Gladiator Case - Black £50.98
(£43.39) £50.98
(£43.39)
Sub Total : £682.09
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.75
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £121.42
Total : £815.26

That's WITH an SSD
600 watts is plenty for that and a GTX260.

Edit: Plus cooler is £850, so might want to drop the SSD for now if it's stretching the budget a bit and get that later.
 
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