New 'puter

Nebzor

Nebzor

Nebzor

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Joined
18 Jun 2007
Posts
1,575
Location
Plymouth
Hey all, I recently decided to indulge myself with a new computer. When figuring out what I wanted, I decided to go "mid-range with possibility for expansion". Knowing that, I also decided I was going to spend as close to £500 as possible, then the £50 on top for Windows XP. This is what I have ordered:

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4200+ 2.20GHz (Socket AM2)
Motherboard: Asus M2N-SLi Deluxe (Socket AM2) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Graphics Card: BFG GeForce 7950 GT OC 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)
RAM: GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit
Hard Disk Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 160GB ST3160815AS SATA-II 8MB Cache
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-S203BEBN 20x20 DVD±RW Dual Layer Serial ATA ReWriter (Black)
Power Supply Unit: Akasa Ultra Quiet 500W Paxpower Active PFC ATX2.2 PSU (Black Nickel)
Case: Thermaltake VB1000BNS Soprano SuperMidi Tower (Black)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2
Total Cost: £572

I originally ordered the 8600GTS, but after reading so many reviews commenting on how it lacks the grunt of the previous x600s, I decided to go for the same-priced BFG 7950 GTO (which, as it happens, was a choice recommended by someone at OcUK). I then found out about the X1950, but wasn't so sure I wanted it. I've had bad experience with ATI cards in the past, and I would've had to change the motherboard for a Crossfire ready board.

So, onto the questions..

Is Crossfire worse/better/the same as SLi?
How much worse is the 7950 GTO compared to the X1950?
When it comes to upgrade time (maybe in a few months), would it be better to go for another single card or buy a second 7950 GTO?
Have I made any horrible mistakes in my system (bearing in mind it'll be used for mostly gaming, but only at 1024x768 or 1256x1024)?

Thanks in advance.
 
1. Crossfire is similar to SLI, better at some games, worse at others. Single card solutions are generally better value and less problematic.

2. There is no such card as the 7950 GTO, There is a 7900 GTO, and a 7950 GT, which is what you have. I think it is a good card, although the x1950 XT would beat it.

3. Next time get an 8800 GTS.

4. Other than the CPU and motherboard (I would have gone Intel Core 2 Duo) and possibly graphics (depending on what you spent on the 7950), no. Generally speaking it is a perfectly good build for the money.

I'm not sure about the 'mid range with possibility for expansion' remark as you have chosen a dead platform (AM2) over one with more of a future (LGA 775)
 
Thanks for the reassurance. Just quickly, though, may I ask what you mean by 'dead platform'? I've been away from this game too long. Was it a bad choice to take a dual-core AMD over a similar Intel? Might not be too late to change the order, if they've not already sent it out.

I spent £117 on the graphics card, by the way.
 
I think all your questions have been answered but I agree with Melbourne's last point, You could have had a C2D system with an 8800GTS for a similar price, I think that would have been a better option personally.
 
Your first and biggest horrible mistake is buying an AMD processor instead of an Intel Core 2 Duo. Core 2 Duo and Socket 775 would have the future for expansion, AM2 does not.

Crossfire/SLI is a waste of cash, if you invest £200 buying 2 1950Pro's or similar, you'd get better results spending that £200 on an 8800GTS.
 
Benjarghmin said:
Thanks for the reassurance. Just quickly, though, may I ask what you mean by 'dead platform'? I've been away from this game too long. Was it a bad choice to take a dual-core AMD over a similar Intel? Might not be too late to change the order, if they've not already sent it out.

I spent £117 on the graphics card, by the way.
Click to expand...

Yes, change the motherboard and CPU for a Core 2 Duo.

If you're spending £117 on a graphics card, the best bet is a 1950Pro. I'll throw together a spec for £500, see if I can fit an 8800GTS into it.
 
Okay thanks guys, you've been really kind to respond so fast. Hopefully I can still get this order changed without having to return stuff etc.

Oh, and for the new spec, if you could get an 8800GTS in that would be great. I'd love to keep the same case though :p
 
Benjarghmin said:
Thanks for the reassurance. Just quickly, though, may I ask what you mean by 'dead platform'? I've been away from this game too long. Was it a bad choice to take a dual-core AMD over a similar Intel? Might not be too late to change the order, if they've not already sent it out.

I spent £117 on the graphics card, by the way.
Click to expand...

They aren't making any more CPUs with the AM2 socket, the new AMDs will be incompatible with your motherboard.

Intel Core 2 Duo are clocking really well (I managed a 30% clock on a e6600 [not finished], and a 72% overclock on a e2160), and are faster than a similarly clocked AMD.
 
This is what I'd go for...

Gigabyte GA_P35C_DS3R (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 & DDR3 Motherboard
(£96.34) £81.99

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 775) £14.99
(£17.61) £14.99

Tagan TG380-U01 380W ATX2.0 Silent PSU
(£39.94) £33.99

Thermaltake VB1000BNS Soprano SuperMidi Tower - Black
(£44.64) £37.99

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition inc. SP2 - OEM - 1Pk (N09-01528)
(£58.74) £49.99

Samsung SH-S182D 18x18 DVD±RW ReWriter (Black) - OEM
(£15.26) £12.99

Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 160GB 1600AAJS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM
(£35.24) £29.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E2160 "LGA775 Conroe" 1.80GHz (800FSB) - Retail I
(£63.44) £53.99

OcUK GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
(£176.24) £149.99

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-5300C3 667MHz Dual Channel Kit (BL2KIT12864AA663)
(£70.49) £59.99

Sub Total : £525.90
Shipping : £14.95
VAT : £94.65
Total : £635.50

It's a little more expensive, but definitely worth it.
 
I'm not gonna step on Supernova's toes if he said he's going to put a spec together, but after a quick check its definately possible. My system in sig was a £550 system 2 months ago so that gives you something to go by.

Edit: LOL, well Alex UK, has already done it. But if £500 is budget I still think you can get it closer to that.
 
You'll need more power than that for a 8800 GTS

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition inc. SP2 - OEM - 1Pk (N09-01528)
(£58.74)

Akasa Ultra Quiet 500W Paxpower Active PFC ATX2.2 PSU - Black Nickel
(£55.21)

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 775)
(£17.61)

Samsung SH-S183ABEBN 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer Serial ATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM
(£19.39)

Samsung SpinPoint P SP2504C 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM
(£42.29)

OcUK GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
(£176.24)

Thermaltake VB1000SNS Soprano SuperMidi Tower - Silver
(£44.64)

OcUK 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C5 800MHz DDR2 Dual Channel Kit
(£58.74)

Gigabyte GA_P35_DS3R (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
(£93.99)

Intel Core 2 Duo E2140 "LGA775 Conroe" 1.60GHz (800FSB) - Retail
(£56.39)

Total : £640.80

It's more than your spec, but it is better value IMHO.
 
OK well, The spec I put together is almost identical to Melbournes and seeing as how there are a few specs there already, i'll throw mine into the ring.

I reckon we can shave a few quid off :)



Cheaper than Melbournes, closer to budget, Melbourne definately has a better MB though, better for expansion in future :)

Edit: No Win XP there seeing as how you were adding that on top !
 
EgonSpengler's spec could be the one to go for, given that board will support quad cores, but not Penryn, you at least have some upgrade route to go down.

Up to you really. If you can afford it, go down the P35 chipset route.
 
I currently can't afford anymore than the £572 I budgeted for the first system.

Apparantly my order has been dispatched, but the gentleman on the telephone said that things can be returned for up to 7 days after (didn't mention any cost/fee, so I assume there is none excluding P&P) if unopened, and that I should ring the support department when I'm all sorted with what I want.

Is there anyway anyone can see to fuse together Melbourne's and Egon's specs and get something in the £570 mark? Or is Egon's the best we can go for? :)

Edit: Is the 8800GTS really worth the extra £80 on such a tight budget?
 
Last edited:
Yeah, I know. That's why these are all a tad too high ;) As I edited and included in the last post: Is the 8800GTS really worth the extra £60 - £80 on such a tight budget? I mean, is it really worth buying the 8800GTS when all I'm currently planning on doing is playing around at 1024x768 high detail or maybe 1280x1024 on medium.

Edited
 
Last edited:
I suppose it all depends on your needs and wants. An 8800GTS would allow you to play any current game on the market on full detail at those resolutions and would keep you in touching distance of the latest games on DX10 for quite a while longer to !

Personally I'd stretch yourself for the 8800GTS.

You could save about £30 on the PSU, I was going to put an FSP in there but it looks like OCUK aren't stocking them. Maybe this would be better bet for PSU and it would bring you closer to budget to !
 
If you can't afford it with an 8800 GTS in, then you can't, so get a cheaper 256MB x1950 Pro in there and that should do a decent job at 1280 x 1024.
 
It can be done! Couldn't have gotten much closer to the budget anyway...

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition inc. SP2 - OEM - 1Pk (N09-01528)
(£58.74) £49.99

Crucial 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-5300C5 Dual Channel Kit (CT2KIT12864AA667)
(£50.51) £42.99

Gigabyte GA_965P_S3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
(£70.49) £59.99

OcUK GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
(£176.24) £149.99

Antec EarthWatts 430W PSU
(£46.99) £39.99

Samsung SH-S182D 18x18 DVD±RW ReWriter (Black) - OEM
(£15.26) £12.99

Hitachi Deskstar 7K160 NCQ 160GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM
(£35.24) £29.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E2140 "LGA775 Conroe" 1.60GHz (800FSB) - Retail
(£56.39) £47.99

Thermaltake VB1000BNS Soprano SuperMidi Tower - Black
(£44.64) £37.99

Sub Total : £471.91
Shipping : £14.95
VAT : £85.20
Total : £572.06

Exactly the same price as your original spec... :D
 
Good job, Alex UK. Before I'd noticed you had come up with that, I invented this contraption:

Sapphire ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 512MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
Abit IP35-E (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E2160 "LGA775 Conroe" 1.80GHz (800FSB) - Retail
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 160GB ST3160815AS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM
Samsung SH-S203BEBN 20x20 DVD±RW Dual Layer Serial ATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition inc. SP2 - OEM - 1Pk (N09-01528)
Akasa Ultra Quiet 500W Paxpower Active PFC ATX2.2 PSU - Black Nickel
Thermaltake VB1000BNS Soprano SuperMidi Tower - Black
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC)

totalling at £555.61.

Is the 8800GTS really worth the cheaper other parts? And is the OcUK stuff still good enough quality to last? (Just wondering, never bought from them before you see.)
 
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