Spec me some good value components

Ollie83 · 2 Feb 2010 at 10:49

Ok my friend's pc has finally died and he wants to replace it with one that suits him best (ie custom built). I am looking for some ideas here as to what to get spec wise. He doesn't have a crazy low budget, he just wants good value for money.

He wants his pc to be able to play blu-ray films on his 22 inch monitor. He copies and compresses a lot of dvd films. wants to be able to play football manager 2010 and subsequent releases of the game smoothly. And thats about it for his uses of his pc.

Im interested as to what cpu, mobo and graphics card that would handle these basic operations, but also give him a bit of future proofing so he doesn't need to upgrade in the near future.

Ast3r · 2 Feb 2010 at 11:42

Something like this would do those kind of jobs just fine.FM 2010 isn't a very demanding game so the HD4670 should do the job just fine.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 2 Feb 2010 at 12:15

Ast3r said:
Something like this would do those kind of jobs just fine.FM 2010 isn't a very demanding game so the HD4670 should do the job just fine.

This system would do the job nicely.

I would probably spend an extra few quid on the 500GB Samsung F3 hard drive which will also be a bit quicker:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-081-SA

Ast3r · 2 Feb 2010 at 12:23

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
I would probably spend an extra few quid on the 500GB Samsung F3 hard drive which will also be a bit quicker:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-081-SA

+1 to that.

bifday2k · 2 Feb 2010 at 12:25

Also would'nt changing the 4670 over to a 5670 512mb for like only £10 be better off in the long run too.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-225-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1673

Not nocking the 4670 as i use one lol, but to me the 5670 looks better value atm.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 2 Feb 2010 at 12:33

There is also the 9800GT for around the same price:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-109-GW

It should be a bit quicker than an HD5670 but OTH the HD5670 supports newer technology such as DX11.

Ast3r · 2 Feb 2010 at 12:35

bifday2k said:
Also would'nt changing the 4670 over to a 5670 512mb for like only £10 be better off in the long run too.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-225-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1673

Not nocking the 4670 as i use one lol, but to me the 5670 looks better value atm.

+1 again.

Ollie83 · 2 Feb 2010 at 13:17

Ok cool. Its amazing what you can get spec wise for relatively little cash! Will need to remove the dvd-combo and replace with a blu-ray but that should do it! Thanks for you help guys.

PS will either of the 5670 or 9800 cards handle blu-ray playback on a 22 inch screen?

stulid · 2 Feb 2010 at 13:22

Both can handle blue ray. Using cyberlink power DVD its possible to make use of the 9800gt power to help decode and keep smooth the video stream.

22" screen probably has a max resolution of 1600x1050 if its 16:9. No problem with that.

RynceWynd · 2 Feb 2010 at 13:29

to be able to play blu ray on his pc he is going to need a blu ray drive not the dvd drive in the spec (unless i mis read and he already owns a blu ray drive?).

so you will need to add about £55-90 for that depending on if your going to go retail (with included blu ray playing software) or oem and source your own software.