Spec_check: Bang for buck!

miles0

miles0

miles0

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Joined
10 Sep 2008
Posts
3
Hi guys,

I've been nursing a Shuttle SN45G with a barton 2500 along since June '03 and she's finally given up the ghost.

I'm looking for a low-mid range box to provide everyday use and let me play a few PC specific games (strategy in the main) - I've got the X360 for the rest (though I still can't get the hang of the controller for FPSs...). She'll be running a first generation 22" 1680x1050 flat panel.

To this end I've cobbled together the below system, trying to maximise the kit for the cash. I will be quite happy OCing the processor, and even the GFX if possible.

Processor: E5200
Cooler: Tuniq Tower
Mobo: P5Q pro
memory: 4GB PC6400 Corsair XMS2
GFX: Asus 4850 512MB
Case: Antec 300
PSU: OCZ GameXstream 600w
HDD:500GB spinpoint F1 (Have a few IDE drives for storage)
OS: Vista Home premium 64

Total cost ~ 630

Already have an IDE DVDRW optical drive sitting pretty at home so that should suffice...


Any recommendations?

Thanks for the help!
 
Last edited:
main problem will be using ide, most motherboards only have one ide connector which will make 2 ide devices usable.
 
Ditch the Tuniq Tower for the much cheaper Akasa AK-965 at £12.64. From my experience the E5200 is a cool running cpu and does'nt need large expensive coolers. Mine is running at 3.6Ghz under a Freezer 7 Pro throttled down to 900rpm and idles at 25 degrees and maxxes out round 45 degrees.

Put the money you saved towards a sata DVDRW. The LG is very good.

Don't bother with the OCZ psu. They are not particularly good and suffer from a lot of ripple. 600w is massive overkill for that rig anyway. Either of these are good:-

Zalman ZM500-HP.

PC Power and Cooling Silencer 470.
 
DO AS THE PASTY SAYS!

get the PCP&C

Also get the Sapphire 4850 as it no longer has stock cooling & is much better (same cooler as there 4830)

& i personaly would go for this HDD
 
OK, so a little update:

HIS ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB (£123.04) [I know the Sapphire was reccommended, but the picture seems to show the same cooler, and it's about £16 more - worth it?)

E5200 (£68.99)
Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 (£105.79)
Antec 300 (£52.89)
Samsung SpinPoint F1 500GB (£44.84)
would the caviar balck add a significant level of performance for the extra ££?

PC Power & Cooling Silencer 470W (£43.69)
Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 (£39.09)
LG GH22NS40 (£16.09)
Akasa AK-965 (£12.64)

Vista Home Premium (£88.54)

Total : £595.58

improvement? (I can see the cost reduction) anywhere worth spending a bit more on?
 
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