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System builds
- Thread starter EagleOC
- Start date
Ah, yeah - forgot about that! 
Problem is, I don't have the time to build a system (two jobs, see?
) And I don't want all the hassle/crapness of 'off-the-shelf' builds a lá No competitor talk please!... 
I just need to build up a sytem that can cope with modern games as every one I buy at the moment is giving me grief. 9800 Pro 'n all...
Cheers
Problem is, I don't have the time to build a system (two jobs, see?
) And I don't want all the hassle/crapness of 'off-the-shelf' builds a lá No competitor talk please!... I just need to build up a sytem that can cope with modern games as every one I buy at the moment is giving me grief. 9800 Pro 'n all...
Cheers
*
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/full_systems.html
Nice stuff indeed.
What am I looking for though? I run Photoshop/Corel etc and all the usual office stuff. I also want to be able to play the latest games (without so much as a hint of a struggle!).
I'm also mindful of the need for futureproofing to a certain extent.
Are the prices there a guide to quality/capability? What could I go for as a minimum for the above needs?
Cheers.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/full_systems.html
Nice stuff indeed.
What am I looking for though? I run Photoshop/Corel etc and all the usual office stuff. I also want to be able to play the latest games (without so much as a hint of a struggle!).
I'm also mindful of the need for futureproofing to a certain extent.
Are the prices there a guide to quality/capability? What could I go for as a minimum for the above needs?
Cheers.
Here's my current spec:
• Abit NF7-S v2.0
• Athlon XP3000+ @ 43ºC CM Aero 7+
• 1Gb PC3200 DDR RAM
• Enermax 550W PSU
• Maxtor 40Gb HDD
• Maxtor 160 Gb HDD
• ATI 9800 Pro (256Mb)
I feel that the 9800 Pro really should be 'cutting' it still. However, every game I'm buying, it's just (alledgedly) overheating (I've checked for dust/busted fans etc). I get a freeze with a 'sound loop' (sometimes with a blank blue screen.
My system works fine for 2D so it seems such a monumental undertaking just to upgrade for the sake of gaming. I don't game often but when I do I want 'the full-on experience' if you know what I mean.
If it was just a case of buying a mega-expensive graphics card and/or more RAM, I'd go for that - but being that the board isn't SLi, I think I'm pretty stuffed i.e. I'll have to rebuild from the ground upwards.
Regarding free time, it's not just a case of building it up, it's the research needed to ensure I've got the best value and the right products. If you know the current market (which I don't) there's no time spent decidng. For me, it's a long process.
• Abit NF7-S v2.0
• Athlon XP3000+ @ 43ºC CM Aero 7+
• 1Gb PC3200 DDR RAM
• Enermax 550W PSU
• Maxtor 40Gb HDD
• Maxtor 160 Gb HDD
• ATI 9800 Pro (256Mb)
I feel that the 9800 Pro really should be 'cutting' it still. However, every game I'm buying, it's just (alledgedly) overheating (I've checked for dust/busted fans etc). I get a freeze with a 'sound loop' (sometimes with a blank blue screen.
My system works fine for 2D so it seems such a monumental undertaking just to upgrade for the sake of gaming. I don't game often but when I do I want 'the full-on experience' if you know what I mean.
If it was just a case of buying a mega-expensive graphics card and/or more RAM, I'd go for that - but being that the board isn't SLi, I think I'm pretty stuffed i.e. I'll have to rebuild from the ground upwards.
Regarding free time, it's not just a case of building it up, it's the research needed to ensure I've got the best value and the right products. If you know the current market (which I don't) there's no time spent decidng. For me, it's a long process.
Ok, my cart is now at £924 (and the divorce papers are being written as we speak 
):
• AMD Athlon 64 4000 Retail / Asus A8N-SLi Premium / 2GB Corsair XMS PC3200 Dual Channel Kit - Bundle (BU-027-OK)
• Asus ATI Radeon EAX-X1900 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-086-AS)
• Silverstone Temjin TJ05 - Silver (No PSU) (CA-006-SV)
Futureproof?
Will my existing items fit and work?:
Enermax 550W PSU
Maxtor DiamondMax HDDs (I doubt if I have the SATA 'thingies' anymore)
3-port Firewire Card
err, probably other stuff..
):• AMD Athlon 64 4000 Retail / Asus A8N-SLi Premium / 2GB Corsair XMS PC3200 Dual Channel Kit - Bundle (BU-027-OK)
• Asus ATI Radeon EAX-X1900 XT 512MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-086-AS)
• Silverstone Temjin TJ05 - Silver (No PSU) (CA-006-SV)
Futureproof?
Will my existing items fit and work?:
Enermax 550W PSU
Maxtor DiamondMax HDDs (I doubt if I have the SATA 'thingies' anymore)
3-port Firewire Card
err, probably other stuff..
As a quick fix (I do actually value my marriage 
) would this work?
• PowerColor ATI Radeon X850 XT 256MB DDR3 VIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP) - Retail (GX-058-PC)
• Corsair 2GB DDR XMS3200C2PT TwinX (2x1GB) CAS2 (MY-079-CS)
Here's my current spec again:
• Abit NF7-S v2.0 (Supports 2 DIMM DDR 400 Max 2Gb)
• Athlon XP3000+ @ 43ºC CM Aero 7+
• 1Gb PC3200 DDR RAM
• Enermax 550W PSU
• ATI 9800 Pro (256Mb)
How much better is this card than the 9800 Pro? Is it the best ATI AGP card available?
Sorry for the muck around but can I really justify a £1000+++ spend just to play the occasional game?... Probably not.
*
) would this work?• PowerColor ATI Radeon X850 XT 256MB DDR3 VIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP) - Retail (GX-058-PC)
• Corsair 2GB DDR XMS3200C2PT TwinX (2x1GB) CAS2 (MY-079-CS)
Here's my current spec again:
• Abit NF7-S v2.0 (Supports 2 DIMM DDR 400 Max 2Gb)
• Athlon XP3000+ @ 43ºC CM Aero 7+
• 1Gb PC3200 DDR RAM
• Enermax 550W PSU
• ATI 9800 Pro (256Mb)
How much better is this card than the 9800 Pro? Is it the best ATI AGP card available?
Sorry for the muck around but can I really justify a £1000+++ spend just to play the occasional game?...
Probably not.*
Sounds like sensible advice.
Not sure about going back to NVidia though
I'd probably go for the "Goes Like Hell Edition 512MB"
What's the PowerColor ATI Radeon X850 XT 256MB DDR3 VIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP) - Retail (GX-058-PC) like?
Ok, we're heading towards a sensible workaround. Will 2x 1Gb sticks make any diffy? I've heard on other forums that more than 1Gb is wasted...
*
Not sure about going back to NVidia though
I'd probably go for the "Goes Like Hell Edition 512MB" What's the PowerColor ATI Radeon X850 XT 256MB DDR3 VIVO TV-Out/DVI (AGP) - Retail (GX-058-PC) like?
Ok, we're heading towards a sensible workaround. Will 2x 1Gb sticks make any diffy? I've heard on other forums that more than 1Gb is wasted...
*
Last edited:
Thanks but I'm staying with the NF7-2S board for now (even with its limitations).
So, decisions decisions:
Radeon X850 XT 256MB DDR3 or NVidia 6800GS 'Goes Like Hell' 512Mb card
and
Corsair 2GB DDR XMS3200C2PT TwinX (2x1GB) CAS2
Suited and booted. Any nay-sayers to the above?
(Hands on credit card!...)
*
So, decisions decisions:
Radeon X850 XT 256MB DDR3 or NVidia 6800GS 'Goes Like Hell' 512Mb card
and
Corsair 2GB DDR XMS3200C2PT TwinX (2x1GB) CAS2
Suited and booted. Any nay-sayers to the above?
(Hands on credit card!...
)*