What to buy..?

syke

syke

syke

Soldato
Joined
18 Feb 2006
Posts
10,653
Right,

I have 3 Desktops atm all out of date.

Soon to be ordered is a 50" Plasma and we will have a HTPC for that (read on).

In the next few months the games i want to play are coming out so this means building a new PC for the HTPC at a later date & for gaming.

What sort of budget would you recommend for a high powered HTPC PC for gaming & HD Movies?

If possible name a budget and ill see what we'd pay - and spec two specs, one with a monitor and one without.

Would a 8800GTX be overkill for a HTPC/Gaming PC - for just two games?

Airborne & COD4 (any others to know about? :p)

Will need everything, mouse, keyboard, monitor, case, hdd's, opticals etc.

Was thinking perhaps £1k-1.5k?

Any ideas on what to do?

Would a 8800GTX fit in the HTPC case?

Thanks for any input!
 
LG L226WTQ 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black/Silver
BFG GeForce 8800 GTX OC 768MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) -
Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000 - Retail (69A-00005)
Antec P180 Advanced Super Midi Tower Case - No PSU (Black)
Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3P (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 Dominator DHX PC2-6400C5 TwinX (2x2GB)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB ST3250620AS SATA-II 16MB Cache
Pioneer DVR-112DBK 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter - (Black) OEM
Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-620HXUK)


Total : £1,304.07 inc. VAT & Delivery.

Whats this like?

Anywhere to be saved or anything not worth getting?

GTX too overkill?

Can all of this fit in an HTPC style case?

Hope nothing is missing, its been a while :rolleyes:

Ta.
 
8800gtx for 2 games!

£1k just for a htpc!

You don't need 4gb ram either for 2 games and to play some videos back, and 620W is overkill. High end ram and mobo aren't going to affect your performance unless your overclocking, which generally with a htpc you aren't.
 
Last edited:
Energize said:
8800gtx for 2 games!

£1k just for a htpc!

You don't need 4gb ram either for 2 games and to play some videos back, and 620W is overkill.
Click to expand...
Isnt for just two games, but they will be the main ones.

Its for a gaming PC too.

Games may include other releases too, but they are the ones that come to mind.

...

Edit: wont be upgraded for quite a long time either..
 
Well I assume your running at 1024x768 on that plasma, so huge amounts of gpu power are not going to be needed to run on the high settings.

I'm not quite sure what will fit though, entirely depends on the case. One thing is for sure though, a powerful gpu won't fit in a 5cm high slimline case, though it may fit in a standard htpc case.
 
Energize said:
Well I assume your running at 1024x768 on that plasma, so huge amounts of gpu power are not going to be needed to run on the high settings.

I'm not quite sure what will fit though, entirely depends on the case. One thing is for sure though, a powerful gpu won't fit in a slimline case, though it may fit in a standard htpc case.
Click to expand...
Ive specced a monitor - so that shows its on a monitor for now? :p
 
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB 5000AAKB ATA-100 16MB Cache
£79.89
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300C4 667MHz Value DDR2 Dual Channel Kit
£50.51
LiteON DH-20A1P-45C 20x DVD±RW x12 Ram Dual Layer DVD-Writer
£17.04
Abit SG95 SIS 662FX Micro ATX (Socket 775) PCI-EXpress DDR2 Motherboard
£23.49
Intel Core 2 DUO E4400 "LGA775 Allendale" 2.00GHz (800FSB)
£93.99
OcUK GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)
£176.24


Total :£451.67

That would be a good base assuming the gpu fits the case you want.
 
Last edited:
Energize said:
Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB 5000AAKB ATA-100 16MB Cache
£79.89
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC5300C4 667MHz Value DDR2 Dual Channel Kit
£50.51
LiteON DH-20A1P-45C 20x DVD±RW x12 Ram Dual Layer DVD-Writer
£17.04
Abit SG95 SIS 662FX Micro ATX (Socket 775) PCI-EXpress DDR2 Motherboard
£23.49
Intel Core 2 DUO E4400 "LGA775 Allendale" 2.00GHz (800FSB)
£93.99
OcUK GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)
£176.24


Total :£451.67

That would be a good base assuming the gpu fits the case.
Click to expand...
I did say it doesnt have to go in the HTPC case..

Its for gaming & possibly used through the TV, no problem if it doesnt fit in a HTPC case.

I also said i wouldnt upgrade it for a few years, hence why i specced high quality equipment.
 
Energize said:
So you want a desktop not a htcp? Your confusing me now.
Click to expand...
I said its a gaming machine - maybe to be converted into a HTPC later.

Spec a desktop in other words.

Which is why my spec was a desktop?

:confused:
 
Coming closer to when i am able to build the PC.

Anyone able to spec a full machine (keyboard/mouse, monitor etc included) for upto £900 or 1k if needed?

Will be used for games, movies, programming, graphics work.

Would like perhaps a 640GTS - havent read much about the 320mb GTS myself.

Would prefer 19-22" monitor, minimum of 250GB HDD.

RAM - if possible, 4GB of RAM as that wont be upgraded for a while.

Thanks for any help.
 
this would do the job :

roduct Name Qty Price Line Total
Belinea 102035W 20.1" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black/Silver £149.99
(£176.24) £149.99
(£176.24)
Saitek Eclipse 2 Illuminated Keyboard - Blue/Red/Purple £25.99
(£30.54) £25.99
(£30.54)
GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400UDC) £53.99
(£63.44) £53.99
(£63.44)
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.40GHz (1066FSB) - Retail £125.99
(£148.04) £125.99
(£148.04)
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 - Retail £19.99
(£23.49) £19.99
(£23.49)
BFG GeForce 8800 GTS OC 640MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £224.99
(£264.36) £224.99
(£264.36)
Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3P (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £74.99
(£88.11) £74.99
(£88.11)
Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Compliant PSU (CMPSU-620HXUK) £87.99
(£103.39) £87.99
(£103.39)
Optiarc NEC AD7170S Serial ATA 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM £17.99
(£21.14) £17.99
(£21.14)
Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Aluminium Midi-Tower Case - Black £49.99
(£58.74) £49.99
(£58.74)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB ST3250620A ATA-100 16MB Cache - OEM £41.99
(£49.34) £41.99
(£49.34) Sub Total : £873.89 Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £14.95 VAT is being charged at 17.5% VAT : £155.55 Total : £1,044.39

i assume youre not overclocking although its a crime not to

if you were i might swap ram for Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-5300C3
 
Last edited:
Is the 620W needed?

Can you try get the Wireless Keyboard/Mouse as specced above the Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 6000.

Might overclock, never have (that much) before though.

But as Conroe says to, i guess i might.

Would you recommend the 6320 or the 6600?

Anyway to get the total a lil lower?
 
yeh e6320 love to clock i have a e6300 at 3.15, but 99.9% conroes do

corsair 520w will do if you wanted

edit:

imo wireless sucks for gaming cant afford a split second glitch where you get wasted cos you couldnt move/fire
 
stinka said:
yeh e6320 love to clock i have a e6300 at 3.15, but 99.9% conroes do

corsair 520w will do if you wanted

edit:

imo wireless sucks for gaming cant afford a split second glitch where you get wasted cos you couldnt move/fire
Click to expand...
Hmm okay.

Well will pay extra for the E6600, as if i dont overclock straight away it will be fast from stock.

What sort of performance does the 320mb GTS give in games?

Will want to play moh airborne, cod4, cod2, any new releases really.
 
tbh i use a gainward 8800 gtx overclocked 615/2000 and i game on a belinea 22w @1680x1050 and theres a few games where its just about enough at max settings, so i cant recomend anything lower than a 640mb gts

if you were serious about ocing im sure we could rearange and get you a gtx in for a little over a grand

edit: like 'dis :cool:

Product Name Qty Price Line Total
Belinea 102035W 20.1" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Black/Silver £149.99
(£176.24) £149.99
(£176.24)
Leadtek GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail £304.99
(£358.36) £304.99
(£358.36)
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.80GHz (800FSB) - Retail £66.99
(£78.71) £66.99
(£78.71)
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-5300C3 667MHz Dual Channel Kit (BL2KIT12864AA663) £63.99
(£75.19) £63.99
(£75.19)
Antec Titan 650 Tower Case - 650w TruePower PSU £99.99
(£117.49) £99.99
(£117.49)
Saitek Eclipse 2 Illuminated Keyboard - Blue/Red/Purple £25.99
(£30.54) £25.99
(£30.54)
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 - Retail £19.99
(£23.49) £19.99
(£23.49)
Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3P (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £74.99
(£88.11) £74.99
(£88.11)
Optiarc NEC AD7170S Serial ATA 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM £17.99
(£21.14) £17.99
(£21.14)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB ST3250620A ATA-100 16MB Cache - OEM £41.99
(£49.34) £41.99
(£49.34) Sub Total : £866.90 Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £24.95 VAT is being charged at 17.5% VAT : £156.07 Total : £1,047.92
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom