Curse

Midnight Harmony · Jul 12, 2008, 06:40 PM // 18:40

I'm buying a new custom built PC soon, and after speaking to a few people I've come up with this and was wondering if any PC tech types could tell me if it is a good spec:

- Intel® Core™2 Duo E8400 (2 X 3.00GHz) 1333MHz FSB/6MB L2 Cache

- 4GB CORSAIR XMS2 800MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x2GB)

- ASUS® P5K: DDR2, SATAII, 2 xPCI-e x16, 3 PCI, PCI-e x1

- Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium 64-bit Edition + SP1, CD

- 8 x USB 2.0 PORTS (6 REAR + 2 FRONT) AS STANDARD

- 250GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)

- 20x Dual Layer LightScribe DVD Writer ±R/±RW/RAM

- 896MB GEFORCE GTX260 PCI Express + DVI

- Sound Blaster® Audigy® SE with 7.1 Surround Sound

- ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT

- INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (READS XD, MS, CF, SD, etc)

- Stylish Black/Silver Conqueror Case + 2 Front USB

- 600W Quiet Quad Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan

- SUPER QUIET 22dBA TRIPLE COPPER HEATPIPE CPU COOLER

- 1 Year Return-to-Base incl 1st Month Free Collect & Return

The total cost is £835 and that includes VAT and delivery.

Hannes · Jul 12, 2008, 06:55 PM // 18:55

Sounds wonderful, 'grats on the new pc

Snograt · Jul 12, 2008, 07:10 PM // 19:10

Lose the Audigy - you don't need it with the on-board 7.1 sound and the Audigy is old news.

Damn good system for that money - where's it from?

Qanar · Jul 12, 2008, 07:17 PM // 19:17

I wouldn't go for that graphics card. Get a HD4780 instead.
Also ditch the cardreader and get a diskette drive (still usefull imho)

835 British pounds = 1 656.5565 U.S. dollars
835 British pounds = 1 043.36871 Euros

Brianna · Jul 12, 2008, 07:26 PM // 19:26

Looks good to me.. I'd also throw in Windows XP Pro so you don't tie your own noose.

I agree with the above though, unless you have tons of cameras or portable phone storage then there isn't much use for the card reader, I like it because I hate getting out the camera's USB cord - but no biggie. Though, who uses floppy disk drives now? O.o..

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/index.php?page=case11 this is your case right? Seems suitable.

Lots of people are going to give you crap about the GTX260 - because of ATI, yadda ya, just get what suits your budget/needs.

Midnight Harmony · Jul 12, 2008, 07:47 PM // 19:47

It's from www.pcspecialist.co.uk. I've dropped the card reader and Audigy as suggested and the price now comes out at £785.

Midnight Harmony · Jul 12, 2008, 07:51 PM // 19:51

I've dropped the card reader and Audigy as suggested and the price now comes out at £785. I can't select a HD4780, only the 4750 so I'm going with the nVidia one.

Elder III · Jul 12, 2008, 08:02 PM // 20:02

That rig would fit a second hard drive wouldn't it? That looks like a pc that should be pretty viable for a few years at the least, so I'd consider a larger HD or a second HD if it were me.

Oh, yeah, get XP Pro dual installed on that baby for sure.... that way you can have the best of both worlds.... :d

Brianna · Jul 12, 2008, 08:15 PM // 20:15

I merged these, feel free to delete your posts that don't belong as I can't do that.

Snograt · Jul 12, 2008, 09:45 PM // 21:45

Fiddled about and upgraded the memory to Corsair's Dominator and doubled the HDD up to 500GB - £815

Tamuril elansar · Jul 12, 2008, 09:52 PM // 21:52

sounds like a pretty nice system, i think i might be the only one sugesting the GTX260 over the HD4870, however i'd wait till the new 55nm ones come.

Midnight Harmony · Jul 16, 2008, 05:25 PM // 17:25

So which card is better to buy the 4870 or the GTX 260? The GTX is £20 more so price isn't an issue, but I've heard good things about both.

moriz · Jul 16, 2008, 05:34 PM // 17:34

the HD4870 is the better buy.

Midnight Harmony · Jul 16, 2008, 05:44 PM // 17:44

Even though it is only 512 MB? I heard it couldn't use soft particles or a certain type of AA.

moriz · Jul 16, 2008, 05:47 PM // 17:47

size of memory his hardly an indication of performance.

the HD4870 is just as fast (or faster, in some cases) as the GTX260, and it's cheaper.

Midnight Harmony · Jul 16, 2008, 05:48 PM // 17:48

Will it be as future proof as the GTX 260? I wan't something that can play the latest games and those coming out next year. I would opt for a GTX 280 but that is about £100 more and I can't really warrant that.

moriz · Jul 16, 2008, 06:00 PM // 18:00

as long as you don't play at ridiculous resolutions (>1920x1600), it shouldn't matter.

if anything, the HD4870 is more futureproof due to GDDR5 memory and DX10.1 support.

Midnight Harmony · Jul 16, 2008, 06:03 PM // 18:03

I just bought a this monitor for my gaming (got it for £90 on Amazon):

http://www.mantaseosolutions.com/blo...cmaster-932bf/

moriz · Jul 16, 2008, 06:18 PM // 18:18

at that resolution, it wouldn't matter. you can get a HD4850 and not notice any difference.

Midnight Harmony · Jul 16, 2008, 06:28 PM // 18:28

Cool thanks for the help moriz, guess I'll get a 4870, and to be honest I've always preferred ATI's drivers. As long as I can play Crysis, Assassins Creed and Stalker: Clear Sky I'm happy.