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Thread: Need a computer for around £300?

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    Need a computer for around £300?

    Well I need to build a computer for myself, i have saved just under £350 to mess around with and wanted it to be fairly decent.
    I need the computer for college work, like website design, and coding. But as well as gaming and general use.

    I don't really have a clue what to get because i keep looking at all the expensive things, which overruns my budget a lot, i think the cheapest i got to was around £500

    Some things i defiantly want:
    1TB Hard drive
    4gb Ram (Preferably DDR3)
    And a graphics card with stand alone ram?

    Any ideas? Any suggestions or comments are welcome
    Cheers

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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    Case: Coolermaster Sileo Mid Tower (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/coole...aster-500w-psu)
    Motherboard: Asus M4A88T-M (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/asus-...board-graphics)
    CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 450 (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/amd-a...mhz-95w-retail)
    RAM: 4GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600MHz (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4gb-c...-9-24-xmp-165v)
    GPU: NVIDIA GTS 450 1GB (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-p...i-i-d-sub-hdmi)
    HDD: 1TB Samsung SpinPoint F3 7200RPM (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ss1tb...-89-ms-ncq-oem)
    PSU: 500W Coolermaster included with case
    Optical: Sony Optical DVD Writer (http://www.scan.co.uk/products/sony-...sata-black-oem)

    This should come to about £370, but if you really needed to stick to £350 get a cheap case of your choice and pair it with http://www.scan.co.uk/products/430w-...-rail-atx-ps-2

    I'm presuming monitor and Windows aren't required

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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    I just had a look at what you put up, and i like it. But i was looking at the processor and was wondering will that 1.5mb cache effect it?

    And yes the monitor and windows aren't needed.
    Also the ram you offered is 1600 mhz i think and the motherboard doesnt take this speed apparently?
    Last edited by Cornie; 09-03-2011 at 01:50 AM.

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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    You can get the coolermaster 430 with the 500w psu for less http://www.ebuyer.com/product/235611
    However the psu isn't great, Passive PFC (it's 230v mains only) only 70% efficiency, is rated at 30amp on 12v rails maximum probably a bit lower for continuous load.
    http://www.coolermaster.com/product....tegory_id=3575
    Review here http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/artic...y-Review/728/1
    This is actually an ok 400w but not one I'd go out of my way to buy.

    That said for the build Skulltrail listed it should be fine.
    I'd also change the motherboard to this http://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-8...-sata-raid-atx
    Swap the ram to a dual channel kit http://www.scan.co.uk/products/4gb-%...s-9-9-9-24-15v

    Did you need mouse and keyboard?

    If you don't mind 2nd hand look for an ati 5770 you should be able to pick one up for under £70
    Or an nvidia gts250 or even a ati 4850 ok no amazing nor dx11 but you should be able to snag one for £50

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    • Skulltrail's system
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      • Memory:
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      • Storage:
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      • Internet:
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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    Yes, definatedly go dual channel - that was just be me being lazy and not looking properly.

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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    Thanks for all the support
    I do need a keyboard and mouse, i do have one spare but there not very good not even usb i dont think..
    And i dont mind second hand if i can get one thats cheap and good and will work for a couple of years.

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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?



    I think all motherboards still come with the PS/2 sockets for older devices. May be worth re-using what you have for a while.

  8. #8
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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    I would consider these components:

    AMD Athlon II X3 450 ~ £57

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/238326

    4GB 1600MHZ DDR3 ~ £37

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/239260

    Biostar TA870 ~ £59

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/255180

    Has the SB850 with SATA3.0 and supports 125W CPUs.

    OR

    Biostar TA870U3+ ~ £61

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/259268

    Has SB850 southbridge with SATA3.0,USB3.0,VRM cooling and supports 125W CPUs. However,it has less back panel connectors than the Biostar TA870 and a worse integrated sound card.

    HIS HD 5750 iCooler 1GB ~ £85

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/222088

    Samsung F3 1TB ~ £40

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173804

    SATA DVD rewriter ~ £12

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/176026

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145450

    Casecom K5-9388 ~ £30

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/239238

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/239240

    Be Quiet 530W Pure Power PSU ~ £47

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190751

    OR

    OCZ Stealth Xstream II 500W PSU ~ £48

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/204355

    The total comes to around £367 to £370.

  9. #9
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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    How about this one
    Coolermaster Elite 330 Black/Silver 1 £24.29
    2GB Corsair DDR3 XMS3, PC3-10666 (1 2 £16.10
    Asus M4A87TD EVO, AMD 870, S AM3, P 1 £65.87
    500Gb Western Digital WD5000AAKX Ca 1 £22.59
    512MB XFX HD 5450, PCI-E 2.1 (x16), 1 £23.53
    430W Corsair CMPSU-430CX Builder Se 1 £29.43
    Logitech S120, Black, 2.0Ch Multime 1 £6.19
    Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±R, 12 1 £10.44
    120mm Akasa AK-174BK-S Black Case F 1 £3.99
    AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black, Deneb C 1 £84.55
    Coolermaster Vortex Plus CPU Cooler 1 £15.38
    43cm Scan Serial ATA Cable SATAII ( 1 £0.52
    BLAZE Black 2.4GHZ wireless Mouse w 1 £10.98
    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Net Total £329.96
    Carriage £0.00
    VAT £65.99
    Total £395.95
    *Ignore the Mouse at £11
    *Ignore £6.19 Speakers
    * 2GB RAM DDR3 is x 2 so you could deduct £16.10

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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    Quote Originally Posted by zain View Post
    How about this one


    *Ignore the Mouse at £11
    *Ignore £6.19 Speakers
    * 2GB RAM DDR3 is x 2 so you could deduct £16.10
    Do you have links?

  11. #11
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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    The HD5450 is not that great for most modern games. I would probably avoid the CX430W until at least the V2 version comes out.

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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    To be honest im not good with all this stuff. I'm going to write down CTF's specs now and then on Saturday when i go the computer fair see if i can pick anything up for cheaper or if i can find something better or close to it for cheaper than that price if not i will buy it online i think unless i can find anything better tonight.

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    • CAT-THE-FIFTH's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Less E-PEEN
      • CPU:
      • Massive E-PEEN
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      • RGB E-PEEN
      • Storage:
      • Not in any order
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVEN BIGGER E-PEEN
      • PSU:
      • OVERSIZED
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      • Operating System:
      • DOS 6.22
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      • NOT USUALLY ON....WHEN I POST
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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    Be careful with the 880G motherboards though. Some of them have the earlier SB710 southbridge which lacks SATA3.0 and RAID 5. Make sure that the motherboard can support 125W TDP CPUs too.

    Also,avoid the Corsair CX430W. I would consider the Be Quiet 530W and OCZ 500W PSU better than the Corsair CX 500W too.

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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    Personally I would invest in a new case, decent power supply, hard disk, optical drive and then hit eBay for the motherboard/CPU/RAM/Graphics...

    You might be able to find a quad core, reasonable motherboard etc, so long as you aren't bothered about the latest USB3 etc

  15. #15
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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    I'm in this market too. Cat's build above looks about the best.
    I'm hoping that some sort of bundle deal will come up based on either the X3 450 or the X4 640.
    Society's to blame,
    Or possibly Atari.

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    Re: Need a computer for around £300?

    Well im going to the computer fair this weekend, and am going to see if i can get any of these parts cheap . If i do manage to find any i will let you know what i have bought and what still needs to be bought. and how much money i have left over.

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