Budget Gaming/General PC System Help Please

[theoaf]

Hi

I'm going to buy and build a new PC for my brother's birthday. He likes to play games and will want to do the usual net/email/mp3/photos stuff that everyone uses their computer for these days too. I've lurked around these forums for a while and would be really grateful if you could take a look at my spec and check it over for me.

I've tried to get a decent balance between something which will be nice to use/last a while whilst giving pretty good gaming performance. I'd like to do a modest overclock with this system, how far am I likely to go on the standard cooler and are the motherboard/RAM/CPU good candidates? (I'm not 100% convinced by the 8600!)

img214.imageshack.us/img214/4162/speczf8.jpg

Any changes/improvements (within a total budget of £600 including Google checkout ) much appreciated!

Thanks a lot for your help

Oaf

[Sprite]

Drop the 8600GTS - overpriced (unless you REALLY need DX10) and get something like the X1950Pro / 7900GS or 7600GT.

Also place multiple orders as the google checkout discount can be used multiple times (I've used it like 5 times already now)

Also try and get 2GB RAM

And finally, the E4300 and other C2Ds have been seen at 3GHz with stock cooling, but you can grab an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro for like £15 which is very decent

[staffsMike]

1GB of RAM and vista dont belong on the same pc.

£25 more for 2GB of RAM and he will have a much better pc overall especially for gaming.

The 8600GTS is your call really..for £115 you wont do much better unless you go for an ati x1950pro but that doesn't have dx10 support.

The 650i boards will priovide you with a modest overclock but I really would pay £12 and get an Arctic cooling freezer..it will keep it nice and chilly on these hot summer days.

EDIT:ECHO.. ECHO .. echo lol

[Crossbow]

Corsair 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-5300 = £47.17 (incl free del + GC)

Inno3D 8600GTS 256MB = £109.95 (incl free del + GC) - I've chosen the non-OC card so you can spend the money saved (£15) on the Arctic CPU cooler instead. G

[theoaf]

Hi everyone

Thanks for your replies. Sounds like I'm not too far off?

I'm glad you mentioned the RAM, I wanted 2GB so will go with Crossbow's suggestions of the Corsair. Haven't used Vista myself, still on XP with 1.25GB (ancient Athlon) and CentOS (dual Xeon) with 3GB but have heard Vista likes plenty of memory!

Still in two minds about the 8600. The DX10 support is nice as I know that once he has it my brother won't open the PC to upgrade stuff... but the card seems flawed in terms of bandwidth etc. Then again with the monitor I've chosen he won't be going to very high resolutions anyway, so maybe this is less of an issue? On a budget I guess there are always compromises.

I'll definitely go with the improved cooler (I assume you mean quickfind code: 105994?)

Anything else I need? Thermal paste? Other bits and pieces or am I ready? I last built a PC in the early 90s so am a bit rusty.

Thanks again for your feedback, much appreciated I'll probably order this weekend so if anyone has more thoughts let me know ASAP!

Oaf

PS I'd already decided on lots of smaller orders with the checkout thing. Very handy.

[staffsMike]

Thats the cooler. It comes with mx-1 paste preapplied which is widely regarded as the best for the cooler.

Enjoy your build hope it goes smoothly.

[amjedm]

I'm not a fan of the Antec PSUs and would recommend a Seasonic 380/430 instead.

Ebuyer have tons of cases. Make sure it's got a 120mm exhaust.

[Flewis]

I thought antec psu's were pretty good, they are made in the same factory as seasonic arent they? like corsair too. As long as they are the good ranges tho such as the neoHE and truepower rather than smartpower or earthwatts.

[theoaf]

Hi everyone

Thanks again for your advice and quick responses. I've gone with the better cooler, 2GB and have decided to chance the 8600

It's my brother's birthday in a couple of weeks so I hope he likes it (and I'm not back on asking why it isn't working!)

I have a feeling it's really going to show how ancient my main computer is... so I'll probably be back with a bigger budget for my own PC very soon!

Thanks for your help

Oaf

[amjedm]

I thought antec psu's were pretty good, they are made in the same factory as seasonic arent they? like corsair too. As long as they are the good ranges tho such as the neoHE and truepower rather than smartpower or earthwatts.

AFAIK only the NeoHE was made by Seasonic and even then not up to the standard of Seasonic's own range.

I would only buy a NeoHE or TruePower 2 if they are at bargain prices.

[Pob255]

Good Luck tring to get that Corsair memeory, it's selling out as fast as they get it in atm.
I gave up on it in the end as I wanted new ram for this weekend.

[-=}sas{=-]

i was under the impression that most games dont function under the vista platform, am i wrong in thinking this? and if not then wouldnt it make sence to build a system with xp and possibly spec it so that is capable of vista as an upgrade at a later date when there is more software available for the vista platform.

[theoaf]

Good Luck tring to get that Corsair memeory, it's selling out as fast as they get it in atm.
I gave up on it in the end as I wanted new ram for this weekend.

Aaargh!

I didn't notice that the RAM was out of stock when I put the order in (and... checking, it is...) so any suggestions for alternatives (any other brand or e-tailer?) for similar money?

I need it by around 22nd May! Do you think ebuyer will have stock by then?

Not sure about XP/Vista for gaming. I just assumed that MS would be trying to push everyone onto the latest and greatest and that driver support etc would come (in the end). I think once I hand it over (it's a present) that'll be it, so I'm thinking a bit longer rather than shorter term - and I suppose that means Vista rather than XP.

Thanks all

Oaf

[redddraggon]

From what I've seen Vista doesn't have any compatibilty issues, I think AOE3 has an issue but you can download a patch for that.

I haven't had any problems with any other games, are there any games that have issues with vista?

[Pob255]

I need it by around 22nd May! Do you think ebuyer will have stock by then?

Try phoneing them and asking, they seem to be getting it in regurally but it sells out the morning they get it in (at least it did twice when I tried to get some)
See if you can get them to reserve/pre order.

You could get 2 stick of the 1gb memory you were looking at, granteg not a matched pair but it should be ok.

[theoaf]

Try phoneing them and asking, they seem to be getting it in regurally but it sells out the morning they get it in (at least it did twice when I tried to get some)
See if you can get them to reserve/pre order.

You could get 2 stick of the 1gb memory you were looking at, granteg not a matched pair but it should be ok.

Yes you're right. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what they say. Failing that it's the other stuff which will be fine I suppose - if I follow the "contact ebuyer" link via the Google checkout pages then they should be able to change the RAM on my order!

Cheers

Oaf