600 max to spend for gaming pc

[ashy2k7]

I'm looking for a gaming PC to run Vista and run nicely the new games and also to last a year or to before it needs upgrading again, i have a maximum of 500-600 to spend of my own money but i can extend that maybe a 100-150 more if it would be worth it.

If possible i would prefer a prebuilt because i personally have no idea about computers and building one seems to hard for me as theres a lot involved but i'm willing to try it. Can anyone give me some advice on a decent hardware setup i'd prefer a AMD CPU and Nvidia graphics card as i'm used to those.. Cheers. I've already got all the soundcard stuff and monitors etc so its basically CPU,mobo,memory and power supply maybe new case because i've no idea if i can get the new stuff into this one without the original parts/screws etc.

[staffsMike]

you could get a fairly decent pc (change the PSU though) and save a dogs life

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=120566

you could build something decent for £600 but it might be diffucult to get a good prebuilt. Mesh might be an idea for something in that price bracket.
http://www.meshcomputers.com/

[Whiternoise]

I don't think you have to worry about getting a new case if you do a new build, that Tsunami looks pretty big to me.

600W should cover you i think, i can't really see you using more than that unless you're planning on going SLi. If in doubt, head over here: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/p...ulatorlite.jsp (i make your "new" system about 400W at 100% usage, including fans, etc.)

RAM - You can get 2GB of fairly fast Corsair for under £80 http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=402849 (£60)

Mobo - £150 max i would have thought
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=615971 (£95)

CPU - Go for a Core2Duo, they're faster for the price and overclock very well from what i've read.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=572215 (£100)

GFX - with that budget and considering you don't need to buy much else, you could go for an 8800GT(S or X, your call)
GTS: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=519993 (£270)
GTX: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=548375 (£330)

Coming to a maximum total of £585 - you could easily switch stuff around, cheaper memory, better processor, etc. or you could wait until the 8800GT comes out..

Be aware that you might have to get a new copy of windows as well, unless you already have an install disc (i'm not sure how the whole motherboard changing thing works these days)

[edp33]

What size monitor do you have?

[lee07]

if your thinking of using vista and playing games, some games may not work, i had vista on my old pc and half the games didnt work, now ive bought new pc and gone back to xp, eveything works fine.

heres a list of software and their compatibility with vista:

http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.ph...atibility_List

although if you are just going to play "game for windows", they should work fine.

[gt81]

I built mine for around 600 quid, specs as follows:

Core 2 Duo E4400
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R
2gb Corsair XMS2 800mhz 4-4-4-12
EVGA 8800GTS 320mb
Hitachi Deskstar 320gb 16mb cache
Akasa Zen black case
Corsair 520w PSU
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Vista Home Premium 32-bit OEM

Can't remember if there's anything else. Haven't listed prices as if you shop around you might be able to build similar for cheaper or maybe even a bit better. I had optical drives and monitor already so they weren't included in my costs.

Honestly, if I were you I'd have a go at building your own PC, much more satisfying and for the most part it's a lot easier than you think, to put the computer together physically usually only takes an hour-90 minutes, it's just the setting up and tweaking that takes a bit longer. Just be sure to get an anti-static wristband so you don't kill anything.

[Supershanks]

I understand your affinity to AMD i was the same until early this year. Intel now offers far more value for mony, bang/£ than amd can. You will save money , building yourself , also being in control of the components you get. Building a pc is pretty simple , have a look at the guide in my sig.

luck with your new rig

[ashy2k7]

I built mine for around 600 quid, specs as follows:

Core 2 Duo E4400
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R
2gb Corsair XMS2 800mhz 4-4-4-12
EVGA 8800GTS 320mb
Hitachi Deskstar 320gb 16mb cache
Akasa Zen black case
Corsair 520w PSU
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Vista Home Premium 32-bit OEM

Can't remember if there's anything else. Haven't listed prices as if you shop around you might be able to build similar for cheaper or maybe even a bit better. I had optical drives and monitor already so they weren't included in my costs.

Honestly, if I were you I'd have a go at building your own PC, much more satisfying and for the most part it's a lot easier than you think, to put the computer together physically usually only takes an hour-90 minutes, it's just the setting up and tweaking that takes a bit longer. Just be sure to get an anti-static wristband so you don't kill anything.

Only thing i don't like about building one is that i had a bad experience with an old computer bought some new memory and a few things swapped them round and it didn't boot up and stuff like that i'd rather have some guys mess around with it and get it working as i have no idea how to fix things hardware related, building one would probably be disastrous from my point of view.

I've always had AMD computers and they haven't done me wrong my brother got a Dell with an ATI/Intel combo and it was awful performance wise ok it was Dell but it put me off (i'm a stubborn git).

[ashy2k7]

Just to update i've specced a computer off Cyberpowersystems for 620 incl VAT, heres the spec.

AM2 AMD Athlon™64 X2 6000+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology
AM2 ASUS M2N-E SLI NF500 SLI Chipset DDR2/800 MBoard
2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory Corsair XMS2
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 512MB 16X PCI Express
Thermaltake Blue Orb 2
Hiper Type-M 580W SLI-Ready

Also comes with a case plus its prebuilt.

[edp33]

Just to update i've specced a computer off Cyberpowersystems for 620 incl VAT, heres the spec.

AM2 AMD Athlon™64 X2 6000+ Dual-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology
AM2 ASUS M2N-E SLI NF500 SLI Chipset DDR2/800 MBoard
2GB (2x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Memory Corsair XMS2
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 512MB 16X PCI Express
Thermaltake Blue Orb 2
Hiper Type-M 580W SLI-Ready

Also comes with a case plus its prebuilt.

A 8600 GTS won't run new games very well. You want an 8800GTS or 2900XT minimum, i'd pay the extra for an 8800GTS 640 as it looks like all the upcoming games will use alot of GPU memory, regardless a 320MB is still way better than a 8600.

I've created a spec based on Intel below, I know you favour an AMD but as others have said, Intel are in front at the moment. In the spec below, the PSU is only 450W, but Corsair make very good psu's, it has a 33 amp 12v rail, enough power for even a 8800GTX. If you can find extra cash you could always get the 520/600W version for longer upgrade path. Vista 64 is preferred to 32bit, the upcoming game Crysis takes full advantage of it.

I'd go with something like (prices from Scan)
Case Antec P182 82.12
PSU Corsair VX450 45.83
Mobo Abit I35E 63.32
CPU Intel E4300 Retail 73.79
Ram 2GB Corsair DDR2 6400 48.93
OS Vista 64bit Home Premium OEM 63.44
GFX 8800GTS 640 227.94
Total: 605.37 excluding delivery

I think Scan will prebuild a system for you if you give them a spec, not sure how much they charge.

[Blitzen]

if your thinking of using vista and playing games, some games may not work, i had vista on my old pc and half the games didnt work, now ive bought new pc and gone back to xp, eveything works fine.

heres a list of software and their compatibility with vista:

http://www.iexbeta.com/wiki/index.ph...atibility_List

although if you are just going to play "game for windows", they should work fine.

They must be seriously old games then.

I run RTCW (at least 6 years old) without a hitch.

[lee07]

They must be seriously old games then.

I run RTCW (at least 6 years old) without a hitch.

not really, the games i couldnt run were:
quake4
mgs:substance
swat4

(i dont have alot of games lol)

well even though i have so little games these still wouldnt run, theyre not reallt that old, maybe 3 years or so :S