I've got £650 to spend what would you suggest?

[RichieLee]

So Abit it is then by the sounds of things. prices seem to vary quite a bit on motherboards. I want a decent one but I wont be running multiple graphics cards in SLi or anything so really i want a relatively basic, but decent one for my rig. Could you point me in the right direction?

[RichieLee]

http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/product_in...5815a27c08f6bd

is this any good? it's a Abit Fatal1ty FP-IN9 SLI ATX, 650i SLI, GLAN, SATAII+RAID, DDR2 800 Motherboard.

then there's also this http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/product_in...5815a27c08f6bd

Abit Fatal1ty F-I90HD MATX, HDMI, SATAII+RAID, DDR2 800 Motherboard

Not so sure why there's a £10 price difference.

Than there's also the Abit IP35 Intel P35, Dual DDR2, Sokcet 775, 7.1 Audio, PCI-E, SATA 2, ATX Motherboard.

http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/product_in...5815a27c08f6bd

and the

Abit IP35-E Intel P35, Dual DDR2, Sokcet 775, 7.1 Audio, PCI-E, SATA 2, ATX Motherboard

http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/product_in...5815a27c08f6bd

all pretty much about the same price but which one?

Yes it's all a bit confusing really

[Blitzen]

I think anything 'Fatality' are a gimmick and carry a price to reflect that.

The IP35's are getting decent reviews though. Personally, if i was changing my mobo tomorrow, its probably what i would go for.

[RichieLee]

Well after a few days of searching I think I've at last finally decided on what to go for (hopefully). Let me know what you think

Antec P180 V2 Advanced Super Midi Tower Case, Black (no PSU)

520W Corsair HX Series Modular PSU, ATX, EPS12V, whisper quiet, 5 year warranty

Abit IP-35, iP35 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX

Saitek PK 02AV Eclipse II Wired Keyboard, BackLit Purple, Red + Blue Keys, USB 1.1/2.0, Black

Microsoft Intelli Optical Mouse, 800dpi, PS2/USB 1.1/2.0, 5 Buttons, Ivory/Silver

LG M228WA 22" TV/Monitor Widescreen 1680x1050 60Hz 3000:1 300 cd/m2 5ms VGA/DVI-D Tuner Speakers

Samsung SH-S202N/BEBN 20x DVD±R, 16xDVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, PATA,Lightscribe

OCZ 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 CL 4-4-4-15 PLATINUM XTC with LIFETIME WARRANTY

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz 1333FSB

Leadtek 8800GTS 640MB DVI PCI-E

320 Gb Samsung HD321KJ Spinpoint T166, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 9 ms, NCQ

Grand Total of £935.02 from a combo of parts with Scan (£13.42 delivery) and eBuyer (free delivery)

I decided to opt for an LG 22" monitor/tv because it's pretty much the same price as the samsung about a tenner more and it's had many decent reviews.

Also going for a cheap 640mb 8800GTS hence the Leadtek.

An Abit Mobo IP35 express in fact, after hearing so many horror stories about the Asus P5K I think I'll leave that one.

Everything else pretty much the same list as last time.

Just some spare cash for some speakers now or is there anything missing you can spot?

Regards,

Richie Lee

[acrobat]

I still don't think you should get that screen Although that one looks like one of the best ones. But everything else looks good to me. Graphics card was a good choice.

[Blitzen]

All looking good now......

[RichieLee]

I still don't think you should get that screen Although that one looks like one of the best ones. But everything else looks good to me. Graphics card was a good choice.

Haha thanks acrobat, I knew you'd say that But really for a tenner more over the samsung I cant complain now can I? It does seem like a decent one out of the 22" bunch though.

I've heard that there's some free delivery scheme with scan too? That'd be cool to save that tiny bit more cash I could possibly upgrade the cooling fans

[acrobat]

Yeah it definitely looks like one of the best, judging by the reviews and stuff I've seen online for it. I hope you love it.

As for the free delivery scheme, there are few links about it on this forum somewhere. I think this is the main one:
HEXUS.community discussion forums - Announcements in Forum : SCAN.care@HEXUS

I remember reading that you have to be a helpful member on the forum with a certain amount of posts and stuff, but I'm not sure if thats true anymore. I've seen a few people with hardly any posts who seem to still be getting the free delivery, so they might just be giving it to anyone who registers now. Its worth trying though anyway. Could save you a little chunk to put towards a nice keyboard or a night out or something. With me, everything I save on the delivery usually goes to Scan anyway, cause I just buy more stuff I'm sure that was their sneaky plan.

[RichieLee]

This was the actual final spec list I spent my money on I missed the delivery today because I wasn't at my home address (DAMN IT!) but not to worry all 3 packages should be arriving Monday with a bit of luck

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750

Antec P182 Gunmetal Grey Super Mid Tower Case - No PSU

Arctic Cooling AC-FRZ-7P Freezer 7 Pro Socket 775 Processor Cooler

Microsoft Black Wired PS/2 Keyboard 500 - Retail Box

Logitech X-230 2.1 Speaker System - 32W RMS

520W Corsair HX Series Modular PSU,

Abit IP-35, iP35 Express, S 775, PC

320 Gb Samsung HD321KJ Spinpoint T1

Samsung SH-S203N/BEBN 20x DVD±R, 16

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

120mm Sharkoon 1000 LED "Golf Ball"x2

Leadtek GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail

Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 - Retail

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C4 800MHz Ultra Low Latency DDR2 Dual Channel Kit

[Blitzen]

But it probably all depends on how good that 8800GTS (320mb version) is. I don't really know how good it is

So far i am running everything maxxed out on my 320mb 8800GTS. I grant you, its not top of the tree (although only 4-5 rungs down), but its still more than capable, especially on a 19" monitor to do everything i throw at it.

They are now £170 (which is great value) and in my mind, even when i bought it 10months ago, it was better vlue than the 640mb version for the resolutions i use it at.

That with the fact, i would rather put the extra £60-70 to good use elsewhere that have bought the 64mb one because i wouldnt benifit from it.

[staffsMike]

Did anyone suggest holding out for the 8800GT? or did you want the PC right now?

I think i'd send the GTS back if the 8800GT lives up to the hype. Cheaper and a better from the looks of things.

[RichieLee]

to be honest I'd like the PC right now. Plus the GTS was pretty cheap at £211 Although the GT does sound great I think if I waited any longer then i might as well as not bought a pc at all. I've already waited a year to build this pc. Originally i thought I would spend £1700 but since then I've now ended up with a rig of approx the same spec at just below £1000

[staffsMike]

Hate to say it..but it looks like it will be out on monday.

Don't open the box just yet eh

[Blitzen]

If the GT is so good then why is it supposed to be alot cheaper aswell?

I have read things (dunno how true) that the GT performs inbetween a 640GTS and a GTX. So...for £150-170 whats the compromise?

(BTW...If the GT was out tomorrow, wouldnt some sites have it on already? People like OCUK tend to ignore the NDA's usually and pre-sell before release...they havent as yet)

[staffsMike]

Well the GTS's are due a refresh with the new chip that the GT uses, so it will most likely pop back in between the GT and GTX (refresh).

I believe the current GTS's have gone EOL due to what scan are saying about them.

Quite a few places broke the NDA a couple of weeks ago and had them on their sites.
Not sure if any do at the moment though.

[CrazyMonkey]

4 GB is not worth it. Illustrator and Photoshop isnt what i would call "heavy" media/design work.

Consider the main components first, then things like Hard drive and DVD drive last.

A Q6600 is a good future proofing bet.