Help me build a PC...

[Gr44]

Hello!

Looking to build a PC for the G/F, she has a budget of £500.

Main uses are Gaming, Rendering and C++. That said shes been using an old Celeron laptop for years which was on it's last legs 9 months ago so anything would be a huge improvement!

The £500 budget has a bit of give in either direction so don't be bound too tightly!

Requirements are for a base unit, mouse, keyboard, speakers. She has a TV that is going to be used as the monitor

Operating system isn't required as she gets a deal from her uni.

Thanks V.M for looking and would be grateful for a few kit lists

[staffsMike]

Geeky girl eh...

Assuming £100 (for the time being, obiviously it depends on taste) on the peripherals..

How about,

AMD 7750 X2 ~£60
Asus 780G or DFI 790GX ~£50 ~£100
4GB PC6400 ~£35 (various deals pop up)
Coolermaster CM-690 ~£50
Enermax Proe82+ 425 or 525W £50 - £65
640GB WD AAKS ~£50
DVD Writer ~£15

Worst case scenario for that is around £375. So you will probably want the cheaper version to slot in a nice graphics card along with the peripherals.

HD4850 should fit the budget using the cheaper variants and perhaps eating into that £100 for peripherals. Or lower the case spec, you could use an antec combo for example.

Good thing about going AMD is these boards mentioned should happily support AM3 chips when they come out. Also with a 780G you can always use it in an HTPC later

[Agent]

What type of rendering is she doing?

[Gr44]

Thanks StaffsMike

I was thinking C2D, thats only because I've already got 2 and a C2Q and I'm very pleased with them though... I'll check some reviews on the AMD chips as they're cheaper without doubt ;-)

Agent,

3DSM, all to do with computer game design... rendering models of in-game people and such like

[staffsMike]

You could fit a Q6600 build into the budget tbh, but everything else will be a compromise.

Antec NSK3480 + 380W earthwatts. ~£65
Asus G31 mobo ~£35

Saves the necesarry amount I think. For C2D I would just get an E5200 pentium dual and overclock. Most £50 -£60 boards will suit overclocking that.

I've got a C2D, AMD X2 and a phenom (the x2 I specced is a phenom really, mine isn't). The X2 and E6600 are both pretty snappy performers and clock for clock very smiliar in the tasks I do, not sure about rendering though.

The phenom at 3.0GHz is sweet though so I imagine the 7750 X2 is pretty good

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I specced this off Ebayer using the free Supersaver postage:

AMD Phenom II X4 920 2.8GHz Socket AM2+ 6MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed Processor 155715 £201.78

ASUS M3A78 PRO 780G Socket AM2+ onboard graphics 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard 150949 £66.95

OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC6400 Titanium Memory CL4(4-4-4-15) 154644 £34.99

Corsair 450W VX Series PSU - ATX12V v2.2 131052 £57.64

Force3D HD 4830 512MB GDDR3 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card 151452 £89.99

Coolermaster Elite 330 Black Mid Tower Case - No PSU 127584 £29.13

LiteOn 20X DVD±RW DL & RAM SATA LightScribe Black Bare Drive - OEM 141995 £15.39

Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB SATA II 7200RPM 16MB Cache - OEM 124228 £45.73


Total: £541.60

You an get an Logitech LX710 cordless keyboard and laser mouse for under £25 from PCWorld:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/31521...top-lx710-wir/

[staffsMike]

I like that

No speakers though.

[Pob255]

For that resolution monitor a 9800gt or hd4830 anything more is going to be wasted.

need to factor in the OS cost or not?
If you need to add that in as well it's almost a better idea to look at a pre-built system and add in a graphics card.

[staffsMike]

OS isnt required. in the op

[Webby]

Does that 780G board support 125W processors? Or else that Phenom is going to cause the voltage regs to catch fire.

Only a small problem mind

[Pob255]

Ahh missed that, although question is 32bit or 64bit? hopefully 64bit so you can make full use of 4gb of memory

Just looking at trying to put a q6600 into a cheap build but I'm haveing problems motherboard side.
esp a low cost sub £90 board, was thinking about p43 chipset but reading of all sorts of issues with some of the, mainly seems to be motherboard driver and compatibility issues. :/ but how much of that is numpties trying to bild a pc I cannot tell.
Also looking for older p35 as there where some very good ones around, but cannot find them in stock anyware

[Pob255]

From Scan

Q6600 £154.86
Zerotherm Zen FZ-120 cpu cooler £26.44 (good reviews http://www.legitreviews.com/article/716/5/ )
MSI P43 Neo3-fr (not sure about this) £79.06
512mb HIS 4830 £97.51
4gb Corsair 2x2gb Cas 5 £41.16
320 GB Western Digital WD3200AAKS £39.38
430W Seasonic S12 £49.44
Akasa Zen V4 (case) £29.31
LG GH22NS40 sata dvdr/w £13.79
Total 530.95 (inc vat and free hexus shipping )

Slightly over budget if you were willing to risk a 2nd hand q6600 then you should be able to get one for around £90-100

Replace the motherboard & cpu and you have £235 for some AMD flavour cpu & motherboard.
I don't know enough about current AMD to help here.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Does that 780G board support 125W processors? Or else that Phenom is going to cause the voltage regs to catch fire.

Only a small problem mind

Yes it does!! It has the 4+1 Phase Power Design.

The 140w version of the Phenom X4 9950 is supported:

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/c...37;20PRO&os=17

Hence the Phenom II X4 920 should be fine!!

[Webby]

Cool always worth checking these things though!

[Gr44]

Hi Guys,

Thanks V.M for all your input! I've been looking over lots of differant specs and checking out various reviews, we're a little limited because the MRS wants to get it before this weekend so we're dependant on stock levels some what!

I hope you don't think I've ignored everything that was said in the thread (which it may look like!) I honestly haven't! I think, budget permitting a Q6600 would be the best option, although it's very tight to fit in!

I've come up with a spec below, I'd be very grateful if you could offer your views on it and check I've not forgotten anything! We're looking to order tonight for a Friday delivery so need some quick feedback if you can!

2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2 Dominator, PC2-8500 (1066), 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5 £33.64 £38.69

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, OEM £124.95 £143.69

500 GB Western Digital WD5000AACS Caviar Green, SATA 300, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ £39.99 £45.99

512MB Palit 9800 GT, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), 1800MHz GDDR3, GPU 600MHz, 112 Cores, 2xDL DVI-I/ HDTV £79.89 £91.87

Samsung SH-S223F/BEBE 22x DVD±R, 12x DVD±R, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, SATA, Black, OEM £12.98 £14.93

Asus P5QL-E, iP43, S 775, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX £66.68 £76.68

ZEROtherm ZEN FZ-120 Quiet Tower CPU Cooler Intel LGA775 - but 754/939/740/AM2 needs additional brac £22.99 £26.44

TODAY ONLY DEAL (Case + PSU - Total £109.24)

* LN19236 620W Coolermaster Real Power M620 Modular PSU SLi, PCI-E, SATA, 80%+ Eff' ATX 12V V2.3 EPS 12V V2.91
* LN19340 Coolermaster CM-690 V2 Dominator Black Midi Tower Case with Mesh Top Panel w/o PSU

£94.99 £109.24

Logitech Internet 350 Wired Keyboard, USB 1.1, Black (967740-0120) £5.99 £6.89

Altec Lansing BXR1121 2.1 Speakers £16.75 £19.26

Total= £573.68

How does this look to you? Am I missing anything? Do you think a better system could be made for the same money?
It's a big over-budget... but I'll claim the VAT back making it £498.85 as the MRS does web design for my company...

Mucho Thanks! :-)

Gr44

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Hi Guys,

Thanks V.M for all your input! I've been looking over lots of differant specs and checking out various reviews, we're a little limited because the MRS wants to get it before this weekend so we're dependant on stock levels some what!

I hope you don't think I've ignored everything that was said in the thread (which it may look like!) I honestly haven't! I think, budget permitting a Q6600 would be the best option, although it's very tight to fit in!

I've come up with a spec below, I'd be very grateful if you could offer your views on it and check I've not forgotten anything! We're looking to order tonight for a Friday delivery so need some quick feedback if you can!

2GB (2x1GB) Corsair TwinX DDR2 XMS2 Dominator, PC2-8500 (1066), 240 Pin, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5 £33.64 £38.69

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, OEM £124.95 £143.69

500 GB Western Digital WD5000AACS Caviar Green, SATA 300, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ £39.99 £45.99

512MB Palit 9800 GT, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), 1800MHz GDDR3, GPU 600MHz, 112 Cores, 2xDL DVI-I/ HDTV £79.89 £91.87

Samsung SH-S223F/BEBE 22x DVD±R, 12x DVD±R, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, SATA, Black, OEM £12.98 £14.93

Asus P5QL-E, iP43, S 775, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX £66.68 £76.68

ZEROtherm ZEN FZ-120 Quiet Tower CPU Cooler Intel LGA775 - but 754/939/740/AM2 needs additional brac £22.99 £26.44

TODAY ONLY DEAL (Case + PSU - Total £109.24)

* LN19236 620W Coolermaster Real Power M620 Modular PSU SLi, PCI-E, SATA, 80%+ Eff' ATX 12V V2.3 EPS 12V V2.91
* LN19340 Coolermaster CM-690 V2 Dominator Black Midi Tower Case with Mesh Top Panel w/o PSU

£94.99 £109.24

Logitech Internet 350 Wired Keyboard, USB 1.1, Black (967740-0120) £5.99 £6.89

Altec Lansing BXR1121 2.1 Speakers £16.75 £19.26

Total= £573.68

How does this look to you? Am I missing anything? Do you think a better system could be made for the same money?
It's a big over-budget... but I'll claim the VAT back making it £498.85 as the MRS does web design for my company...

Mucho Thanks! :-)

Gr44

Unless you are overclocking the Q6600 the Phenom II X4 is much faster than a Q6600 and is comparable to a Q9550:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/16147/9

The HD4830 is also faster than an overclocked 9800GT:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Z...Edition/9.html

Remember that the 9800GT is nothing but a 65nm or 55nm version of the 8800GT.

Also get a better PSU. For £110 you could get an Enermax 525w or a Corsair 450w PSU and an Antec 300 for the same price!!