Yet Another Beginner Build - Please be Kind !

[PaulBrum]

Just saw this PC on Ebuyer:

I wonder if it is any good for the OP??

MMmmm interesting - seen the information below which has been left in the comments box on Ebuyer:

Foxconn mobo; G31MX-K iG31,
Zoostorm PSU;
Total output: 500w, Combined output: 3.3v + 5v: 180w, Max Current: +3.3v=35A, +5v=40A, +12v1=16A, + 12v2=18A
Stock heatsink with Q8300,
Inno3D 9800GT,
Can't read the brand of the CD drive,
Buffalo RAM (So called best in Japan),
Samsung HDD,
Zoostorm case - Nice big size & 4 spare HDD & CD racks,
1 front & 1 back case fan (branded super cooler),
6 spare bays at the back,
3 air vents too.
Top value system!!

Questions:

- Is the mobo stated any good
- Can I overclock the system
- Is the GPU comparable to the HD4850

Once again, help appreciated

Paul

[PaulBrum]

Have just read Merlins post in detail - now really confused, do I go for the AMD Phenom II 920 - does this give me better upgrade potential over Intel ??!!??

Confused of Brum


Paul

[staffsMike]

See I said it over the page

They do offer great potential for upgrade.. they might not live up to it of course but it's better than S775 on intel which is pretty much on it's last gasp.

I wouldn't build an intel system for anything right now, but thats just me. It's not like I have something against intel, see "My system" but I think AMD is the way to go right now. Plus they need our help

[Pob255]

MMmmm interesting - seen the information below which has been left in the comments box on Ebuyer:

Foxconn mobo; G31MX-K iG31,
Zoostorm PSU;
Total output: 500w, Combined output: 3.3v + 5v: 180w, Max Current: +3.3v=35A, +5v=40A, +12v1=16A, + 12v2=18A
Stock heatsink with Q8300,
Inno3D 9800GT,
Can't read the brand of the CD drive,
Buffalo RAM (So called best in Japan),
Samsung HDD,
Zoostorm case - Nice big size & 4 spare HDD & CD racks,
1 front & 1 back case fan (branded super cooler),
6 spare bays at the back,
3 air vents too.
Top value system!!

Questions:

- Is the mobo stated any good
- Can I overclock the system
- Is the GPU comparable to the HD4850

Once again, help appreciated

Paul

Not sure on that one, think we've got a couple of thoes at work, if they are the same foxxcon model as that, then very limited overclocking control, because no real control over the memory deviders.
From the ebuyer pic's the DVD is LG
PSU no idea but if thoes specs are what it can supply hten it should be fine.
Buffalo is a cheaper brand, but again should be fine at stock.
For the cost that's not too shabby at all even without overclocking.

I wouldn't build an intel system for anything right now, but thats just me.

Have to disagree with you in part Mike.
Intel systems are still viable and offer upgrade potential esp if you start out with a e5200.
The main problem I curreently see is AMD chips have come down in price, so have the motherboards and there onboard graphics has got far better and they should be compatible with the next AMD cpu release.
Intel cpu's esp the quad cores are still too pricey and the cheap q6600 has both gone up and newer ones don't seem to be overclocking so well.
On top of that is a major issue is the motherboards, they are more expensive, the onboard graphics isn't as good, execpt for the new nvidia 9400 chipset but thoes boards cost around the £120 mark.
These are the reasons that put me off intel atm.
That and the new i7 stuff is way to pricey atm.

[Blitzen]

And I stand by quads in general having limited use for the average user

I am staggered by the inaccuracy of this comment.

Tell me exactly what a Quad wont do that a dual core will? Nothing.
The Quad does everything a dual core will and more in fact.

The only thing agree on is that the Q6600 is a bit expensive now. But....considering a dual core (8 series) is only £20-30 less, the Q6600 is by far and away a better buy and will have a much long usage.

[NightshadowUK]

I use the PC for a number of different uses – gaming (will want to play the latest games, Crysis etc) as well as editing, coding and burning video, office functions (MS suite), a lot of internet use and downloading (usually via VUSE bit torrent software), skype-ing, watching films / IPlayer and listening to audio tracks. I quite often have a number of (5 or 6) programs running at the same time.

I am staggered by the inaccuracy of this comment.

Tell me exactly what a Quad wont do that a dual core will? Nothing.
The Quad does everything a dual core will and more in fact.

The only thing agree on is that the Q6600 is a bit expensive now. But....considering a dual core (8 series) is only £20-30 less, the Q6600 is by far and away a better buy and will have a much long usage.

Maybe I'm missing something, but out of his list of uses, the ONLY thing I can see that MAY benefit from a quad core (*depending on the package being used*) is the editing / coding.

For everything else I'd take good old fashioned clock speed, which in this case is the 3GHz-ish dual cores vs. a 2.4GHz Q6600.

[PaulBrum]

Maybe I'm missing something, but out of his list of uses, the ONLY thing I can see that MAY benefit from a quad core (*depending on the package being used*) is the editing / coding.

For everything else I'd take good old fashioned clock speed, which in this case is the 3GHz-ish dual cores vs. a 2.4GHz Q6600.

My head hurts - I'm even more confused now than when I started

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This is what I think:
1.) If you have a budget nearer to £600 get a quad core setup
2.) If you have a budget nearer to £500 get a dual core setup

If you have the money get a quad core as more games will make use of it like Farcry 2. Also if you want to some encoding to DIVX for example the latter can use 4 cores!!

For around £600 you can modify the component list by adding a Q6600 for £45 more,a better overclocking motherboard for £30 more and a better heatsink for around £30. This can get to between 3.0ghz reasonably easily.

You can get a Phenom II based system for a similiar price but since you prefer Intel then this is the best way forward!!

Get a quad core now,tweak it to get it to at least 3.0ghz and then forget about it and just use your computer.

If you cannot afford the quad core just get the system I specced as the E7400 should be able to get to above 3ghz easily. You can always drop in a secondhand quad core next year if you have the need and the money!! Games will still run on them fine as both Intel and AMD are still making dual cores!! You will get games like Farcry 2 which have a boost in performance with multiple cores but even with a dual core you will be fine!! Dual cores will be the minimum supported standard for a while!! The important thing is not to overspend on your budget! If you have £500 you should keep to it as there are better things to spend the extra £100 IMHO!!

[staffsMike]

In terms of gaming performance comparing something like a 3.0GHz dual core and the 2.4GHz quad is like comparing the gold and silver winners in the olympics. They are both as good as each in real terms but the dual might just produce a few extra frames per second.

Most other benchmarks (not software.. benchmarks) seem to favour the quads due to having the extra 2 cores at significant clock speeds since for programs that can use it,

4 cores at 2.4GHz is better than 2 core's at 3.0GHz or a bit more.

For programs that don't utlise all 4 cores the higher clocked dual is most likely better but we are spilting hairs here..

CAT's idea of budget is a good one since £500 quad core machines will need to be comprimised in ways you shouldn't really have to.

And I would buy AMD

[Pob255]

Dual core's do still have a place as there's not a great deal of programs that make full use of a quad core.
the higher stock clocks, lower price, lower thermal and power needs also play a part.
While yes the q6600 can be clocked higher but so can the dual cores but not everyone want to overclock.
But again at the same time how much benefit is gained from these overclocks is debateable.

Alot comes down to how it's used, for many people the difference between a e5200 and a q6600 (both at stock) will be un-noticeable in trems of performance but the cost of the cpu is halved which is noticeable.

However for what PaulBrum put forward as his usage, esp the video editing&encodeing work, the quad will tend to be better as this is one area where you get alot of quadcore enabled software.

[PaulBrum]

Right - bit of an about turn !! been researching constantly for the last 24 hrs and have decided to plump for the AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition !!!!!!!!! (available at £150 from Scan), with a HD4850 GPU

It seems to ofer a better upgrade path for the future and is easier to tinker / overclock.

Now - can anyone Spec me a system based on this ?!!??

As always, advice much appreciated

Paul

[staffsMike]

£150? Closer to £200 isn't it.

[PaulBrum]

Ooops - slip of the finger meant to say:

AMD Phenom II X4 920, Deneb Core, S AM2+, 2.8GHz, 8MB Total Cache, FSB/HT 2000MHz, 125W, Retail

£160 on Scan

[PaulBrum]

Thoughts ????

[staffsMike]

You're going to blow it to pieces with that EZCool PSU matey boy.. a 400W corsair for £40 is a much better buy.

There is better and cheaper RAM out there as well.. corsair XMS2 should be £35-£40 for 2GB.
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/2GB-(...d-CAS-4-4-4-12

The palit card might be very noisey.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gainward-RV7...3350254&sr=1-3

Skip the sound card, onboard will be plenty good enough.

[PaulBrum]

Back to the drawing board

Someone please put me out of my misery and spec me a rig !!!!

Confused, dumbstruck......or is it just Dumb ??!!??, of Brum