£600 to spend - What would you go for?

[Warpy1]

The Phenom II X3 720 is not only a good overclocker but you are getting an extra core too. With some X3 processors you can actually unlock the fourth disabled core too and at least one Hexus user has done this with their PhenomII X3 720.

Games which take advantage of multiple cores will run faster on a Phenom II X3 BTW.


The newer OCZ PSU can be had at Ebuyer too:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152009

The modular design will be better as it will make sure that unnecessary cables do not clog up the case!
I would also look at getting an mATX case like the Elite 340 too:

Here are some user reviews with pictures of the inside and outside of the case:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums...ic.php?t=45193

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1232853


Here is a review of the case:

http://www.upgraderguides.com/index.php?type=5&id=95

What games take avantage of X3?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

FarCry 2,Crysis Warhead, UT3 and the PC version of GTA4 take advantage of multiple cores:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/16382/4

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==

[Warpy1]

Did we cross post?

As I said, the E8400 strikes me as a good gaming CPU, and I believe they are meant to overclock well too (it's currently £135 on ebuyer). That would be my choice if you're looking for an overall performance system. If you just want something that can drive a high-end graphics card for blistering frame-rates, then I'd echo whoever it was who said go for the E5200. It's proper Core2-bred processor, just with a slower bus and lower cache, and it's only £58 at the moment. If you're going to be gaming at the maximum res of your 22" monitor, get one of those and put the extra £75 into your graphics card. If you want something in between, ebuyer are doing the E7400 for just under £100 which puts it in direct competition with the Phenom II X3 710... again, not a terrible choice for a balanced system...

Sorry mate, must have been typing at the same time lol!! I'm tempted to go for the E5200 and get a nice overclocking board clock that till its socks come off and as you say the door is open then get a nice g card and memory etc. So many options though!

[Warpy1]

FarCry 2,Crysis Warhead, UT3 and the PC version of GTA4 take advantage of multiple cores:

http://techreport.com/articles.x/16382/4

http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==

Thanks mate, and those are the games I actually play too.. ! Decisions!!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The Phenom II X3 720 can overclock to 3.2ghz+ easily according to reviews. Also more and more games are going to take advantage of multiple cores too. If you are lucky you maybe able to unlock the fourth core too!!

[scaryjim]

Thanks mate, and those are the games I actually play too.. !

Damn, I was about to post a spec with a dual-core! It sounds like the 3 core will really help you though, so with a bit of tweaking:

ASUS M3N78 GeForce 8200 Socket AM2+ onboard Graphics 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz Socket AM3 6MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
Sapphire HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card
Corsair 4Gb (2x2GB) DDR2 1066MHz/PC2-8500 XMS2 Memory
Maxtor STM3250310AS 250GB SATAII 8MB Cache - OEM
LiteOn LH-20A1S 20X SATA DVD±RW DL & Ram Black Bare Drive - OEM
Antec 300 Three Hundred Case - No PSU
Antec TruePower Trio 650W PSU - With 3x 12v Rails and 120mm Fan
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic -SP1- Licence and media - 1 PC - OEM - DVD - 64-bit - English

total £599.48 with free delivery (ebuyer). That's a full size ATX motherboard, rather than mATX - are more expansion slots a bad thing?! (probably not, IMNSHO).

[Nobull]

Damn, I was about to post a spec with a dual-core! It sounds like the 3 core will really help you though, so with a bit of tweaking:

ASUS M3N78 GeForce 8200 Socket AM2+ onboard Graphics 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz Socket AM3 6MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
Sapphire HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card
Corsair 4Gb (2x2GB) DDR2 1066MHz/PC2-8500 XMS2 Memory
Maxtor STM3250310AS 250GB SATAII 8MB Cache - OEM
LiteOn LH-20A1S 20X SATA DVD±RW DL & Ram Black Bare Drive - OEM
Antec 300 Three Hundred Case - No PSU
Antec TruePower Trio 650W PSU - With 3x 12v Rails and 120mm Fan
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic -SP1- Licence and media - 1 PC - OEM - DVD - 64-bit - English

total £599.48 with free delivery (ebuyer). That's a full size ATX motherboard, rather than mATX - are more expansion slots a bad thing?! (probably not, IMNSHO).

A 650W PSU is probably overkill, would be better getting one thats £20 cheaper and putting it towards a diff mobo. Havnt heard good things about the Nvidia Chipsets. If your going to go PII CPU wise it has to be a 790GX/FX/X board if you ask me. Other things you suggested are fine, except maybe go for some £35 4GB corsair RAM which is a bit slower but not sure you would notice the difference. Also for me personally I'd go for a cheaper case and put the money saved towards the PII 720 black edition if he was thinking of overclocking, will make things a damn sight easier!

[scaryjim]

Havnt heard good things about the Nvidia Chipsets.

Curious - I used to use them all the time a couple of years back and have been very happy with them - in fact my HTPC (due for replacement soon) is running on an NForce 2 chipset!

If your going to go PII CPU wise it has to be a 790GX/FX/X board if you ask me.

My original spec - based around a 7750 X2 - included this MSI 790GX-based ATX mobo @ £82.82 from ebuyer - no CrossFire, but a nice board nonetheless. You'd need to trim another £25 off the spec though, so I guess you'd probably be looking at this OCZ Stealth XStream 500W PSU and using an adapter for your second PCIe power connector (Who needs molex anyway, right?)

EDIT: Warpy - want me to post a modifed spec, or are you OK just referring back?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

IIRC the AMD 780G and 790GX are better for overclocking than the Nvidia 8200(although I could be wrong).

[Nobull]

Just seen some AMAZING PSU deals on Scan's today only....under 'super savers' near the bottom of the list

850W NorthQ Black Magic Flex Modular Green £58 normally ~ £92!!

650W Silverstone £56. normally ~ £67

560W Silverstone 'Zues' £51. normally ~ £69

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

I think any of these would be perfect for your build. I would seriously grab 1 while you can, PSU prices have been on the rise of late and you could save yourself nearly £20 on some of these. £20 would go a long way towards a better GFX/CPU/MOBO

[Warpy1]

EDIT: Warpy - want me to post a modifed spec, or are you OK just referring back?

Should be ok thanks mate. Thanks everyone for so much help - I'll give this thread a proper good read when i get in from work. It's hard tryin to sift through all the posts whilst at work lol!

[Sputnik]

Damn, I was about to post a spec with a dual-core! It sounds like the 3 core will really help you though, so with a bit of tweaking:

ASUS M3N78 GeForce 8200 Socket AM2+ onboard Graphics 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
AMD Phenom II X3 710 2.6GHz Socket AM3 6MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
Sapphire HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 Dual DVI HDCP HDTV out PCI-E Graphics Card
Corsair 4Gb (2x2GB) DDR2 1066MHz/PC2-8500 XMS2 Memory
Maxtor STM3250310AS 250GB SATAII 8MB Cache - OEM
LiteOn LH-20A1S 20X SATA DVD±RW DL & Ram Black Bare Drive - OEM
Antec 300 Three Hundred Case - No PSU
Antec TruePower Trio 650W PSU - With 3x 12v Rails and 120mm Fan
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic -SP1- Licence and media - 1 PC - OEM - DVD - 64-bit - English

total £599.48 with free delivery (ebuyer). That's a full size ATX motherboard, rather than mATX - are more expansion slots a bad thing?! (probably not, IMNSHO).

Don't get the 710. The 720 is soo much better and only £119 at Ebuyer.

[Mr JB]

I would avoid the I7 like the plage as that platform is way over priced.

[Warpy1]

Just seen some AMAZING PSU deals on Scan's today only....under 'super savers' near the bottom of the list

850W NorthQ Black Magic Flex Modular Green £58 normally ~ £92!!

650W Silverstone £56. normally ~ £67

560W Silverstone 'Zues' £51. normally ~ £69

http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

I think any of these would be perfect for your build. I would seriously grab 1 while you can, PSU prices have been on the rise of late and you could save yourself nearly £20 on some of these. £20 would go a long way towards a better GFX/CPU/MOBO

Thanks for this, I think I will get one of those 560W's popped into the cart. 650W would be overkill for the system really.

Here is the plan:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159069
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151484
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/153311
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146049 (I can OC this to 1066MHz whilst saving money!)
http://www.scan.co.uk/product.aspx?ProductId=26364
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143854
http://www.scan.co.uk/product.aspx?ProductId=14742
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/123051

= £400!!

What do you think? Can I improve on anything as I'm saving £200 here!

I've made some slight changes, merging some ideas ppl have suggested

[lego batman]

Is it just me or does that add up to about £560?
Oh and apparently the antec 300 case benefits from a couple of extra fans (thanks CK_1985). He recommends these http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/120mm...ZM-F3-Case-fan
Also you'll need an optical drive.

[Warpy1]

Ah balls, 1 my maths is bad and 2 I forgot some stuff. Least I'll be under the budget anyway even with an optical drive and a few fans.