Help on buying gaming computer

[Ommid]

Buy mine You won't go wrong!

[handscombmp]

One thing you may want to look into JBURNICLE is Scan's Scansure which protects you if you break one of your components whilst putting it into the pc.
This may benefit you as a first time pc builder.

[Emu76]

Of course if you want more graphics power you could go for the XFX 4870X2 which has recently been added to the SCAN lineup for only £243, which is a great bargain. You might have to think again about the i7 processor, but if it is only games you play, and you generally steer clear of video encoding etc. then you will see more of a performance yield with a better graphics card than a better processor. The 4870X2 is faily loud though, yet it is the bleeding edge of graphics technology.

[kalniel]

Of course if you want more graphics power you could go for the XFX 4870X2 which has recently been added to the SCAN lineup for only £243, which is a great bargain. You might have to think again about the i7 processor, but if it is only games you play, and you generally steer clear of video encoding etc. then you will see more of a performance yield with a better graphics card than a better processor. The 4870X2 is faily loud though, yet it is the bleeding edge of graphics technology.

1) It's not the bleeding edge - the Asus 295 (2x285chips) is that.
2) You don't get more performance out of a better graphics card if you're CPU limited

Any of the X2 type cards are not worth considering in the OPs budget - they are specialised bits of kit that you pay over the odds for and you'll only get advantage from them if you're running very very high resolutions.

I'd consider a few extra points:

a) Value for money wise it's hard to argue against the 4870 cards at the moment (apart from the X2)
b) Consider not buying an OS at the moment - use an existing computer (or a friends) to get the Windows 7 RC - it's free and works until spring next year. Come spring next year then buy Window 7 OEM along with an upgrade to the computer - dx11 cards will be out by then so if you buy a cheaper graphics card now then you can upgrade it then and buy the OS with it.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

1) It's not the bleeding edge - the Asus 295 (2x285chips) is that.
2) You don't get more performance out of a better graphics card if you're CPU limited

Any of the X2 type cards are not worth considering in the OPs budget - they are specialised bits of kit that you pay over the odds for and you'll only get advantage from them if you're running very very high resolutions.

I'd consider a few extra points:

a) Value for money wise it's hard to argue against the 4870 cards at the moment (apart from the X2)
b) Consider not buying an OS at the moment - use an existing computer (or a friends) to get the Windows 7 RC - it's free and works until spring next year. Come spring next year then buy Window 7 OEM along with an upgrade to the computer - dx11 cards will be out by then so if you buy a cheaper graphics card now then you can upgrade it then and buy the OS with it.

I think that the HD4870X2 2gb is excellent value for money considering that the cost of two HD4870 1gb cards will be over £260. Also you would need a crossfire capable motherboard which increases the price even more if your motherboard does not support it.

If the OP is going to use Windows 7 RC1 until early next year it would make sense to ditch the GTX275 and get an HD4870X2 instead.

An HD4870X2 even at 1920x1080 or 1920x1200 will still have a longer gaming lifespan than an HD4890 or a GTX275.

[geezerone]

With regards to the potential 'new build' the Antec 300 gaming case and Arctic Freezer 64 CPU cooler would be good to look at too.