Thoughts on New System Please

[r3morse]

Hi,

I plan on building a new computer soon, within the next 3 months.

I've been looking around at what kind of system I can get for under £700.

The nice thing is I already have a good screen, case and cd drives so I don't need to spend money there.

Looking around, AMD + ATI look to be the best for value, so this is what I've come up with:

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P ~ £110
• CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 BlackEdition ~ £190
• GPU: 1GB Sapphire HD4890 OC ~ £200
• RAM: G.Skill DDR3 PC 12800 CL9 4GB ~ £65
• PSU: 620W Coolermaster Real Power M620 Modular ~ £80

Can you spot any potential problems with this? I'd really like a stable setup, having a computer that fails to load windows every other boot sucks .

Also is there anything that maybe I should wait for, like a price drop or new processor?

Thanks, Sam.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This is what I would get:

AMD Phenom II X4 955 ~ £183

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

1TB Samsung HD103UJ ~ £66

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

GA-MA790XT-UD4P ~ £108

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Gigab...-SATA-RAID-ATX

OCZ 4GB DDR3 1333MHz ~ £52

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151244

HD4890 1gb ~ £145

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1GB-X...-DL-DVI-I-HDTV

Enermax 620w modular ~ £96

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/620W-...PeakPower-680W

A bit pricey but a very good PSU.

Antec 300 ~ £47

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143854

DVD rewriter ~ £16

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

The total should come around £730.

[Crusoex]

I'd advise to go Intel. You get much more bang per buck. You really need to specify what you want to use your computer though before you ask people. Otherwise nobody can tell you what is the 'ideal' computer as it depends on your requirements!

[staffsMike]

I don't think you really get more bangs for bucks going intel. Certainly get more bangs... but it comes with a premium on both chips and motherboards.

I'd essentially mirror CATs build but perhaps not get a gigabyte board (personal preference/experience).

I'd also be more inclined to buy a 500W libertyeco, saves a few quid and I can't see you needing anymore than that.

Case wise, the 300 is fine but I'd rather a coolermaster cm-690 from experience. Both are nice enough but the CM edges it for me. That said I would infact if it were my money get an Antec P180 mini (£57 on ebuyer) and build the pc on the uATX platforms that AMD offer, albeit not AM3 as of yet.

[r3morse]

Yes, looking around Intel's are the faster processors, but you pay a lot more for very little extra. I just don't think it's worth paying that premium when it's only going to go down in price anyway.

CAT-THE-FIFTH - Thanks for the suggestions, I think I will switch the RAM too what you mentioned, and I will look into the PSU.

staffsMike - My only problem would be that I have had problems with DFI, and bad feedback about asus motherboards. The only other brands are gigabyte and someone else that I haven't heard of. I'll also look into that PSU .

And as a note I already have a case + dvd drives, a P182 case I might add .

[staffsMike]

Very nice case indeed. I have both (p180 mini and p182)

Well i've never had an asus board let me down. Currently running two and I've ran probably 10 others over the years Same cant be said for gigabyte but that was in the past.. I just havent forgiven them yet.

[r3morse]

Yes, tbh I do like the look of the asus board more

I will be using it for gaming and for uni so something that can run stable and for the long term.