Confused lady needs help with choosing components for new PC :-)

[ally5172]

Here it is:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152606

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=909753

Had a ponder on Google and the 1.5v DDR3 RAM should work fine.

Thanks! :-)

[Pob255]

Ummm if you monitor is a wide screen 17" then it'll be 1440x900 and couldn't do 1280x1024, esp the 1024 pixels high as it's only capable of 900 . . .

So lets double check this, get a tape measure out.
Diagonal measurement across the screen (corner to corner screen only not the case)
Screen height
Screen Width
in inches as monitor screens are imperial

(this is an LCD flat screen monitor not and old CRT?)

CRT


LCD

Actually look on the back, there should be a sticker that will give the model number.

[ally5172]

Ummm if you monitor is a wide screen 17" then it'll be 1440x900 and couldn't do 1280x1024, esp the 1024 pixels high as it's only capable of 900 . . .

So lets double check this, get a tape measure out.
Diagonal measurement across the screen (corner to corner screen only not the case)
Screen height
Screen Width
in inches as monitor screens are imperial

(this is an LCD flat screen monitor not and old CRT?)

CRT


LCD

Actually look on the back, there should be a sticker that will give the model number.

Well, it says widescreen... http://www.amazon.co.uk/HannsG-HW173.../dp/B000RIXNCC it's that one, or at least, it looks the same to me...

[Pob255]

Yes that one you linked to was wide screen, however you still could display 1280x1024 on it as that's more vertical pixels than it can do.
Sure you're not running it at 1024x768?
Personally I would run it at the correct 1440x900 simply because the image will get squashed and for me that's a real personal dislike, I can put up with lcd monitors being run below there native resolution (ie below what they can do)
However the distortion of running a 4:3 ratio desktop on a 16:10 ratio monitor drives me potty.
But again that's just me.

For that size screen go for an Ati HD4850 graphics card, the extra power of the 5770 will be wasted and the 4850 will be nearly half the price while still being overpowered on many games.
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s....html?NOV-4850 £72.44
And Novatech also do a free delivery option on orders over £50

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I probably still go with the HD5770. My HD4830 overclocked to near the performance level of an HD4850(700mhz for the core) still cannot cut it at 1440x900 on a game like Crysis under DX10 on higher performance settings in Vista and that is with a 2.91ghz Q6600! Games are only going to get more demanding and an HD5770 will have bigger reserves of performance to last the next 12 to 18 months or so. The HD5770 is at least 20% faster in current games than an HD4850 using immature drivers and in future games the performance difference will start to increase due to its added DX11 features such as its full support for DX11 level tessellation.

Here is some info about the new features in DX11:

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon...-review-test/4

Unlike DX10, DX11 seems to be having a more enthusiastic reception from developers.

[ally5172]

With the current bits it looks like I would probably have enough for a new monitor as well should I decide to go for one, so maybe I'll look into that as well.

[Phage]

I've lost track. Where are we up to ?
(Yay for the 300. I liked them so much I bought myself. The switch feels a bit plasticky, but it works fine.)

[ally5172]

Currently it looks like this (mostly recommendations from you lot, feel free to suggest something else as I've no clue)

AMD Phenom II X3 720
HD 5770/4850???
Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P
Corsair 450w HX series PSU
Crucial 4gb DDR3 ram
Antec 300 case
LG SATA DVD-RW
Hard drive??? *does it matter which one?*
Windows 7

This actually leaves me with a bit to spare, so I guess I could always go for a new monitor as well...

[vincent.m]

Currently it looks like this (mostly recommendations from you lot, feel free to suggest something else as I've no clue)

AMD Phenom II X3 720
HD 5770/4850???
Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P
Corsair 450w HX series PSU
Crucial 4gb DDR3 ram
Antec 300 case
LG SATA DVD-RW
Hard drive??? *does it matter which one?*
Windows 7

This actually leaves me with a bit to spare, so I guess I could always go for a new monitor as well...

I would say the hard drive matters to a degree, i would go with hard drives that have a reputation of having lowest faults. I have had Samsung Spin point (current ones), Seagate and Maxtor. i have preference for Samsung (the casing looks slightly more attractive !
i personally don't like antec 300, but it's probably a good case

[Champman99]

Speed matters for hard drive as well, boot times? level load times?

The current thinking is the Samsung F3 drives. They are cheap, very fast, and should be very reliable.

[ally5172]

Thanks vincent and champman

[Pob255]

Samsung F3
Western digital Black

size . . . how much do you want?
I'd say a 500gb would be fine as long as you don't download loads of films and stuff.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The Samsung F3 500gb is a single platter drive and is very good value for money.