Looking for advice - low budget ''gaming capable'' build

[Lapis]

For the price of postage I'll ship you a couple, I've got so many cables my desk draw spares stash doesn't close anymore

PM if your interested

That'd be great, will PM you in a tick. Cheers!

On the topic of cables, are there any makes/vendors of SATA cables that are particularly recommended these days or are they all much of a muchness (i.e. can I throw in some generic Novatech ones into my basket without issue)?

[circuitmonkey]

That'd be great, will PM you in a tick. Cheers!

On the topic of cables, are there any makes/vendors of SATA cables that are particularly recommended these days or are they all much of a muchness (i.e. can I throw in some generic Novatech ones into my basket without issue)?

should be fine, I tend to try to get the ones with retaining clips on them. and for the sake of neatness try not to get them to long.

[Lapis]

Hi chaps.

The systems are all built, and installed in my nephews' bedrooms. However, as I warned their mum, the monitors they already have are simply not up to doing the new PCs justice.

To recap, the systems are made up of:
MSI 740GTM-P25 740G Socket AM2+ 8 Channel Audio Out MATX Motherboard
AMD Athlon II X2 250 Socket AM3 3.0GHz 2MB L2 Cache
OCZ 2GB KIt (2x1GB) DDR2 1066MHz/PC2-8500 Reaper Memory HPC Edition Dual Channel Kit CL5
PowerColor HD 4770 PCS 512MB GDDR5 DVI VGA HDMI PCI-E Graphics Card

I've browsed a good while, but once again I simply have to wave the white flag regarding my current knowledge of displays.

So, what am I after with this particular graphics card/build? 1680x1050 or 1920x1080? I'd assume that 1920x would be rather taxing for it. All I can say is that they'll mostly be gaming, and that the budget is again very tight, as their mum didn't expect to be shelling out for monitors also. The blame there lies with me, for not being more insistent. Ho hum.

What models should I be looking at for around £130 (with a little leeway)?

Outlandishly enormous bucket-loads of thanks to anyone who can help here, and to everyone who has already been so instructive. I'm working hard on getting back into all this, so hopefully I can be of some use around these parts later down the line!

Jessica =)

[nibbler]

£130 each or 2 for £130?

[Pob255]

Personally I'd go for 22" 1680x1050, will depend on the game but most should play well at high setting with a 4770, I'd not go higher, they'll struggle

HannsG 22" £110
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173911
Not the prityest of monitors on the outside, but they are good while still cheap.
HannsG is the brand name for the PC monitors, Hanns Spree in the brand name for the TV's, the parent company is HannStar Display Corporation which is one of the few companies that actually make the panels used in monitors

[Lapis]

£130 each or 2 for £130?

Sorry if I wasn't clear; £130 each.

[nibbler]

Sorry if I wasn't clear; £130 each.

Phew, £130 for both would be pointless

Can't really go far wrong with these:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145316
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149336
And if you feel like size matters:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/177177

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would go for a 1680X1050 monitor otherwise the kids maybe disappointed if they cannot run their games at the native resolution of the panel!

Also I would get a monitor with a DVI connection as opposed to an analogue one as the image quality is better . I would also make sure that you get a DVI cable too as not all LCD monitor come with one.

The HannsG HI221D and HI221DP have got decent reviews.

HI221D reviews:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/revie...sg-hi221d.html

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/revie...sg-hi221d.html

http://www.itreviews.co.uk/hardware/h1858.htm

HI221DP reviews:

http://www.macworld.co.uk/digitallif...pe=allchandate

http://www.techradar.com/news/comput...2183?artc_pg=2

The ViewSonic VA2226W also has a good review:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142697

All three monitors are under £120:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173911

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142697

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150174

[Pob255]

I think the only difference between the two HannsG monitors is that the HI221D has speakers and is a few quid more than the HI221DP

Speaking of speakers, do you have any? or headphones for them?
They will not like you if you give them gameing pc's without sound, if you go for the HannsG at £110 then you'll have £20 left over for some cheap speakers and/or a mic headset
a little over the £20 but should be ok
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/118487
+
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/79948

[Lapis]

I would get a monitor with a DVI connection as opposed to an analogue one as the image quality is better . I would also make sure that you get a DVI cable too as not all LCD monitor come with one.

Don't think I can use a DVI cable with the MSI 740GTM-P25 740G Socket AM2+ 8 Channel Audio Out MATX Motherboard, can I?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Don't think I can use a DVI cable with the MSI 740GTM-P25 740G Socket AM2+ 8 Channel Audio Out MATX Motherboard, can I?

The HD4770 will have a DVI connector as you would plug the monitor into the graphics card as you are bypassing the integrated graphics card.

[Lapis]

The HD4770 will have a DVI connector as you would plug the monitor into the graphics card as you are bypassing the integrated graphics card.

My jaw is slack at my stupidity this time. Must have been having something of a brain-wrong when I posted that!

Loads of thanks to everyone who helped me with the build, especially Mr Mooseman and Pob. You are both scholars and indeed gentlemen. Cheers!

Jessica =)