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Thread: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

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    Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Hi All - Competition for the only desktop in the household is now reaching ludricous levels

    Please can you provide me with a spec that will be ideal for a second machine. Mostly homework and some gaming. It may be worth noting that stepson #2 is very interested in CAD and Architecture, and is really getting into his art in a serious way.

    I was thinking something on the lines of

    CPU - AMD quadcore (955 ?)
    4gb RAM - No idea what's suitable
    MoBo - no idea
    GPU - will donate 4890 from my current system
    HDD - Donate 1Tb hitachi from my current system
    22-24" TN panel
    W7 64
    Antec 300 or similar
    PSU - 400W ?
    Generic USB keyboard/mouse

    (my ulterior motive would be the 5870, SSD and F3 )

    As always - Ta muchly in advance.
    Society's to blame,
    Or possibly Atari.

  2. #2
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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    What is your budget??

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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Hmmm - As low as possible - £500 max ?
    I'm relying on your encyclopedic knowledge to tell me what is an appropriate price level.
    I have some flexibility...
    Society's to blame,
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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Any need for Crossfire capability??

    Are you going to overclock the CPU or just keep it at stock speeds??

    Will possible compatibility with the Phenom II X6 be important??

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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    No crossfire, No OCing
    I'm not sure what the compatibility issue is that you're referring to ? New generation ?
    Society's to blame,
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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Quote Originally Posted by Phage View Post
    No crossfire, No OCing
    I'm not sure what the compatibility issue is that you're referring to ? New generation ?
    In the next few months some tweaked Phenom II processors using the Zosma and Thuban cores are being released. Supposedly these will have a Turbo Boost like technology and perhaps some other architectural tweaks although this has not been confirmed.

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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    They probably won't need the extra performance or cost. Your recommendation ? Wait for the new core or go with current crop, which would be more than enough I'm sure.
    Society's to blame,
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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Quote Originally Posted by Phage View Post
    They probably won't need the extra performance or cost. Your recommendation ? Wait for the new core or go with current crop, which would be more than enough I'm sure.
    Since you need the new PC now just go with the current core. Next year you could always plonk in a cheap secondhand six core CPU if needed.

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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Quote Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH View Post
    Since you need the new PC now just go with the current core. Next year you could always plonk in a cheap secondhand six core CPU if needed.
    Sounds like good advice.
    I'm looking forward to your recommendation...
    Society's to blame,
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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    This is what I would look at getting:

    Phenom II X4 955BE ~ £125

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190673

    This is the latest C3 stepping version of the Phenom II X4 955BE which has the code HDZ955FBGMBOX and can run 4 banks of DDR3 at 1333MHZ and has improved power consumption.

    4GB low latency 1333MHZ DDR3 ~ £79

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/179278

    Asus M4A785TD-V EVO ~ £71

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169532

    This has an 8+2 phase VRM with cooling,all solid capacitors and the HD4200 IGP.Uses the 785G chipset and the SB710 southbridge.

    OR

    Asus M4A79XTD EVO ~ £87

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172846

    This has an 8+2 phase VRM with cooling,all solid capacitors and can do assymetrical Crossfire at PCI-E 2.0 8X/8X. This uses the 790X chipset and the SB750 southbridge.

    Antec 300 ~ £43

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

    Corsair HX450W ~ £58

    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/450W-...-year-Warranty

    OR

    OCZ 500W Mod XStream Pro PSU ~ £58

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

    You are looking at around £376 to £392 excluding postage.

    I would look at getting the retail version of Windows 7 instead of the OEM version:

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/168373

    Here are a few 24" LCD monitors:

    http://www.ebuyer.com/search?page=1&...12&subcat=2097

    Getting a 22" LCD monitor would be cheaper:

    http://www.ebuyer.com/search?limit=5...ricelow&page=1

    The Benq 24" LCD monitors look reasonably fine for the price:

    http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...php?t=18089775
    Last edited by CAT-THE-FIFTH; 10-02-2010 at 04:09 PM.

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    Phage (10-02-2010)

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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    You are a bloody genius.
    I owe you a beer !
    Society's to blame,
    Or possibly Atari.

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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Do you need a 2nd desktop or could you get away with a Notebook? Some stellar deals on them at the moment. I use CAD on my notebook .
    [
    Quote Originally Posted by Blitzen
    When I say go, both walk in the opposite direction for 10 paces, draw handbags, then bitch-slap each other!

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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Just realised none of the PSUs will run a pair of HD4890 1GB cards since they only have a pair of PCI-E power connectors!! Doh!! Anyway the 790X is still a nicer chipset than the 785G but both should do the job IMHO.

    If the OP wants a nice notebook capable of some gaming I would look at this Mesh:

    http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default...UCT&KEY=656957

    The same notebook without an OS:

    http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default...UCT&KEY=647175

    It has the Mobility Radeon HD4650 DDR3.

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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Quote Originally Posted by 0iD View Post
    Do you need a 2nd desktop or could you get away with a Notebook? Some stellar deals on them at the moment. I use CAD on my notebook .
    Yes - for multiple users. There's some gaming in there. Thanks anyway.
    Society's to blame,
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  16. #15
    Pork & Beans Powerup Phage's Avatar
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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    Does anyone have a recommendation on a decent TN panel 22-24" ?
    Society's to blame,
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    Re: Gah ! 2nd desktop may be needed

    The Benq G2420HDBL is worth a look at and the thread on OcUK is also worth reading.

    I would also look at the following Phillips monitor too:

    http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161787

    The only issue is that most of the cheaper 23" and 24" monitors are 16:9 ratio and not 16:10 as the latter is better for work and general use IMHO.

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