Bottlenecking question - is it worth it? Other options?

[JERorly]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[redddraggon]

Memory: Major Brand 4gb DDR3 1333 PC10660 Memory Module

Power Supply: Branded 750w 24Pin Power Supply Unit

Why don't they name the brand then?

I'd steer clear of that personally.

[JERorly]

Why don't they name the brand then?

I'd steer clear of that personally.

He's adament on finding a computer with i7 processor and a GTX 460-480 and pref a terrabyte harddrive, not to mention he would prefer at least 4 gigs of ram, with a budget of 600. Is he being unrealistic?

[redddraggon]

He's adament on finding a computer with i7 processor and a GTX 460-480 and pref a terrabyte harddrive, not to mention he would prefer at least 4 gigs of ram, with a budget of 600. Is he being unrealistic?

I'd say so at this time.

[kalniel]

He's adament on finding a computer with i7 processor and a GTX 460-480 and pref a terrabyte harddrive, not to mention he would prefer at least 4 gigs of ram, with a budget of 600. Is he being unrealistic?

Depends if he's willing to take a chance on poor quality components. Sometimes it works out fine, perhaps even in most cases. But most people here would rather play safe and avoid the hassles.

How long is he planning on keeping it? If it's just going to be a whim until he gets bored of the game then it'd be fine. If he wants to carry on using it 5 years down the line without frustrations then I'd spend a bit more and get the quality.

[JERorly]

I believe it's the final computer he wants to purchase, like ever. If he ever had to get any more power he'd just upgrade it. He's played Football Manager since the first Championship Manager so I don't see him stopping any time soon.

[scaryjim]

He's adament on finding a computer with <specs snipped> with a budget of 600. Is he being unrealistic?

Yes. And then again, No.

Pre-built, I think he's being optimistic. To fit all the components in *and* make enough money to pay yourself for the time it takes to build a PC, you have to scrimp somewhere to fit everything into £600. Like we've said, that's almost certainly with the PSU - and the PSU is the *worst* bit of a PC to scrimp on, because a cheap PSU is more likely to blow *and* more likely to take other bits of your PC with it. The pre-builders who don't scrimp on PSUs, however, are unlikely to use budget motherboards, lower-mid-range graphics cards and high end CPUs all in the same build - so if he wants an i7 build he's likely to find that decent pre-built systems are nearer £1000, because they'll use higher end P55 motherboards and GTX470/480 (or ATI 5850/5870) graphics cards to match the high end processor.

Now, if he's willing to build it himself (or you're willing to build it for him!), he might just get there. I hadn't realised that machine had been specced with a 768MB GTX460: mainly because I'd never even *think* about putting anything less than a 1GB GTX460 with an i7. But if he's happy with the 9800GT, then I suppose a 768MB would still be a significant GFX upgrade for you! That would free up more budget than I'd allowed for last time I ran a spec, and might *just* make it possible. You'd still be scrimping here and there: budget motherboard, cheaper case, but you could do it and still work in a *proper* branded 500W PSU (500W would be *more* than sufficient).

[scaryjim]

I believe it's the final computer he wants to purchase, like ever. If he ever had to get any more power he'd just upgrade it.

Then he really doesn't want to buy anything based on Socket 1156, which is being canned next year when Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture is being released, bringing with it a new socket (s1155). So the only thing he'd be able to upgrade, realistically, would be the graphics card (I suppose he could nick his GTX460 back off you at that point ). Intel won't be releasing any better CPUs for s1156 than the i7 8x0 so there simply won't be an upgrade option available.

If he doesn't want to replace the computer "ever" than he either needs to wait for the new architectures that both AMD and Intel are launching next year (and even then, they won't last for "ever", although he might get more like 5 - 7 years out of them), or he needs to dig deeper into his pockets and get something based on a Core i7 9x0, which is going to be the performance socket for around 18 months more (Sandy Bridge is being released as a mid-range part first) and may well get some reasonably priced 6-core processors released for it, which would at least give him a possible upgrade option. But the concept of buying an i7 9x0 rig then putting a 9800GT in it just feels wrong

Seriously though, I think your dad needs to sit down and think very carefully about what he's looking for here. He's right that an i7 is really the only decent CPU upgrade from a Q6600 that's available at the minute, but the Q6600 is still a very capable CPU and perhaps he needs to wait a bit longer before buying a new PC?

And he *certainly* needs to steer clear of any sub-£600 core i7 builds, because they're cutting corners somewhere...

[JERorly]

Yes. And then again, No.

Pre-built, I think he's being optimistic. To fit all the components in *and* make enough money to pay yourself for the time it takes to build a PC, you have to scrimp somewhere to fit everything into £600. Like we've said, that's almost certainly with the PSU - and the PSU is the *worst* bit of a PC to scrimp on, because a cheap PSU is more likely to blow *and* more likely to take other bits of your PC with it. The pre-builders who don't scrimp on PSUs, however, are unlikely to use budget motherboards, lower-mid-range graphics cards and high end CPUs all in the same build - so if he wants an i7 build he's likely to find that decent pre-built systems are nearer £1000, because they'll use higher end P55 motherboards and GTX470/480 (or ATI 5850/5870) graphics cards to match the high end processor.

Now, if he's willing to build it himself (or you're willing to build it for him!), he might just get there. I hadn't realised that machine had been specced with a 768MB GTX460: mainly because I'd never even *think* about putting anything less than a 1GB GTX460 with an i7. But if he's happy with the 9800GT, then I suppose a 768MB would still be a significant GFX upgrade for you! That would free up more budget than I'd allowed for last time I ran a spec, and might *just* make it possible. You'd still be scrimping here and there: budget motherboard, cheaper case, but you could do it and still work in a *proper* branded 500W PSU (500W would be *more* than sufficient).

Thank you very much for your responses, I will talk to him about that option as he has always said he wanted us to build a computer.

[scaryjim]

Thank you very much for your responses, I will talk to him about that option as he has always said he wanted us to build a computer.

Good stuff - building a computer is pretty easy nowadays, and you get a real sense of satisfaction when (if? ) it purrs into life for the first time. If he decides to build himself, drop back and start a new thread - I'm sure lots of people will have good suggestions for the specification

[Domestic_Ginger]

I think self build is the way to go with his idea around "buying his last computer and then upgrading it".

With a nice case and PSU you can look at upgrading the CPU/RAM/MOBO periodically. Perhaps the other parts as and when.

[JERorly]

It may look like this will be the option I am taking - the real challenge may be dropping the news to him without questioning my motives.

[JERorly]

I've informed him of what all of you have said and he said, being as stubborn as he is, that they're all opinionated responses and he's willing to take that risk of the computer having cheaper parts.

[g8ina]

Having been a member here for some time now, and having read the responses above, I strongly recommend you get Dad to reconsider these most vaulable opinions...

These guys really do know what they are on about, with (I suspect) a fair few working in the industry, so they are *qualified* opinions, not just peeing into the wind !

I built my own PC years ago and the satisfaction is immense. I have upgraded as time and money allowed and now I have pretty close to my ideal. I have been steered away from some iffy component suggestions by this most estimable crew and that's why I'm still a member here.

I have also used Mr Clunks overclocking guide to good effect

Good Luck is all I can say after that

[JERorly]

Having been a member here for some time now, and having read the responses above, I strongly recommend you get Dad to reconsider these most vaulable opinions...

These guys really do know what they are on about, with (I suspect) a fair few working in the industry, so they are *qualified* opinions, not just peeing into the wind !

I built my own PC years ago and the satisfaction is immense. I have upgraded as time and money allowed and now I have pretty close to my ideal. I have been steered away from some iffy component suggestions by this most estimable crew and that's why I'm still a member here.

I have also used Mr Clunks overclocking guide to good effect

Good Luck is all I can say after that

I agree with everything you've said - I'm trying to get him to read the topic but to no avail!

[nibbler]

On his own head be it...