Machina Mia

[k0nigen]

Hi geezers

I wonder if someone has the ability to suggest a nice machine (setup) that can run nicley given such tasks as general desktop apps, DVD crunching/burning, gaming

Budget would be around £500 w/o monitor
...I'm looking for a nice balance

cheers

--
k0nigen

[nvening]

And you want pre built?
i would suggest this: http://www.meshcomputers.com/updated/matrix_1_1.htm

[k0nigen]

And you want pre built?
i would suggest this: http://www.meshcomputers.com/updated/matrix_1_1.htm

sorry, I should've said: I'd be ordering the bits and building myself

Cheers

[nvening]

Any OC? And preferences when it comes to parts, also have you found anything yourself yet?

[k0nigen]

Any OC? And preferences when it comes to parts, also have you found anything yourself yet?

No OCing
preferences: decent quality parts
I've done a lot of research but I just go in circles, if I get some thoughts from anyone that make sense to me, it might just show me the path on which to walk...

[johnnr892]

overclocking is really easy and safe if you have guidance, you can save a lot of money that way. Instead of having to get a a 3800+ or a 3500, you could save youself a lot of money and get a 3000+ or 3200+ and overlcock it a bit using the right equipment, but I don't want to force you to do something you don't. With the right memeory, cooling and motherboard your 3000 or 3200+ would reach 3500 speeds easily and probabbly even 3800+. Just a thought...

[k0nigen]

It's the guidance that I lack!

I will have a go at pushing components to perform better at some point but I'd just like to see what my money could buy just for a 'normal' pc. I'm confident enough to build it myself (with a little help) and not that fussed about performance to bother with overclocking yet.
The main reason I've posted here is because I got a quote for a pc from Kustompcs and it was £1300 no monitor which I thought was a lot but maybe worth it, then I looked at the components if bought seperately and the price tumbled dramatically. The thing is, I don't know where to draw the line on performance/cost! It's because of this that I asked the initial question.

I really don't think I'll be paying a premium for a pc, I'd rather do it myself, but I don't want to end up with a system that falls on its arse in 1 or 2 areas, I'd rather have a nice, stable and balanced machine that doesn't break the bank

[johnnr892]

Ok here you go, prices taken from microdirect( i haven't taken into account the new venice core and sandiego, but if anybody wants to update prices, please do. )

64 bit socket 939 3200+ £126
ASUS AV8-E deluxe sli, pci-express: £95
sparkle 6600gt pci-express sli-ready: £120
Geil ddr dual channel pc3200 1gb: £54
80gb hardrive £40
Case £30
PSU £53 Tagen

Total: (bit over budget) £518

Please anybody change my choices because I'm not the most experienced with the 64 bit processors and boards. Thanks,hope this helps. John.

[k0nigen]

excellent stuff, johnnr

I reckon I'd be willing to push the boat and get double the hard drive capacity but the rest looks great. Anyone else like to add anything?
BTW: which tagan is that? would it need to be 480 or is 380 enough?

[nvening]

What case is that? I would be tempted to spend a bit more on a case, it is the thing ur guna see.

[schmunk]

excellent stuff, johnnr

I reckon I'd be willing to push the boat and get double the hard drive capacity but the rest looks great. Anyone else like to add anything?
BTW: which tagan is that? would it need to be 480 or is 380 enough?

380W is quite enough - don't believe the hype of the L33T OV3RC7OCK3RZ... My PSU is 200W and it is easily powerful enough for my system (and yours won't be much more hungry).

[k0nigen]

What case is that? I would be tempted to spend a bit more on a case, it is the thing ur guna see.

yeah, I'm thinking of a silver windowless Tsunami rather than standard-o-case
Looks like I'll be spending more towards £600, unless I wait a couple or three months...

[nvening]

I get bad reports of the Tsunami. Oh and the Wave master is worse.

[k0nigen]

I get bad reports of the Tsunami. Oh and the Wave master is worse.

oh! so what would be the recommendation of the day in the case dept?

[Lu-tze]

do you have any software? i would go for something like:

amd 3000 (venice preferable) £100
abit AX-8 £75
1gb Ram £60
coolermaster centurion £50
akasa 400W psu £45
6600gt £120
Seagate baracuda 160gb £70
dvd burner £40
XP OEM £60

= £620

its hard to go below that without skimping a lot on the case + psu, or going for a cheaper gpu. you could just get a 512mb stick of RAM for about £30 and buy another later, but theres no guarantee of it working dua-channel that way. you can always go for cheaper hdd if you don't need the capacity, and most people dont need more than 80gb.

[k0nigen]

do you have any software? i would go for something like:

amd 3000 (venice preferable) £100
abit AX-8 £75
1gb Ram £60
coolermaster centurion £50
akasa 400W psu £45
6600gt £120
Seagate baracuda 160gb £70
dvd burner £40
XP OEM £60

= £620

its hard to go below that without skimping a lot on the case + psu, or going for a cheaper gpu. you could just get a 512mb stick of RAM for about £30 and buy another later, but theres no guarantee of it working dua-channel that way. you can always go for cheaper hdd if you don't need the capacity, and most people dont need more than 80gb.

How comes the Venice is preferable? Will the Abit have a noticable difference to the Asus?
160GB HD is fine: aren't the Samsung supposed to be the nicest?

Cheers