Buying hardware abroad?

I've been looking around and it appears that buying hardware from america is alot cheaper than the uk due to the exchange rate. I'm just wondering whether it is compatable. For e.g. AMD64 FX-53 Socket39 in the USA runs at 1.5 volts. I think they run the same here, but what i am wondering about is if it will run on the same frequency as uk runs on 50 and the USA runs on 60 hertz. Can anybody help me? Would this apply to motherboards aswell? 'Cause i'm considering getting the Gigabyte 3D1 Bundle also whether it is worth paying the extra to get a AMD FX-53 or just getting the AMD64 3800+ 'cause the benchmarks look near enough the same. If anybody has any advice on any of this then it would be greatly appreciated.

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Originally Posted by SToMPaL0T

I think they run the same here, but what i am wondering about is if it will run on the same frequency as uk runs on 50 and the USA runs on 60 hertz.

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hertz what ?? All AMD comes from the same factory in Malaysia/Germany AFAIK. But custom will make it just as expensive here, so it's not really a good idea buying from the US/

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Originally Posted by SToMPaL0T

I've been looking around and it appears that buying hardware from america is alot cheaper than the uk due to the exchange rate. I'm just wondering whether it is compatable. For e.g. AMD64 FX-53 Socket39 in the USA runs at 1.5 volts. I think they run the same here, but what i am wondering about is if it will run on the same frequency as uk runs on 50 and the USA runs on 60 hertz. Can anybody help me? Would this apply to motherboards aswell?

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It's not a problem; computer components (motherboards, graphics cards, hard disks, optical drives etc.) run off the standard voltages coming out of an ATX power supply. As long as the power supply can run off your local voltage (which is 230V +/-5% here in Europe), the components attached to it won't know the difference. 50/60HZ doesn't come into it, the power coming out of a PSU is DC, not AC.

However buying in the US isn't as simple as just converting dollars into pounds; you have to pay VAT and import duty when you bring it into the U.K., which pretty much levels up the price in most instances. If you're buying it yourself in the US you can try and smuggle it through customs, but there's obviously a risk attached since it's illegal;).

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'Cause i'm considering getting the Gigabyte 3D1 Bundle

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I can't see the point of that. Just get an NForce4 board and a 6800GT. Same performance overall, no funny SLI issues, and you still have a further upgrade path.

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also whether it is worth paying the extra to get a AMD FX-53 or just getting the AMD64 3800+ 'cause the benchmarks look near enough the same. If anybody has any advice on any of this then it would be greatly appreciated.

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AMD don't sell the FX53 any more, so you'd either be buying old stock or buying secondhand. The only difference between the two is that the FX53 is 1MB cache as opposed to 512KB, so there isn't much performance difference between them most of the time.

Edit: the FX53 has unlocked multipliers obviously. On a modern motherboard though, that isn't going to help your overclock much if at all.

If it is some low cost item it can slip through pretty easily. For most computer stuff the custom will be 17.5% on (value+shipping)+Processing Fee (8 quids for Parcelforce).

All those computer hardwares will run just fine though. Half of my computer parts were bought outside UK. Only being taxed once on my 2001FP @ 43% of my cost price, still ended up a few percent cheaper though.

If you're bringing it through yourself it's legal if the value is under £150. Above that and you should declare it in the red channel. You may be able to sneak it through the green channel but that is entirely at your own risk!

So what mother board would you recomend? You don't think the Pci-e route is the best to take then? Isin't the 3D1 a lot cheaper though or does anyone know of any cheap computer shops?
Would the AMD64 3800+ be the better option rather than paying the extra for the FX-55 then or not?