Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: Buying hardware abroad?

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    2
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    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.

  2. #2
    Amateur photographer Hans Voralberg's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Birmingham
    Posts
    1,889
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    11 times in 11 posts
    Quote 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.
    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/
    Primary kit:
    Fuji S5 Pro - Nikkor AF 50/1.8 - Nikkor AF 85/1.8
    Epson RD-1

    Film Kit:
    Leica M3 - Summicron 50/2 DR - Zeiss ZM 25/2.8 - M-Rokkor 40/2

    Olympus OM2n - Zuiko 50/2 Macro - Zuiko 50/1.4 - Zuiko 35/2.8

  3. #3
    Now with added sobriety Rave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    SE London
    Posts
    9,948
    Thanks
    501
    Thanked
    399 times in 255 posts
    Quote 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?
    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.

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

    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.
    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.

  4. #4
    YUKIKAZE arthurleung's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    3,280
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked
    88 times in 83 posts
    • arthurleung's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5E (Rampage Formula 0902)
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 3.6Ghz 1.2V
      • Memory:
      • A-Data DDR2-800 2x2GB CL4
      • Storage:
      • 4x1TB WD1000FYPS @ RAID5 3Ware 9500S-8 / 3x 1TB Samsung Ecogreen F2
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GeCube HD4870 512MB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair VX450
      • Case:
      • Antec P180
      • Operating System:
      • Windows Server 2008 Standard
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell Ultrasharp 2709W + 2001FP
      • Internet:
      • Be*Unlimited 20Mbps
    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.
    Workstation 1: Intel i7 950 @ 3.8Ghz / X58 / 12GB DDR3-1600 / HD4870 512MB / Antec P180
    Workstation 2: Intel C2Q Q9550 @ 3.6Ghz / X38 / 4GB DDR2-800 / 8400GS 512MB / Open Air
    Workstation 3: Intel Xeon X3350 @ 3.2Ghz / P35 / 4GB DDR2-800 / HD4770 512MB / Shuttle SP35P2
    HTPC: AMD Athlon X4 620 @ 2.6Ghz / 780G / 4GB DDR2-1000 / Antec Mini P180 White
    Mobile Workstation: Intel C2D T8300 @ 2.4Ghz / GM965 / 3GB DDR2-667 / DELL Inspiron 1525 / 6+6+9 Cell Battery

    Display (Monitor): DELL Ultrasharp 2709W + DELL Ultrasharp 2001FP
    Display (Projector): Epson TW-3500 1080p
    Speakers: Creative Megaworks THX550 5.1
    Headphones: Etymotic hf2 / Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro

    Storage: 8x2TB Hitachi @ DELL PERC 6/i RAID6 / 13TB Non-RAID Across 12 HDDs
    Consoles: PS3 Slim 120GB / Xbox 360 Arcade 20GB / PS2

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    2,900
    Thanks
    67
    Thanked
    182 times in 136 posts
    • Butcher's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z97 Gaming 3
      • CPU:
      • i7-4790K
      • Memory:
      • 8 GB Corsair 1866 MHz
      • Storage:
      • 120GB SSD, 240GB SSD, 2TB HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • MSI GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Antec 650W
      • Case:
      • Big Black Cube!
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
    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!

  6. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    2
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts
    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?
    Last edited by SToMPaL0T; 17-05-2005 at 07:42 AM.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 04-05-2005, 06:23 PM
  2. Opinions: Hardware options
    By Raggy in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 02-02-2005, 06:10 PM
  3. Good Value IL-2 Hardware :)
    By Zak33 in forum PC
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 09-01-2004, 06:11 PM
  4. Bringing hardware back from USA
    By Sk!mD4Rk in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 04-09-2003, 01:31 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •