2 systems I'm considering - opinions appreciated

[Ruggerbugger]

I'm considering replacing the system in my info, partly because it's old, but mainly because the graphics card is dying, and the PSU is a bit rubbish. I generally use my system for web browsing, Eve Online and Photoshop these days. I'm looking at the following specs, cheapest first:

•AMD Phenom X4 Quad-Core 9650 2.3GHz Processor
•Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 Motherboard Socket AM3 , AMD 770 Chipset
•2GB Kingston branded PC6400 800Mhz DDR2 RAM
•500GB SATA II Hard drive , 7200 RPM
•22X Dual Layer DVD±RW Drive (reads and writes CD's and DVD's)
•26 in 1 internal memory card reader
•1GB Nvidia Ge-Force 9500GT PCI-16x Video card
•High Quality Realtek ALC888 7.1 Channel Audio Codec
•High quality Antec Three Hundred gaming case
•550W EVO-LABS 24 Pin ATX Power supply unit with quiet fan
•4 * DDR2 800Mhz Dual channel memory slots (16GB Max RAM)
•1 * Realtek 8111C 10/100/1000 Gigabit LAN Port (Network)
•2 * 32 Bit PCI Expansion Slots
•4 * PCI Express x1 Slots
•1 * PCI-16x Video card slot
•3 * 5.25" External Drive Bays
•6 * 3.5" Internal Drive Bays
•8 * Rear mounted USB 2.0 Ports
•2 * Front mounted USB 2.0 Ports
•2 * Rear mounted IEEE 1394a FireWire Ports
•1 * Rear mounted coaxial S/PDIF Out connector
•1 * Rear mounted optical S/PDIF Out connector

•Cooling System:
• 1 rear 120 x 25 mm TriCool™ Fan with 3-speed switch control.
• 1 top special 140 x 25 mm TriCool™ Fan with 3-speed switch control

or the more expensive Intel system

•Intel Core i7-920 2.66GHz Processor , Quad Core , 5GT/s QPI - 8MB L3 Cache - Socket B
•Gigabyte EX58-UD3R Motherboard , Intel X58 Chipset , CrossFireX Support
•3GB Corsair XMS3 (3x1GB) DDR3 Memory , 1333Mhz , 9-9-9-24
•1TB (1000GB) SATA II Hard drive , 7200 RPM
•22X Dual Layer DVD±RW Drive (reads and writes CD's and DVD's)
•26 in 1 internal memory card reader
•1GB ATI Radeon HD4650 PCI-16x Video card
•High quality Realtek ALC 888 7.1-Channel Audio Codec
•High quality Antec Three Hundred gaming case
•550W EVO-LABS 24 Pin ATX Power supply unit with quiet fan
•4 * DDR3 Memory slots (16GB Max RAM)
•1 * Realtek Gigabit LAN Port
•2 x PCI Express x16 slots
•1 x PCI Express x4 slot
•2 x PCI Express x1 slot
•2 x PCI slots
•3 * 5.25" External Drive Bays
•6 * 3.5" Internal Drive Bays
•8 * Rear mounted USB 2.0 Ports
•2 * Front Mounted USB 2.0 Ports
•2 * Rear Mounted IEEE1394A FireWire Ports
•1 x coaxial S/PDIF Out connector
•1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
•8 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors
•Dimensions 45.8 (H) x 46.5 (D) x 20.5 cm (W)
•Cooling System:
• 1 rear 120 x 25 mm TriCool™ Fan with 3-speed switch control.
• 1 top special 140 x 25 mm TriCool™ Fan with 3-speed switch control
•1 Year in-house warranty

If anyone has a good alternative between £500 and £800 then I'll be glad to look at it. Thanks

[scaryjim]

Don't bother with either of them. The first one is better balanced but uses an original Phenom which have poor performance with high power draw, the second is massively unbalanced, using Core i7 but only a GeForce 9500GT, which is a low-end graphics card.

I'd recommend something like this Scan OC system (Pentium E5300, 4GB RAM, GeForce GTS250, Windows 7) or how about a Quad Core Fujitsu (Q8200, 4GB RAM, ATi HD4850, Vista) from Ebuyer? They're both significantly better systems at about the £500 mark...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would check these desktops too:

http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default...UCT&KEY=656300

http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default...UCT&KEY=490189

If the OP wants a really cheap upgrade the PC in this thread would also do the job:

http://forums.hexus.net/pre-built-pc...gb-hd4850.html

I would not go for either of the original systems listed as they are both very poorly balanced IMHO.

[Ruggerbugger]

Don't bother with either of them. The first one is better balanced but uses an original Phenom which have poor performance with high power draw, the second is massively unbalanced, using Core i7 but only a GeForce 9500GT, which is a low-end graphics card.

I'd recommend something like this Scan OC system (Pentium E5300, 4GB RAM, GeForce GTS250, Windows 7) or how about a Quad Core Fujitsu (Q8200, 4GB RAM, ATi HD4850, Vista) from Ebuyer? They're both significantly better systems at about the £500 mark...

Actually, after I posted I was looking at that very system, with a few of the higher spec options. Thanks for the really useful comments, been that long since I built my last system, I've kinda lost track of what is balanced with what

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Actually, after I posted I was looking at that very system, with a few of the higher spec options. Thanks for the really useful comments, been that long since I built my last system, I've kinda lost track of what is balanced with what

The Scan system is very poor for the money. The £380 Mesh system I linked to is better value.An HD4850 1GB is a better option than a GTS250 512MB. Also the E6300 has almost the same performance as a 3GHZ E5200 and the former has virtualisation too.

Also the X2 550BE based Mesh system will also destroy the Scan system. The X2 550BE is nearly the same speed as the E8400 which is a 6MB L2 chip whereas the E5200 is a 2MB L2 chip which is slower per mhz. Also the HD5750 1GB is a superior graphics card for the price having more video RAM,DX11,lower power consumption and also being a better graphics card in the long run than a GTS250. The Mesh system comes with a monitor too and Mesh use HEC PSUs which are not too bad either.

Here is a review of the Mesh X2 550BE based system:

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/i...viewid=3200911

[Ruggerbugger]

Well, having done a lot of reading I'm most impressed with the X2 550BE based Mesh system so far, especially as I can knock it down to £522 by getting rid of the pointless optional extras. One thing I've noticed is that the RAM is only 800MHz not 1066MHz. Is this significant in real world terms? Presumably I'll be able to upgrade that down the line if I need to.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Like with the Scan computer the motherboard is going to be basic:

http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default...538889&POPUP=1

[Ulti]

In real world terms it's unlikely to make any difference. It's only in benchmarks and stuff that you'll be able to see any real difference.

However, 1066mhz RAM allows you to OC a processor further but most decent 800mhz RAM can run at 1066mhz with the same voltage but I guess very slightly higher timings which again does not make much difference.

So basically, there's not much real world performance but your RAM is less likely to limit an overclock on your processor if you ever choose to overclock it (which is worth it if you're getting an X2 550BE as they seem to OC well IIRC)

However, if you have a decent motherboard even 800mhz RAM shouldn't limit an OC as there are quite a number of memory dividers.

[Ruggerbugger]

Like with the Scan computer the motherboard is going to be basic:

http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default...538889&POPUP=1

Wow, that is basic. I was going to spend tonight pricing up those components for a self-build. I'm now torn between building something else, or wondering if I can live with next to no expansion possibilities.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Edit!!

I replied in your other thread.