Building a PC

Dropkickmurphys

Dropkickmurphys

New Member
hey all, i have finally managed to get the money to build myself a new PC :D

i have a budget of £800 - £1200(at a stretch)

keeping in mind that it might have to include a monitor etc...

what sort of things should i be looking for? (ie midrange or highend graphics, processor etc..)

i will be wanted to play games on this machine, though probably not the lastest, but it would be nice if it could last me a few years :D

*EDIT*
So far i have had a look at something like this:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz 1333FSB Socket 775 4MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor £89.22
ASRock CONROEXFIRE-ESATA2 SKT775 945P PCI-E 7.1 channel audio ATX £44.40
Kingston 2GB KIT (2X1GB) DDR2 667MHz/PC2-5300 CL5 Non Ecc 1.8V £42.54
Xpertvision 8500GT Sonic edition 256MB 128bit DDR3 DVI TVO PCI-E £43.13

I dont really know too much when it comes to this area, so i am relying on you guys to tell me whether what i have done is just plain stupid, or it is ok.
and dont be afraid to just tell me it sucks or something.
but remember this is my first time build.

thanks.
 
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Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $129.99

GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $159.99

EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail - $379.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail - $294.99

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ - Retail - $129.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $109.99

SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-203B/BEBN - OEM - $34.99

ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail - $49.99

Subtotal: $1,289.92
MIR: -$40.00 Case
MIR: -$30.00 Video Card
Total (w/o monitor): $1,219.92 before shipping

Monitors:
SAMSUNG 206BW Black 20" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 800:1 (DCR 3000:1) - Retail - $239.99 after MIR

SAMSUNG
SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1(DC 3000:1) - Retail - $299.99 after MIR

I realize you're uk based on your price range but this is just a ball park idea for products you can find them where ever you need to but with a monitor you're still looking at $1500 so you can upgrade on any of these parts or run 2 video cards sli, get more RAM, more HDD space, another optical drive, the possibilities are endless... but hopefully this is a good start.
 
Here is my list. Price from ebuyer. very similar to cheburns

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair)) Retail Boxed Processor £165

Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R Socket 775 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard £88

WD Raptor WD360ADFD 36GB SATA 10KRPM 16MB Cache - OEM £66

Seagate ST3500630AS 500GB Hard Drive SATAII 16MB Cache 7200RPM £64

NEC Optiarc AD-7170S-0B 18x DVD±RW/DL/RAM Serial ATA Black £17

OCZ (OCZ2P800LP2GK) 2Gb PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4-4-4-15 DFI Certified Platinum £65

EVGA 8800GTS 640MB DDR3 320bit Dual DVI PCI-E £260

Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Soundcard - Retail Boxed £57

OCZ GameXStream 700W PSU - 120mm Fan SLI Ready ATX12v v2.2 £77

ZALMAN CNPS 9500 AT Socket 775 CPU Cooler £28

Coolermaster Black Centurion 534 £38

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium x64Bit OEM 1PK DVD £63

Samsung SM226BW 22" TFT Monitor 1680x1050 3000:1 300cd/m2 2ms VGA/DVI £230

Total of around £1218, inc.VAT

If you found it too expensive,
1) get a cheaper 19" widescreen monitor (£120)
2) not using WD Rapor
3) Downgrade GPU to 8800GTS 320MB (£180)
4) Not having external sound card.
5) Downgrade the CPU to E6550 (£105)
6) Downgrade the PSU to those quality brand with around 500W (£60)
7) Not using Stock fan from intel for CPU cooling if not Ocing a lot.
And these make the PC cost £800
 
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I would keep your cpu where its at no matter what... look at corsair 520 and 620 psu (sorry I forgot one in my build) and get rid of the raptor first. Keep the bigger monitor and better video card regardless I say. Test out the onboard audio first and you can always decide to upgrade. good luck.
 
daisymtc said:
If you found it too expensive,
1) get a cheaper 19" widescreen monitor (£120)
2) not using WD Rapor
3) Downgrade GPU to 8800GTS 320MB (£180)
4) Not having external sound card.
5) Downgrade the CPU to E6550 (£105)
6) Downgrade the PSU to those quality brand with around 500W (£60)
7) Not using Stock fan from intel for CPU cooling if not Ocing a lot.
And these make the PC cost £800
Click to expand...

if i was to do any of them, i would go for a 19" or 20" monitor.
no WD raptor.
take the downgraded GPU.
ill test the onboard audio first.
i woudnt be overclocking
and i wouldnt be using Vista, i would get XP Pro.
 
I have had a look through ebuyer and i have changed some things:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair)) Retail Boxed Processor £165

Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R Socket 775 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard £88

Seagate ST3500630AS 500GB Hard Drive SATAII 16MB Cache 7200RPM £64

NEC Optiarc AD-7170S-0B 18x DVD±RW/DL/RAM Serial ATA Black £17

OCZ (OCZ2P800LP2GK) 2Gb PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4-4-4-15 DFI Certified Platinum £65

OCZ GameXStream 700W PSU - 120mm Fan SLI Ready ATX12v v2.2 £77

ZALMAN CNPS 9500 AT Socket 775 CPU Cooler £28

Coolermaster Black Centurion 534 £38

EVGA 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card £180

Samsung SM940BW 19" TFT Monitor Widescreen 1440x900 500:1 300cd/m2 4ms VGA/DVI H/Adjust Silver £141

New Total: £863 w/o OS.
 
Looks solid... you stayed at the bottom of your budget which means you can always upgrade (processor, more ram, 640mb video card or an 8800 ultra) or just save yourself some money
 
Dropkickmurphys said:
I have had a look through ebuyer and i have changed some things:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz 1066MHz) Socket 775 L2 8MB Cache (2x4MB (4MB per core pair)) Retail Boxed Processor £165

Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R Socket 775 8 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard £88

Seagate ST3500630AS 500GB Hard Drive SATAII 16MB Cache 7200RPM £64

NEC Optiarc AD-7170S-0B 18x DVD±RW/DL/RAM Serial ATA Black £17

OCZ (OCZ2P800LP2GK) 2Gb PC2-6400 DDR2-800 4-4-4-15 DFI Certified Platinum £65

OCZ GameXStream 700W PSU - 120mm Fan SLI Ready ATX12v v2.2 £77

ZALMAN CNPS 9500 AT Socket 775 CPU Cooler £28

Coolermaster Black Centurion 534 £38

EVGA 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card £180

Samsung SM940BW 19" TFT Monitor Widescreen 1440x900 500:1 300cd/m2 4ms VGA/DVI H/Adjust Silver £141

New Total: £863 w/o OS.
Click to expand...

Preapare for the 1024X768 resz in gaming with that crappy card. If your that bad get X2 8600GT 512mbs and make it meet demands with a 640mb 8800GTS. Anyhow quad wont go well with it.
 
cheburns said:
Looks solid... you stayed at the bottom of your budget which means you can always upgrade (processor, more ram, 640mb video card or an 8800 ultra) or just save yourself some money
Click to expand...

i need to stay at the bottom of my budget really, as i need money for other things, as well as this pc.
but thanks for the Help all, im now gonna wait unt i get back from the US before ordering.
 
Dropkickmurphys said:
i need to stay at the bottom of my budget really, as i need money for other things, as well as this pc.
but thanks for the Help all, im now gonna wait unt i get back from the US before ordering.
Click to expand...

You are going to US? Do you have friends in US? Why don't you buy some stuff from US, it's lot cheaper than in UK.
 
Dropkickmurphys said:
would parts / software be usable in the UK if i buy them from the US?[/QUOTE

Other than the power supply, unless you get one that has dual voltage settings. Remember, the UK and the USA have different standard voltages.
Click to expand...

Basically any powersupply accepts both 120v and 220v. However, cheaper PSU's will require you to click a little switch to select the voltage. PSU's with active PFC will not require you to do so.
 
Preapare for the 1024X768 resz in gaming with that crappy card. If your that bad get X2 8600GT 512mbs and make it meet demands with a 640mb 8800GTS. Anyhow quad wont go well with it.
Click to expand...

what do you mean by that statement? youre saying the card i have chosen is crap?

i am currently playing games on a geforce go 6800.... its GOT TO be better than that!
 
It is leaps and bounds better than the geoforce 6800.

But the 8800 GTS is leaps and bounds better than the 8600GT.

The 8600GT is a lower end DX10 card, I'm planning on getting it as well and it should be able to play the latest games on medium settings I'd guess.
 
I play at a 1024X768 res with a geforce4 MX 420. Don't listen to him. I may only play games like world of warcraft, but still. 4 year old card vs a dx10 card. You'll be able to go MUCH higher.
 
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