Computer building research HUB

[rist]

Hi everyone.

I have been away from the PC for nearly a year now and I would like to look into building a desktop for my Illustration/3D work and gaming desire.

From what I have gathered in the past i will need a lot of RAM and a fast CPU. Also for gaming I will need a graphics card which can handle the newest games on medium to high settings with over 30fps. I do NOT want to overclock this. I would like this machine to run as smooth as possible with little to no crashes.

I would like the machine to be as quiet as possible and to not overheat (which my last PC did so many times).

I will be looking into this thoroughly, but as a starting point could you point me into the right direction in what parts are at my price range.

I am from the UK so all parts should be ideal bought from there, so any suggestions on online retailers would be fantastic.

BUDGET: £800 But negotiable.

Any other information please feel free to ask.

I already have a mouse, keyboard, speakers, and a monitor.

 

[Mr soft]

Will you be needing an OS or do you have one.

What's the size of your monitor ? LCD or CRT ?



I found this PC site over your way.


CPU 110

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=8118&cat=1089&page=1

Graphics card. 106

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=9166&cat=901&page=1

RAM 61

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=6532&cat=1115&page=1


Mother board 160

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=8099&cat=1090&page=1

PSU 76

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=4644&cat=735&page=1

CPU cooler 37

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=5097&cat=515&page=2

case 48 http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=6051&cat=27&page=1

Hard drive 83

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/product.php?productid=7617&cat=957&page=1

Just to give you an idea .

You will need good thermal paste {a fiver} and a few extra silent fans but their each around a tenner so I didn't list them .

So far 640 and there is some nice gear in there. read some reviews on some of the parts listed to give you more opinions.

 

[rist]

Hi Mr Soft,

I don't have a spare OS. I Have been using the Leopard and a bootcamp XP for the past year. I might be interested in the new Vista.

My Monitor is the Samsung 245B (LCD). Never really been able to capitalize on its native resolution before.

I'll take a more detailed look at the list you have provided and reply back with my thoughts.

Thanks!

Oh and I like to play on MMO's more than anything when on a PC. So if the hardware would be geared more towards this than say Crysis, then that would be great.

 

[Mr soft]

I didn’t realize you had a pixmania over there. Only lived in London 11 years.
The main difference being this is an AM2+ and not AM3 , just read up a bit on the difference then you can decide if it’s worth the extra money to go AM3 or not.
I’ve geared this towards the Illustration/3D work that you mentioned, both of these builds will play anything comfortably.



This card is better, it’s the vapor x which is cooler and quieter. 109 GBP

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/2721397/art/sapphire-technology/radeon-hd-4850-vapor-x-1.html


Hard drive, Samsung 1tera F1 spinpoint. I have one of these and it’s beautiful. 61 GBP

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/666541/art/samsung/spinpoint-f1-desktop-clas.html

The X3 720 BE 119 GBP

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/2477233/art/amd/phenom-x3-triple-core-720.html

Thermal paste. 4 GBP

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/321278/art/arctic-silver/artic-silver-5-thermo-pas.html

CPU cooler 35 GBP This one is a good one, but the scythe will be quieter.
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/2703413/art/xigmatek/dark-knight-hdt-s1283v-fa.html

MB Sapphire pure. 85 GBP I have one of these and they are as stable as a rock. And it recognized my 720 without pissing around with the bios like some am2 + boards.

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/2478212/art/sapphire-technology/pure-crossfirex-790gx-am2.html

Ram 41 GBP

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/2317503/art/ocz/gold-edition-dual-channel.html

PSU The same Corsair 650w 73 GBP

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/674941/art/corsair/cmpsu-650txeu-pc-power-un.html

Case 78 GBP Antec 900 This one is more, but it is beautiful.

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/553728/art/antec/pc-tower-nine-hundred-bla.html

Case fans , these are very good ones . 13 GBP

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/584184/art/noctua/nf-s12-1200-case-fan.html