• £500 buget for a decent gaming rig.
    28 replies, posted
In about a week, I'll have £500 of money with no actual specified use for the first time..ever I think. I've decided that I want to get a new rig to replace my aging Mac Book Pro, preferably one that doesn't overheat and can run games made in the past year. I don't particularly care about looks or consistency as a) the machine will live under my desk and b) I've never done so before so why start now? [img_thumb]http://i47.tinypic.com/24zbuvs.jpg[/img_thumb] This is my current setup. [del]Ideally I'd like to replace the laptop with a second screen, which would open up the possibility of using the keyboard on the desk rather than my knees.[/del] Unfortunately I don't actually know anything about hardware, so I thought I'd come here to ask what to get. [b]Things I have:[/b] 500 * £s. 1 * Semi-reliable DiNovo bluetooth keyboard (from the DiNovo Media Combo) so old/bad Logitech has removed it/the version that followed nearly instantly from their site. 1 * [url=http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/5845&cl=gb,en]Logitech Performance Mouse MX™[/url] 1 * [url=http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAPTOP-USB-NUMERIC-KEYPAD-NUMBER-KEY-PAD-2-PORT-HUB_W0QQitemZ320376237399QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_ComputerComponents_KeyboardsMice?hash=item4a97e96d57]Supringly good quality Rubber USB Numpad bought on the cheap from eBay[/url] 14 * 4 port USB2 hubs Bought ultra-cheap on impulse 1 * DVI screen of unknown origin/manufacturer with a 1600x1200 resolution 1 * MSDNAA copy of 64-bit Windows 7 (already installed on the MBP, unknown install limit) 1 * MSDNAA copy of 32-bit Windows 7 (accidentally got instead of 64 bit) 1 * Airport Express configured to work in Bridge mode if required (The windows XP install on the MBP often decided that the wifi card did not exist) 1 * Excessively long (like 5m?) CAT5E Ethernet cable with the clicky bit missing from one end 1 * "4,1" Macbook Pro (before the slick ones) with a 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB of rams, a NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT that runs the display at 1440x900 and a 500GB HD split roughly 50/50 between a 10.6.2 install and a Windows7 install. 1 * Desk [b]What I want[/b]: 1 * Better Computer [del]1 * Monitor that runs 1440x900 or better to replace the laptop screen 2.1 * Speakers - They don't have to be top of the line or anything. I've got by on shitty laptop ones for the last few years and have fairly good headphones.[/del] [b]What will I want to do?[/b] 1) Programming. 2) Play games. I've got a [url=http://www.steamcalculator.com/id/76561197993623253]rather large[/url] steam games list because I get paid every so often into my paypal account and nearly always spend the money on whatever game is on special offer, and I've bought about 2 different developer catalogues when they were on the cheap too. The last two games I bought were [url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/12830]Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising[/url] and [url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/18110]Shattered Horizon[/url] and I can't run either of them with more than 4FPS, which is annoying me. Therefore, being able to run at least those two if not amazingly then at least at 30FPS is a must. Oh, also I live in London in the UK. Thanks.
[img]http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pS6Z_CM03uXNh4WL98Nd1JeGO5yvIYzeq5iBlsDj9zFOsJ0Z670j9FLkkIRMZd25caQT_AwjEQdewXPZaf54gpg/dgfhsdfghsdfghsf.jpg[/img] [editline]06:06PM[/editline] Oh shit, just realised you want a monitor and speakers too. £500 for PC, speakers and a new monitor is stretching it. [editline]06:07PM[/editline] Whats wrong with this screen: "1 * DVI screen of unknown origin/manufacturer with a 1600x1200 resolution" ?
Nothing's wrong with it, I'd just like to continue using two screens. If it's impractical to get speakers too I can just use headphones, no big deal over that. And, thinking about it, resolution for the second screen really doesn't matter, it's just so useful to be able to toss things to the side to look at for reference. Oh, I forgot, I've also got a VGA cable somewhere around here from my old screen that broke. [editline]06:16PM[/editline] Also I may be able to pick something up second hand.
So you've got £500 to spend, a perfectly good screen, and you want another one? I say forget about it and put it all into the PC.
Fair enough. Does that setup support Wifi / Bluetooth? [editline]06:50PM[/editline] (Not that I can't cope without them, just that I'd have to make arrangements)
Nope. You'd need to buy a Wireless Adapter. Not sure about what you'll need for Bluetooth, but I know that the PC doesn't support it as-is. Also, I like Milky's build, but I would make these revisions: [URL=http://www.cubeupload.com][IMG]http://www.cubeupload.com/files/a2f600capture.png[/IMG][/URL] £275 + [url]http://www.dabs.com/products/sapphire-technology-ati-radeon-5850-hd-725mhz-1gb-pci-express-dvi-662D.html[/url] £216 £491 including delivery and VAT
[QUOTE=ferrus;20614888]Nope. You'd need to buy a Wireless Adapter. Not sure about what you'll need for Bluetooth, but I know that the PC doesn't support it as-is. Also, I like Milky's build, but I would make these revisions: [URL=http://www.cubeupload.com][IMG]http://www.cubeupload.com/files/a2f600capture.png[/IMG][/URL] £275 + [url]http://www.dabs.com/products/sapphire-technology-ati-radeon-5850-hd-725mhz-1gb-pci-express-dvi-662D.html[/url] £216 £491 including delivery and VAT[/QUOTE] Nice, I should start using Ebuyer more, it looks slightly cheaper than SCAN. As for your revisions, case is really down to personal preference, stick with the major brands and you cant go wrong, Also the PSU I put in is modular.
I was going to put the Corsair in but eBuyer don't stock it and seeing as the Antec is still a good unit I put that in instead. The Antec is also modular btw. As for the RAM I just don't think that the Corsair modules are worth the extra £20. The case as you say is almost entirely personal preference, I agree.
[QUOTE=ferrus;20616329]I was going to put the Corsair in but eBuyer don't stock it and seeing as the Antec is still a good unit I put that in instead. The Antec is also modular btw. The case as you say is almost entirely personal preference, I agree.[/QUOTE] Woa antec make a modular basiq?
Yeah that one is partly modular. Some cables are hard wired, but mostly the essential ones I think.
[QUOTE=ferrus;20616420]Yeah that one is partly modular. Some cables are hard wired, but mostly the essential ones I think.[/QUOTE] I always thought the basiqs were the minimum type of psu no nice features.
Ok, thanks. I've ordered a bluetooth dongle off of eBay which should suffice. All going well, I should be able to order this on Saturday. Building it is pretty much a case of "insert tab A into slot B", right?
[QUOTE=Lexic;20666430]Ok, thanks. I've ordered a bluetooth dongle off of eBay which should suffice. All going well, I should be able to order this on Saturday. Building it is pretty much a case of "insert tab A into slot B", right?[/QUOTE] If you've ever played with Lego then it will come naturally to you.
Great.
What's your final build list Lexic?
I was gonna go with what you posted. It's cheaper and as I said I know nothing about hardware. That is a powerful enough graphics card to run what I want, right?
[QUOTE=Lexic;20667730]I was gonna go with what you posted. It's cheaper and as I said I know nothing about hardware. That is a powerful enough graphics card to run what I want, right?[/QUOTE] Yes.
And I'm guessing that since it costs almost as much as everything else put together, it'll work to a fairly high standard for the next year or so, right? <_<
[QUOTE=Milky;20612909][img]http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pS6Z_CM03uXNh4WL98Nd1JeGO5yvIYzeq5iBlsDj9zFOsJ0Z670j9FLkkIRMZd25caQT_AwjEQdewXPZaf54gpg/dgfhsdfghsdfghsf.jpg[/img] [editline]06:06PM[/editline] Oh shit, just realised you want a monitor and speakers too. £500 for PC, speakers and a new monitor is stretching it. [editline]06:07PM[/editline] Whats wrong with this screen: "1 * DVI screen of unknown origin/manufacturer with a 1600x1200 resolution" ?[/QUOTE] i fear PSU will explode mate
[QUOTE]And I'm guessing that since it costs almost as much as everything else put together, it'll work to a fairly high standard for the next year or so, right? <_< [/QUOTE] Definitely. It's a very nice card. If you want a faster processor (quad instead of dual core) get this: [url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/176579[/url] Also I would get this power supply instead of the Antec since it's only £15 more: [url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132563[/url] And finally I presume you'll be wanting a DVD drive, so here's one: [url]http://www.ebuyer.com/product/164449[/url] [editline]08:34PM[/editline] [QUOTE]i fear PSU will explode mate[/QUOTE] what?
I'll stick with dual code, since I don't have that much spare. What's better about that power supply?
[QUOTE=ferrus;20668687]what?[/QUOTE] I agree, this needs some clarification.
[QUOTE=Sonic4Ever;20668507]i fear PSU will explode mate[/QUOTE] u mad? [editline]10:07PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Lexic;20668378]And I'm guessing that since it costs almost as much as everything else put together, it'll work to a fairly high standard for the next year or so[/QUOTE] That's GPU's for ya
That 240 is gonna bottleneck that card to shit.
[QUOTE=drummerundrcovr;20670843]That 240 is gonna bottleneck that card to shit.[/QUOTE] Nothing major, although it would be a good idea to go for a more balanced system -- i.e a cheaper graphics card (ATi 4890, 4870 or 5770) and faster processor (Phenom 630, 925, 945 or 955). The alternative would be to overclock the 240 to 3.5GHz+ to eliminate possible bottlenecking. [QUOTE]What's better about that power supply?[/QUOTE] The power to the 12V rails is considerably higher, it comes with a longer warranty and Corsair are generally considered to be one of the top brands in terms of quality. But having said that, the Antec will do the job just fine and you could even get a cheaper, lower wattage supply such as the VX 450, particularly if you decide to get a card with fairly low power draw, such as the 5770.
[QUOTE=drummerundrcovr;20670843]That 240 is gonna bottleneck that card to shit.[/QUOTE] Yea that was the idea, that CPU is epic at overclocking. If the OP isn't going to then he will need to maybe drop down a GPU and upgrade the CPU
[QUOTE=Milky;20671380]Yea that was the idea, that CPU is epic at overclocking. If the OP isn't going to then he will need to maybe drop down a GPU and upgrade the CPU[/QUOTE] I did a build recently where I clocked one to 3.5 without touching the voltage (excellent temps, too).
Well, I must say I'm running a 240 @ 3.5 and it'll max out at 51C with Prime 95 :D. Shoulda realized he'd be overclocking....
[QUOTE=Lexic;20612637] . I've got a [url=http://www.steamcalculator.com/id/76561197993623253]rather large[/url] steam games [/QUOTE] 1700$ worth of games :/ thats loads
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.