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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 04/03/2011 08:58:51
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I'm looking to build something suitable for gaming and as a home entertainment centre. I've already got a 22" Monitor and a Silverstone LC13 case, but need the PC Harware and a copy of Vista. I was thinking on the following linesMotherboard - an ASUS model with onboard sound (not bothered about SLI) £75? CPU - I'd really like to go for a Q6600 (got one on this rig) - for future proofing (ha, ha) £150? Ram - 2 Gig should do of DDR2 £35? Graphics - Geforce 8800 series £150? PSU £40? Harddisk 500 Gig £50? DVD Rewriter £25? Vista Premium £75? Now that all adds up to £600 so somethings got to give! There is some budgetary flexibility but the system will not be used much so I don't want to go overboard. It is important that it is quite(ish) and I would sacrifice some performance for that (replacing the case fans might also be sensible). In terms of "future proofing" my intention would be to use the system for three years adding extra ram, hard disks, and replacing the graphics card in that time. I wouldn't be planning to replace the CPU or Mobo - hence the weighting of the budget. In three years I think I'd need a new board and cpu anyway and don't think a transition to DDR3 would be a good investment. Anyway over to you, all advice greatly received. Cheers Jim
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Post #271092
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 22/02/2012 12:16:54
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If you want quiet and to save some money maybe you should look at a dual core chip rather than a quad.
quads are not and at the moment dont appear to have any advantage over a dual core chip, especically in a media pc with no tv tuners and a gaming machine.
_____________________________________________________________Main Rig: Core I5 2500K @ 3.30GHz, 4GB DDR3, 320MB 8800GTS, 2x 250GB Raid 0Server: Core 2 Duo E6550 @ 2.33GHz, 2GB DDR2, 9TB StorageOthers: 1 Workstation, 3 HTPCs and 2 Laptops.Gaming Rig: Xbox 360 Slimline  (GT: ToRReVeZ) |
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Post #271111
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 04/03/2011 08:58:51
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the media bit probably needs a bit more explaining:the PC is to be used abroad for my video, music, and photo collection as well as games and therefore not as a TV. It will however be living in the sitting room as a settop box hence the case choice and noise issues. I think you're right about quad core as this system won't be multitasking, unless game developers really change their coding. On that basis and to save a bit of cash and noise what would be a good £100 CPU choice and what board would go well with it? Jim
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Post #271114
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 22:40:09
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PSU - from a review "I would seriously recommend looking into a unit with a single large 120mm if you’re serious about building an HTPC out of the LC13."
Maybe something like the £43 Hiper 530W Black Type M?
There's enough height for a decent HSF, like the £15 AC-FRZ-7P, which you'll need if you're going to contemplate overclocking.
I see you've ditched the Quad 
A £72 E4500 OEM would do nicely.
I'd also look at the new 9600GT or a Radeon 3870 instead of the 8800.
Dave R
GP PC W7HP/64 & Linux Phenom II X4 3.33Ghz, M4A88T-M, 4GB, GT440, 120GB SSD Win 7 + 80GB Zorin 5/64
TV PC W7HP/32 Athlon X2 4850e, M3N78, 5570, 4GB, 60GB SSD + 250GB
Windows Home Server: Atom 330, Little falls 2, 1Gb DDR2 667, 1.3TB
The family have 3 more PCs and 2 laptops all running W7HP
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Post #271118
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 04/03/2011 08:58:51
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that sounds good advice, quick couple of questionswould the E4500 with a 9600GT play Crysis at 1680 at 1050 (ie native resolution of the panel) without an overclock? are the 9600s any good the 8600s got slated? and what board would go nicely with this little lot - the reason I got the LC13 was that for a HTPC it's a good size case (not as nice as I thought it would be though and seriously heavy) Jim
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Post #271121
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 22:40:09
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It dependson what you mean by "play Crysis".
TBH the bloody game is getting me down 
Nothing but the very top of the range kit will play it on full settings, so everything else is a compromise of sorts.
There are loads of reviews of the 9600GT about, here's one to start you off http://tinyurl.com/3933mv
They are pretty much neck and neck, a lot depends on the game.
However, the 3870 is less power hungry, which might sway you.
I would be looking at P35 boards, but watch the features on the Asus ones.
The specs need looking at carefully.
Gigabyte or A-Bit would be fine too.
Dave R
GP PC W7HP/64 & Linux Phenom II X4 3.33Ghz, M4A88T-M, 4GB, GT440, 120GB SSD Win 7 + 80GB Zorin 5/64
TV PC W7HP/32 Athlon X2 4850e, M3N78, 5570, 4GB, 60GB SSD + 250GB
Windows Home Server: Atom 330, Little falls 2, 1Gb DDR2 667, 1.3TB
The family have 3 more PCs and 2 laptops all running W7HP
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Post #271123
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 04/03/2011 08:58:51
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Post #271190
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 22:40:09
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Should go like stink.
Dave R
GP PC W7HP/64 & Linux Phenom II X4 3.33Ghz, M4A88T-M, 4GB, GT440, 120GB SSD Win 7 + 80GB Zorin 5/64
TV PC W7HP/32 Athlon X2 4850e, M3N78, 5570, 4GB, 60GB SSD + 250GB
Windows Home Server: Atom 330, Little falls 2, 1Gb DDR2 667, 1.3TB
The family have 3 more PCs and 2 laptops all running W7HP
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Post #271191
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 23:11:33
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Looking good. 
Cheers, Slipstreem. 
Phoenix III - Win7 Professional 64-bit, Intel C2D E8400 OCed to 4GHz (445x9 @1.39V) with ACF7Pro HSF on ASUS P5Q Pro mobo, 2x 2GB Crucial DDR2-800 (6,6,6,18,2T @DDR1066 @1.9V), ASUS EAH4890 1GB DDR5 graphics card OCed to 1GHz GPU & 4GHz RAM. Powered by CoolerMaster GX 650W PSU.
Sylvester III - Win7 Ultimate 64-bit on Intel X25-V 40GB SSD, Intel C2D E7500 OCed to 3.9GHz (390x10 @1.45V) with CoolerMaster Hyper TX3 HS (with 2x Arctic Cooling F9 PWM fans in push-pull) on ASUS P5E Ai Lifestyle mobo, 2x 2GB OCZ Reaper DDR2-800 (4,4,4,12,2T @DDR780 @2.1V), PowerColor AMD HD6850 graphics card OCed to 825MHz GPU & 4.7GHz RAM. Powered by CoolerMaster GX 650W PSU.
Tweety - Storage Options Scroll Essential 7" Tablet PC running Android Gingerbread 2.3.3 with Lexar 32GB Class10 microSDHC card.
Edited: 09/03/2008 16:03:56 by
Slipstreem
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Post #271196
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/05/2012 10:20:42
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how about the following. The guts of this I have just built for myself and its very Quiet using the onboard graphics. Not sure how much noise the 3870 is going to make , but this mobo will give you great media facilities.The only downside of the board is that the bios won't let you increase the memory voltage which limits your memory choice somewhat but with a possible FSB overclock of 340 ish you should get the Q6600 to around the 3GHz level. My FSB went straight in at 310 and left it there as I need this computer to be rock steady. Had it running for a week folding flat out and no problems with it......Prices at aria
Cheers, Keith.
Raidmax Sagitta case, E4400(overclocked),parkle 8600GTS,Asus P5N-E SLI (with VFM's chipset fan mod) ,250 GB SATA,Antec TruePower Trio 630W PSU , 2GB Patriot DDR2 6400 RAM.
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Post #271218
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