Buying a Computer, need advice!!!

[Highlander999]

This was a good mate recommended and he knows this sort of stuff. I would probs upgrade the monitor:

Processor (CPU)
Intel? Core?2 Duo E8400 (2 X 3.00GHz) 1333MHz FSB/6MB L2 Cache

Memory (RAM)
4GB CORSAIR XMS2 800MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x2GB)

Motherboard
ASUS? P5QL: DDR2, SATAII, PCI-e x16, 3 PCI, 2 x PCI-e x1

Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista? Home Premium 64 bit Edition + SP1, CD & Licence (?83)

USB Options
8 x USB 2.0 PORTS (6 REAR + 2 FRONT) AS STANDARD

Memory - 1st Hard Disk
500GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)

2nd Hard Disk
NONE

1st CD/DVD Drive
22x DUAL LAYER LIGHTSCRIBE DVD WRITER ?R/?RW/RAM

2nd CD/DVD Drive
NONE

Graphics Card
512MB GEFORCE 9800GT PCI Express + DVI + TV-OUT

2nd Graphics Card
NONE

Sound Card
ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Modem
NONE, I WILL BE USING BROADBAND

Network Facilities
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT

Floppy Disk Drive
NONE

Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (READS XD, MS, CF, SD, etc)

Case
STYLISH TRIDENT MID TOWER ATX CASE - SILVER/BLACK

Power Supply & Case Cooling
450W Quiet Dual Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan

Processor Cooling
STANDARD CPU COOLER

Firewire & Video Editing
NONE

TV Card
NONE

Monitor
19 Inch Wide TFT Silver/Black 1440 x 900 5MS, D-Sub, DVI, Audio (?79)

2nd Monitor
NONE

DVI Cable
NONE

Keyboard & Mouse
Logitech? Internet Keyboard + Hotkeys (Black) (?6)

Mouse
Black Logitech? Premium Optical Mouse (?4)

Speakers
LOGITECH S220 2.1 SILVER/BLACK SPEAKER SYSTEM (?12)

Printer
NONE

Surge Protection
NONE

Webcam
NONE

Headsets (VOIP)
NONE

Anti-Virus
NONE

Office Software
NONE

External Hard Drive
NONE

Home Installation
NONE

Warranty
1 Year Return-to-Base incl 1st Month Free Collect & Return

Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)

Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days

Quantity
1

?633.04 ex VAT.

?728 inc VAT and Delivery.

 

[Abhas]

Yeah, E8400 is great! I'm using it, and even without overclocking, it gives great performance.
It can easily overclock to 4 Ghz, but you'll need a better cooling solution in that case.

The system looks pretty good to me, but keep in mind I have no idea about the Graphics card lol.

 

[Cricketman]

Put in a second HDD in there, even something like a 250GB. You'll like the extra space.

Also add some extra stuff like a webcam, looks like you'll be having this computer for a while so it will be nice to not leave any stone unturned.

 

[The_gas]

I give up.

 

[sohum]

Just a couple of thoughts on the 64-bit processor.

If you want to use your computer for more than about 1-2 years, I'd strongly suggest getting a 64-bit processor. You can still get the 32-bit version OS and wait for Windows 7 and get the 64-bit version then (you will need to clean install, not upgrade, most probably). The main issues with 64-bit processors is getting compatible device drivers. If you have really old hardware you want to interface with your computer, then you should do some compatibility checks to make sure that there are 64-bit drivers available. Google should be your friend. But with RAM getting cheaper, more and more intensive applications requiring more memory will be developed, meaning your 4gigs of RAM could look very small very quickly. For example, about a decade ago a 12gig HDD was a luxury. Today, I can fill up a 160gig hard disk without too much trouble. You can expect the same with RAM usage.

Secondly, Microsoft officially supports 4gigs of RAM for a 32-bit version of Vista. You don't get all this RAM, though, because it uses some of the address space for other stuff that is not used by your user programs+OS. Theoretically, a 32-bit processor has 2^32 addressable locations, which is 4 GB. Your actual availability will probably be less. Also, remember Vista takes up a ton of RAM just by itself, so you may end up having something like 1.5 GB of RAM available if you get a 32-bit processor with 3 GB of RAM for your applications.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

Sorry for hijacking your thread Tom.

My dad wanted a Dell Desktop and not a custom made one at any cost. So we have ordered a Dell Inspiron 518 (Dell Inspiron 518 Desktop Details) [The Quad Core one]. Any opinion on it from you guys?

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Tom, you should go with Ati and i will say go for AMD Phenom

 

[Kshitiz_Indian]

Yeah Tom, if your budget is still expandable, I would probs recommend an AMD 4870 graphics card since you're getting the bigger monitor - its well worth the money.

 

[The_gas]

Highlander.

Change graphics card to a HD4850 unless you want to buy a slower card?

Surge protection, you will need it. Trust me, i have 3 computers with this company.

As Kshits says, if you are getting a 22 monitor then a 4850-4870 is advised. Unless you are going to Nvidia's top line of cards gtx 280+ then really there is no other option presently apart from ati. That is unless you like inferior products.

If you want to be able to run these games and more, then take heed young man, run, be free, rape pillage and plunder all that you find.

 

[Highlander999]

It's all numbers and names, but none of it makes sense. What's a HD4850?. I get the surge protection bit As for the monitor I am not completely decided yet, I am working on a tight budget

 

[The_gas]

Processor (CPU)


Intel? Core™2 Duo E8400 (2 X 3.00GHz) 1333MHz FSB/6MB L2 Cache

Memory (RAM)


4GB CORSAIR XMS2 800MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY! (2x2GB)

Motherboard


ASUS? P5QL: DDR2, SATAII, PCI-e x16, 3 PCI, 2 x PCI-e x1

Operating System


Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium 64 bit Edition + SP1, CD & Licence (?82)

USB Options


8 x USB 2.0 PORTS (6 REAR + 2 FRONT) AS STANDARD

Memory - 1st Hard Disk


250GB SERIAL ATA II HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)

2nd Hard Disk


NONE

1st CD/DVD Drive


22x DUAL LAYER LIGHTSCRIBE DVD WRITER ?R/?RW/RAM

2nd CD/DVD Drive


NONE

Graphics Card


512MB RADEON HD 4850 PCI Express + DVI

2nd Graphics Card


NONE

Sound Card


ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Modem


NONE, I WILL BE USING BROADBAND

Network Facilities


ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT

Floppy Disk Drive


NONE

Memory Card Reader


NONE

Case


STYLISH TRIDENT MID TOWER ATX CASE - SILVER/BLACK

Power Supply & Case Cooling


450W Quiet Dual Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan

Processor Cooling


STANDARD CPU COOLER

Firewire & Video Editing


NONE

TV Card


NONE

Monitor


22 Inch Wide TFT Silver/Black 1680 x1050 5MS D-Sub, DVI (?109)

2nd Monitor


NONE

DVI Cable


NONE

Keyboard & Mouse


Logitech? Internet Keyboard + Hotkeys (Black) (?6)

Mouse


Black Logitech? Premium Optical Mouse (?4)

Speakers


LOGITECH S120 2.0 BLACK SPEAKER SYSTEM (?4)

Printer


NONE

Surge Protection


Belkin 4 Socket 2M Surge Protector with ?25,000 Protection! (?8)

Webcam


NONE

Headsets (VOIP)


NONE

Anti-Virus


NONE

Office Software


NONE

External Hard Drive


NONE

Home Installation


NONE

Warranty


1 Year Return-to-Base incl 1 Year Free Collect & Return: ?5

Delivery


STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)

Build Time


Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days

Quantity


1


?675.65 ex VAT.

?777 inc VAT and Delivery.

 

[Highlander999]

Ah, so you found the site I am using

So basically that rig, is the best value for money, but will still run all the games (at a high quality) that I have mentioned?

 

[The_gas]

Ah, so you found the site I am using

So basically that rig, is the best value for money, but will still run all the games (at a high quality) that I have mentioned?

Yep, it will eat the games you mentioned for breakfeast.

I also included 1 year free collect and return if you study my quote, just an extra ?5 for a years free collect and return could save you a lot of money if the pc has to be sent back.

Also included are a special surge protection 4 socket adapter, ?8 and the extra sized monitor 22 inch widescreen at 1680x1050 for an extra ?25.

If you could afford the extra, then upgrading the HD4850 graphics card to a HD4870 1024mb version would also be a wise choice, but not essential.

 

[Highlander999]

LOL as it stands, you've put me into my overdraft, I think the extras can be put on hold Now I just need to try and get as much money as I can of my dad