building new comp, advice please??

totterfield · 11-25-2008, 10:40 AM

Hi, i`ve been out of the world of building computers for a few years, i want to build or update my computer and i have a few questions.

1) i have always used AMD cpus in the past, but looking now with all the dual core and quad processors, which is best, intel or AMD??

I have been given a half decent graphics card (don`t have it yet so havn`t actaully seen it) a nvidia Geforce 8600 GTS, should be ok for gaming., not sure if it is AGP or this new PCI express??

I have a budget of about £150 for mobo, cpu, cooler and RAM, does anyone have any suggestions as i`m not sure what is good an not anymore,

I would like to use the system for gaming

Thanks

T

**wrench97** · 11-25-2008, 12:39 PM

Intel has the edge right now for gaming> http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/d...x1050,820.html

But on your budget an AMD build may be what you want?

The 8600GTS is a PCIEx16 card. and will need a quality 550w power supply with a 6 pin pcie power connector.

**linderman** · 11-25-2008, 01:28 PM

8600 Gt is not a real workhorse for gaming (but its hard to beat free) ...... I hope you realize that ?

IMHO your limited budget is going to get you in trouble or building a machine that will not keep you content for very long

I would wait until you can boost your budget to about 250 - 300 pounds

rickurd · 11-27-2008, 04:34 AM

on your current budget Intel is a no go area, you could easily spend double your budget just on CPU

totterfield · 11-28-2008, 10:41 AM

Thanks for the input everybody, helpful.
I can up my budget a bit, i had the following in mind:

Nvidia Geforce 8600GTS
Free

AMD Phenom X3 Triple Core 8650 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 2MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed
£90

ASUS M3N78 GeForce 8200 Socket AM2+ onboard Graphics 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
£54

and about £40 on 2 Gig of ram (not sure which ones yet)

budget = 184

few more questions i`m afraid, i intend to use my existing case and psu (which is 550W), have the psu connectors changed atall in the last few years or would this one be ok to use?

Also that motherboard supports up to 8Gig max, is this at 1066 ?? because i cannot see any 2 gig modules in the QVL for this mobo?? and this mobo has onboard graphics as do nearly every board i look at, can i just disable the onboard graphics and use a graphics card instead? any recomendations for the ram???

And regarding the cpu, does this come with a heatsink?? it is a retail one.

Sorry for so many Q`s

T

**stressfreesoul** · 11-28-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

AMD Phenom X3 Triple Core 8650 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 2MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed
£90

This one would be better.

Quote:

ASUS M3N78 GeForce 8200 Socket AM2+ onboard Graphics 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
£54

This might turn out better in the future too.

totterfield · 11-28-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stressfreesoul

This one would be better.

why would this one be better, it`s only x2 core, where as the phenom is x3 core???

This might turn out better in the future too.

**stressfreesoul** · 11-28-2008, 01:35 PM

Higher core frequency. Most games only utilise two cores, so a faster chip with only two cores makes it faster, more efficient and cheaper to boot.
Also, check this out. Not a bad price for a kit like that.

totterfield · 11-29-2008, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stressfreesoul

Higher core frequency. Most games only utilise two cores, so a faster chip with only two cores makes it faster, more efficient and cheaper to boot.
Also, check this out. Not a bad price for a kit like that.

I see what you mean, the memory you have picked out there is 800mhz speed, would you go for 4 gig of 1066Mhz mem or load it up with 8 gig og 800mhz??

**stressfreesoul** · 11-29-2008, 02:09 PM

4Gb of 1066. At that speed in Dual Channel mode, you wont need much more. It will even suit a 64bit OS if you decide to up that in the future.

11-25-2008, 10:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
totterfield Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 23 OS: xp	building new comp, advice please?? Hi, i`ve been out of the world of building computers for a few years, i want to build or update my computer and i have a few questions. 1) i have always used AMD cpus in the past, but looking now with all the dual core and quad processors, which is best, intel or AMD?? I have been given a half decent graphics card (don`t have it yet so havn`t actaully seen it) a nvidia Geforce 8600 GTS, should be ok for gaming., not sure if it is AGP or this new PCI express?? I have a budget of about £150 for mobo, cpu, cooler and RAM, does anyone have any suggestions as i`m not sure what is good an not anymore, I would like to use the system for gaming Thanks T

11-25-2008, 12:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,621 OS: Win7	Re: building new comp, advice please?? Intel has the edge right now for gaming> http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/d...x1050,820.html But on your budget an AMD build may be what you want? The 8600GTS is a PCIEx16 card. and will need a quality 550w power supply with a 6 pin pcie power connector. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-25-2008, 01:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: building new comp, advice please?? 8600 Gt is not a real workhorse for gaming (but its hard to beat free) ...... I hope you realize that ? IMHO your limited budget is going to get you in trouble or building a machine that will not keep you content for very long I would wait until you can boost your budget to about 250 - 300 pounds __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial Last edited by linderman; 11-25-2008 at 01:30 PM.

11-27-2008, 04:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
rickurd Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Derby, England Posts: 70 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit My System	Re: building new comp, advice please?? on your current budget Intel is a no go area, you could easily spend double your budget just on CPU __________________ Whoever said AMD cannot compete. New Phenom II Owns the i7

11-28-2008, 10:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
totterfield Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 23 OS: xp	Re: building new comp, advice please?? Thanks for the input everybody, helpful. I can up my budget a bit, i had the following in mind: Nvidia Geforce 8600GTS Free AMD Phenom X3 Triple Core 8650 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 2MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed £90 ASUS M3N78 GeForce 8200 Socket AM2+ onboard Graphics 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard £54 and about £40 on 2 Gig of ram (not sure which ones yet) budget = 184 few more questions i`m afraid, i intend to use my existing case and psu (which is 550W), have the psu connectors changed atall in the last few years or would this one be ok to use? Also that motherboard supports up to 8Gig max, is this at 1066 ?? because i cannot see any 2 gig modules in the QVL for this mobo?? and this mobo has onboard graphics as do nearly every board i look at, can i just disable the onboard graphics and use a graphics card instead? any recomendations for the ram??? And regarding the cpu, does this come with a heatsink?? it is a retail one. Sorry for so many Q`s T

11-28-2008, 01:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
stressfreesoul Semi-Absent (life, eh?) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: County Durham UK Posts: 1,852 OS: XP, Win7 RC x64, Ubuntu x64 multiboot My System Blog Entries: 7	Re: building new comp, advice please?? Higher core frequency. Most games only utilise two cores, so a faster chip with only two cores makes it faster, more efficient and cheaper to boot. Also, check this out. Not a bad price for a kit like that. __________________ TSF Folding@Home, find out how to do your bit in the fight against Cancer "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut" xbox Live tag: storiedmedal Warning!! GTA IV addict! Join my game at your peril! Last edited by stressfreesoul; 11-28-2008 at 01:44 PM.

11-29-2008, 02:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
stressfreesoul Semi-Absent (life, eh?) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: County Durham UK Posts: 1,852 OS: XP, Win7 RC x64, Ubuntu x64 multiboot My System Blog Entries: 7	Re: building new comp, advice please?? 4Gb of 1066. At that speed in Dual Channel mode, you wont need much more. It will even suit a 64bit OS if you decide to up that in the future. __________________ TSF Folding@Home, find out how to do your bit in the fight against Cancer "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut" xbox Live tag: storiedmedal Warning!! GTA IV addict! Join my game at your peril!