Help! Gaming PC:Where To Start

[delilah95]

With a £450 (no more than $800 as electronics are cheaper in the US)budget to spend on components and casing (minus the monitor, mouse and keyboard) what is my best bet on building a gaming PC. Many people have reccomeneded newegg.com but this website DOES NOT ship to the UK unfortunately. Any reccomendations as where to buy the components and which components to buy within my budget would be great.
To start of I'd need a 500gb hardrive and at least 3gb RAM but then I get stuck and lost (lol).

Any help would be great

Yours, Delilah95

 

[Dom]

I will get a rig (what to buy anyway) for you, in about 10 mins, once i've had a play around with newegg.

 

[Wishmaster]

Newegg or TigerDirect would be my recommendation. But im not sure if TigerDirect will ship to you either ;-/


An AMD build will be the best bet Cost-Performance.
Intels builds will yield better performance, but at a much higher price tag.

However, with gaming as the primary purpose:
I would go with a AMD build, 4GB RAM, and invest more $$$ into the GPU, as this will be the biggest factor for gaming.
lot more bang for buck this way.

 

[Dom]

I have to post tomorrow as i am busy

 

[hybridfan]

Arianet or Ebuyer have some great bargains for PC components. Or from Powerc

iBUILD™ AMD Gaming PC All Rounder
£429.95 inc VAT

• Gigabyte GZ-X5 Black ATX MIDI Tower Case
• 650 Watt Power Supply Unit
• Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3
• AMD Athlon II X2 250 Dual Core 3.0GHz 2MB L2 Cache
• Standard CPU Cooling Fan
• Samsung 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA II
• 22x DVD RW Black SATA
• nVidia GeForce GT 240 1GB
• Built-in audio
• 2 Year Return to Base Warranty with Free Collect & Return

 

[jim84]

NCIX.com is my recommendation if they ship to you.

 

[clunkfish]

Arianet or Ebuyer have some great bargains for PC components. Or from Powerc

iBUILD™ AMD Gaming PC All Rounder
£429.95 inc VAT

• Gigabyte GZ-X5 Black ATX MIDI Tower Case
• 650 Watt Power Supply Unit
• Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3
• AMD Athlon II X2 250 Dual Core 3.0GHz 2MB L2 Cache
• Standard CPU Cooling Fan
• Samsung 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA II
• 22x DVD RW Black SATA
• nVidia GeForce GT 240 1GB
• Built-in audio
• 2 Year Return to Base Warranty with Free Collect & Return

That looks like a stonking price for the specification. I have used PCSpecialist in the past - they have a really nice configurator tool on their website - but after a quick look I don't think they could match that price.

 

[hybridfan]

Arianet or Ebuyer have some great bargains for PC components. Or from Powerc

iBUILD™ AMD Gaming PC All Rounder
£429.95 inc VAT

• Gigabyte GZ-X5 Black ATX MIDI Tower Case
• 650 Watt Power Supply Unit
• Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3
• AMD Athlon II X2 250 Dual Core 3.0GHz 2MB L2 Cache
• Standard CPU Cooling Fan
• Samsung 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA II
• 22x DVD RW Black SATA
• nVidia GeForce GT 240 1GB
• Built-in audio
• 2 Year Return to Base Warranty with Free Collect & Return

That looks like a stonking price for the specification. I have used PCSpecialist in the past - they have a really nice configurator tool on their website - but after a quick look I don't think they could match that price.

I bought my PC from PowerC and if you read the testimonials on the site there are a lot of pleased customers.

 

[stormy13]

Just quickly thrown together at overclockers.co.uk,

 

[hybridfan]

Just quickly thrown together at overclockers.co.uk,

View attachment 45536

But where is the processor?

 

[stormy13]

Oops, had picked the x4 620 (not sure what happened to leave it out),

AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 620 2.60GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail [ADX620WFGIBOX] Processors AMD Athlon X2/X4

which would bring the total to £448.13.

All proces subject to change, and/or finding similar components elsewhere cheaper.

 

[Wishmaster]

That Antec 300 is a very nice case actually, and excellent airflow. Especially if you like the looks of the 900series.

Just like the 900, but no see through window and a smaller fan on top, and a good deal cheaper.

used one in build about 4 months ago

 

[delilah95]

Arianet or Ebuyer have some great bargains for PC components. Or from Powerc

iBUILD™ AMD Gaming PC All Rounder
£429.95 inc VAT

• Gigabyte GZ-X5 Black ATX MIDI Tower Case
• 650 Watt Power Supply Unit
• Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3
• AMD Athlon II X2 250 Dual Core 3.0GHz 2MB L2 Cache
• Standard CPU Cooling Fan
• Samsung 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA II
• 22x DVD RW Black SATA
• nVidia GeForce GT 240 1GB
• Built-in audio
• 2 Year Return to Base Warranty with Free Collect & Return

That looks like a stonking price for the specification. I have used PCSpecialist in the past - they have a really nice configurator tool on their website - but after a quick look I don't think they could match that price.

I bought my PC from PowerC and if you read the testimonials on the site there are a lot of pleased customers.

Those specs are great! Thanks for that suggestion and the help the only thing that would remotely concern me is the AMD proccesor as they're not really the best for gaming but for some reason they have higher clock speeds than intel (I don't quite understand that forgive me if I'm wrong).

But still thanks for the quick replies everyone...I'll check out the one from overclockers now!

 

[delilah95]

Oops, had picked the x4 620 (not sure what happened to leave it out),

AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 620 2.60GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail [ADX620WFGIBOX] Processors AMD Athlon X2/X4

which would bring the total to £448.13.

All proces subject to change, and/or finding similar components elsewhere cheaper.

another good offer, really great paticuarly with the graphics card although i would agree with the post by wishmaster mentioning about the casing possibly I could get a cheaper one which would allow me to improve elsewhere...

 

[Frostmourne]

Oops, had picked the x4 620 (not sure what happened to leave it out),

AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 620 2.60GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail [ADX620WFGIBOX] Processors AMD Athlon X2/X4

which would bring the total to £448.13.

All proces subject to change, and/or finding similar components elsewhere cheaper.

another good offer, really great paticuarly with the graphics card although i would agree with the post by wishmaster mentioning about the casing possibly I could get a cheaper one which would allow me to improve elsewhere...

That quad is useless for gaming - it has no L3 cache and no game uses 4 threads, only GTA 4.
Go for a Phenom II 550 Black Edition and a 4890 - the GT 240 is a media card, not for games. Also look at a motherboard with an integrated GPU in case your main graphics card dies and DDR3 RAM. Here is the system I built:

http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/46227-excellent-gaming-performance-7-a.html

 

[delilah95]

Oops, had picked the x4 620 (not sure what happened to leave it out),

AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 620 2.60GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail [ADX620WFGIBOX] Processors AMD Athlon X2/X4

which would bring the total to £448.13.

All proces subject to change, and/or finding similar components elsewhere cheaper.

another good offer, really great paticuarly with the graphics card although i would agree with the post by wishmaster mentioning about the casing possibly I could get a cheaper one which would allow me to improve elsewhere...

That quad is useless for gaming - it has no L3 cache and no game uses 4 threads, only GTA 4.
Go for a Phenom II 550 Black Edition and a 4890 - the GT 240 is a media card, not for games. Also look at a motherboard with an integrated GPU in case your main graphics card dies and DDR3 RAM. Here is the system I built:

http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/46227-excellent-gaming-performance-7-a.html

Right, this makes sense because I've heard of many games not supporting even dual-core, for example my copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator X seems to utilise only one core. So AMD is still my best bet but I should stick with a dual or single core, something along the lines of the spec listed in your gaming rig. DDR3 is an essential I've heard of but I guess this will get used more so on x64 systems (is that right?). As for the intergrated back up graphics card...is that a real essential considering that if the card goes bust I could just buy a cheap temporary replacement... I mean how likely is a malfunction?
Thanks for the advice

 

[Coolness]

another good offer, really great paticuarly with the graphics card although i would agree with the post by wishmaster mentioning about the casing possibly I could get a cheaper one which would allow me to improve elsewhere...

That quad is useless for gaming - it has no L3 cache and no game uses 4 threads, only GTA 4.
Go for a Phenom II 550 Black Edition and a 4890 - the GT 240 is a media card, not for games. Also look at a motherboard with an integrated GPU in case your main graphics card dies and DDR3 RAM. Here is the system I built:

http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/46227-excellent-gaming-performance-7-a.html

Right, this makes sense because I've heard of many games not supporting even dual-core, for example my copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator X seems to utilise only one core. So AMD is still my best bet but I should stick with a dual or single core, something along the lines of the spec listed in your gaming rig. DDR3 is an essential I've heard of but I guess this will get used more so on x64 systems (is that right?). As for the intergrated back up graphics card...is that a real essential considering that if the card goes bust I could just buy a cheap temporary replacement... I mean how likely is a malfunction?
Thanks for the advice

First off: Almost all new games support multiple cores, but i agree, for gaming you only need a dual core since most of the work is done by the GPU
Number two: Graphics cards always have a high chance of malfunction. It is recommended that you have a backup as an intergated. Also, 64-bit OS's support 4gb+ RAM, while 32-bits only -4gb. DDR3 is how fast the RAM is, measured in Mhz

With data being transferred 64 bits at a time per memory module, DDR3 SDRAM gives a transfer rate of (memory clock rate) × 4 (for bus clock multiplier) × 2 (for data rate) × 64 (number of bits transferred) / 8 (number of bits/byte). Thus with a memory clock frequency of 100 MHz, DDR3 SDRAM gives a maximum transfer rate of 6400 MB/s.

DDR3 SDRAM - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[sergiogarcia9]

I just got a pretty good deal from Computer Supplies and PC Components from Novatech which is located in the UK

This is without a gfx card though, and you will probably need a better PSU

1 x BB-6204G Novatech Barebone Bundle - AMD II X4 620 Quad Core - 4GB DDR2 800Mhz - Nvidia MCP61P Motherboard - 4 Bay ATX Tower Case & PSU
@ GBP 182.60 each (Ex Vat)

1 x SAM-S222A Samsung S222A 22x DVD+/-RW 8x Dual Layer DVD-RAM IDE Black - OEM
@ GBP 19.57 each (Ex Vat)

2 x CAB-SATA Novatech SATA Cable - 46cm
@ GBP 3.40 each (Ex Vat)

1 x WD-5AAKS Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 16MB Cache Hard Drive SATAII 300MB/s <8.9ms 7200rpm - OEM
@ GBP 34.03 each (Ex Vat)

Total cost of Products in your Basket...... 243.00
Total cost of Delivery..................... 16.00
Total amount of VAT........................ 45.34

============================================================
TOTAL AMOUNT OF YOUR ORDER (GBP) 304.34
============================================================

 

[delilah95]

That quad is useless for gaming - it has no L3 cache and no game uses 4 threads, only GTA 4.
Go for a Phenom II 550 Black Edition and a 4890 - the GT 240 is a media card, not for games. Also look at a motherboard with an integrated GPU in case your main graphics card dies and DDR3 RAM. Here is the system I built:

http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/46227-excellent-gaming-performance-7-a.html

Right, this makes sense because I've heard of many games not supporting even dual-core, for example my copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator X seems to utilise only one core. So AMD is still my best bet but I should stick with a dual or single core, something along the lines of the spec listed in your gaming rig. DDR3 is an essential I've heard of but I guess this will get used more so on x64 systems (is that right?). As for the intergrated back up graphics card...is that a real essential considering that if the card goes bust I could just buy a cheap temporary replacement... I mean how likely is a malfunction?
Thanks for the advice

First off: Almost all new games support multiple cores, but i agree, for gaming you only need a dual core since most of the work is done by the GPU
Number two: Graphics cards always have a high chance of malfunction. It is recommended that you have a backup as an intergated. Also, 64-bit OS's support 4gb+ RAM, while 32-bits only -4gb. DDR3 is how fast the RAM is, measured in Mhz

With data being transferred 64 bits at a time per memory module, DDR3 SDRAM gives a transfer rate of (memory clock rate) × 4 (for bus clock multiplier) × 2 (for data rate) × 64 (number of bits transferred) / 8 (number of bits/byte). Thus with a memory clock frequency of 100 MHz, DDR3 SDRAM gives a maximum transfer rate of 6400 MB/s.

DDR3 SDRAM - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hmmm.. right so the OS won't be a factor in that situation. Thanks for the help...I understand that an intergrated backed up graphics card is a good idea, thats interesting but means that some of the specs in mind will have to go down obviously as the motehrboard will cost more...in terms of motherboards with decent processors on AND intergrated graphics card where do they stand because for example a hardcore gamer probably won't be interested in an intergrates graphics card...or will they?

 

[delilah95]

I just got a pretty good deal from Computer Supplies and PC Components from Novatech which is located in the UK

This is without a gfx card though, and you will probably need a better PSU

1 x BB-6204G Novatech Barebone Bundle - AMD II X4 620 Quad Core - 4GB DDR2 800Mhz - Nvidia MCP61P Motherboard - 4 Bay ATX Tower Case & PSU
@ GBP 182.60 each (Ex Vat)

1 x SAM-S222A Samsung S222A 22x DVD+/-RW 8x Dual Layer DVD-RAM IDE Black - OEM
@ GBP 19.57 each (Ex Vat)

2 x CAB-SATA Novatech SATA Cable - 46cm
@ GBP 3.40 each (Ex Vat)

1 x WD-5AAKS Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB 16MB Cache Hard Drive SATAII 300MB/s <8.9ms 7200rpm - OEM
@ GBP 34.03 each (Ex Vat)

Total cost of Products in your Basket...... 243.00
Total cost of Delivery..................... 16.00
Total amount of VAT........................ 45.34

============================================================
TOTAL AMOUNT OF YOUR ORDER (GBP) 304.34
============================================================

Not too bad at all... I mean with an graphics card and a better power supply the most added on to the price will be 150GBP? Although at I'm not sure I'd use all 4 cores and whether the DDR2 would be too slow, I guess it wouldbe sufficient. Thanks for the list of components...
is there intergrated sound on the motherboard?