New Computer Advice

[floppybootstomp]

£2K on Graphics and memory? You'd be hard pushed but it could almost be done.

Pair of top end 590's in sli and 32Gb highest specced memory still only comes to around £1K8 though.

Using a high end graphics card to power a 1080 res is, in my opinion, a waste of money.

My media machine feeds one HDMI input of a 37" TV using the motherboard's onboard Nvidia 8200 graphics chip and it's perfectly adequate.

If you've decided now to do a home build this setup will play all current games: Medium to high priced motherboard, I favour Asus and EVGA; highest CPU you can afford; a quality cooler for that CPU, not the stock one; 8Gb minimum memory, good brand name; SSD Hard drive plus one or two storage disks; ATI 6970 2Gb RAM; PSU, quality make, minimum 850W, I'd recommend foremost Corsair with Seasonic and OCZ also being good choices.

Plus a case, that's personal preference, as are mouse, keyboard and loudspeakers.

But all that to power a telly? Strewth

 

[V_R]

Their latest response sounds better as they like my idea of taking the base system then adding what they need for online gaming; more RAM, replacement graphics card, and one SSD (which none of them have as standard)

No budget doesn't just mean 1080p, its all about the specification
Could easily spend £2000 just on RAM and graphics for the best online gaming experience from the computer

How many TV's do you know that output higher than 1080p? Spending 2K on just the RAM and GPU(s) for a kid whos ten is stupidity.

My own computer is connected to a 50" TV, acts as a monitor
Not bothered about that any more as this computer is only switched on once every 3 months (backup for laptop)

Still only a maximum resolution of 1920x1080.

Look, i'm trying to help, but your not really listening to what is being said to you are you?

For someone that claims to know what their doing, your not really showing it.

Fool, and money parted, comes to mind.

 

[m8internet]

This is exactly the same discussion I had with them, why spend £3000 on such a high specification for little (or even no) benefit, and coming off the original question

As above the main use will be gaming (not something I use a computer for)
The relative is wanting fluid fast play
My original suggestion was a system with 4GB RAM and 1GB graphics card
However they came back with a system they had found with 8GB RAM and 2GB graphics card

I tried to avoid processor speed, as I know where that conversation would go with them, and just add to the difficulty of me finding an "out of the box" system for them

I will not be able to build this for them, I don't have the time during January, and they don't want to wait until February

 

[V_R]

Well, if i was in your position, i'd go down this route...

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=43&catid=2040&sortby=priceAsc

Forget the SSD, he's ten, he wont notice a difference.

For 1920x1080p a GTX580 1.5Gb is plenty, even a 560Ti would do him fine. The only game at the moment that will stress a 580 would be BF3. Trust me look at my sig, i game at 1920x1200.

I'd go for a i5 or possibly an i7, but tbh most games would be able to use the i7 to its full potential anyway. i5 would free up a few quid more for the GPU. i5 is Quad core, i7 is Quad core with HT basically.

Go for a Sandybridge system and get 8GB RAM. SB is dual channel the 'old' i series chipsets (i7 920, 930 etc) were Tri channel RAM.

Something like this.... (which can be tailored further by calling them by the way)

Why You Should Buy This System
- A guaranteed 4.60GHz performance for the price of 3.30GHz
- Choose from a selection of graphics cards to meet your performance needs
- Precision built and cabled by Overclockers UK expert technicians
- 8 Hours stressed tested and quality controlled
- USB3, SATA 6GB/s, Intel Ethernet for next gen computing

System Specification
- Case: Antec 300 Case with Purple LED Fans
- Power Supply: OCZ ZS 650w PSU
- CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.60GHz Sandybridge CPU
- Motherboard: Intel Z68 GEN3 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard ** B3 REVISION **
- Cooler: OcUK H2 Flo CPU Cooler
- RAM: 8GB DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit
- Hard Drive: 500GB HDD
- Graphics Card: Choice of DX11 Compatible Graphics Cards
- Sound: Realtek 7.1 Channel Sound (On-Board)
- Optical Drive: LG DVD+/-RW SATA Drive

Service Package
- Full 12 Month collect and return warranty
- Each specification is assembled from handpicked components for compatibility and stability
- Telephone, web note and forum technical support

Is this System for You?
Heighten your gaming experience with the "Titan 8200i Spinosaur", stalk your prey down and demolish the competition. Equipped with either ATI or Nvidia, become a champion.

Note - If you would like to make a small change to the specification call our sales team on 0871 200 5052 and they will be happy to help.

*Please allow between 24 and 48 hours for your system to be built and configured. This may take longer during busier periods.

 

[m8internet]

Forget the SSD, he's ten, he wont notice a difference.

For 1920x1080p a GTX580 1.5Gb is plenty, even a 560Ti would do him fine. The only game at the moment that will stress a 580 would be BF3. Trust me look at my sig, i game at 1920x1200.

I'd go for a i5 or possibly an i7, but tbh most games would be able to use the i7 to its full potential anyway. i5 would free up a few quid more for the GPU. i5 is Quad core, i7 is Quad core with HT basically.

Go for a Sandybridge system and get 8GB RAM. SB is dual channel the 'old' i series chipsets (i7 920, 930 etc) were Tri channel RAM

Many thanks and pretty much confirms what I had been looking at until I was hit with "must be from the high street" (advising the parent of all the issues and restrictions this would bring, but it didn't bother them)

I had also put the highest specification, my preference was for the i7, so that the computer would not need upgrading / replacement for at least 3 or 4 years
Fairly similar to the HP Pavilion I bought in 2005, I went for the higher specification processor at the time, the P4 515 2.93GHz, and then added further RAM myself
Equally, I have done this same upgrade for other relatives and ironically we all seem to have the same basic system (puffer motherboard)

 

[m8internet]

Still only a maximum resolution of 1920x1080

As above, not bothered as the computer is only switched on once every three months
Checked and the output resolution is 1280 x 768
This is the maximum supported by the input on the D-Sub of the TV