Buying Pre-Built

[slakey]

Sorry if this is in the wrong section.

I'm looking to buy a base unit for around the £800 mark, and before people start suggesting that I should build my own, I can't as I will be buying this new PC on finance and I doubt companies would allow me to buy all the components on finance.

So I do have 1-2 options.

Either buy from Dell or buy from PCSpecialist.

Let's get the Dell option out of the way.

Dell Studio XPS 8100:
Intel i5-650
8GB RAM (DDR3, 1333MHz)
1TB HDD (7200rpm)
Then I can either have:
1GB GeForce GTS240 - £819.00
1GB Radeon HD 5670 - £789.01
1GB Radeon HD 5450 - £749.01

Which would be the best option for the GFX card?

Dell Stuido XPS 7100:
AMD Phenom II X4 820
4GB RAM (DDR3, 1333MHz)
500GB HDD (7,200rpm)
1GB Radeon HD 5870
*Dell Case obviously

Price: £858.99
-----------------------------

PCSpecialist Computer:
Intel i5-650
4GB RAM (DDR3, 1333MHz) or 4GB RAM (XMS3, 1600MHz)
500GB HDD (7200rpm)
Then I can either have:
1GB Radeon HD 5770 + DDR3 RAM - £867.00/With XMS3 RAM - £860.00
1GB GeForce GTS250 + DDR3 RAM - £841.00/With XMS3 RAM - £834.00
Case is Stylish Black Trigon Case

----------------------
So what would be my best option?

Games that will be played are The Sims 3, Football Manager 2010, and maybe Modern Warfare 2 *I don't own MW2 on pc, I currently have it on 360, so I may or may not get it*

[orbrit]

From a gaming standpoint the Studio XPS 7100 is the clear performer out of the ones you listed.
It's all about the video card.

[slakey]

But then is the CPU good enough?

[David M]

That CPU is plenty fast for gaming. Your limitation in game speed will be at the graphics card.

Its not on this chart but you can still see where it would fit in.
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2...-CPU,1398.html

[slakey]

I'm now considering buying a system from cyberpowersystem, with no GFX and low RAM and then buy a 5770 and then upping the RAM to 6GB.

[orbrit]

6Gb RAM is for systems that are Triple channel - like the Socket 1366.

If you get a socket 1156 motherboard and processor, you'll be wanting dual channel, which should be added in pairs - so 2 x 2Gb or 4 x 2Gb.

I have 2 x 2Gb and have never seen more than 2.5Gb actual memory utilization in game. (COD MW2)

HD5770 is a good bang for buck card. It won't hit the highest frame rates on highest resolutions with all the detail, but will do good enough.
I had one 5770 to start and it worked well. I now have 2 in Crossfire and it's sweet! People accuse me of hacking all the time now from the impossible long shots I get, just from being able to see so much detail.
Crossfired 5770s are pretty similar to the performance of a single 5870 with MW2.

[slakey]

What do you lads think about this pc:
http://www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk/sy..._Configurator/

Or buy a Dell Studio XPS 8100 with:

i5-650
4GB RAM
1TB HDD
1GB Radeon HD 5450

Take out the 5450 buy a Sapphire 1GB 5770 to replace it with?

Which would cost me £784.98, if I replaced the cards myself.

Or I can get this: http://configure.euro.dell.com/dells...D00X8103&s=dhs

[glc]

Do not buy a Dell with the idea of upgrading the video card. The factory power supply may not be able to handle it. Order it the way you want it to begin with.

If you buy a Cyberpower, I recommend you stick with Asus motherboards and either Seasonic or Corsair power supplies.

[slakey]

Okay there is this PC aswell:
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/p.../irushpro.html

Or this PC from PCWorld:
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/packar...44027-pdt.html

And then buy a 5770 from Overclockers for £115, to replace the 5570.

[glc]

I would not buy ANY computer when you are just going to toss the video card and buy another. Buy it configured how you want it.

I wouldn't buy the Novatech because they do not list the brands of components they use, and I won't touch a Packard Bell with a 10 foot pole, they are total rubbish.

[slakey]

I think I have it solved.

AMD Phenom II X4 965 - Black Edition
Asus M4A77TD
4GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz RAM
1GB ATI Radeon HD 5770
500GB 8MB CACHE 7,200rpm Hard Drive
Corsair 650W PSU 80 + Ultra Quiet
Titan Fenrir Extreme Direct Touch Copper CPU Cooler *is that too much, as I won't be overclocking*
Coolmaster CM STORM SNIPER CASE
(also 64bit Windows 7)

And then I'll also be buying the extra fans for the case.

Without the extra fans it comes to £878 inc VAT & Delivery (Not sure about cost with extra fans, but I'm sure they can wait a lil while)

And the site I'll be getting this from offer Buy Now Pay May 2011 option which I'll do

So what are your thoughts?

Good enough to run Football Manager 2010, The Sims 3 & All EP's and possibly COD:MW2?
*Not all at once obviously lol*

[slakey]

Hey people I need some re-assurance what PSU.

I was wondering if the Corsair 650W PSU will be fine with this system:

AMD Phenom II X4 965 - Black Edition
Asus M4A77TD
4GB Corsair DDR3 1333MHz RAM
1GB ATI Radeon HD 5770
500GB 8MB CACHE 7,200rpm Hard Drive
Titan Fenrir Extreme Direct Touch Copper CPU Cooler *is that too much, as I won't be overclocking*
Coolmaster CM STORM SNIPER CASE
(also 64bit Windows 7)

[flanzig1]

The Corsair is plenty for power.
If the CPU your getting is a retail package then there is no real need for an aftermarket CPU heatsink. The one that comes with it will do the job.
The HD you listed looks to be an older type(small cache). If your budget can handle it, go with a WD Black or a Green if the budget is tight.

[David M]

That will work fine with the graphics card you have selected. 450 watt minimum and 600 watt recommended.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-333-_-Product

[slakey]

I'm on PCSpecialist.

I can get a WD Cavier Green.

Also for the PSU, could someone have a look on that site for me to see what would be the cheapest option for the PSU as the WD Green does put me over the budget a bit.

[David M]

You don't want the cheapest PSU you can get. The PSU's that are reliable and will not likely destroy hardware components are not the cheapest PSU's.

Stick with the top five or so highest quality PSU manufacturers.

If you must, cut back on the HD before you cut back on the PSU.

What Power Supply should I get? How many Watts? Who made it? Guide Inside.

[slakey]

Okay, they do have a load of non-named PSU's on the site and then Corsair and Thermaltake, I can't afford the Thermaltake and make can only affor the 650W Corsair, would the Corsair 450W not be enough?

[David M]

The 450 Corsair is too borderline in power for your rig for my tastes. Its excellent quality though. You may want to wail till you have more money instead of building a rig right now that is going to frustrate you or destroy itself because of junk parts.

[slakey]

I'm buying via finance, buy now pay May 2011

So I could probably go up some, but don't really wanna spend massive like I did with this PC.

[David M]

Cool...then buy yourself some economical yet quality parts.

About those Newegg and other buy now pay later deals. Read ALL the fine print and make sure you understand the payment schedule. There are some very expensive penalties for not sticking to the loan terms....not to mention the damage to your credit if you are late.

That's how they make their money...by people screwing up and incurring huge penalties. Call me cynical, but I think they want you to screw up.

Edit: I just remembered this...
http://educations.newegg.com/tool/psucalc/index.html
Run it and see what sized PSU you need. Remember, this is the bare minimum power necessary.

[slakey]

As long as I can pay it all off at the end of 12 months then I don't pay any extra.

I'm gonna be saving atleast £100 every month for 12 months, and that money will be put into a bank account with some decent interest

I made my dad look it over as well.

-----------
Finance Option: Buy Now Pay Later (12 Months / 60)
Price: £886.00
Deposit: £88.60
Balance Before Charges: £797.40
Typical APR: 26.9%APR Typical
Deferred Period: 12 months (If you pay off the remaining balance of £797.40 during this period no interest will charged.)
Arrangement Fee: One off fee of £55.00.
Monthly Installments: £32.37 per month.
Payable Over: 48 months.
Total Charge For Credit: £811.36
Balance Payable: £1553.76
Total Amount Payable (Inc. Deposit): £1697.36
-----------

[slakey]

Going by that newegg PSU calculator.

I would need a 460W if I've got the right specs.

[David M]

There is your answer then...get nothing less than 550 watts if you want to have a built in fudge factor...which you definitely want.

My suggestion...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=corsair%20550

Or a little less...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-016-_-Product

I'm not sure where to get you the price in British pounds, but you know where better than I, I'm sure.

I am partial to the Corsairs since they are super quiet and have a five year versus a three year warranty. Your budget is tight so you probably want to go with the Antec.

[slakey]

Only problem on the site I'm getting the pc from is that I can't choose no PSU

[David M]

Choose a different case then that does not come with a PSU. Most of those PSU's that come with cases are garbage anyway, except ironically for the Antec PSU's.

Or go to to a different site that does not throw up that limitation?

[slakey]

No no, on that site you choose the parts etc and they build it for you.

Also I've looked at other sites and this is the best one.

[David M]

Nooooooo!

Build it yourself! You will learn more. Opening the case wont look like your staring at the warp engine of an alien spacecraft. It will all be familiar to you.

[slakey]

Lol, I already know my way around a pc inside.

Also I won't be able to buy the components on finance.

[glc]

Dave, I just merged 2 threads - this should clear up confusion.

Slakey, please don't open multiple threads on one build, you can see what that causes. Thanks.

Please tell us again what video card you are getting and what the PSU choices are.

[slakey]

How has it caused any problems?

Also does that mean that if I come across a problem *hopefully I don't* with this new pc I also have to put it in this thread rather then make a new thread?