First Desktop computer home build help required?

Hightower · 05 August 2010, 22:36

I'm thinking of replacing my aging PC. Over the years Olly and I upgraded bits and bobs to keep her ship shape, but I think the time has come to replace her with a more modern machine.

I'm not a "Gamer" but do like to edit Videos and do lots of surfing the web with the family to include MSN, with at least 3 accounts active at any one time and multiple windows open too.

My current PC suffers when it's being used hard and can really slow down, so I'm looking at future proofing any purchase as much as possible.

My Budget is as low as possible as I need a new monitor and operating system too. The only part of my existing set-up I'm willing to swap over is the Sony DVD drive.

I think I'd like to try an AMD processer, perhaps the AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition 3.2GHz or a AMD Quad Core Phenom II X4 965 and for the operating system, Windows 7 64 bit, being the only wishes.

I've never built a system before, so would anyone care to list the missing pieces.

benc · 05 August 2010, 22:41

Some useful info here: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/barebones.html

Novatech are a great company, and most of the guys know what they're talking about

And very close to you

Hightower · 05 August 2010, 23:07

That's where my existing computer came from.

I was looking at this: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/p...BB-9654G2.html

About a £100 more than I wanted to pay for a bare bones, but a pretty well spec'd machine I think. Just add a hard drive and graphics card and away I go.

benc · 05 August 2010, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

That's where my existing computer came from.

I was looking at this: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/p...BB-9654G2.html

About a £100 more than I wanted to pay for a bare bones, but a pretty well spec'd machine I think. Just add a hard drive and graphics card and away I go.

Looks like a good machine, will suit everything you need.. I've been out of the high spec desktop type hardware for ages now, so not too sure what to suggest on the graphics card front.

Mollers · 05 August 2010, 23:19

Give Roy Cruse a shout. Top Ribman.

http://www.1st-technology.co.uk/profile.php?lookup=1

willk · 05 August 2010, 23:21

I've "built" numerous machines for work over the years (maybe 10*) and in the late 90's it was a cheap option. I don't get the impression that it's quite as attractive now, financially?

Certainly it's time-consuming, but if you have an interest, maybe it is worthwhile?

_______________________
* Scratch that, including the "re-builds", it must be much more :-)

nik · 06 August 2010, 09:38

Hi Andy, I have done several myself over the years. Its not particularly difficult and installing the software can take as long as doing the build. It may not be any cheaper but you do get the get the components that you want.
I have found that micromart magazine is a good resource for components and advice.
AMD/ATI currently do the best range of video cards.
And my personal preference, go for quiet components. A quiet psu (about 550 watts these days) a passively cooled video card and a decent heatsink for the cpu with a large quiet fan. Antec do decent cases. If you have a case with a noisy fan, you can get replacements here dorothy bradbury

Hope this helps, Nick.

gotchiguy · 07 August 2010, 13:54

What about

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/

I nearly bought one from them a couple of years ago until I spied an irresistible deal on an HP. You choose what you want, a bit like how Dell used to be.

Hightower · 07 August 2010, 22:04

nik · 08 August 2010, 10:39

Hi Andy, This is kind of what I had in mind: passive 5750.
However I cant find any examples for sale in the uk.
If you go down a notch to a 5570 then you can get them more easily: passive 5570. But less powerful of course.
Nick.

chris123 · 08 August 2010, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Thanks for all your help. I've specced this little baby from searches over the last couple of days.

What do you guys think?

Looks pretty good. I would suggest a few things:

1. I tend to favour Nvidia graphic cards over ATI, mostly due to personal preference but also due to some reported issues (probably now resolved) with video codec incompatibilities with ATI drivers and due to one application I had that was specifically optimised for Nvidia cards. However, whether ATI or Nvidia I would go for a 'name brand' rather than an 'own brand' graphics card. For example for Nvidia, BFG, EVGA and XFX are generally considered the 'best' card manufacturers, there are no doubt similarly 'preferred' manufacturers for ATI cards.

2. Your PSU looks somewhat undersized at 400 watt - most processors and graphics cards specify a minimum size PSU, and for the components you have specced I would expect it to be at least 500W - the AMD website lists the Corsair 520W as the smallest 'approved' Corsair PSU for the 5750 GFX card:

http://support.amd.com/us/certified/...aspx?p=Corsair

Cheers

Chris

Hightower · 08 August 2010, 13:06

Well, I've just won this on flee boy http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/p...BB-9654G2.html

So I guess I'll using this as my platform. I'm quite pleased really, as it uses a faster processor than I was considering, not sure about the power supply, but it's all been put together by Novatech so can't be too bad.

Hightower · 08 August 2010, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris123

Looks pretty good. I would suggest a few things:

1. I tend to favour Nvidia graphic cards over ATI, mostly due to personal preference but also due to some reported issues (probably now resolved) with video codec incompatibilities with ATI drivers and due to one application I had that was specifically optimised for Nvidia cards. However, whether ATI or Nvidia I would go for a 'name brand' rather than an 'own brand' graphics card. For example for Nvidia, BFG, EVGA and XFX are generally considered the 'best' card manufacturers, there are no doubt similarly 'preferred' manufacturers for ATI cards.

2. Your PSU looks somewhat undersized at 400 watt - most processors and graphics cards specify a minimum size PSU, and for the components you have specced I would expect it to be at least 500W - the AMD website lists the Corsair 520W as the smallest 'approved' Corsair PSU for the 5750 GFX card:

http://support.amd.com/us/certified/...aspx?p=Corsair

Cheers

Chris

Thanks for all your advice about graphics cards Chris. The PSU has been resolved in the short term as the purchase includes one already. Not sure on the quality of it though, but Novatech units are pretty sound IMHO.

chris123 · 08 August 2010, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

The PSU has been resolved in the short term as the purchase includes one already. Not sure on the quality of it though, but Novatech units are pretty sound IMHO.

You should be fine with the PSU. The main reason I tend to use Corsair PSUs is to keep the noise down as much as possible - at home because they are running in the living room (media centre PC), at work because they are running in training rooms. That said the first Corsair PSU I bought went pop a few months ago - the only good thing was it didn't take anything else with it.

Cheers

Chris

Hightower · 12 August 2010, 22:55

Just thought I'd just update everyone that made suggestions and gave advice.

I've just finished building the Barebones computer into something that works. I'm please to say that all the hardware elements of the build went smoothly and so did the installation of Windows 7. I have had some compatability problems with Kaspersky security 2009 but managed to find a free upgrade on their site to the 2011 edition which runs fine.

I haven't added all the bills up but it all comes in at about £650 including a LED back lit 22" monitor

That's for a AMD quad 3.4 with 4 gig of ram, 1 gig graphics card, 500gigs of HHD. I'm quite happy I managed to meet my budget and get the best possible spec for my system using good quality components.

Cookee · 13 August 2010, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Just thought I'd just update everyone that made suggestions and gave advice.

I've just finished building the Barebones computer into something that works. I'm please to say that all the hardware elements of the build went smoothly and so did the installation of Windows 7. I have had some compatability problems with Kaspersky security 2009 but managed to find a free upgrade on their site to the 2011 edition which runs fine.

I haven't added all the bills up but it all comes in at about £650 including a LED back lit 22" monitor

That's for a AMD quad 3.4 with 4 gig of ram, 1 gig graphics card, 500gigs of HHD. I'm quite happy I managed to meet my budget and get the best possible spec for my system using good quality components.

Probably too late now, but I use Overclockers for stuff like this - they seem to have good stock and are reasonable!

Hightower · 13 August 2010, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

Probably too late now, but I use Overclockers for stuff like this - they seem to have good stock and are reasonable!

Thanks for your recommendation Cookee, I've seen the overclockers website, but Novatech are just down the road from me and have very good prices too.

Hightower · 13 August 2010, 13:54

Anybody know where I can buy a cheap copy of windows works that'll work with windows 7? My other copy isn't compatible and doesn't work at all.

Poly · 13 August 2010, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Anybody know where I can buy a cheap copy of windows works that'll work with windows 7? My other copy isn't compatible and doesn't work at all.

Unless you really need Works (e.g. for compatibility with old files) then i'd switch to Open Office - its free.

willk · 13 August 2010, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Unless you really need Works (e.g. for compatibility with old files) then i'd switch to Open Office - its free.

Oh yes, what that man said. It's top stuff, makes Works look like a Duplicator

The latest Open Office seems to open pretty much everything...