CPU choice

Richie-from-the-Boro

If you decide to take weegie.geek 's advice on buying a bundle, Novatech are a reliable retailer, and as regards the building they provide a walk through for the uninitiated.

I mention Novatech as a guideline for what's around and pricing, I have no affiliation to the company. Its just info to help your understanding.

DaftMule

As ever, with any PC upgrade, the starting point is budget. Set one and stick to it. Then, get the best you can for the budget, using sites like Toms Hardware to make comparisons of the components on offer.

weegie.geek

jem16 wrote: »

It was priced on the Kob K115 - no mention of PSU.

Guarantee is 2yrs standard.



Techy-minded but not into building systems to be honest.



It's Creative. Never had much faith in Priceless to be honest.



Probably agree with you there. Mostly everything else I buy online but usually preferred to go into the shop for complete systems.

Looking at parts only, it's £510.20 from Creative now, assuming I'm looking at the right case. I can't see a Kob anything, but there's an "Octigen Pro 115 Midi Tower Case" which comes with a "400w" PSÜ for £25.75. Considering you won't get a good 400W psu for that (you're looking at £35+ for a good PSU alone), you can imagine how bad the case+psu are.

Looks like prices have risen by quite a bit since you got your quote though. Already the parts are 13% more expensive at Creative, and that's with the better PSU+case.

jem16

weegie.geek wrote: »

Looking at parts only, it's £510.20 from Creative now, assuming I'm looking at the right case. I can't see a Kob anything, but there's an "Octigen Pro 115 Midi Tower Case" which comes with a "400w" PSÜ for £25.75. Considering you won't get a good 400W psu for that (you're looking at £35+ for a good PSU alone), you can imagine how bad the case+psu are.

It's the same case + PSU combo I already have - seems to have lasted 4 years quite happily but certainly something to ask about.

Looks like prices have risen by quite a bit since you got your quote though. Already the parts are 13% more expensive at Creative, and that's with the better PSU+case.

Should find out shortly and then see how we are comparing with the likes of Novatech.

jem16

weegie.geek wrote: »

Looking at parts only, it's £510.20 from Creative now, assuming I'm looking at the right case. I can't see a Kob anything, but there's an "Octigen Pro 115 Midi Tower Case" which comes with a "400w" PSÜ for £25.75. Considering you won't get a good 400W psu for that (you're looking at £35+ for a good PSU alone), you can imagine how bad the case+psu are.

OK assuming you are talking about my original quote with the G6950, it would be 75p cheaper now with the updated quote. He still feels this would be ample for my needs and I appreciate his honesty.

If I want the i3-530, the new quote works out at £25 dearer.

Looking at Novotech's website the comparable iFlame, with 2 yr warranty comes in at £523 and that's only with one HD as opposed to two. Extra Seagate Barracuda is £36 so £559 as opposed to my quote of £556.

weegie.geek

So Creative are doing 2 years' guarantee, and support etc, for 20 quid on top of hardware costs? Fair enough.

I'd really get a better PSU than that though.

jem16

weegie.geek wrote: »

I'd really get a better PSU than that though.

Still to discuss that with him.

What exactly would a better PSU offer and what did you have in mind?

weegie.geek

The better the PSU, the more stable the voltages, the longer your kit will last and the more stable the PC will be. Cheap PSUs have a reputation of killing drives, motherboards, etc.

The better the PSU, the more efficient it'll be.

I've had a few cheap PSUs explode on me, and read enough horror stories about other people's, to happily pay out a little extra for the peace of mind a qualiy PSU gives. I've got an Antec, they're decent PSUs. I see Creative has the Eathwatts 380W. It'll power your new system with no problems and it's a good quality efficient PSU.

jem16

weegie.geek wrote: »

I've got an Antec, they're decent PSUs. I see Creative has the Eathwatts 380W. It'll power your new system with no problems and it's a good quality efficient PSU.

Went into the shop this morning and sorted everything out.

I decided on the end to go with the Antec NSK4482 case which includes the Antex Earthwatts EA-380D PSU.

They gave me a nice discount too so total was £579 which I'm very happy with.

Thanks for your help.

weegie.geek

Excellent. Should be a nice fast system.