Looking for new PC @ approx £400.00

GaryS

The spec mentioned in post#10 seems to be incorrect.

The correct details for the Intel based system I am looking at are:

Processor-Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 1MB Cache 64Bit Processor Processor Speed-2 x 1.8GHZ
Memory-2GB DDR2 667MHz Ram
Hard Drive-250GB Serial ATA II Hard Drive
Graphics-nVidia 8500GT 512MB PCI-E Graphics
Drive 1- 18x Dual Layer +R/-R/RW DVD burner
Sound7.1 High Definition Audio
Motherboard-Intel 946GZ Chipset MicroATX Motherboard
Case-ATX Midi Tower Case
Drive Bays-3 x 5.25", 4 x 3.5" (2xInt, 2xExt)
Memory Slots-2 x DDR2 Slots
Memory Capacity-4GB
Keyboard & Mouse-Novatech Keyboard & Optical Mouse
USB Ports-6 x USB2 (2 Front, 4 Back)
Networking Port-1 x Gigabit LAN
Serial Port-1 x Serial Port
Parallel Port-1 x Parallel Port
Front Side Bus-533 / 800 / 1066 MHz

This is available for just under £400.00 with either XP Home or Vista Premuim.
I have not decided which one to get yet, most likely XP as Son wants to play a few games on it.

We will be using the existing HP 19" DVI monitor and wireless card.

GaryS

Any views on the system above ?

spakkker

Still not quite right; an e2180 is 2*2.0ghz not 2*1.8ghz, that is a e2160. Also if you could get a m/board with a p35/g33 chipset it will be more futureproof and may allow o/clocking compared to the older tech 946 m/board. Your components with a better m/b price up about £250+ without xp at somewhere like ebuyer. Consider a self build?

BillScarab

Gary, be very wary of what game makers say are suitable cards. There is a massive difference between playing a game with the minimum spec card and the recommended spec. For games the most important consideration is the graphics card.

One other poitn is that if you are going to have XP as the OS there is no point going for an 8xxx series Graphics card as they are DX10 cards and DX10 is only supported by Vista. They will work with XP but you would get better value going for an older DX9 card, particularly the ATI Radeon X1950 Pro.

Not sure if you can get a prebuilt system with that card though. It may be worth looking fro a system with onboard graphics that you could add a card to. You would still be able to use an older DX9 card with Vista if you decided to upgrade int he future.

GaryS

Thanks for the replies, I have no problem with a self-build system, thats what I usually do.

I am just a little out of touch with what Motherboard, CPU, graphics, etc to get.

Some people say that the Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 will be ok, along with a decent graphics card. Just not sure what MB to use it with.

I need to be able to add a PCI wireless card and preferably a PCI TV card (both existing kit)

If anyone can recommend some MB/CPU/Graphics combinations then please advise.

Thanks.

steveandel

oldagetraveller wrote: »

I've recommended PCspecialist a few times on this forum and would still recommend them without any hesitation. I didn't find them expensive when comparing like for like and they only use top quality branded components without any extra rubbish preloaded except OS if required (Dell etc.).
I've had 2 PCs from them, the first nearly two years old which has been virtually totally reliable. I had a slight DVD RW drive problem on that machine a few days ago which was sorted over the 'phone in no time, so they don't run away once they have your money! Local rate tech. support and based in Holmfirth, Yorkshire.
I don't know why Dell are always recommended, I've never found them reasonable once you go further than the lowest basic misleading headline price!! I bet they build down to a price too and not up to a standard?

I second that. I ordered my PC from them about a year ago. I found them to be extremely competitively priced when you look at like for like and you can specify exactly what you want for each component. The only slightly annoying thing was the predicted 3 week delivery time when I ordered mine but at least they told me before I ordered! I would definitely use them again.

BillScarab

Gary, if you're prepared to build yourself I'd be looking at a C2D E4500 processor as it's quick enough and will overclock well if you're into that. Then look for a Radeon 1950 Pro card. Not sure on motherboards nowadays but one of the Intel chipsets should do the job. It would be worth getting one that supports the latest bus speeds (1333 Mhz I think) for future upgrades, however a slightly slower one wil lbe fine for C2D and may be cheaper.

spakkker

Hi have a look at this http://www.overclock.net/intel-cpus/239759-e2180-motherboards-quick-review.html