Buying a new PC: It's a nightmare

Letum · 04-30-09, 04:59 PM

It come time to buy a new PC and I have £1000 ready to spend.

However, I have no idea where to start!

Is £1000 even a reasonable budget or do I need to stretch to more?
How on earth do I know if I am getting my money's worth when I know little
about how much things are worth and I don't know where I can get
independent advice?

I have made my own PCs back in the late 90s and would be happy to do this
again, but I have no idea what the best set of components to buy might be.

Does anyone have any advice?

NeonSamurai · 04-30-09, 06:12 PM

Well first thing is what your trying to build? Gaming rig? and if so how powerful. 1000 pounds should, I think, be plenty sufficient to build a good system.

As for where to start, start digging around sites that offer built computers of the kind your looking for, then see what components they are using (or poke around the threads here for builds). Then start researching components, like video cards, motherboards, cpus, etc. Look for reviews and customer feedback (like say newegg.com). Also ask questions here about parts your interested in. When you have narrowed your build down you could ask for comments on it from us on it as a whole.

That or just buy from Dell or the like. XPS is their gaming rigs (or Alienware but I don't like them as you pay through the nose for the name)

FIREWALL · 04-30-09, 06:23 PM

How much is L1000 worth in real money Letum ?

Is it like that Canadian Monopoly money ? :rotfl:

:rotfl:

Letum · 04-30-09, 06:36 PM

Thanks Neon, Yup, it's a gaming rig.

Looks like I had better start doing my homework. I'll come back when I have
some ideas.

Firewall: what are you on?

AVGWarhawk · 04-30-09, 06:57 PM

Look for processor and mobo packages. Once decided, the rest falls into place.

Peto · 04-30-09, 07:25 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128384

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103471

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145182

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130339

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

Add a Seagate hard drive (16MB cache) and a DVDROM W/R and you're off to the races. I'm considering this configuration for myself. Already have the video card and its excellent.

Happy Shopping!!!

EDIT: I've used this case/Power Supply combination for a couple customers and it works great. Customers are very happy with how well the case keeps their systems cool. I don't recommend it for dual video card (SLI) setups though as the 2nd card sits too close to the power supply for my liking... Then again--I don't believe in dual video card setups when a single 9800GT(X) cranks out high frame-rates by itself.

FIREWALL · 04-30-09, 07:41 PM

Just j\king with ya Letum.

With $2,000.00 you can build a good rig.

If in US I'd point you towards TigerDirect.

As your in the UK I assume you have someone simular there.

As stated by AVG bundle setups cpu\mobo , psu\ vid cards are good deals to look into.

IMHO buy brand name recognized hardware and look carefully at the Warranties.

Peto · 04-30-09, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

Just j\king with ya Letum.

With $2,000.00 you can build a good rig.

If in US I'd point you towards TigerDirect.

As your in the UK I assume you have someone simular there.

As stated by AVG bundle setups cpu\mobo , psu\ vid cards are good deals to look into.

IMHO buy brand name recognized hardware and look carefully at the Warranties.

TigerDirect and Newegg are great sites for parts and deals. I generally get all hard-drives from Tiger because they package them better than newegg.

FYI--I do this for a living but I won't charge you for advice

!

FIREWALL · 04-30-09, 07:58 PM

I rarely use NewEgg as there right down the road and I have to pay sales tax and shipping.

With TG no sales tax and free shipping over $100.00ish

Peto · 04-30-09, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

I rarely use NewEgg as there right down the road and I have to pay sales tax and shipping.

With TG no sales tax and free shipping over $100.00ish

I can't think of better reasoning than that!

XLjedi · 04-30-09, 09:46 PM

I like Asus mobo's and I hear people like Gigabyte too. I imagine the nVidia one's have to be pretty decent as well, but I'm no chip-head.

Last I looked I noticed Asus had removed a few chip fans and replaced em with non-mechanical heatsinks. I think one of my chip fans is about to die... the pipe heatsinks might be standard issue now.

Peto · 04-30-09, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronblood

I like Asus mobo's and I hear people like Gigabyte too. I imagine the nVidia one's have to be pretty decent as well, but I'm no chip-head.

Last I looked I noticed Asus had removed a few chip fans and replaced em with non-mechanical heatsinks. I think one of my chip fans is about to die... the pipe heatsinks might be standard issue now.

I've also used a lot of ASUS boards but we started having problems with some of the new ones (up to DOA) and then their ts seems to have slipped a lot. Those problems got me to shop around and I've found that a few companies I used to avoid (including Gigabyte) have stepped up their components a lot.

I do like the passive cooling of the chipsets as well but there are quite a few companies using that technology now. Those little chipset fans have always been trouble-some and tend to be noisy as well.

It's really impressive how much good gear is available at very reasonable prices. I paid more for my C64 than I have to pay for a decent dual core today

.

Arclight · 05-01-09, 03:53 AM

Way I figure it:

Asus- good after revisions/BIOS updates. They push new tech out the door too quick, might be due to shoddy QA.

MSI- best overclockers, excellent BIOS, stable boards

Gigabyte- high build quality, good bios, decent/good overclockers, stable

Basically;
Overclocker? > MSI
Full-featured? > Gigabyte (typically most expensive)
Budget? > Asus

That's how I pick boards for systems, haven't had complaints yet.

HunterICX · 05-01-09, 04:14 AM

the last ASUS board I had fried itself after 4 short years and I found it quiet unstable, especialy if you do not replace the onboard soundcard for a real soundcard as my biggest crullpit of the BSOD's I had with the old pc was due the onboard soundcard.

now I'm using a ASrock MoBo, and with this new pc which I bought march last year not a single problem so far.

HunterICX

Arclight · 05-01-09, 05:09 AM

Ever tried updating the BIOS during those 4 years?

Asrock have decent boards, but not really geared towards the enthusiast. They lack the full page of tweakable memory timings, for example (last time I chacked anyway).

04-30-09, 04:59 PM	#1
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Buying a new PC: It's a nightmare It come time to buy a new PC and I have £1000 ready to spend. However, I have no idea where to start! Is £1000 even a reasonable budget or do I need to stretch to more? How on earth do I know if I am getting my money's worth when I know little about how much things are worth and I don't know where I can get independent advice? I have made my own PCs back in the late 90s and would be happy to do this again, but I have no idea what the best set of components to buy might be. Does anyone have any advice? __________________

04-30-09, 06:12 PM	#2
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	Well first thing is what your trying to build? Gaming rig? and if so how powerful. 1000 pounds should, I think, be plenty sufficient to build a good system. As for where to start, start digging around sites that offer built computers of the kind your looking for, then see what components they are using (or poke around the threads here for builds). Then start researching components, like video cards, motherboards, cpus, etc. Look for reviews and customer feedback (like say newegg.com). Also ask questions here about parts your interested in. When you have narrowed your build down you could ask for comments on it from us on it as a whole. That or just buy from Dell or the like. XPS is their gaming rigs (or Alienware but I don't like them as you pay through the nose for the name) __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

04-30-09, 06:23 PM	#3
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	How much is L1000 worth in real money Letum ? Is it like that Canadian Monopoly money ? :rotfl::rotfl: __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

04-30-09, 06:36 PM	#4
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Thanks Neon, Yup, it's a gaming rig. Looks like I had better start doing my homework. I'll come back when I have some ideas. Firewall: what are you on? __________________

04-30-09, 06:57 PM	#5
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Look for processor and mobo packages. Once decided, the rest falls into place. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

04-30-09, 07:25 PM	#6
Peto Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The details of my life are quite inconsequential Posts: 1,049 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128384 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103471 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145182 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130339 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 Add a Seagate hard drive (16MB cache) and a DVDROM W/R and you're off to the races. I'm considering this configuration for myself. Already have the video card and its excellent. Happy Shopping!!! EDIT: I've used this case/Power Supply combination for a couple customers and it works great. Customers are very happy with how well the case keeps their systems cool. I don't recommend it for dual video card (SLI) setups though as the 2nd card sits too close to the power supply for my liking... Then again--I don't believe in dual video card setups when a single 9800GT(X) cranks out high frame-rates by itself. __________________ If your target has a 30 degree AOB, the range from his base course line equals the current range divided by 2.

04-30-09, 07:41 PM	#7
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Just j\king with ya Letum. With $2,000.00 you can build a good rig. If in US I'd point you towards TigerDirect. As your in the UK I assume you have someone simular there. As stated by AVG bundle setups cpu\mobo , psu\ vid cards are good deals to look into. IMHO buy brand name recognized hardware and look carefully at the Warranties. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

04-30-09, 07:58 PM	#9
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	I rarely use NewEgg as there right down the road and I have to pay sales tax and shipping. With TG no sales tax and free shipping over $100.00ish __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

04-30-09, 09:46 PM	#11
XLjedi Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 1,243 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 8	I like Asus mobo's and I hear people like Gigabyte too. I imagine the nVidia one's have to be pretty decent as well, but I'm no chip-head. Last I looked I noticed Asus had removed a few chip fans and replaced em with non-mechanical heatsinks. I think one of my chip fans is about to die... the pipe heatsinks might be standard issue now. __________________

05-01-09, 03:53 AM	#13
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Way I figure it: Asus- good after revisions/BIOS updates. They push new tech out the door too quick, might be due to shoddy QA. MSI- best overclockers, excellent BIOS, stable boards Gigabyte- high build quality, good bios, decent/good overclockers, stable Basically; Overclocker? > MSI Full-featured? > Gigabyte (typically most expensive) Budget? > Asus That's how I pick boards for systems, haven't had complaints yet. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

05-01-09, 04:14 AM	#14
HunterICX Rear Admiral Join Date: May 2006 Location: Malaga, España Posts: 10,750 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	the last ASUS board I had fried itself after 4 short years and I found it quiet unstable, especialy if you do not replace the onboard soundcard for a real soundcard as my biggest crullpit of the BSOD's I had with the old pc was due the onboard soundcard. now I'm using a ASrock MoBo, and with this new pc which I bought march last year not a single problem so far. HunterICX __________________

05-01-09, 05:09 AM	#15
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Ever tried updating the BIOS during those 4 years? Asrock have decent boards, but not really geared towards the enthusiast. They lack the full page of tweakable memory timings, for example (last time I chacked anyway). __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.