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kiwis

837 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12

#25200 14-Aug-2008 18:21

I've got a quote based on a new computer i'm building, i've been given two options.

Option 1:
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=CPUITQ9300
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=VGAGBV0097

Option 2:
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=CPUIT8400
http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?item=VGAGBV0096

The Graphics card price is huge, is the difference in quality really worth the exta cost?

What is everyone's thoughts, I play a few games plus watch videos and music on my PC

msian

93 posts

Master Geek

#157079 14-Aug-2008 23:21

not a geek/pro but i too want to build a pc.. rather than going for duo processor, going for intel quad.. and instead of going for geforce going for ati HD 4870.

Screw You Guys, Im Going Home!

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#157081 14-Aug-2008 23:56

Current games don't benefit from quad cores so the E8400/E8500 are the gamers CPU's of choice at the moment. A Radeon HD 4870 would give you better bang for your buck than the GX2. By the time games start supporting more than 2 cores there will probably be 8 core gigabeast CPU's available by then - so in the short to medium term you honestly wouldn't use all four cores for gaming, watching videos and listening to music, so 2 cores would be fine.

Let us know what other parts you are planning to buy as depending on your monitor some graphics cards could be overkill if the monitor can't display higher resolutions.

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eXDee

4033 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1070

Trusted

#157088 15-Aug-2008 00:38

What redroman said. A lot of people don't understand that games/other programs have to be written specifically to utilise quad core. This takes a fair bit of coding apparently, and its a waste of man power having people code this instead of getting the rest of the game done, so most game companies will only integrate dual core, since that's what their main market uses.

Go for 4850 or 4870 btw for graphics.

puzzer

18 posts

Geek

#157094 15-Aug-2008 02:37

E8500 is right one, good CPU, very powerful

msian

93 posts

Master Geek

#157477 17-Aug-2008 01:43

hi thanks forthe advice.. im looking for future use as well as i tend to keep my pc for at least 5-6 yrs.. these are the specs/parts i have.. please advise.. and also feel free to advice me on things that u think are unnecessary cause im over budget at the moment.. but am working my wat towards it..

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz 8M

Asustek P5Q Deluxe Intel P45

Antec Nine Hundred Tower Gaming Case

Antec Quattro 850W TruePower Powersupply

Corsair PC2 8500 DDR2-1066 4GB C5 TWIN2X DOMINATOR W/ FAN TWIN2X4096-8500C5D

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5

Western Digital 500GB 7200rpm SATA

Screw You Guys, Im Going Home!

redjet

299 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#157481 17-Aug-2008 08:59

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz 8M

Asustek P5Q Deluxe Intel P45

Antec Nine Hundred Tower Gaming Case

Antec Quattro 850W TruePower Powersupply

Corsair PC2 8500 DDR2-1066 4GB C5 TWIN2X DOMINATOR W/ FAN TWIN2X4096-8500C5D

SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5

Western Digital 500GB 7200rpm SATA

A very good spec there. The only thing I'd change would be the PSU. I'd probably go for one of the newer Zalman PSU's as they are very quiet - maybe the ZM750. 850w is a fair bit of grunt - unless you are planning to add more graphics cards then a 650w or 750w PSU would be fine.

You might also consider buying an aftermarket heatsink or upgrading the CPU to a Q9300 - they would both add around $100 to the price though. The Q9300 runs cool on the stock fan whereas the Q6600 is a fair bit hotter (and consumes more power). I guess it depends on whether you are interested in overclocking. The Q6600 is a better overclocker but it is advisable to use an aftermarket fan to keep the noise and temps down. Maybe something like the Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7 would do the job.

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msian

93 posts

Master Geek

#157529 17-Aug-2008 15:44

Hi there thanks for the reply. I will look at the Zalman PSU's and probably consider for a 750 then. Tell me more about an "aftermarket heatsink" dont really understand that. I am not interested in overclocking. Do you still think I should go for the Q9300? If i am not interested in overclocking, will the 6600 be enough?

Also, someone suggested I downgrade my motherboard as it is pointless to buy one at a higher price. He told me its useless and they dont do anything in regards of performance. Told me to go for the Asus P5K instead. And Corsair 750W TX Series PSU.

Please advise

Screw You Guys, Im Going Home!

msian

93 posts

Master Geek

#157532 17-Aug-2008 16:05

redroman, i have seen and worked out.. if i change my PSU to the zalman you suggested, I can upgrade my cpu to the 9300 and I would not incur any extra cost because of the psu change. What do you think? What is the benefit of me changing to the 9300 cpu. Sorry, i dont know much about these things but I just want to build a good pc which will last me. Thanks mate

Screw You Guys, Im Going Home!

nutcase

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#157553 17-Aug-2008 18:29

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/systems/systemdetail.asp?sysid=45&systypeid=4

SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 3.16Ghz + Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Cooler |
Motherboard: ASUS P5Q PRO ATX INTEL LGA775 P45 |
Memory: Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX 2 X 2GB DDR2-800 XMS2 |
Hard Disk: Western Digital 640GB Caviar 3 Gb/s 16 MB Cache 7200 RPM |
Optical Disk: Asus DRW-2014L1T 20X LIGHTSCRIBE Black SATA |
Video Adapter: Sapphire ATI Radeon HD4850 Dual Slot 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI / TV-Out |
Case: Antec Three Hundred Gamer Case |
Power Supply: Corsair 520W HX Modular Power Supply |

~~$1575~~, -5% if purchased online = $1496.25 inc gst

http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/systems/systemdetail.asp?sysid=47&systypeid=4

SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 3.16Ghz + Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme Cooler |
Motherboard: ASUS P5E Deluxe X48 45nm LGA775 DDR2 PCI-E |
Memory: Corsair TWIN2X4096-6400C4DHX 2 X 2GB DDR2-800 XMS2 |
Hard Disk: Western Digital 640GB Caviar 3 Gb/s 16 MB Cache 7200 RPM |
Optical Disk: Asus DRW-2014L1T 20X LIGHTSCRIBE Black SATA |
Video Adapter: Sapphire ATI Radeon HD4850 Dual Slot 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI / TV-Out |
2nd Video Adapter: Sapphire ATI Radeon HD4850 Dual Slot 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI / TV-Out |
Case: Antec Nine Hundred Ultimate Gamer Case |
Power Supply: Seasonic M12 700watt Modular |

~~$2250~~ -5% if purchased online = $2137.5 inc gst

Either of those would be pretty decent, Free shipping anywhere in Nz.