Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)
A friend wants me to spec up and build and PC for him - he's got a budget of £3000-£3500 - must include everything (including LCD, printer, keyboard and mouse), except an optical drive - which he has.

OK, so this is what I've drawn up so far:

https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3423/splundpcpart1ba7.png
https://img300.imageshack.us/img300/9449/splundpcpart2xv0.png

A) Did I pick anything stoopid?
B) Can you do better? (please use http://www.overclockers.co.uk)
C) The damn fool is left-handed and I'm not sure how suitable the mouse will be - any left-handers here using it?
The_Sniper_NM
Official EVGA Fanboy
+94|6383|SC | USA |
If hes got the money to spend, it looks good. I'd only change the ram to 1600, if he wants to over clock that QX9650. I'd recommend OCZ Reaper anyways. Everything else looks good. (Nvidia FTMFW)
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

The_Sniper_NM wrote:

If hes got the money to spend, it looks good. I'd only change the ram to 1600, if he wants to over clock that QX9650. I'd recommend OCZ Reaper anyways. Everything else looks good. (Nvidia FTMFW)
No he won't be overclocking, and I was gonna go with a QX9770 and 1600 ram, but over-clockers don't have 1600 DDR3 in 2GB modules (unless I go Corsair, and I don't like Corsair (not that I have any experience of OCZ)).

Last edited by Scorpion0x17 (2008-07-08 06:35:02)

Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6466|Winland

Looks ok, but I'd get a Cyborg or G15 over that MS keyboard. Also faster DDR3, if he's gonna get it. As you said in another thread, PC5300 is "optimal" for FSB1333 CPUs. If PC6400 is overkill, what isn't that? If you're gonna go overkill, you better do it with style And, if he's not superleet and needs to use the multiplier upwards, he might aswell get a Q9450 or Q9550.
The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

Freezer7Pro wrote:

Looks ok, but I'd get a Cyborg or G15 over that MS keyboard. Also faster DDR3, if he's gonna get it. As you said in another thread, PC5300 is "optimal" for FSB1333 CPUs. If PC6400 is overkill, what isn't that? If you're gonna go overkill, you better do it with style And, if he's not superleet and needs to use the multiplier upwards, he might aswell get a Q9450 or Q9550.
A keyboard's a keyboard for him and the ram I chose is the right ram for the CPU/mobo I chose.


There is one other thing I'm not sure on though - the sound card - he doesn't really need the 'pro' external multi-input doodadery, but which X-Fi should I go for instead? (the last sound card I bought was an AWE32!)

Last edited by Scorpion0x17 (2008-07-08 06:32:26)

DUnlimited
got any popo lolo intersting?
+1,160|6732|cuntshitlake

X48 and dual 4870X2's anyone?
main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

DeathUnlimited wrote:

X48 and dual 4870X2's anyone?
Hardware I can buy from over-clockers now anyone?
DUnlimited
got any popo lolo intersting?
+1,160|6732|cuntshitlake

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

DeathUnlimited wrote:

X48 and dual 4870X2's anyone?
Hardware I can buy from over-clockers now anyone?
You never said it had to be immediate. X2's are coming out in less than two weeks you see.
main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg
Gooners
Wiki Contributor
+2,700|6901

DeathUnlimited wrote:

X48 and dual 4870X2's anyone?
Yes Please.

Scorpion tell that guy to wait a week or two for the new X2's
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

DeathUnlimited wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

DeathUnlimited wrote:

X48 and dual 4870X2's anyone?
Hardware I can buy from over-clockers now anyone?
You never said it had to be immediate. X2's are coming out in less than two weeks you see.
Well, he said he's 99.999999999999% sure he's got the money NOW... but... hmm... with that and the cpu price drops... might have to suggest he waits a little then...

But then I've done that in the past... and then something else is just '2 weeks away'... and the things that were 'two weeks away' aren't actually available initially... and... well... I'll see how desperate he is...

Last edited by Scorpion0x17 (2008-07-08 06:42:23)

Gooners
Wiki Contributor
+2,700|6901

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

DeathUnlimited wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Hardware I can buy from over-clockers now anyone?
You never said it had to be immediate. X2's are coming out in less than two weeks you see.
Well, he said he's 99.999999999999% sure he's got the money NOW... but... hmm... with that and the cpu price drops... might have to suggest he waits a little then...

But then I've done that in the past... and then something else is just '2 weeks away'... and the things that were 'two weeks away' aren't actually available initially... and... well... I'll see how desperate he is...
It IS TWO WEEKS AWAY, OKAY?!

I hate seeing people waste money, grrrrrrrr.
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

Gooners wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

DeathUnlimited wrote:

You never said it had to be immediate. X2's are coming out in less than two weeks you see.
Well, he said he's 99.999999999999% sure he's got the money NOW... but... hmm... with that and the cpu price drops... might have to suggest he waits a little then...

But then I've done that in the past... and then something else is just '2 weeks away'... and the things that were 'two weeks away' aren't actually available initially... and... well... I'll see how desperate he is...
It IS TWO WEEKS AWAY, OKAY?!

I hate seeing people waste money, grrrrrrrr.
Meh, it's not my money!

But, yeah, I will mention these things to him... but if he wants it like right now, it's his money, and the customer is always right, and all that...




Anyhoo - this is getting side-tracked - and there's one last question for the mo - the sound card - what's the best 'just a card' XFi to get (with no external boxes for hooking it up to your kettle)?

Last edited by Scorpion0x17 (2008-07-08 06:59:55)

Gooners
Wiki Contributor
+2,700|6901

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Gooners wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:


Well, he said he's 99.999999999999% sure he's got the money NOW... but... hmm... with that and the cpu price drops... might have to suggest he waits a little then...

But then I've done that in the past... and then something else is just '2 weeks away'... and the things that were 'two weeks away' aren't actually available initially... and... well... I'll see how desperate he is...
It IS TWO WEEKS AWAY, OKAY?!

I hate seeing people waste money, grrrrrrrr.
Meh, it's not my money!

But, yeah, I will mention these things to him... but if he wants it like right now, it's his money, and the customer is always right, and all that...




Anyhoo - this is getting side-tracked - and there's one last question for the mo - the sound card - what's the best 'just a card' XFi to get (with no external boxes for hooking it up to your kettle)?
Asus Xonar
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

Gooners wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Anyhoo - this is getting side-tracked - and there's one last question for the mo - the sound card - what's the best 'just a card' XFi to get (with no external boxes for hooking it up to your kettle)?
Asus Xonar
Oh... I see... I'm not familiar with these Vista sound issues (sound cards is one bit of hardware I know next to nothing about really) - is an XFi card likely to cause problems?
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6722|The Twilight Zone
280GTX- you should know better Scorp
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

.Sup wrote:

280GTX- you should know better Scorp
It's the best card on the market right now.
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6722|The Twilight Zone

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

.Sup wrote:

280GTX- you should know better Scorp
It's the best card on the market right now.
Can you wait 2 weeks for a better card?
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

.Sup wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

.Sup wrote:

280GTX- you should know better Scorp
It's the best card on the market right now.
Can you wait 2 weeks for a better card?
It's not me that's making that decision. And he's gone to bed now, so I can't ask him yet...



Anyhoo... to get back to the point - Xonar or XFi??? (reasons please)
Gooners
Wiki Contributor
+2,700|6901

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

It's the best card on the market right now.
Can you wait 2 weeks for a better card?
It's not me that's making that decision. And he's gone to bed now, so I can't ask him yet...



Anyhoo... to get back to the point - Xonar or XFi??? (reasons please)
Xonar It's just better, best card on the market atm??

I'm getting it, that's reason enough.

(Dolby surround sound)

Last edited by Gooners (2008-07-08 07:17:09)

Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

Gooners wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

.Sup wrote:


Can you wait 2 weeks for a better card?
It's not me that's making that decision. And he's gone to bed now, so I can't ask him yet...



Anyhoo... to get back to the point - Xonar or XFi??? (reasons please)
Xonar It's just better, best card on the market atm??

I'm getting it, that's reason enough.
Touche!

Well, the important question is, is an XFi gonna cause problems?

He said he wanted a creative 'fx' (by which I think he meant XFi), so if I opt for something different I may need to give reasons...
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6722|The Twilight Zone

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Gooners wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:


It's not me that's making that decision. And he's gone to bed now, so I can't ask him yet...



Anyhoo... to get back to the point - Xonar or XFi??? (reasons please)
Xonar It's just better, best card on the market atm??

I'm getting it, that's reason enough.
Touche!

Well, the important question is, is an XFi gonna cause problems?

He said he wanted a creative 'fx' (by which I think he meant XFi), so if I opt for something different I may need to give reasons...
You wanna good card and nonCreative driver support and quality parts? Get Auzentech's X-fi.
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,054|7041|PNW

.Sup wrote:

You wanna good card and nonCreative driver support and quality parts? Get Auzentech's X-fi.
Aren't the Titaniums supposed to have better Vista support?
Scorpion0x17
can detect anyone's visible post count...
+691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

.Sup wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Gooners wrote:


Xonar It's just better, best card on the market atm??

I'm getting it, that's reason enough.
Touche!

Well, the important question is, is an XFi gonna cause problems?

He said he wanted a creative 'fx' (by which I think he meant XFi), so if I opt for something different I may need to give reasons...
You wanna good card and nonCreative driver support and quality parts? Get Auzentech's X-fi.
Well, he wants a "creative fx card" (sic) - if there's no good reason (like it won't work in some games) to not get a creative, then I'll be getting him a creative.
Freezer7Pro
I don't come here a lot anymore.
+1,447|6466|Winland

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

The_Sniper_NM wrote:

If hes got the money to spend, it looks good. I'd only change the ram to 1600, if he wants to over clock that QX9650. I'd recommend OCZ Reaper anyways. Everything else looks good. (Nvidia FTMFW)
No he won't be overclocking, and I was gonna go with a QX9770 and 1600 ram, but over-clockers don't have 1600 DDR3 in 2GB modules (unless I go Corsair, and I don't like Corsair (not that I have any experience of OCZ)).
Then don't get a fucking QX!!! That would be nothing but money wastage.

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

.Sup wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:


Touche!

Well, the important question is, is an XFi gonna cause problems?

He said he wanted a creative 'fx' (by which I think he meant XFi), so if I opt for something different I may need to give reasons...
You wanna good card and nonCreative driver support and quality parts? Get Auzentech's X-fi.
Well, he wants a "creative fx card" (sic) - if there's no good reason (like it won't work in some games) to not get a creative, then I'll be getting him a creative.
A Creative will work in all games, but a Xonar will work twice as good, and will use all the features he pays for, unlike the Creatives.

Last edited by Freezer7Pro (2008-07-08 07:31:40)

The idea of any hi-fi system is to reproduce the source material as faithfully as possible, and to deliberately add distortion to everything you hear (due to amplifier deficiencies) because it sounds 'nice' is simply not high fidelity. If that is what you want to hear then there is no problem with that, but by adding so much additional material (by way of harmonics and intermodulation) you have a tailored sound system, not a hi-fi. - Rod Elliot, ESP
.Sup
be nice
+2,646|6722|The Twilight Zone

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

.Sup wrote:

You wanna good card and nonCreative driver support and quality parts? Get Auzentech's X-fi.
Aren't the Titaniums supposed to have better Vista support?
I have no idea. To be honest I have never had any issues with Creative's support but a lot of people seems to have. Auzen X-fi is a card based on Creative's X-fi chip but build with better quality parts and they have their own driver/software support that is supposedly better than Creatives.
https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png

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