Budget Gaming PC

[Killswitch]

I've been advised to post here, instead of the DAOC Techie board. Hopefully someone can give me some advice! I'm pretty hot on server hardware, but I've not really kept up on the latest desktop PC gear for a few years now.

Ideally, I'd like something I can upgrade in the future, but that is within my budget now (about £600). I need pretty much everything except a mouse and keyboard! I'm not looking to play the latest games, but stuff like Half-Life 2, WoW, Championship Manager and maybe Dragon Age:Origins. Came up with this spec from CCL Computers in Bradford. All the part-codes listed are theirs.

If I can chuck more RAM and a better GFX card in it later, that would be the plan. I also want a second monitor and maybe a Blu-Ray drive in the future.

Basically, i'm hoping someone can help me out with information like whether I've got the right parts, whether I've cocked something up completely, whether I'm getting value for money...just general "help the idiot" kinda stuff!! My main concern is the GFX card...gone for this one based on a recommendation from Toms Hardware in the budget categories for Feb '10.

MOBO/CPU/RAM/Cooler - MBB-INT-MID - £159
2GB Extra RAM (4GB) - RAM0207 - £30.94
Case (Antec 200) - CAS5362 - £34.58
PSU (CoolerMaster) - PSU1070U - £34.99
GFX (Sapphire Radeon HD4670) - VGA1138 - £62.39
HDD (500GB WDCB) - HDD0844 - £49.78
DVD-RW (IDE) - CDR4439 - £17.44
SATA Cable - CAB0126 - £2.09
IDE Cable - CAB0009 - £4.89
Power Cable - CAB8008 - £3.98
Windows 7 Pro OEM - SFT0123 - £109.99
20" Ilyama WS Monitor - MON4019 - £104.99

Total - £615.06

Full Spec;

Biostar G31D Motherboard
Intel Core2Duo E7500
4GB DDR2-800 RAM
Antec Two Hundred ATX Midi-Tower Case
500GB Western Digital Caviar Black HDD
Samsung IDE DVD-RW
Sapphire Radeon HD 4670 Ultimate 512MB
CoolerMaster 460W PSU
Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit OEM
20" Ilyama ProLite Widescreen Monitor
Thanks in advance for any help!

Dave

 

[Overdriven]

Only thing I can comment on (I'm out of date too) is that you spend £11 more (ish) and get the 1tb F3 HDDs for a better performance. (Purchase of week thread)

 

[dysfunction]

I would prefer to go with these guys.
: : : CyberPower PC UK : : :

I'm sure you will find a better deal with then instead of CCL computers

Like this PC for example:

http://www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk/system/mega_sales_I/

 

[inactionman]

Make sure to get a 5 series radeon, for possible eyefinity later.

 

[Killswitch]

Only thing I can comment on (I'm out of date too) is that you spend £11 more (ish) and get the 1tb F3 HDDs for a better performance. (Purchase of week thread)

Excellent point, that new F3 looks pretty badass, judging from the performance benchmarks I've seen...thanks for that!

I would prefer to go with these guys.
: : : CyberPower PC UK : : :

I'm sure you will find a better deal with then instead of CCL computers

Never heard of 'em, but I'll check them out! Thanks for the heads-up!

Make sure to get a 5 series radeon, for possible eyefinity later.

Never heard of Eyefinity! Presumably I'll be able to upgrade to a 5-series (or later) Radeon in the future, once I find out what it is and whether I need it! I think I'd rather get a solid base than over-spend on GFX and have to cut back elsewhere. I'll look into it though

 

[cHodAX]

Excellent point, that new F3 looks pretty badass, judging from the performance benchmarks I've seen...thanks for that!



Never heard of 'em, but I'll check them out! Thanks for the heads-up!



Never heard of Eyefinity! Presumably I'll be able to upgrade to a 5-series (or later) Radeon in the future, once I find out what it is and whether I need it! I think I'd rather get a solid base than over-spend on GFX and have to cut back elsewhere. I'll look into it though

Unless you are spending £200 or so the difference between a good 4000 series and a cheap 5000 series is small in price and performance. Personally though I would go for a better 4000 series than you specced.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-026-C3&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

Is loads better than the card you went for but not much more money.

 

[Killswitch]

Unless you are spending £200 or so the difference between a good 4000 series and a cheap 5000 series is small in price and performance. Personally though I would go for a better 4000 series than you specced.

Club 3D ATI Radeon 4850 512MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphics Card [CGAX-4852I] Graphics and Video ATI HD 4830/4850 Series

Is loads better than the card you went for but not much more money.

Hmm. Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter...price of this damn PC is creeping up and up though!!