Still on XP, look at me give a fuck.

[Chazlene]

So I'm intending to get a new PC before i43, something that'll run Battlefield 3 pretty damn well, with a budget probably of around £600 (are those two things possible?), dunno budget might change a bit, depending on how much work I can get, birthday money, etc.

Hutch suggested this: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-179-OE&groupid=43&catid=2040&subcat

Is that a good choice or are you going to berate him for it? (I'm guessing the latter will be the case). By the way I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BUILD IT. Just want to simply buy a desktop, I've had several bad experiences in the past when I've tried to do stuff myself.

I'm not buying a monitor, keyboard, mouse or whatever so don't include those with your suggestions. Also any chance of 'acquiring' Windows 7 to save some money?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[ez64]

could not live without instant search in my taskbar since vista.

[Colonel Mitch]

If you dont want to build it i *think* scan 3XS systems are slightly cheaper, and they have MUCH better customer support than OCUK.

And if you want an "acquired" copy of winds, i can send you one if u cant download it :)

EDIT: Just checked and a scan one is £812 inc vat VS £770 inc VAT for a similar build.

BUT. Scan offer a 2 year warranty vs 1 year and in the first year they will deal with it directly at your house at no charge and in the second your it is a standard return it to them and theyll fix it and send it back.

Also scan get someone to set it up and ensure its working when it arrives at your house (at no charge other than delivery)

[Hutch]

Thats great Mitch but his budget is 600 not 800 quid..... and who really cares about installation/home support? if its broke replace the part under warranty. I'm sure Chazlene can plug it in.

Edit: we've bought zoostorms before, they're cheap but v reliable. http://www.ebuyer.com/272145-zoostorm-gaming-desktop-pc-7873-0276 this seems like a deal.

[Calneon]

Thats great Mitch but his budget is 600 not 800 quid..... and who really cares about installation/home support? if its broke replace the part under warranty. I'm sure Chazlene can plug it in.

Edit: we've bought zoostorms before, they're cheap but v reliable. http://www.ebuyer.com/272145-zoostorm-gaming-desktop-pc-7873-0276 this seems like a deal.
A GTS450 will not handle BF3 'pretty damn well', it's worse than my 3 year old GTX280. If you went with the link in the OP (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-179-OE&groupid=43&catid=2040&subcat), you'd have to go with a GTX460 for it to be worth it, and it would give you good performance in BF3 (AFAIK, GTX460 is slightly better than a GTX280, plus it's DX11), but that would put you £43 over budget.

Obviously I'd recommend building one yourself or getting somebody else to help you but if you don't want to that's your choice. I'd also recommend spending £40 on a legit copy of Windows 7, but again I'm not going to try to stop you doing otherwise.

[Hutch]

A GTS450 will not handle BF3 'pretty damn well', it's worse than my 3 year old GTX280. If you went with the link in the OP (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-179-OE&groupid=43&catid=2040&subcat), you'd have to go with a GTX460 for it to be worth it, and it would give you good performance in BF3 (AFAIK, GTX460 is slightly better than a GTX280, plus it's DX11), but that would put you £43 over budget.

Obviously I'd recommend building one yourself or getting somebody else to help you but if you don't want to that's your choice. I'd also recommend spending £40 on a legit copy of Windows 7, but again I'm not going to try to stop you doing otherwise.

My Gt430 seems to be handling BF3 pretty damn well atm on the alpha. But yeah GTX460.

[Isphera]

A GTS450 will not handle BF3 'pretty damn well', it's worse than my 3 year old GTX280. If you went with the link in the OP (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-179-OE&groupid=43&catid=2040&subcat), you'd have to go with a GTX460 for it to be worth it, and it would give you good performance in BF3 (AFAIK, GTX460 is slightly better than a GTX280, plus it's DX11), but that would put you £43 over budget.

Obviously I'd recommend building one yourself or getting somebody else to help you but if you don't want to that's your choice. I'd also recommend spending £40 on a legit copy of Windows 7, but again I'm not going to try to stop you doing otherwise.

Basically this. Even with the HD issue I had builiding mine last time (quickly resolved with a quick RMA to WD :D), I would strongly recommending getting it custom built, whether by yourself or with the guidence or expertise of another (I'm sure another ATK'er will happily help), because the benefit in terms of power/£ is much better. Legit copy is pretty much essential.

[Colonel Mitch]

Thats great Mitch but his budget is 600 not 800 quid..... and who really cares about installation/home support? if its broke replace the part under warranty. I'm sure Chazlene can plug it in.

Edit: we've bought zoostorms before, they're cheap but v reliable. http://www.ebuyer.com/272145-zoostorm-gaming-desktop-pc-7873-0276 this seems like a deal.


You want him to play BF3 on a 430 graphics card at decent settings?

[Hutch]

You want him to play BF3 on a 430 graphics card at decent settings?
t
Well I'd hope he'd get the best he can, but don't trash the 430. You haven't seen it in actionon BF3. I'm just against spending LOL amounts of money on unnecessary shit.

[Calneon]

t
Well I'd hope he'd get the best he can, but don't trash the 430. You haven't seen it in actionon BF3. I'm just against spending LOL amounts of money on unnecessary shit.
It will vary depending on what resolution you have. It might handle high/max at something like 1280x800, but maybe medium at 1920x1200, if you want playable (AKA 60) FPS.

EDIT: Erm, I just looked at a few benchmarks of a GT430 (http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=625&Itemid=72&limit=1&limitstart=10), it performs pathetically. You must be running on a very low resolution or very low settings to get playable framerates :S.

[VoX]

You won't need Sandybridge stuff for playing games, something i3 or i5 will be plenty, then spend the savings on a better GPU.

Did this quickly on the OCUK configuration thingie, don't take it as gospel though, haven't properly looked at hardware stuff for about a year.

http://i.imgur.com/pCtLM.jpg


Doesn't include Win7, but that's easily arranged :)

[Calneon]

You won't need Sandybridge stuff for playing games, something i3 or i5 will be plenty, then spend the savings on a better GPU.

Did this quickly on the OCUK configuration thingie, don't take it as gospel though, haven't properly looked at hardware stuff for about a year.

http://i.imgur.com/pCtLM.jpg


Doesn't include Win7, but that's easily arranged :)
I didn't realize OcUK had that service, looks like the perfect option. Build looks solid too.

[Kiliv]

either that or you could just buy it and get someone at i43 to build it for you im sure me and mitch would be more than happy to help you, if it saved a significant amount

oh and btw the ocuk branded gpus are usualy good named ones they have to much of, i ordered a 275 from them and got an asus one

[Chazlene]

You won't need Sandybridge stuff for playing games, something i3 or i5 will be plenty, then spend the savings on a better GPU.

Did this quickly on the OCUK configuration thingie, don't take it as gospel though, haven't properly looked at hardware stuff for about a year.

http://i.imgur.com/pCtLM.jpg


Doesn't include Win7, but that's easily arranged :)

How does that build compare with the one in my original post? Also is that list just for the separate components or for a custom built PC? And yeah if I did go for the build in my first post I would go for a slightly better GFX card with it.

[Calneon]

How does that build compare with the one in my original post? Also is that list just for the separate components or for a custom built PC? And yeah if I did go for the build in my first post I would go for a slightly better GFX card with it.
VoX's one is better and cheaper. They build it for you.

[VoX]

Mine was done with their i3/i5 configurator (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/syscon_int.php?prodid=FS-280-OK), so they build it for you.

[Chazlene]

Kewl kewl, cheers for the suggestions, I'll probs go for that build you suggested then Vox.

[VoX]

No probs :)

[Brendan]

This place is near where I stay but they deliver. Its where I buy my computers from

http://www.pless.co.uk/product.php?productid=8143;

£219.00
Quad core
4GB ram
1TB hard drive
DVD RW

All you need to do is add a video card.

EDIT: just keep in mind its an ASROCK motherboard and that don't sit right with some people but if you ask they will change it for whatever board you want and they only charge for parts.

[Kiliv]

This place is near where I stay but they deliver. Its where I buy my computers from

http://www.pless.co.uk/product.php?productid=8143;

£219.00
Quad core
4GB ram
1TB hard drive
DVD RW

All you need to do is add a video card.

EDIT: just keep in mind its an ASROCK motherboard and that don't sit right with some people but if you ask they will change it for whatever board you want and they only charge for parts.

the only thing is i have a strong suspicion that the cpu in there will not like running battlefield 3 how it deserves to be played :3

[Isphera]

This place is near where I stay but they deliver. Its where I buy my computers from

http://www.pless.co.uk/product.php?productid=8143;

£219.00
Quad core
4GB ram
1TB hard drive
DVD RW

All you need to do is add a video card.

EDIT: just keep in mind its an ASROCK motherboard and that don't sit right with some people but if you ask they will change it for whatever board you want and they only charge for parts.

No offense, but that is fucking terrible.

For all your building needs, regardless of budget - http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/buyers-guide/2011/07/11/pc-hardware-buyer-s-guide-july-2011/1

[Brendan]

No offense, but that is fucking terrible.

For all your building needs, regardless of budget - http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/buyers-guide/2011/07/11/pc-hardware-buyer-s-guide-july-2011/1

lol no offense taken yes this is the bottom of the barrel of quad cores, nice article btw :)

[Isphera]

Cheers, I think it was Piers that showed me that site and article series when I built mine in Febuary last year.

[Chazlene]

Err just started configuring this myself on Overclockers... only just noticed the processor you suggested is a dual core lol, wouldn't it be wise to get a quad instead? I think the recommended spec for BF3 is a quad core.

[Calneon]

Err just started configuring this myself on Overclockers... only just noticed the processor you suggested is a dual core lol, wouldn't it be wise to get a quad instead? I think the recommended spec for BF3 is a quad core.
Very few games benefit from quad core. Though for future proofing purposes it's probably best to get a quad though.

[Chazlene]

Ok so I'm going to order this today, just configured it on Overclockers, but for some reason it's slightly different from the last time I configured it, even though I'm trying to copy exactly the configuration Vox posted with the exception of a quad core instead of a dual core, so yeah is this configuration still good:

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1765/pcconfigp.png

[VoX]

Looks pretty solid to me.

You going to use your old HDD in the new PC as well as the new one?

[Chazlene]

Looks pretty solid to me.

You going to use your old HDD in the new PC as well as the new one?

I might do actually... if that means I don't have to go to the trouble of getting all the Adobe products all over again, etc.

[Colonel Mitch]

I might do actually... if that means I don't have to go to the trouble of getting all the Adobe products all over again, etc.

Unfortunately it doesn't :-P on a new installation of windows you'll have to reinstall them all.

[VoX]

I've got the Adobe CS5 installers, can transfer them over to you at LAN, should be pretty fast and easy.

[Chazlene]

I've got the Adobe CS5 installers, can transfer them over to you at LAN, should be pretty fast and easy.

Cheers maaate... I'll go and order it then.