Need Help Building PC

AsianDub · 05-12-2007 12:19pm #1

Hi all,

I would like to build my own PC but have never done it before and don't know where to start. My PC decided to blow up last night for no apparent reason at all .

I think i can still salvage some parts, like the case (although I wouldn't mind gettting a new one), DVD drive, floppy. Not sure if the PSU, motherboard, ram, graphics card or processor are fried but need an upgrade anyway.

I have a budget of around 1000 euro but would like to spend as little as possible. I have read the sticky on how to build a PC but need advice on what are the best components for my needs.

I would be aiming to build a PC that would be more geared towards multimedia and maybe gaming. I have checked out some sites, komplett, overclockers etc so any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

uberpixie · 05-12-2007 1:15pm

You have a budget and an idea as to what you want. Thats a good start.

Basically read, read and read some more.

Do research, look at benchmarks, read lots of different reviews.

Look at a few articles on how to build a PC.

After you have done a wee bit of research, you have a better idea as to what parts you want.

Then you can scale your budget up or down as the case may be.

Usually up

RoyalMarine · 05-12-2007 1:44pm

case
motherboard
processor
ram
graphics card
power supply
dvd drive
hard-drive

these are the 8 things you need.

ok, so you have your budget set at around 1,000 but would like to save as much as possible.

you have 2 choices.

1: buy all the parts yourself, and build it yourself.
2: pay a little extra, but get the computer already built.

if you go with option 1: then you need to look for the 8 parts listed above.

case: find something you like. then read about it. cases arnt just to look good, they provide cooling for the computer parts with good airflow. a poorly build case wont do you any good. aim for about 50 - 100 euro max on the case. depending on what you like.
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=334374

motherboard: you dont need to spend a fortune on the motherboard. just pick one that can support all the other products your buying. e.g if your buying a dual core intel processor, then you need a motherboard that can support a dual core intel processor.
aim for about 100 euro.
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=341638

processor: ok, the processor is important. depends on what you do on the computer. are you interested in overclocking? are you into high end gaming? or is it for light gaming and surfing the net.. €129.00 excellent processor.
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=343522

ram: again, depends on what you would be doing with your computer. vista requires at least 2gb of ram, and for gaming to be quality, you would need 2gb.
50 euro, http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=336009

graphics card: now, you can spent a fortune on it, or spend little. depends solely on gaming. are you gonna play the likes of crysis, cod4, etc.
you could go with something simple that will run more or less everything to date apart from the latest and greatest... for say €150 http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=334402
or decide to go med and spent 300 euro on an 8800gts. its all down to you.

power supply: power supply is important, and id aim for 100 euro for a decent one. make sure its above say 500w for a half decent gaming computer.
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=336401

dvd drive im sure you can salvage your old one to save money.

hard-drive and same for this. take your old one out, and use it. if you need more, then they arnt too expensive.

so far, thats the motherboard, case, power supply, processor, ram and graphics card, and they arnt too bad at all for a total of €602.00.

its just a guide to see what you can do.
you could get much better ram, a quad core processor, a much better graphics card etc for 1,000.

it all depends on what its worth to you.

AsianDub · 05-12-2007 3:17pm

Thanks lads for taking the time to reply.

I have been reading a few articles to try and get a feel for what I need. Basically I would like a PC that will be the centre of entertainment i.e. I would like to be able to use it both for low intensive purposes like browsing and word processing etc but also for high end purproses such as watching movies, record and pause live HDTV, video editing and home newtorking to various devices. Haven't really ventured into online gaming yet but may want to it the future. I would also be looking into getting an LCD TV to use instead of my outdated (but good picture quality) CRT monitor so HDMI and DVI ports would be needed?

So far I have come up with (some I've taken from RoyalMarineComm) the following

case
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=334374

motherboard
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=330522

Processor (4MB cache on Duo vs Quad??)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=338082

RAM (will run Vista)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=339125

Graphics Card (capable of handling HDTV??)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=339119

Power Supply
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=336401

Hard Drive (might aswell get another one)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=331024

That comes to 795 euro. Any thoughts or advice? Compatibility/performance issues?

Thanks again in advance

AsianDub · 05-12-2007 4:15pm

Another thing, can anyone recommend a few sites (preferably the cheapest) to buy components? I have looked at Komplett and one or two others and Komplett seems the most expensive.

Thanks

RoyalMarine · 05-12-2007 7:33pm

looks like a great build!

komplett do charge a little extra.

you could look at
www.overclockers.co.uk
www.yoyotech.co.uk
www.dabs.ie

Lord Deco · 05-12-2007 10:38pm

I recently bought this for €330 delivered

Pentium Dualcore E2160

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/7Vxdx3wDMSV9qJ/3/articledetail.jsp?aid=17477&agid=398

Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L

http://www3.hardwareversand.de/8VendCZWuJMT7L/3/articledetail.jsp?aid=18279&agid=659

Club3D HD3850, 256Mb

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/7VhiB81o5q_TGI/3/articledetail.jsp?aid=19139&agid=716

2048MB DDR2

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/7VCE1hQ6ziPzwh/3/articledetail.jsp?aid=7247&agid=599

More than enough to handle hdtv,overclock the cpu and you have a bit of a beast for €65

Add a case,hard drive,psu

Coolermaster Elite 330 €30

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/7VhiB81o5q_TGI/3/articledetail.jsp?aid=9427&agid=631

Corsair VX550W 550 Watt €67

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/7VhiB81o5q_TGI/3/articledetail.jsp?aid=17793&agid=240

WD Caviar SE16 500GB SATA II 16MB €82

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/7VhiB81o5q_TGI/3/articledetail.jsp?aid=8957&agid=689

All for €523

TerrorFirmer · 05-12-2007 10:51pm

Don't get that video card, crap. 512mb of ddr2, will be slower then a 256mb ddr3 card and it costs more. Just a cheap gimmick. I think the POV 8600GT is only 99 euro on Komplett, get that. Or you can stretch a bit extra from your original price, a 3850 is only 150 and is an excellent performer (far ahead of any 8600 card). Though if you're not a gamer, then there's no point.

If not gaming, you get get a 2400XT on Komplett for 65 euro with HDMI connectivity. Fine for most new games too just at lower settings.

4gb of ram isn't really necessary either, and you'll only see 3.25gb ram using 32-bit XP or Vista. Going with 2gb would be adequate, though at worst it's not a bad price for 3.25gb of ram.

Case - don't get something just because someone linked to it. It's all about personal taste. I think that Aerocool case is ugly as sin but that's just me. Have a look around.

Komplett says the board supports new 1333mhz processors but i don't think it does

AsianDub · 06-12-2007 12:00pm

Dman001 · 06-12-2007 11:09pm

Is there anything wrong with using an AMD processor?

Lord Deco · 06-12-2007 11:20pm

Dman001 wrote: »

Is there anything wrong with using an AMD processor?

Cant compete at that price point,a Amd X2 6000 is beaten at stock speeds by the E6750 and once you overclock the Intel its over.....

I got a E2160 for €60 and when I overclock it,it will match a Amd 6000....

TerrorFirmer · 06-12-2007 11:44pm

Dman001 wrote: »

Is there anything wrong with using an AMD processor?

If you're someone who is absolutely 100% positive they won't be overclocking for whatever reason, then yes, AMD can offer good value for money, the 6400+ being only 169 euro. True value of Core 2 lies in it's overclocking ability, as Deco pointed out below you can get 200 euro performance out of a 60 euro processor without huge difficulty, and even to a complete beginner afraid to go that far it's completely straight forward to get a 500-800mhz overclock, which is a huge increase relative to stock clocks.

KenH · 07-12-2007 3:19am

AsianDub: Let us know how you get on with hardwareversand.de....I sent their sales an email but got no reply. That always worries me.

kaisersose77 · 07-12-2007 7:56am

Hardwareversand are a big site, lots of people here have used them

only problem is not all german sites are going to have english speaking customer service, so your email could have being read by someone who couldnt understand it and didnt bother asking someone else to reply to it.

I'd have no worries ordering from them

KenH · 07-12-2007 12:25pm

That's part of the worry.....how do you deal with them in the event of there being a problem?

AsianDub · 12-12-2007 3:28pm

Received all items above this morning. No problems. 30 euro delivery and 4 euro upon delivery.

Thanks for all the help

KenH · 12-12-2007 4:50pm

That seemed painless. Is that a good psu? Quiet? I've never heard of that make. I was going to go for a Corsair.

Need Help Building PC

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