Gaming Specification

[CaL]

Hi there! I'm thinking of getting a PC built through Aria and I would like to know what you think of the specification. I'm looking to spend no more than £1,400 for the whole computer (monitor and all.) I'm quite sure it is all compatible, but I'd like to know what you think of the parts or if you have any better alternatives.

I would like to have a Crossfire setup, just for a bit of future-proofing, but I'm not buying two graphic cards yet! Also, I think I will be getting it built through Aria, because I'm a bit of a novice at all the building stuff

Here is the specification anyway (it comes to about £1,200 when building it through Aria):

Motherboard
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=23804
Asus P5W DH Deluxe i975X Socket 775
£145.66

Graphics Card
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=20913
Sapphire Radeon X1900XT 512M GDDR3
£265.49

- OR -

(Remove WD 36Gb Raptor SATA 10k/150/16Mb)
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24532
Sapphire Radeon X1950XTX 512M GDDR4
£317.19

CPU
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=23828
Intel Conroe Core 2 Duo E6600 RET
£222.02

Memory
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24474
2 x 1GB PC6400 Elixir DDR2 800 SDRAM
£82.19 x 2

Harddrive 1
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=23820
WD 36Gb Raptor SATA 10k/150/16Mb
£79.84

Harddrive 2
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=23684
320GB Seagate 7200.10 SATA 2
£70.44

TOTAL:
£947.83


Other Things

Case
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=23748
Aspire X-Plorer Black Neon Midi
£52.88

Power Supply
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=21014
Hiper 580W Modular PSU BLACK
£59.89

Floppy
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=2436
3½\" Black Floppy Drive
£4.29

Keyboard
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=8859
Generic PS2 Keyboard Black
£3.47

DVD Writer
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=23670
Samsung 18x DL DVDRW BLACK 12x RAM
£21.73

Cooling
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=20729
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 PRO
£15.22

TOTAL:
£157.48

GRAND TOTAL FOR BASE UNIT:
£1105.31


20\"+ Widescreen Monitor
About £200


Thanks!

[Barley]

Seems like a nice system, but that case is seriously disgusting, no offence intended, but it's one of the worst budget looking cases I've ever seen, no doubt with awful airflow.

You'd be better off with something like this.
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=16357

Also, if it's going to be a gaming PC don't scrimp on things like the mouse and keyboard, spend a little more on some nice kit. Oh also, what about a sound card and speakers?

[CaL]

Hah, I just randomly picked the case to be honest... I didn't know which one to choose!

Cheers

[t31os]

Sound card isnt essential, but it will take some load off the motherboard give you a few extra fps. Onboard sound is better then it use to be.

Agree on the case, though personally i don't think Aria have a good selection for some things. Ideally for less then that case you specc'ed (can't say where from) you could go with an Akasa Zen for about £35.

There's a few more things i'd recommend, but Aria don't stock them, like the case......

Raptors are a waste of money imo, i've got one, and its really not worth it, especially since they make more noise to. They are faster, but not an amount worth spending the cash on imo.

Grab some 7200.10 seagates instead, you won't be disappointed.

[CaL]

I've heard the same thing about getting Seagate instead of Raptors, but I've also heard raptors are really good. What would you all say: Sapphire Radeon X1950XTX 512M GDDR4 or a Sapphire Radeon X1900XT 512M GDDR3 with a 36gb Raptor? It's one of those or the other really, I can't decide! If you have an even better choice let me know

Cheers for the feedback so far!

Edit: Also, what's a good Keyboard please?
Edit 2: Regarding the X1950XTX, isn't the Crossfire version meant to be a much better card for about the same price? I've seen sites say it's out mid September, but nowhere has it, any idea what's going on?

[t31os]

I'd opt against the raptor, trust me you'll buy it and think, yeah its faster, but its not such a considerable amount, it'll give you bragging rights and thats about it, and at a silly cost.

X1950, compared to Xfire, can't say thats something i know a great deal about.

What i do know is, they both have their own share of problems, and its always worth reading into wether the card (if you choose x1950) would be ok with your board. Little time spent on google should help.

P.S. Good cheap keyboard would be the Microsoft Comfort Curve, picked 2 up for about £13 each myself, and its the best keyboard i've had the pleasure to use.

[CaL]

I'm having a really difficult time choosing a graphics card! I keep looking at benchmarks and people's comments and changing my mind! I've looked at getting the Nvidia 7900 and the 7950, but ATI seem better than the 7900 and the 7950 is too expensive (I would need to buy the card, plus a more powerful PSU.)

So really it's out of:
- X1900XT
- X1900XTX
- X1950XTX

The X1900XTX and the X1950XTX come to about the same price, but the X1950XTX seems to get a little higher benchmarks. I'm a bit concerned that you've said the X1950XTX has problems, I couldn't find anything about this motherboard having problems with it.

Then there's the X1900XT, it's cheaper so I could put the money into improving another aspect of the computer!

Oh, and then there's the whole thing about the Crossfire versions being better cards to buy!

Argh... I don't know, haha!

[mac124]

If you are SERIOUSLY considering buying 2 1900's to crossfire them the buy the mastercard first as you CANNOT run crossfire without one (as far as i am aware anyway). Also all 1900 master cards are 1900xt's, again as far as i am aware, so buying a 1900xtx would be a waste of money as if you crossfire it it will automatically be underclocked to the speed of the slower master card. Oh and all 1900 cards are \"Crossfire versions\" they just need to be coupled up with a mastercard.

Personally i say buy a cheaper card 1800xt or similar and wait for DX10 cards to come out earlyish next year (hopefully).

HTH

[CaL]

[quote:1c71842bfe=\"mac124\"]If you are SERIOUSLY considering buying 2 1900's to crossfire them the buy the mastercard first as you CANNOT run crossfire without one (as far as i am aware anyway). Also all 1900 master cards are 1900xt's, again as far as i am aware, so buying a 1900xtx would be a waste of money as if you crossfire it it will automatically be underclocked to the speed of the slower master card. Oh and all 1900 cards are \"Crossfire versions\" they just need to be coupled up with a mastercard.

Personally i say buy a cheaper card 1800xt or similar and wait for DX10 cards to come out earlyish next year (hopefully).

HTH[/quote:1c71842bfe]

After reading up on Crossfire a little bit... It seems the X1900 Crossfire mastercards are more powerful than standard X1900s. With the X1950XTX they have made the Crossfire version the same spec to avoid confusion. There is a X1950XTX mastrcard too.

I am now thinking I'll go for a Sapphire Radeon X1950XTX 512M GDDR4, then sometime down the line I could always get the Crossfire version for an upgrade when it's cheaper and needed for games. I'll get the Crossfire version if it's out by the time I order it.

DX10? Is that going to trash current cards? I'd ideally like to get my computer at the end of this month as I might have the funds to do it then. There's always something new lurking around the corner a few months later when buying a new PC anyway.

[mac124]

By all means buy your new pc now but i personally wouldn't buy a top end gfx card now when the next gen are only (or so we are led to believe) a few months away, hence the suggestion to save the £££ for now and buy something a bit cheaper like an 1800xt, they are still a good card and there really isn't much in the way of games out at the moment that the 1800 can't handle at max or very nearly max settings and still maintain playable frame rates. Then in 6 months or so get that all singing all dancing DX10 card.

Obviously its your choice, just trying to suggest a different option 8)

[CaL]

Thanks for the feedback, it's appreciated. Do you know what motherboards the DX10 needs or if the one I'm choosing would be OK?

[mac124]

The one you have chosen should be fine, it's the graphics card and the drivers that are the DX10 bit :wink: 8)

[CaL]

Ah, that's good to know. I think I'll get a X1900XT for now, but Aria don't seem to have much stock, the X1900XT card in is only about £60 cheaper than the X1950XTX! I don't really know what Aria are like for getting stock in, does anybody know if they're getting more?

I've been reading up a bit more on DX10, I've found that the general opinion is:
- It's not going to be here for a few month (full DX10 cards will be later than that?)
- First gen will probably be buggy, unstable, etc
- Most developers will still make games for DX9 for a fair while, because it has the greater market.

So I should get my use out of a X1900XT, then decide if I need a DX10 card when it's all running smoothly.

I want a system that is equipped to run the current generation of cards and DX10/Crossfire in the future, whatever I need really. Do you think the whole system is setup to run DX10? I don't really want to have to buy another PSU, more memory, etc when DX10 comes out.

Cheers!

[mac124]

Yeah you should be good for a good while yet even if you upgrade to a DX10 card though if you do decide to go dual gfx card i personally would want a psu from a more reputable supplier, ie Seasonic / FSP or Tagan and no less than 600 watt but then your going to be looking at around £100 but you will definately ready for Dx10 and or dual gfx cards.

[nft99]

a couple of suggestions

case : http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=21600

I have one whenever anyone is looking for a case i suggest this

power supply : the hiper has some good reviews but look at enermax/tagan/seasonic

keyboard : dont spend all that money on a system then less than £4 on a keyboard :shock: microsoft or my personal fav logitech its a bit expensive but the G15 is not bad

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=20714

Monitor : not sure you will get a 20inch widescreen for less than £300 some decent 19inch on the market