PC thoughts...

divine · 28-05-2009, 16:43

Been pondering over getting a new PC and have looked at the following options:

Anyone got any suggestions to make?

Mark · 28-05-2009, 17:00

Never had experience with Biostar, but if you ask a lot of people around here (me included), they'd suggest you get the Gigabyte motherboard. I've got two and I fully intend for my next to be Gigabyte as well. Much of the rest is personal choice. I do note you picked the Fenrir for three options, so why the Akasa in the fourth (apart from being cheaper).

Scan's support seems to be fairly well regarded (much improved on how it used to be). I'm not sure I could say the same for eBuyer though I don't recall an RMA for either of them (which either means it didn't happen or it was uneventful).

Finally, I've always sourced components from multiple suppliers and never had any bother. The risk you take with that, of course, is that if something goes wrong they could end up arguing against each other.

Pumpkinstew · 28-05-2009, 17:07

I've made a few returns to e-buyer and it's generally been hassle free.
If you stay away from their value range and stick to brands where you know what you're getting they're fine.

divine · 28-05-2009, 17:10

Akasa because eBuyer don't sell the Fenrir and that's the other cooler i'd be happy with, the Noctua's et al at £50 are too expensive for not much gain.

Gigabyte is my second choice of boards as Biostar currently are making fantastic boards that overclock exceptionally well. I'd normally recommend Gigabyte (and I have done on here several times) except to someone looking specifically for overclocking performance like I am, where Biostar make the better product

Mark · 28-05-2009, 18:32

I rarely overclock, so I wouldn't know.

I think you have to select what best suits your personal requirements. As you seem to know what those requirements are and what does the best job of meeting them, get what fits.

divine · 28-05-2009, 19:03

I'm surprised no one picked up on the fact there isn't a graphics card

Davey_Pitch · 28-05-2009, 19:10

I did, but assumed you were just going to use the one you currently own

loki · 28-05-2009, 19:21

Any reason to go Quadcore ??

If Quad is necessary would the AMD route be a better option cost wise. Alternatively if your budget was for the scan 2, then I would go for Scan + Ebuyer and get another 4gb RAM

Mark · 28-05-2009, 19:25

I didn't notice the lack of graphics card, but tend to assume, like Davey, that that tends to mean you'll re-use existing hardware.

divine · 28-05-2009, 19:26

Why not go Quadcore?

AMD would be cheaper but also much slower and nowhere near as overclockable. The Q9550 can hit 3.8GHz+ given the right poking around in the BIOS. I probably won't push it that far but still...

I didn't have a budget as such but the £391 bundle was what caught my eye and made me start thinking - the fact I can pretty much match the spec for £580 just means i'd rather do that.

28-05-2009, 16:43	#1
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	PC thoughts... Been pondering over getting a new PC and have looked at the following options: Anyone got any suggestions to make? __________________

28-05-2009, 17:00	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Never had experience with Biostar, but if you ask a lot of people around here (me included), they'd suggest you get the Gigabyte motherboard. I've got two and I fully intend for my next to be Gigabyte as well. Much of the rest is personal choice. I do note you picked the Fenrir for three options, so why the Akasa in the fourth (apart from being cheaper). Scan's support seems to be fairly well regarded (much improved on how it used to be). I'm not sure I could say the same for eBuyer though I don't recall an RMA for either of them (which either means it didn't happen or it was uneventful). Finally, I've always sourced components from multiple suppliers and never had any bother. The risk you take with that, of course, is that if something goes wrong they could end up arguing against each other. Last edited by Mark; 28-05-2009 at 17:03.

28-05-2009, 17:07	#3
Pumpkinstew Absinthe Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mostly Oxford, Sometimes Bristol Posts: 1,156	I've made a few returns to e-buyer and it's generally been hassle free. If you stay away from their value range and stick to brands where you know what you're getting they're fine. __________________ Get old, or die tryin' PSTEWREVIEWS - Chunks of Meaty Reviews, Mixed with Your Five a Day of News, Comment and Opinion, Floating in a Broth of Suspect Grammar and Seasoned Liberally with Mixed Metaphor. Tasty.

28-05-2009, 17:10	#4
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Akasa because eBuyer don't sell the Fenrir and that's the other cooler i'd be happy with, the Noctua's et al at £50 are too expensive for not much gain. Gigabyte is my second choice of boards as Biostar currently are making fantastic boards that overclock exceptionally well. I'd normally recommend Gigabyte (and I have done on here several times) except to someone looking specifically for overclocking performance like I am, where Biostar make the better product __________________

28-05-2009, 19:03	#6
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	I'm surprised no one picked up on the fact there isn't a graphics card __________________

28-05-2009, 18:32	#5
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I rarely overclock, so I wouldn't know. I think you have to select what best suits your personal requirements. As you seem to know what those requirements are and what does the best job of meeting them, get what fits.

28-05-2009, 19:10	#7
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	I did, but assumed you were just going to use the one you currently own __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

28-05-2009, 19:21	#8
loki Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 871	Any reason to go Quadcore ?? If Quad is necessary would the AMD route be a better option cost wise. Alternatively if your budget was for the scan 2, then I would go for Scan + Ebuyer and get another 4gb RAM __________________ PC & Console LAN 9th-11th July

28-05-2009, 19:25	#9
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I didn't notice the lack of graphics card, but tend to assume, like Davey, that that tends to mean you'll re-use existing hardware.

28-05-2009, 19:26	#10
divine Moonshine Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 3,201	Why not go Quadcore? AMD would be cheaper but also much slower and nowhere near as overclockable. The Q9550 can hit 3.8GHz+ given the right poking around in the BIOS. I probably won't push it that far but still... I didn't have a budget as such but the £391 bundle was what caught my eye and made me start thinking - the fact I can pretty much match the spec for £580 just means i'd rather do that. __________________