I am looking to build a replacement Pc - I have a good Windows XP Pro PC at present but want to upgrade to Windows 7 Pro. I use my computer for eidting pictures in photoshop, graphic design (Adobe Illustrator) and also occasionally watch a video (BBC I player). Otherwise it is email, a bit of website work and word processoing etc.. I don't want a copmuter for gaming. I would like a quiet, stable, reliable PC and ideally one which is future-proof to some extent Budget: £800 including OS Main uses of intended build: 2d graphics /photo editing Parts required: CPU, Case, Mobo, psu, graphics card (if required) memory, dvd player, fans colling etc... Previous build information (list details of parts): never done one before Monitor resolution: I have a Dell 2405FPW monitor which runs very nicely at 60Hz 1920 x 1200 Storage requirements: fast 500 Gb for OS on C:, reliable 1TB for D: (storage of files etc) Will you be overclocking: no Any motherboard requirements (no. of USB, Xfire/SLI, fan headers): plenty of usb connectors Extra information about desired system: quiet but not expensively sound-proofed; quick to start but I doubt that a SSD will fit my budget. This is where I have got to through reading bits'n'pieces but advice would be really appreciated... CPU: Perhaps New Intel Core i5 2500K if I have onboard graphics, otherwise perhaps i5 2400 CPU Cooler: What is Suitable? O S: LEGAL Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Motherboard: Suggest Asus P8P67 or MSI 667 Memory: How about 4.0GB Corsair DDR3 1600mhz? Hard Drives: C: WD Caviar Black 500Mb S-ATAIII 6.0Gb/s and D: Any 1TB reliable HD Optical Drive: Typically 22x DVD±RW DL SATA Graphics card: quiet card (or onboard graphics?) What about a GT 220 or 240 if I need one? Sound card: Onboard Case: Quiet, simple, no “extra lights”, quiet fans, good filters PSU: Branded quiet PSU. Modem: None TV Card: None
The i5 2500K is the best choice for a CPU, and this motherboard is highly recommended in the forum to go with it: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-...-ddr3-2133-sata-6gb-s-sata-raid-atx-sli-xfire (its currently out of stock though) For the ram, yes 4GB of corsair ram will be perfect. case (very quiet and minimal, and highly recommended): http://www.scan.co.uk/products/fractal-design-define-r3-black-pearl-mid-tower-case-w-o-psu As for a CPU cooler, if you're not overclocking then personally I don't think you need to buy one, just stick with the stock cooler, but that's opinion. Power Supply: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/650w...s-85-eff-sli-eps-12v-80-plus-bronze-140mm-fan As for the hard drive, graphics card and stuff, I'll let others recommend one..... but the rest of that set up would be my choice and most likely what others will say too.
would use a i5 2500/2400 as no overclocking with the msi p67a-gd53 with corsair power supply and fractal case as recommended above but would also go with - 8gb corsair ddr3 - nvidia gt 520 http://www.scan.co.uk/products/2gb-...z-shader-1620mhz-48-cores-d-sub-dvi-i-hdmi-lp also dont get sata3 6gps mechanical drives as there not fast enough for sata2 so just a marketing ploy - get samsung F3 1Tb HDD thats £580 but you can get free delivery if you make 20 posts on this forum so minus £14. if your a student or know a student you can get windows 7 for £40 to speed things up even more you could get a 120gb ssd for your os and software then keep the 1TB as storage. this would be expensive but under budget and increase performance dramatically
Thank you for all your suggestion this is really helpful. 1) I'm coming round to the idea of a SSD card 60 or 120 Gb instead of the Sata III 2) I agree 8Gb Ram 3) How about a graphics card without a fan (for quiet. Asus Geforce 210 or Zotac GeForce GT 430? I thought Win 7 Pro would give me XP simulation for some of my older software.
Thanks for your advice... more thoughts! Thank you to all of you for the ideas... It is most helpful and highly appreciated. 1) I'm also coming round to the idea of a SSD 60Gb or 120Gb drive in place of the Black Caviar. I could save some budget by downgading the second drive to Sata II since it will only be for data 2) I also agree that 8Gb Ram is probably good value now. 3) I wonder about a Graphics Card without a fan - like Asus Geforce 210 (1Gb) or Zotac GeForce GT 430? Quiet and fast enough I would have thought. Thanks again! you have really helped!
If you want future proofing then you will be overclocking! CPU: Intel CPU Core i5 Unlocked 2500K Sandy Bridge Quad Core Processor - £163.40 MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Motherboard - £130.42 CPU COOLER: Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced CPU Cooler - £39.90 The Z68 motherboard can take advantage of the i5 2500K graphics which will be perfectly adequate for you as this is a non-gaming rig. With the i5 2500K offering plenty of headroom for overclocking upwards of 4.5GHz in most cases. Having said that I'm unsure of this particular motherboards overclocking credentials, so that's worth reading up on! The Be Quiet cooler is the only and last solution you'll need for the i5 2500K. It's excellent and very very quiet! MEMORY: Corsair Memory Vengeance Jet Black LP 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz - £60.19 CASE: Fractal Design Define R3 - £79.80 PSU: BeQuiet Pure Power L7 530W Power Supply BN106 - £44.99 The fractal is nigh on silent and easy to build a PC in. SOLID STATE DRIVE: OCZ Agility 3 60GB - £93.59 HARD DISK DRIVE: Samsung 1Tb Spinpoint F3 - £39.20 DVD DRIVE: Samsung SH-S222AB/BEBE - £14.50 Total £666 on the button... well almost! Don't forget to check the 'Today Only' page of SCAN for discounts and also get 20+ posts on these forums for free weekday delivery.
I think going for a cheaper mobo like the Msi instead of the gigabyte then getting a gt 520 for £55 would be in total £25 more expensive but have better performance.
A GPU can always be inserted at a later date. As it stands the above is a nice stable, quiet solution to what tommyzulu needs. Currently a 8800GT GPU in the marketplace for £25 which would be fine, then again it's just adding noise to a peaceful system!
What older software you using. I have found alost everything I used on my XP pc works on 7 Home Premium.
Great Help - thank you all Thanks again to all you you who have been so helpful... I have already come round to the idea of the SSD (120GB M4?). As for the OS, I enclose a picture which shows the list of software that I use. You will not have come across some of it. Ceramdat is a programme for craft potters which was written by one of the members of South Wales Potters, David Hewitt. David is now no longer around but the software is occasionally useful to analyse glaze recipes. I have installation discs but I suspect that might not run on 7. Same with Quark. And not sure about Weatherlink which is a PC data link programme for Davis weather stations.
