buying a new computer

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amaca

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Hi guys, I'm not IT specialist and you probably know much more than me. This is computer I wanna buy, so if you could tell me your opinions about it, how to improve it or what to change it - I'll be very grateful for any comments! Thank you...

Processor (CPU) Intel® Core™i7 Processor i7-860 (2.80GHz) 8MB Cache + HyperThreading
Memory (RAM) 4GB CORSAIR XMS3 DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz - LIFETIME WARRANTY!
Motherboard ASUS® P7P55 PRO: DDR3, S-ATA II, 3 x PCI-Ex, 2 x PCI
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium 64-bit + Windows 7 Upgrade Voucher (£84)
USB Options 8 x USB 2.0 PORTS (6 REAR + 2 FRONT) AS STANDARD
Memory 500GB SERIAL ATA 3-Gb/s HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)
1st CD/DVD Drive 22x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Graphics Card 896MB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX275 PCI EXPRESS
Sound Card ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
Memory Card Reader INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (READS XD, MS, CF, SD, etc)
Case STYLISH BLACK/SILVER TRIDENT CASE + 2 FRONT USB
Power Supply & Case Cooling 600W Quiet Quad Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan (£59)
Processor Cooling SUPER QUIET 22dBA TRIPLE COPPER HEATPIPE CPU COOLER (£19)
Firewire & Video Editing 2 x IEEE 1394a FIREWIRE PORTS (1 onboard, 1 at back panel)
 
That looks like a great system - however, if you let us know how much it costs and what you want to do with your PC we can help more. For example, if you want to play the very latest games, used it for CAD etc... :)

Welcome to the site :wave:
 
Hi Amaca
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Welcome to the forum

I don't think you can improve on that much more, that looks like a pretty decent setup, although I would probably go for a more powerful PSU. Thats just my opinion. I am sure others will be along to add theirs.
 
Hi, thanks for such quick responses. My boyfriend gave me a budget £ 900 and now it's about 893, so pretty tight. I'm a lot into graphic programs like photoshop and 3DS MAX, blender etc. Also I like to play sims 2, sims 3 now.

I wanted more powerful PSU, but I got a message that 600 W is optimal. :-(
 
YOU can never have too much power lying waiting for it to be used. IF in fact you wish to upgrade your system again or maybe go SLI (two GFX Cards) then it would be best to increase that PSU again to cover your consumption.

I myself have only one card but I do have 7 - 8 hard drives installed along with dvd writer and a lower end GFX card (XFX GT9500) but at times my psu (550watts) does get a little bit too warm if the system is very busy. I would suggest maybe getting a couple more hundred watts to cover a situation that may arise in the future and indeed save you buying another when you plan to upgrade to a bigger machine again in several years.


What make and type is the PSU?
 
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I'm buying from pcspecialist.co.uk and it seems they have their special brand of PSU. SO all I can say is

Power Supply & Case Cooling 600W Quiet Quad Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan (£59)

I'm sorry, probably not very helpful, or is it?:-D
Do you think 800 W would be enough or should I go even higher?
 
amaca said:
I'm buying from pcspecialist.co.uk and it seems they have their special brand of PSU. SO all I can say is


Do you think 800 W would be enough or should I go even higher?
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HAve you had a look at OCUK yet ? In my opinion and maybe others they get a better review than Pcspecialist, and might even be cheaper.As for special brand PSU. erm again in my opionion they are normally cheap junk.

800w should be more than enpough, and the whle system will be more than fine for Photoshop etc.
 
The motherboard was designed primarily for the mid-range i5 processors and to pair it with an i7 CPU seems like a waste.

If you're going i7, choose a motherboard with a chipset that compliments it and go for a triple set of memory.

The power supply is a generic brand that PC Specialist supply and is probably a bit crap.

A 620 or 650 watt PSU from the likes of Corsair, Seasonic or OCZ would be adequate.

Why do a so-called 'specialist' PC Supplier refer to the hard disk as 'memory'?

Windows 7 will be released in around a month's time, making Vista redundant. Win 7 will be superior to Vista, most likely. Does this supplier offer a free upgrade option with the sale of Vista? If not they should do.

If Sims 3 is the most demanding game you're going to play you could get a less powerful graphics card and spend the money saved in other areas, like the ones I've mentioned above.

I wouldn't buy a system from PC Specialist, if I were buying a ready made system I'd go to Novatech or OCUK.

Just a few points to consider.
 
Definitely don't scrimp on the PSU. The PSU you have there will be a generic jobbie, bad news.

If they break it can be a bit of a task to replace them.
 
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