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Computer specs: please help!

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Hi guys,

I will be upgrading my computer, hopefully in the next week or so. Below is the package I want to get (no, I don't want to build it myself). I already have a decent monitor, and I'll be getting keyboard/mouse/speakers elsewhere. I'll be using this system for gaming, trading and watching movies.

AMD Phenom II 945 (3.0G, 8MB Cache) for $849, which includes:
- Mother Board: Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P
- Memory: 4 GB DDR3 Ultrafast Memory
- Hard Disk: 500GB SATA Hard Disk Drive
- 22 x DVR-RW (Burn and play CD/DVD) with Nero Software
- Audio: Onboard Sound Card
- LAN: Onboard Network Card 100/1000
- VGA: 1GB NVIDIA GTS250 PCIe Video Card

Plus these Optional Upgrades:
- Upgrade to 8GB DDR3 Memory $149
- Supply and Install Windows 7 Home Premium $139
- Upgrade case to Thermaltake M9 430Watt $90 OR
- Upgrade case to Thermaltake V9 600Watt $150

TOTAL: $1227 or $1287, depending on which case I get.

I want to look after my computer so it lasts for a while, so I thought I'd get a better case that will keep my system cooler.

The two cases I've mentioned above (Thermaltake M9 & V9) are optional upgrades. I did a bit of research on both, however the systems they tested both cases on were dual cores with only 2GB DDR Ram. Does anybody with a better knowledge of cases know whether either of these cases above would be suitable for this system?

Would upgrading to 8GB DDR Ram be overkill for gaming? (mainly play FPS)

Thanks, Gav.
 

Looking at doing the upgrade thing myself soon (general use and trading applications, no gaming - even pong stresses me out LOL) - this looks a pretty good value package gav.

Only thing I need extra would be a video card that supports at least two monitors (3 would be better, so dual VGA output at least, I think), any thoughts on this?
 

Gav that's almost exactly the system i got 7 or 8 weeks ago except my video card is a 9600GT (1gig) and my MB is a ASUS M4A78T-E, i have a 21.5" Monitor running at 1920 x 1080, as far as Gaming goes, BF2, Crysis, STALKER and all HL2 based games run flawlessly with everything on High or Max.

Do not get a Shaw case (like i did ) there pure crap, also Windows 7 Home premium (32bit) can only use 4 Gigs of RAM, you will need the 64 bit version of W7 to use more than that...enjoy your new machine.
 
Looking at a new rig myself but I will build haven't decided on GPU yet

CPU: AMD AM3 Phenom II X4 955BE $199
Mobo: Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H $108
RAM: Kingston 4GB DDR3-1333 $109
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB $105
ATI Radeon HD4850 $140.10 / ATI HD 5750 PCI-E 2.0 512MB
Case: Lian Li Lancool PC-K58 $92
PSU: Corsair VX-550 $106 / Seasonic PSR550+ 119

ODD: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S $42
CPU HSF: Noctua NH-U12P SE2 $85

Monitor: 2x 23" Samsung 2333SW+ $390
Keyboard: Logitech Ultra Flat $21
Mouse: Microsoft Retail Wireless 5000 $29
Speakers: Logitech LS11 2.0 $17


A lot of info on whirlpool for anyone interested

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/7?g=77
 

Wow, thanks for that! Glad I read this before I purchased.

Edited: I just noticed on the Microsoft website that the full version of Windows 7 Home Premium includes both the 32 and 64 bit versions. Does this mean you'd have the option of choosing either when installing the operating system? (in which case I'd ask the ppl I buy it from to install the 64 bit version)

http://www.microsoftstore.com.au/shop/Microsoft/Windows-7-Home-Premium-Full
"Windows 7 Home Premium offers a rich, dynamic entertainment experience on your PC, making it easier to create a home network and share all of your favourite photos, videos, and music. You can even watch, pause, and rewind TV or record it to watch whenever and wherever you want. ¹ This product includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions."
 
gav said:
Wow, thanks for that! Glad I read this before I purchased. Is there any version of Windows 7 that will support 8GB RAM?
Click to expand...

Gav jump on Whirlpool look around or ask questions there any number of super geeks that simply know everything
 
Also Gav, as mentioned above make sure you have an extra PCIe slot available for another video adapter later if you want more screens. I got lucky and found a new PCI card, otherwise i would have been out of luck and not able to run multiple monitors.

Something to keep in mind.

Cheers,



CanOz
 
IFocus said:
Gav jump on Whirlpool look around or ask questions there any number of super geeks that simply know everything
Click to expand...

Thanks. Heaps of info that has helped me there.


Cheers CanOz. It's not something I want now, but I may down the track. The case I'm looking at getting has 7 extra PCI slots. Plenty of room there
 
IFocus said:
Gav jump on Whirlpool look around or ask questions there any number of super geeks that simply know everything
Click to expand...
and there's also a heap of tossers on whingepool that think they know everything whilst knowing almost nothing.

Y'all are playing with the 1%ers here, chock your 32-bit system full of RAM and you're wasting your money, step up to 64-bit when you don't need it and it will be slower than a 32-bit system, pontificate over the latest & greatest GPU and motherboard 'til the cows come home if you like, but honestly most people aren't going to notice the difference anymore.

Slap down you cash on the cheapest machine you can justify and replace it when you have to, (depreciation, too slow, fragmented file system, broken) or when you want to (not shiny enough, zomg teh new GPU now renders frames @ 3.6 times faster than the human eye can detect rather than 3.59 times).

m.
 
choose 4gb of ram, the cpu doesnt really matter so much, 2.14ghz and 2.4ghz, the difference is marginal really.
 
I bought a new comp last year (put a down payment) but haven't got it yet because there is a shortage of the graphics card i want ATM.

Can't wait to get it. It's more of a gamer machine then a trading but i rig this powerful will be able to do anything.

Here are the specs.....


Intel ® Core™ i7-860 Processor Quad Core (8M Cache, 2.8 GHz)
New 6GB DDR3 1333MHz RAM
New 1000GB SATA Hard Drive
22x DVD Burner BRAND NEW DVD Burner
New Gigabyte GA-P55-UD3 Motherboard
Graphic Card: The NVIDIA ® GeForce ® GTX 295 graphic card with 1792MB 896bit GDDR3 video memory. The most powerful single GPU on the planet for gaming and beyond. Experience the hottest games at mind blowing frame rates, or go beyond traditional 3D graphics with Graphics Plus™
New Strong 860W Power Supply
Brand New 22" LCD Premium Monitor Widescreen Display 1920x1080
Free Brand New Keyboard + Optical Mouse
Win 7 Professional 64 bit Full version
Multi Card Reader

Total cost $2100. A bargain in my opinion considering it comes with a monitor and Windows 7.

The computer it's replacing is around 5 years old
 
Wow Dowdy, you'll have fun with that beast! What games do you play?

Picked mine up on the way home from work last night, haven't had much of a chance to have a play yet; just installed drivers, set up network, internet, etc.

This is what I ended up getting:

AMD Phenom II 945 (3.0G, 8MB Cache) for $849, which includes:
- Mother Board: Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P
- Memory: 4 GB DDR3 Ultrafast Memory
- Hard Disk: 500GB SATA Hard Disk Drive
- 22 x DVR-RW (Burn and play CD/DVD) with Nero Software
- Audio: Onboard Sound Card
- LAN: Onboard Network Card 100/1000
- VGA: 1GB NVIDIA GTS250 PCIe Video Card (didn't get the standard video card, see "upgrades")

Upgrades:
- Supply and Install Windows 7 Home Premium $139
- Upgrade to 1GB GDDR5 ATI Radeon 5770 $70
- Upgrade case to Thermaltake V9 600Watt $150

TOTAL: $1208

I decided to upgrade the video card instead of upgrading the RAM. Very happy with my purchase, should keep me going for a while
 
My next upgrade, I'm going to ditch windows for good. Just had enough.

Going for a Macbook.

You can also get programs that let you runs windows inside the Mac, no worries.

http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/

The only issues l have with Apple's is that they are on the expensive side. But then again, they have come down in price a lot, esp the laptops.
 
gav said:
Wow Dowdy, you'll have fun with that beast! What games do you play?
Click to expand...


I've got Fallout 3, but doesn't work on my current comp

I want to get Assassins Creed 2 & Aliens vs Predator


Games are getting so good now you need a good graphics card just to keep up
 
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