1. #1
    Now seriously planning major upgrade as my old 9800pro. AMD2800, 1gbDDR etc, dating back four years, just can't do the job now.
    This is my local store's recommendation:
    8800GTS 640mb - £270
    2gb DDR PC800 - £80
    320gb h/drive - £60
    6000XP dualcore chip - £145
    M2N-SLI Deluxe mobo - £115
    case - £50
    p/supply - £70
    Total - £790

    This is really the top end of my budget - and my wife would erupt if she knew I planned spending this amount "just on games!" I'm proposing keeping my existing 80gb h/drive for running XP and my photo editing software etc, having the separate new h/drive purely for games.

    Given I want to fly with everything maxed out and play 1st person shooters as well on maximum settings (CoD, MoH, Fear etc), do you think this will do the job for the time being? Any different cards/mobos/processors etc I should be considering within my financial constraints? Hope it will cope with BoB when it arrives, but who knows what that will require to run. . .
    Share this post

  2. #2
    Make sure the PSU is good quality and also future-proofed re available power. You may hanker to add another 8800 sometime or another, hungrier processor.

    Make sure the case has plenty of airflow possibilities - i.e 120mm fan-holes, neat interior, not too small. High-end graphics cards churn out a lot of heat, as do various chips on the motherboard, so good airflow really helps.

    I can't comment on the other components - i'm still living in 939pin/AGP country myself Just 'leave room for expansion' as the motto says

    cheers and GL

    B
    Share this post

  3. #3
    Just a thought mate but if you go here and scroll down you will see a 8800GTS 640mb for less:
    http://www.lowestonweb.com/products/index.asp?e=2010135...0E-A135-984113577AF9
    Share this post

  4. #4
    Points taken re the case/power - have good ones organised.
    Tempting though it is to buy cheaper components online, I believe in supporting my local small businesses and the guys I use give excellent service. If I have a problem they immediately sort it - can't do that online, so I live with paying a bit more for this sort of backup.
    They're also giving me a widescreen monitor to 'try before I buy' for a few days - if I don't like it I hand it back. Can't say fairer than that.
    I've been with ATI for years although I have an nvidia Ti200 still going strong in my wife's computer. I always believed ATI cards gave slightly better colour but I'm hoping this 8800GTS will be just as good - it should certainly be fast enough for my needs. Any recommendations as to which drivers to install as I doubt those that come with it will be the very latest?
    Share this post

  5. #5
    Originally posted by choxaway:
    Now seriously planning major upgrade as my old 9800pro. AMD2800, 1gbDDR etc, dating back four years, just can't do the job now.
    This is my local store's recommendation:
    8800GTS 640mb - £270
    2gb DDR PC800 - £80
    320gb h/drive - £60
    6000XP dualcore chip - £145
    M2N-SLI Deluxe mobo - £115
    case - £50
    p/supply - £70
    Total - £790

    This is really the top end of my budget - and my wife would erupt if she knew I planned spending this amount "just on games!" I'm proposing keeping my existing 80gb h/drive for running XP and my photo editing software etc, having the separate new h/drive purely for games.

    Given I want to fly with everything maxed out and play 1st person shooters as well on maximum settings (CoD, MoH, Fear etc), do you think this will do the job for the time being? Any different cards/mobos/processors etc I should be considering within my financial constraints? Hope it will cope with BoB when it arrives, but who knows what that will require to run. . .
    Any real reason for this?

    "M2N-SLI Deluxe mobo - £115"

    Ah i see, for some reason your local store is telling you to pair this inferior board with an inferior AMD chip isntead of a Core2 Duo like this one.

    http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP...1&catid=6&subcat=793


    As for Mobo:

    Get this instead, the latest tech, 95% of the performance of the current "elite" mobo on the market the 680i, for about a 1/3rd of the price, the 680i is really only bought by people who have to have the best of everything.

    The best bang for buck board around.

    http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB...=701&catid=5&subcat=
    Share this post

  6. #6
    Any recommendations as to which drivers to install as I doubt those that come with it will be the very latest?

    Drivers are a funny thing, a great driver for one rig, isn't good an a different rig. Trial and error.

    90% of the time the lastest drivers are the best for most people, go to Nvidia's site and get the latest ones, and go from there, in all probability you won't have any issues.
    Share this post

  7. #7
    If you can opt out of the AMD and go Core 2 Duo, do it.

    The 8800GTS 640 is a sweet card...in any flavor.

    I admire your desire to support your local shops...as long as they offer the support you say, go for it. Even the AMD will offer you screaming performance improvements over your 9800 pro rig.
    Share this post

  8. #8
    stansdds's Avatar Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Posts
    1,896
    I agree, at this time AMD is lagging far behind the Intel Core2Duo in terms of overall performance and over clocking ability. As for dual video cards, I don't care for them as the drivers, at least Nvidia, aren't great plus it tends to be harder to set up games to properly use two cards, more power is consumed and more heat is produced. But you definitely need a good PSU, don't fall into the trap of buying a cheap PSU, you get what you pay for.
    Share this post

  9. #9
    I echo the comments on running two cards. However if you have an SLI board you at least have the option, remember the rule, 1 great card beats two good cards hands down

    Where SLI of XFIRE works is if you have 1 decent card already and are short on funds so you add a cheap second card to get a nice boost.

    People running dual GTS and dual GTX basically have more money than sense and are seeing no real Woeld gaming benefit whatsoever.

    And yes running two cards eats power, produces heat, and is problematic.

    Can you give me details of the PSU you are going to be using?

    Here's the best £70 PSU you can buy in the UK, i have this ones bigger brother, the 750W and it's superb. This is SLI compatible and will handle anything you can throw at it for years to come.

    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=375886

    Alternativeley the ever popular Corsair 520W, which the probably th most popular PSU for gamers in the UK along with the bigger 620W version.

    http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=CA-005-CS

    Only £64.



    If you're spending £70 on a new PSU and it beats those two, i'll be amazed.
    Share this post

  10. #10
    I'm gonna put in a vote for Hiper PSUs. I've been using the 580 modular for a while now and I can't fault it. The 670W and the 730W will be good too if the standard has been kept up.

    A British-based firm too, if that interests you

    B
    Share this post