help to build pc

[strandville]

Ok heres the deal I want to build a pc and basically need help as to what I should buy, the system would be mainly a games machine but muti purpose including dvd writing etc I think pentium 4 but am open to suggestion obviously graphics card would need to be up to date, I'm starting from scratch so all advice is gratefully accepted....my only starting point is a see through aquarium base unit so roll up with suggestions please and keep em cheap:insane: places to purchase would also help. Thanks in advance:cheers:

[duffy90210]

Moving to Consumers forum..

You should post your price range if you needed real and genuine help, otherwise you will simply get replies from members guessing.

HTH

[strandville]

I didn't post price range as I'm not sure of prices I am quite open to anything really I just basically want to build my own machine that is as up to date as possible but within reason in terms of cost....what for example would I build for around £400

[lhys09915]

for games not much really.if your wanting a topend card then your talking at least £250 to £300.but some people will agree you should wait until the express mobo and cards come out.
unlike me i cant wait and got the asus ati radeon 9800xt/tvd 256mb card last week at £310.but well worth it.

[mbgm8rjh]

£400 is not much at all really, for a games machine that will only just play everything that's available your looking at £800+. For a good quality games machine your looking at £1000+.

[strandville]

Let me try this again...anyone recommend a decent motherboard and processor that will live up to future upgrades ?

[Neo]

None of them will really be compatable with that is rolling around the cornor. Socket T, PCI Express, DDR2, etc...

[Mr Snatcher]

Should just wait, as wiz said there right around the corner.

[jase1]

Buying a future-proofed PC is virtually impossible. For that reason I've never recommended that people buy parts based on apparent future-proofing, it's a waste of time.

For that sort of money you really want to be looking at a compromise between price and performance, and put the quality aspect to one side.

I'd be looking at a 2500 AMD Processor, a mobo as cheap as you like (but with good quality memory like Crucial), and maybe spend around £50-70 on an ATI/NVidia graphics card (the money you save by buying a cheaper chip and board). Smallish HDD (maybe 80 or 120Gb) and strip right back on the quality of the case so you can squeeze as much cash into the memory, graphics card and processor (but keep it AMD, far more cost-effective on the lower-end). Things like network adapters, sound cards and modems you should be able to get built-in to the motherboard to keep the costs down, and don't bother with frilly bits like cordless keyboards, DVD burners and fans all over the place at this price point.