New PC time again

Snograt

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST

[GURU]GW [wiki]GW2

R/

01 Oct 2009 at 23:44 - 1
...sadly not for me

Ok, here's the situation.
  • I need a pre-built, high-end system for a technophobe who in no way would consider the sensible option of self building.
  • It needs to be from a UK-based system builder.
  • Price not too far in excess of £2500.
  • Does not require a monitor (although running a system like this through a 22" is criminal.)
He's got his heart set on an i7 975 (overkill, I know) and thinks he wants a GTX295 (hoping to change his mind now the 5870 is upon us.)

Sourcing a pre-built with exactly the components you want is a nightmare. My usual choices of http://overclockers.co.uk and http://novatech.co.uk are hopeless with pre-builts, so I'm struggling to find a better source.

http://cyberpowersystem.co.uk looks to be my best bet - unless you lot know otherwise.

Comments and suggestions welcome as always.

Elder III

Elder III

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2007

Ohio

I Will Never Join Your Guild (NTY)

R/

02 Oct 2009 at 01:31 - 2
eh, if he/she won't build it... why not have YOU build it? Tell 'em that you have my approval.

*on second thought maybe you should leave my ignoble reputation out of it...*

Snograt

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST

[GURU]GW [wiki]GW2

R/

02 Oct 2009 at 04:23 - 3
I have no problem building PCs for myself, but I'm scared I'm going to break something when it's for someone else - especially at this price range.

My biggest phobia with PC building is the damned HSF - tools of the devil, if you ask me. I have a huge Tuniq tower 120mm - the weight of that bugger is almost enough to warp the mobo! Apart from the lacerations I always end up with on my hands trying to tighten 4 screws in rotation, I swear I can never get the things tight-enough-yet-not-too-tight.

I had an idea that this case would be the answer to my prayers - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/Cases/Cases/Thermaltake/VL30001N1Z.html - until I saw the price: £460 (~US$733) o_O

gone

Guest

Join Date: Jan 2007

02 Oct 2009 at 08:23 - 4
http://www.alternate.de/html/pcbuild...=1&tn=BUILDERS
maybe this site will help?

Lord Sojar

Lord Sojar

The Fallen One

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oblivion

Irrelevant

Mo/Me

02 Oct 2009 at 15:21 - 5
Go with Cyberpower for sure, they are a great company.

I would recommend the following build:

Core i7 920 (add the Extreme overclocking to get it up to nearly 975 speeds, or maybe above)
6GBs DDR3 G.SKILL GBTD Series
The Cyberpower LARGE Watercooling system
2x ATi 5870s in CFX
80GB Intel SSD
1TB Data storage HDD
Foxconn Bloodrage Mobo
DVDRW Drive
BluRay ROM drive
SilverStone PSU 850W Element Series PSU

Total price I'm coming up with using the HAF Full Tower case is £2553.00 in. VAT. PEW PEW LAZERS

Elder III

Elder III

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2007

Ohio

I Will Never Join Your Guild (NTY)

R/

02 Oct 2009 at 17:32 - 6
^^^

*drools*

@Snograt - you can do it man, save your buddy the cash and then charge him 50% of the difference... then put it towards your next build XD

Snograt

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST

[GURU]GW [wiki]GW2

R/

02 Oct 2009 at 20:03 - 7
That's pretty close to what I was looking at, Rah - except I wasn't brave enough to suggest the twin 5870s.

@Elder - he's family, I wouldn't get away with it

Burst Cancel

Burst Cancel

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2006

Domain of Broken Game Mechanics

02 Oct 2009 at 23:44 - 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snograt View Post
He's got his heart set on an i7 975 (overkill, I know) and thinks he wants a GTX295 (hoping to change his mind now the 5870 is upon us.)
Whenever I run into idiocy like this, I don't bother to provide educated recommendations. I don't even bother trying to talk them out of it. I just throw a price list at them and tell them they can pick out the most expensive components themselves, because clearly, performance isn't what they're actually after. I don't make exceptions for family.

Getting burned is a much faster education than any amount of well-meaning advice.

Snograt

Snograt

rattus rattus

Join Date: Jan 2006

London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST

[GURU]GW [wiki]GW2

R/

03 Oct 2009 at 05:47 - 9
^and I told him to read this thread too ^_^

Elder III

Elder III

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2007

Ohio

I Will Never Join Your Guild (NTY)

R/

03 Oct 2009 at 15:46 - 10
tell him that he doesn't need anything more than a hd 4890 or gtx 275 to run ANY game on a 22" LCD, but if he's determined to get more graphics muscle than he can even use, the 5850 in CrossfireX is the best bang for the buck now.

Aera

Aera

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Galactic President Superstar Mc [awsm]

E/

17 Oct 2009 at 21:57 - 11
In that case, if he's reading this thread.

YOU'RE AN IDIOT MR SNOGRAT'S FAMILY DUDE.

Building it yourself can save you up to 300 quid. Or let Snoggy build it and tell him to stop being a coward

But yeah that's a nice build Some nice futureproofing as well