I fancy getting a new PC I think, as mine even struggles to play C&C Tiberium Alliance now  Plus it's really noisy etc.

I generally use it for web browsing, watching an occasional video, and playing crap facebook games.

My Samsung monitor has a HDMI connector on it so might be worth me getting something with a HDMI output?

I really only want to spend a few 100 if possible as it doesn't need to be anything special. I'd like a new case with PSU etc as well rather than use my old one.

What do you guys suggest? Is building my own worth it any more, or just get something pre-built from Ebuyer etc?



Cheers

Hi,

It's pretty dire:
Althon 64 3500
2Gb RAM (Not sure of speed, but crap)
200Gb HD
Radeon 9250

Really noisy fans too, think due to the age.

How much are you wanting for those bits?

What else would I need? Just case, PSU, fans/heatsink, graphics card (is HDMI available?), and SSD instead of a hard drive?


Cheers

PM'd RE bits

How do SSD's work? I'll be honest I've never heard of using them in replacement of a normal HD.

If I got your bits, I think I would get a new case (using your PSU), SSD (if I need it), and GFX card. Should be a nice new machine then  Will that be everything you think I will need?


Cheers
Chris

Those cheapo ebuyer cases aren't bad actually for the money, I've got a friend with one just like that or very similar at least, Casecom too I think. As long as its well ventilated it shouldn't be an issue.

The Agility 3 SSDs get good reviews too and that's a decent price, you shouldn't need more than 60GB anyway. I can't see any better deals on HUKD. They work exactly like a normal HDD, just smaller faster and no moving parts. The interface is all the same though. Windows 7 will format it on install and take care of it no problem.

As for graphics card, I would say try the system with your current card first and see how you go, if you're not using demanding games at high res you might not see a difference. Card prices don't seem to have shifted much recently but might do a month or two down the line. I'm not sure what's good at the moment, I have a 6870 which is pretty middle of the road at the moment and it plays everything I throw at it @ 1920x1200 full everything no sweat, I think they can be had for around £120.

Glad you sorted it Knighty.

Cheers Clock'd. I will order that case with a couple of quiet fans, and probably the SSD as it will be interesting how they work.

I'll try my card in my machine then and see how it goes like you said. Is there a better card out there for around the £50 mark? As I don't want to spend too much if I do buy a new one.


Cheers

If you want to wait a bit and save more readies then an Nvidea GTX 550 Ti should cost something like £85 and run 1080 in a good few games. I run one on the next processor down to that, E7400 2.8Ghz and get 30fps + in Aion.

At the next price level up you could get a more powerful Radeon card or a 560/560Ti, the 550 probably isn't that much better than yours so I wouldn't worry, you bought a decent budget card and I don't think you need to spend more than you did. The card I suggested will still do 1080p games, you just might find the latest/uber demanding ones would need you to lower settings.