Help with £400-600 Gaming build please

[Guest]

Hi all,
My current system which I built back in April 2007 is detailed here

Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 1.86ghz Socket 775 FSB800 2MB Cache
Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Corsair XMS2 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 6400C5 TwinX Dual Channel (TWIN2X2048-6400)
Point Of View 8800GTS 320MB DVI HDCP PCI-E Graphics Card

Since it is almost 3 years down the line, I am potentially looking to upgrade to something that can play some of the later games a bit better. I will now follow the *How To Ask For New Build Advice* guide as helpfully posted on this forum.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Over the next month or two, no real hurry

BUDGET RANGE: (e.g.: 600-800) UK £400-600

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS, HDD, DVD
Will be keeping Power Supply if possible: Ebuyer Extra Value Gold 600W 12cm Fan Silent PSU - PFC 20+4pin

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: www.ebuyer.co.uk, www.overclockers.co.uk (both I have used in the past but not too bothered.)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UK

PARTS PREFERENCES: No real preference, just looking for performance and price

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: My current monitor is Xerox XM3-22WB 22" Widescreen (1680 x 1050 WSXGA+) 5ms 1000:1 Black MultiMedia TFT Monitor and I will probably be keeping it.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I would like a quiet PC, TV-out needed

Many thanks for your help,
DT

 

[MadAdmiral]

Check the prices on this. It's overkill for your resolution, but great if you upgrade later...

CPU: X4 620
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500 GB or Seagate 7200.12 500 GB
Case: HAF 922
GPU: HD 5870
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 650W
HSF:Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus
Optical: cheap SATA DVD burner

Total in US: $826 (about 550 pounds). If that's too much, drop to the HD 5850 to save about $100 US (70 pounds).

Or if you're absolutely sure you're never getting a bigger monitor:

CPU: X4 955
GPU: HD 5770
Case: Antec 300 Illusion
Rest the same.

Total in US: $628 (about 400 pounds).

 

[Guest]

Cheers mate, thanks so much, I actually already have the HDD (Samsung HD103SJ Spinpoint F3 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 32MB Cache) and the DVD burner. Did you include those in the price? Also If I were to get another monitor, would you have a recommendation?
Also I am running XP so would only be able to address 3GB of memory, is Win7 actually worth it for gaming? (Its a no-no getting Vista for obvious reasons)
Thanks,
DT

 

[Silvune]

Yea, he would have included those in the price. So you have £70 more. You might be able to get the x4 955 MadAd suggested and the Asus M4A79TD EVO. Which would give you the board to be able to crossfire, however you would need a 750W with four PCI-E connectors to be able to crossfire 5870s. This is probably the cheapest that would be able to do it Antec Earthwatts 750W Modular 80 Plus £76.74 Altho it is actually a bargain, considering how good a PSU it is.