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Rhakios · Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 7:32 pm Post subject:

On the subject of motherboards, I suppose it's worthwhile finding out if the manufacturer supports OS-independent BIOS updates.
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heiowge · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:19 pm Post subject:

Update....

I sacked off the idea of a self build. I simply don't have the time. I do, however, have a £400 build budget, which is higher than I expected. After supplying my requirements (lower RAM and hd, to boost processor and max RAM, etc.), this is what the local fellow came up with:

Intel Q8300 CORE2QUAD 2.5 GHZ 4mb Cache
ASRock P45 Motherboard (16gb Total DDR3/6 SATA Ports/ 6Rear USB +3 Front Panel)
4GB DDR3 1333mhz
250GB Sata HDD
DVD-RW
Front Mounted Card Reader
Nvidia GT430 1GB PCI-E Graphics Card
ATX Case 450w PSU

£395 built and ready to go...

Opinions?

ollie · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:23 am Post subject:

heiowge · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:13 am Post subject:

I'll have to ask. Maybe not on my budget. Plus I need at least one IDE socket. Maybe a more up to date motherboard doesn't have one...

heiowge · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:54 am Post subject:

I've asked him about a faster processor. I'm also upgrading to a 500GB hd for an extra £6. Very Happy

****edit****

While I was typing that, he sent me this...

The top processor for that board that I can get is the next model up from that, the Q8400- 2.66ghz / 4mb cache, that would add about £11 to the total.... beyond that you’re getting up into intel’s I range (i3/5/7) which would require a different board and I don’t know how they handle unix systems....

heiowge · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:32 am Post subject:

Update... He replied to my quote for i processor spec...

To build a comparable system using ‘I’ Processors would be as follows:

ASROCK H55 S1156 DDR3 GbE DVI/HDMI XFIRE
4GB DDR3 1333mhz
500GB Sata HDD
DVD-RW
Front Mounted Card Reader
Nvidia GT430 1GB PCI-E Graphics Card
ATX Case 500w PSU

Intel i3 3.2Ghz Dual Core 4mb Cache : £395

Intel i5 2.8Ghz Quad Core 8mb Cahce: £469
I can afford i3, I may be able to stretch to i5. Any compatability issues? Thoughts on my option? I|s the i3 better than the last spec pc?

nordle · LXF regular Joined: Fri Apr 08, 2005 10:56 pm Posts: 1497

Sandy Bridge is out...ish, you have to make sure you get a de-bugged chipset.

But for the price, the 2.8 i5 quoted by your contact is going to take some beating.

As for compatibility, there are a few H55 mobo's in the Asrock range:

http://www.asrock.com/microsite/IntelH55/index.asp?c=Models
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Marrea · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:55 pm Post subject:

heiowge · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:22 am Post subject:

Opening up AMD as an option, he offers:

PHENOM II X4 955 SKT AM3 3.2GHZ BLK ED
4Gb DDR3
ASRock M3A 770de (16gb Ram/ 4x sata/ 4x usb rear)
500gb sata hdd
DVD-RW
Card Reader
Nvidia GT430 1GB Graphics
Case + 500w PSU

£399

Or... for £455

PHENOM II X6 1090t SKT AM3 3.2GHZ BLK ED
4Gb DDR3
ASRock M3A 770de (16gb Ram/ 4x sata/ 4x usb rear)
500gb sata hdd
DVD-RW
Card Reader
Nvidia GT430 1GB Graphics
Case + 500w PSU

Opinions?

Rhakios · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:44 am Post subject:

nelz · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:58 am Post subject:

heiowge · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:40 am Post subject:

What I mean is that I can stretch the budget. What should I get? The i5 box or the Phenom II X6 one?

PCNetSpec · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:33 pm Post subject:

In my opinion...

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T, every time Smile

As well as the extra cores (i5-2300 doesn't have hyperthreading), it's Average CPU Mark (according to PassMark) is higher -

AMD Phenom II X6 1090T = 6043
Intel core i5-2300 @ 2.8ghz = 5351

These scores are only for comparison, and are fairly meaningless unless taken in context.

Not to mention as it's a Black Edition, it's an overclockers dream.
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heiowge · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:51 pm Post subject:

Your thoughts reflect mine and another friend of mine in the know. So I've ordered the Phenom II X6 PC. Very Happy

PCNetSpec · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 1:59 pm Post subject:

Lucky git

.. Can I borrow it, just for testing purposes? .. I promise I'll give it back Wink

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