PC Peripherals My PC buying dilemmas

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hanifv

Disciple
Hey guys, I am really confused about what to buy and need your help.

I currently have a p4 2.8, intel 865 mobo, 256 mb ram, onboard gfx, 80 gb hdd. I dont think I can survive on this PC any longer, its killing me. I have missed all the latest games because of this.

There is always something new coming in the near future or some price slash coming in the near future, because of which I keep delaying my new PC.

But I am getting into graphics programming and my onboard card doesn't support shaders and stuff, so I have to buy a new pc now. My dad will take my old one.

Money is a problem, so I need to find the right balance. The PC shouldn't require any update for alteast 1-1.5 yrs and yet should not cost a lot. I am posting the details below:

Budget: At MAX 50k, but I am real tight on cash, so I want to try and fit something for 35-45k if possible

Usage: Programming and gaming

CPU: Intel based, but I am really confused about which model, especially after hearing about the price slash and new models coming on July 22. The E6750 looks really tempting but I dont think I can/should wait that long.

Motherboard: Looking for something that will hopefully support any gfx card and proccy update that I decide on 1-1.5 yrs later. Should have sound.

HDD: Minimum 300gb

Gfx card : Completely confused about which gfx card to go with. Should I buy a 7 series card or a 8 series card ? I hear the high end 7 series cards outperform the 8 series cards like 8600gt. The gfx card should run games for atleast 1-1.5 yrs.

Apart from all this I will need everything else like ram, PSU, cabby, monitor etc, etc. I wont be needing speaks though.

NOTE: I dont plan to OVERCLOCK anything

It will be great if you guys could post some configs. Also, please mention exact brand and models. I live in Mumbai, but I am not familiar with the shops at lammy. So please tell me some reliable places to buy from.
 
Intel E6600 10.2 k
XFX 650i 6 k
2gb Kingston DDR2 667MHz 3.6K
Seagate 320 Gb HDD Sata II 3.8K
chieftec BH-01-BBB cabinet 3.4K
Seventeam 500W PSU 3.7K
Viewsonic 17'' VA1703WB (Wide Screen) 8.5K
XFX 8600GT 256MB 7.8K
 
Dont waste so much money on the cabinet. Get an el chepo cab for 1k but use the Seventeam PSU. So with the 2.4k that you save, get a 19' monitor instead
 
8600GT are you sure ? some people say its crappy and I should get a good 7 series card instead. I am so confused right now. I have to buy this pc on sunday, so please post your config ideas people.
 
How much does 7600GT & 7900GS cost, and how do these cards compare against 8600GT ? I know 8600GT has the directx 10 advantage, but its slower right? If you were in my situation which card would you buy?

Had to delay the PC because I didnt get enough replies here, but I have to buy the pc within this week. So please post your suggestion guys.

Also, as I said earlier, I need advice on good and reliable stores in Lamington road to buy from. Is Plug N Play good ?
 
7900GS > 8600GT/GTS.

But if you want DX10.....

And you can go for a VIP/Powersafe 400W PSU for just Rs 1500 instead of a much more expensive PSU.

I run a core 2 duo + 7900GS + P5B with the VIP 400W PSU.
 
And you can go for a VIP/Powersafe 400W PSU for just Rs 1500 instead of a much more expensive PSU.
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Dont do that....no way...

You spend 50k on a rig all to get a cheapo PSU

The minimum you should be looking for is the CM 600 for 3.5k

As for the GPU I say if its there for 1 to 1.5 yrs go for the 7900GS, *ONLY* DX10 games will be far and few till then

Else get a 8800GTS for 18k if you can accomodate it in your budget.
 
:D still need help deciding guys :S, also check if the prices look ok...

It would be great if you could answer it number wise...

I'll mention it again, I dont plan to OC anything, not for now atleast

1. Processor: Should I try and save some money and get a E4XXX or should I stick with E6600? Is the little extra money spent on it, well worth it? Prime quoted 10.1k for E6600.

2. MotherBoard: Is there a difference between xfx 650i and 650i ultra? If so, what to go with? or should I get the SLI based xfx 680i ? Are these XFX mobos good or should I look at some ASUS ones? Please help me out.

3. GFX Card: I realize its not a good time to buy a gfx card. There is no way I can fit a 8600GTS in my budget. So its either 7600GT or 7900GS or 8600GT. But I can't decide what to go with. What do you say guys? Prime quoted me 6.2k for 7600GT, 11.5k for 7900GS and 7.5k for 8600GT. I heard someone saying that the 7900GS is available for <10k though, so can anyone confirm the price? Whatever I buy out of these, I know I will have to updrade in 1.5-2yrs. So please help me decide.

Also, the xfx 8600GT fatal1ty edition was available for 9.7k. Should I consider this one ? Please help me take a final decision and plz suggest me if you guys have anything else in mind. It would be great if you could also recommend me which brand to go with.

4. RAM: Going for 2 sticks of 1 gb each. Just need advice on which brand to go for, kingston, trancend, corsair? 667Mhz would be fine right? Prime quoted rs.1950 for a 1 gb corsair stick.

5. Cabby: Thinking of going with a Zebby model like antibiotic or Bijli. What do you think?

6. PSU: Thinking of CoolerMaster 600W, but since I am not going to OC, wont a PowerSafe 500W be enough?

7. Misc: Apart from these, will also be buying a 320gb hdd, dvd burner, mouse & keyboard. (UPS and speakers not needed)

8. Monitor: Does LCD give any problems in gaming? I will fix the rest of the config first and see how much money I can spend on the monitor. So I will decide what monitor to get later. Suggestions welcome

9. Shop: I called up Jay Computers, Computer Selection, and PRIME at lammy. PRIME quoted be the best price out of the three (diff of about 100-200 rs on everything). Should I go ahead and buy the stuff from PRIME? How is their after sales support?

One last question. I should buy and use Arctic Silver 5 when assembling the PC right?

Sorry for the long post :p, but one doesnt buy a PC everyday, so just want to get everything right :D.
 
Hey dude for a cheapest buy , i would personally suggest an AMD solution . a 3800 or a 4000+ will still be way cheaper than Intels lowest solution . + you get a deluxe mobo for nearly half of the price of an intel's low end board .

The main question is what do you want to do . You want to run scientific applications or just plain gaming , music etc .

AMD X2 4000+ with a lean GFX card , maybe a good 7x series GPU ( i am not an expert on GPU's ) + 19 inch widescreen monitor should come to you around 35-37 ish with all good parts , skimping on none .

But hey , its always your choice in the end .
 
Its an all purpose PC. I am going to use the PC for intensive programming (visual studio, eclipse, etc). I am also into graphics programming, photoshopping, 3d modelling, etc. Apart from all this I will also be gaming a lot on this PC. Music, movies, internet....everything.

I dont think AMD is a good idea if I can get a nice decent c2d config in the budget I have. Anyone else thinks I should get an AMD ?

Still looking to get my 9 point doubt post solved by someone here :(....so plz reply guys.
 
hanifv said:
1. Processor: Should I try and save some money and get a E4XXX or should I stick with E6600? Is the little extra money spent on it, well worth it? Prime quoted 10.1k for E6600.
Click to expand...

If you can afford E6600, stick to it. It will last longer than 1-1.5years in terms of your requirements.

hanifv said:
2. MotherBoard: Is there a difference between xfx 650i and 650i ultra? If so, what to go with? or should I get the SLI based xfx 680i ? Are these XFX mobos good or should I look at some ASUS ones? Please help me out.
Click to expand...

XFX 650i is good enough if you dont oc, you can also consider ASUS P5N-E which has the same chipset. But I would go with XFX.

hanifv said:
3. GFX Card: I realize its not a good time to buy a gfx card. There is no way I can fit a 8600GTS in my budget. So its either 7600GT or 7900GS or 8600GT. But I can't decide what to go with. What do you say guys? Prime quoted me 6.2k for 7600GT, 11.5k for 7900GS and 7.5k for 8600GT. I heard someone saying that the 7900GS is available for <10k though, so can anyone confirm the price? Whatever I buy out of these, I know I will have to updrade in 1.5-2yrs. So please help me decide.
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If you can afford 7900GS go for it or else get 8600GT. There is someone in the market section trying to sell 79xx GT or GS not sure for less than 10k. You can check that out.

hanifv said:
4. RAM: Going for 2 sticks of 1 gb each. Just need advice on which brand to go for, kingston, trancend, corsair? 667Mhz would be fine right? Prime quoted rs.1950 for a 1 gb corsair stick.
Click to expand...
Kingstion or trancend should be good enough

hanifv said:
5. Cabby: Thinking of going with a Zebby model like antibiotic or Bijli. What do you think?
Click to expand...
your choice

hanifv said:
6. PSU: Thinking of CoolerMaster 600W, but since I am not going to OC, wont a PowerSafe 500W be enough?
Click to expand...
Better get CM and use it for a long time without any hassle

hanifv said:
8. Monitor: Does LCD give any problems in gaming? I will fix the rest of the config first and see how much money I can spend on the monitor. So I will decide what monitor to get later. Suggestions welcome
Click to expand...
I think many people on TE are using LCDs for gaming without any problems.

hanifv said:
One last question. I should buy and use Arctic Silver 5 when assembling the PC right?
Click to expand...
It would be better but not a must.

Cant comment on Lammy dealers as I dont live in Mumbai.
 
Thanks a lot random2 :hap2:

Should I go with xfx 650i or should I try and future-proof my rig by going for a 680i SLI LT ? Its about 4k more, but is it worth it?

I was looking at LCDs. I liked the samsung 940BW, but PRIME told me they are not available in the market right now. Samsung 920NW is available for 10.5k. Whats the difference between the two models? is the 920NW good? The viewsonic 1930WM is also for 10.5k, but I dont like its looks. I would still consider it, if its a better performer. So gimme your suggestions guys. Anyone here has the 920NW model ?

Also, plz suggest me a good cabby (without PSU) for 2k or less. The pretty LCDs and lights dont matter to me. It should have good ventilation and cooling.
 
LOL, hanifv u still havent bought ur pc ? I think u need to rethink ur strategy coz you have been bugging everyone on fs since a year about buying a pc :hap5:.
Buying a pc isnt as complicated as rocket science isnt it :no:
 
Stick with the XFX 650i if you dont want to OC ram above 2.1 and not going SLI.

As for cabbie, how about Zebronics LAVA/ANTIBIOITIC? Costs are 1200 and 1900 respectively approx.
 
just noticed the 920NW doesn't have DVI input. Also some people just told me that getting a widescreen for anything below 20" is pointless, and that I should get normal 19" instead. What do you guys think? Also whats the best 19" non-widesrcreen LCD for around 11-12k ?
 
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