Recommendations for building a PC

[Odessa-086]

We're currently looking into hardware components for our new PC. It will primarily be used for gaming. We decided it would be best to build it from scratch rather than buy a prebuilt computer, seeing how they always lack one thing you really want, whichever it turns out to be. So, looking for a solid motherboard with an on-board sound card, dual-core processor (quad-core is also an option, but primarily dual-core) and graphics card. Bear in mind, though, that it would be desirable not to cross the budget of app. 250 pounds. We've already found some very good components ourselves, which come up to 180 pounds, but I'd like to see what you guys have to suggest. What with the amount of gamers here, some must know what they're talking about.

[*Daedalus]

It would be helpful if you list the components you've already selected. We can help you by comparing similar products. Off the bad though (Having no idea how much these cost in pounds):

Motherboard: MSI P7N (any type, diamond is nice)
Processor: Intel E8400 3.0GHz(?), or you can get a very overclockable Q6600 quad-core and get that to 3.0GHz for about the same price.
RAM: 2x2GB of either OCZ Reaper of Corsair Dominator
GPU: nVidia 8800GT

Ok, I just went and had a look at how much 250 pounds is in euro... that's really not going to get you very far at all... you'll be looking at a very outdated machine with that budget.

[Odessa-086]

Well not really, we've got some very good dealers here with prices more than affordable. We've been looking into Intel dual-core of 3.2GHz which was no more than some 80 pounds, for example. I'll look for things we've found so far. Besides, we don't really need a rig so monstrous to be able to play, say, Crysis on maximum settings.

[*Daedalus]

Lucky you then. €340 (£250) buys me a processor.

[Odessa-086]

Really?? God, that's a lot. Luckily enough, I can also get good components from Croatia and they can be incredibly cheap here. But yeah, we did find an dual-core of 3.2 for 80 pounds, it came as a surprise for us too. I guess prices heavily depend on the country you buy them in.

[*Daedalus]

Well if you can get stuff that cheap, look for components I recommended - you might actually be able to buy them. FYI - that amount of stuff would usually cost you about £600-ish.

Oh, PSU: Thermaltake, PC P&C, and Ultra are all good brands. DON'T cheap out on a PSU - it's the main cause of instability in a system.

[Odessa-086]

So I've been told, I'll look into that, thanks for info

[>Omen<]

If these places with incredible prices have their own websites, the thing to do would be offer links for them if possible so we can be on the same page with what you have access to. Otherwise those of us across the pond are not going to be able to help much. When you said pounds I assumed you are in the UK, but then Croatia was mentioned, so I'm a bit confused as to where you're getting these prices. I wonder if Prauge has good PC part pricing too. Most in the UK say they don't have as good of deals as we do in the states.

[Odessa-086]

For a few months I live in UK, then for the next few in Croatia and changing throughout the year. Prices in Croatia are really good, but unfortunately, as far as I know, the Croatian webshops I normally buy my stuff from don't deliver outside the country and for that reason don't have English versions so I don't know that it will be of much use to anyone who's not in Croatia, sorry. I have to check on the UK's website we're planning to get some components off, I can't remember the URL from the top of my head.

[Sfc Loken]

Ebuyer - Cheap Computers, Laptops, Digital Cameras, TVs & more! is probably where the majority of the components will come from. Bear in mind that this isn't a project for a monster pc, merely an affordable increase in the performance.