Guys

I need to get a new pc sorted and I really cba to build my PC so this will be the first pre-built PC I've bought in nearly 15 years. A bit of advice on the spec below would be appreciated. I've taken this through www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Depending on what you're using the machine for Quad core is overdone.

Warhammer

I still think quadcore is a pointless overspend, nothing needs that much power, even the new 9000 series nvidia's run perfectly well on a high end dual core which is normally 50-100 quid less.

Check out http://www.chillblast.com too. I picked them over pcspecialist but can't remember why now. I remember the prices being very similar.

As a comparison:

Customised Chillblast Fusion Juggernaut: Summary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case: Cooler Master CM690 Dominator Black
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Processor overclocked up to 3.4GHz
Cooling & Thermal Paste: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus Rampage Formula X48 Motherboard
Memory Upgrades: Upgrade to 8GB PC2-6400 Memory *Limits OC to 3.2GHz max!
Graphics Card: Chillblast Radeon HD 4870 X2 2048MB Graphics Card (750watt PSU required)
1st Hard Disk Drive: 500GB 7200RPM Hard Disk
Standard Optical Drive: Standard 20x DL DVD±RW SATA Optical Drive
Power Supply: Thermaltake High Performance 850W PSU
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit OEM

Total products cost ex.VAT: £1,283.30
Total products cost inc.VAT: £1,507.90

You can remove the soundcard to save an extra £30 if you are happy with onboard (mobo) sound. I was assured that only major branded products are used. I haven't needed to open my machine to check.

Thanks matey, not used them before (or heard of them) I've been through the system building and to get a system that matches what I posted puts it about £15 difference.

If I lived round your neck of the woods I'd probably go for chillblast, but living t'up north I fancy someone nearer incase I need to go and have a shout at someone

Try these neil

http://www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk/

Jase recommended them to me, and I think a few others have used them too. I couldnt recommend them more highly tbh, the pc I got is fantastic, and the service is great. I know jase had some issues with his too so Im guessing he could tell you what their after-sales care is like too.

Think theyre based around nooooocastle so kindve local'ish

Thanks Macey.

Works out again within £20 difference with the same components.

For future reference, Newcastle is about 2 hours away from Manchester. I know it's north of Watford though, so you're excused.

If you're only using it for WAR go for a beefy core 2 Duo processor. Which system did you base this on?

/edit
Found the base PC. I'd trade in the Radeon 4870 X2 for a Geforce GTX280 / 1024MB as well (coz ATi sux monkey doodles obviously).

And get that Stylish Black Aluminium Trigon Case, if only for the looks.

Here's what i would get if Schan would let me spend that amount of money



Not that much different really. I'd seriously consider to up the RAM to 6 or 8GB though. It's cheap as hell and getting it all at once means you'll have a good chance of getting memory from the same production series which improves stability and speed of dual channel memory.

Thanks Kuifje, that's very helpful.

I'll look at that in more detail when I get home later on.

Much appreciated.

Yeah cyberpower is based at Gateshead

I live in Gateshead!!!!

I used pcspecialist and had no complaints at all.
I seem to recall someone posting here that they had issues with them though.
Maybe do a forum search on pcspecialist and see what the problem was?!!

That was gynnyyr's Motherboard that got fucked up but within 5 days they had replaced and returned it to him. but that was cyberpowersystem - not pc specialist.

since then as far as i know his pc is working fine again.


As it happens my new pc is due to arrive tomorrow as i recently had a call from cyberpowersystem to say it will be arriving sometime between 9-12 am as i requested

aye that it be.

Just spotted this thread!

I ordered from PC Specialist, i'll not go into too much detail but I had quite a bit of bother with them and won't be using them again.

The money was taken from my account as soon as the order was 'In Processing', as they have a function on the site to keep checkon your order. The guranteed delivery time was 7-10 working days, a little longer than other companies, but that didn't worry me.

After 10 working days (a full 2-weeks) my order was still in processing, so e-mailed them, I got an almost instant reply which looked to be an automated 'Your order will be processed asap. bollocks'. After 4 weeks, a few dozen e-mails, a few dozen informative replys and alot of frustration, I finally recieved my brand new PC.

5 minutes after powering up, the PSU died. E-mailed the returns department and demanded a contact number. Made a call and unleashed war on the poor sod who picked up the phone! They asked me to return the full system and they'd fix and return it asap. Riiiiiight.

I basically 'told' them that I would source myself a new PSU, fit it myself, return the faulty PSU to them for a full refund including postage costs. I left them no choice but to agree. 2 weeks later I recieved the refund after having to send receipts etc.

So to summise:
They had my money for 4 weeks sat in their account, and in return sent me a faulty product. I then fixed and returned the faulty items and waited 2 weeks further for a refund.

Not a company i'd use again!

Fucking whinger!!

ROFL

Well I've ordered it now, but thanks for the heads up Fish. Part of the reason for ordering it from someone reasonably close is that if something like that happens, I'm more than happy to go and have a slightly more "personal" discussion about these matters. Although in fairness a guy there has been very helpful with some of the questions I've had and I'm reassured by the fact that he's a waaarrgghh player too.

I'll keep you posted though, but I finally ordered...

lol fucking chelsea fan

Well my experience was the complete opposite of Fish3rs, they updated me along the way with the status of my order and delivered when they said they would.

Machine appears well built and nice and quiet. All in all I'm quite happy with my new machine and would buy from them again.

Sounds like an expensive rig though neil, are you planning to build another award winning place to fund it?

It's only expensive if you have to find the money from nowhere, I keep a separate pot of money to one side that I contribute monthly for Gadgets

The past few years have been good with the boom, things are slowing down massively now though and there are massive reduncies in my industry at the moment, so let's see what happens...

Yeah I know a few brickies and sparkies who have been laid off and are now doing freelance stuff, hope it doesnt go the same way for you mate.

Wish I had the money to put aside for gadgets though...my birthday money is going on new ram...how exciting that day will be for me!

Wait till you're working though matey, the guy I bought my previous car off was a barrister, one of his cases paid his mortgage off in full (which is made even more sickening when you see it's a 6 bedroom "mansion" slap bang in the middle of the cheshire set)

We've purposely stayed in the house we're in the past two years as my wife saw the way that the market was heading, the house etc runs happily on one of our salaries so if the worse comes to the worse we'll still be cool.

Good thing about recessions is that it discourages young uns coming into the industry so when the good times come, I'm in demand, which means half decent salaries and pay rises.

Hehe, I want to prosecute criminals, so providing I can actually get into the cps I should be all set, theres no short supply of those little scoundrels about!

Are you allowed to prosecute yourself?

haha, unfortunately not, ill just have to amend my ways. =)

is that legal jargon for avin a wank ?

Ahhh now the wig suddenly makes sense!

He'll be soliciting next....

I didnt read all the posts, but i saw some ppl recomending a dual core instead, but from all tests and reviews ive seen so far a high speed quad gives you the best preformance with the 4870x2 card. So imo go for the quad if you want to get the most out of your GPU.

I doing fine with my quad core system and with 2 of the 2gig HD4870x2 card in the crossfire setup - its running smooth as anything.

this is the core i have.

CPU: (Socket AM2+) AMD PhenomT X4 9850 Quad-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology ***Overclockable S&S*** .

all my other info is in the Thread New toy.

this was done by www.cyberpowersystem.co.uk