Build stuff.

[~Darkseeker~]

Foothead, that mobo isnt available UK-side, but what do you think of this?

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp.../128M+Motherboard+AM3+Socket+?productId=37778

 

[foothead]

LOL that would be the one I put in my brothers computer.

Its good.

Didnt realize you were in the UK.
How much is the x2 over there?

 

[~Darkseeker~]

LOL that would be the one I put in my brothers computer.

Its good.

Didnt realize you were in the UK.
How much is the x2 over there?

as if it was fate...

and which x2 you mean?

 

[foothead]

The 2GB 4850 x2.

I have one in the HTPC and it is def. the best card for the money. Uber powerful.

Just be sure you end up with a big case. Its 11 inches long, so you WILL lose HDD bays unless you have a big full tower. Also, make sure you don't end up with a multi-rail PSU that can't distribute power well. Mine is on a 700 watt OCZ GameXstream and it overdraws because I had to use adapters, putting 150w on the 200w MB accessory rail.

Basically, look for one that has either an 8 pin and a six pin PCI-e power adapter or one with 6+2's.

 

[Mutant Corn]

The newer K10 processors are better than the old Phenoms. The Athlon II 620 is more powerful than any of them. DDR3 is a bonus as well.

For the motherboard, definitely grab an AMD chipset. Nvidia doesn't allow xfire and has no ACC.

CPU- Athlon x4 630
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/176579

Motherboard- MSI 785G
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173978

RAM- Corsair 2x2GB
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-224-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1516

PSU- OCZ StealthXTreme 600W
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/127861

That should give you a good base to work from. The motherboard could be a bit better, but it'll do what you need, overclocking included. This one would be a better choice, more expensive though it may be:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158608

If you ever plan to go crossfire, though, definitely spring for a 790FX chipset. Pricey, but they have x16/x16 crossfire/sli.

As far as the GPU goes, from what I understand any 5xxx lower than a 5850 isn't worth it, because they won't be powerful enough to run DX11 games properly anyway.


edit:

Case- NZXT Beta EVO (best value on the market IMO)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-016-NX&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=35

Hard Drive- Samsung Spinpoint F3 (some of the fastest drives available...cheap too)
1TB- http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173804
500GB- http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-081-SA&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=940

 

[foothead]

The newer K10 processors are better than the old Phenoms. The Athlon II 620 is more powerful than any of them. DDR3 is a bonus as well.

For the motherboard, definitely grab an AMD chipset. Nvidia doesn't allow xfire.

CPU- Athlon x4 630
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/176579

Motherboard- MSI 785G
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173978

RAM- Corsair 2x2GB
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-224-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1516

PSU- OCZ StealthXTreme 600W
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/127861

That should give you a good base to work from.

Phenoms beat the Athlon II x4's because of their lack of L3 cache.
That PSU is pretty weak depending on which graphics card he picks.

 

[~Darkseeker~]

im stuck between the MSI 785G and the ASRock M3A785GXH/128M

which do you think is better? the asrock has more PCI/PCI-e slots for adding stuff to.

 

[foothead]

I like the ASrock personally.

The MSI 785G that mutant corn posted is AM3 only. No phenom support, so you would have to get an athlon or a phenom II.

What would a P2 945 cost over there?

EDIT: OEM/retail 940 as well.

 

[Mutant Corn]

Phenoms beat the Athlon II x4's because of their lack of L3 cache.
That PSU is pretty weak depending on which graphics card he picks.

Phenom II's do, but Athlon II's generally beat or equal the old Phenoms.
edit: Athlon II x4 vs Px4 9950 vs P2x4 945: http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/...tml?prod[2608]=on&prod[3015]=on&prod[2625]=on


The PSU should be fine, but I agree...a Crossfire setup would be safer with a larger one.

edit: A PII 945 is £122, btw:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172684

 

[~Darkseeker~]

thanks for the input fellas, given me alot to check through.

rep for help.