Local Specialist Computer Shops?

[Park Life 71]

I'm looking to get a new computer and have been told vaguely what I need to ask for, so was wondering if anyone knows of a decent place I could go to to get it built. I know fuck all about computers, so I'm pretty much going in with a list of 3 requirements: Quad core processor, 2 or 4G RAM, and a graphics card that will allow me to run dual monitors.

 

Any and everything else that needs to go in it, I'm going to be at the mercy of the bloke in the shop, So I'd quite like to know somewhere I can go where I won't be walking out of the place with my trousers round my ankles. Any ideas?

 

 

Don't buy one yet, AMD are bringing out a new CPU early next year which at best will compete with Intel at a lower price and at worst will bring Intel prices down.

 

Athlon x2 no good?

[Gemmill 47228]

Fop, I can't really wait cos my current one is on its last legs. Cheers for the info though.

[Fop 1]

I'm looking to get a new computer and have been told vaguely what I need to ask for, so was wondering if anyone knows of a decent place I could go to to get it built. I know fuck all about computers, so I'm pretty much going in with a list of 3 requirements: Quad core processor, 2 or 4G RAM, and a graphics card that will allow me to run dual monitors.

 

Any and everything else that needs to go in it, I'm going to be at the mercy of the bloke in the shop, So I'd quite like to know somewhere I can go where I won't be walking out of the place with my trousers round my ankles. Any ideas?

 

 

Don't buy one yet, AMD are bringing out a new CPU early next year which at best will compete with Intel at a lower price and at worst will bring Intel prices down.

 

Athlon x2 no good?

 

AMD were way ahead for years, but couldn't really capitalise on it outside of the self-build market because Intel had the big boys tied up and roasting over their oem corporate spits. They've fallen behind in price/performance in the last couple of years due to some technical problems they had and Intel finally putting out some strong chips, although they were still decent CPUs and still decent value (now they've fixed a lot of the initial issues, they are much closer to Intel in outright performance and maybe back ahead in price/performance). The new generation (they are doing an x2 compatible one I think) seem about to redress the balance again - Intels latest generation of CPU's having their old pricing scale of "comparable to a small family car" and not much faster than their previous generation.

[Park Life 71]

I'm looking to get a new computer and have been told vaguely what I need to ask for, so was wondering if anyone knows of a decent place I could go to to get it built. I know fuck all about computers, so I'm pretty much going in with a list of 3 requirements: Quad core processor, 2 or 4G RAM, and a graphics card that will allow me to run dual monitors.

 

Any and everything else that needs to go in it, I'm going to be at the mercy of the bloke in the shop, So I'd quite like to know somewhere I can go where I won't be walking out of the place with my trousers round my ankles. Any ideas?

 

 

Don't buy one yet, AMD are bringing out a new CPU early next year which at best will compete with Intel at a lower price and at worst will bring Intel prices down.

 

Athlon x2 no good?

 

AMD were way ahead for years, but couldn't really capitalise on it outside of the self-build market because Intel had the big boys tied up and roasting over their oem corporate spits. They've fallen behind in price/performance in the last couple of years due to some technical problems they had and Intel finally putting out some strong chips, although they were still decent CPUs and still decent value (now they've fixed a lot of the initial issues, they are much closer to Intel in outright performance and maybe back ahead in price/performance). The new generation (they are doing an x2 compatible one I think) seem about to redress the balance again - Intels latest generation of CPU's having their old pricing scale of "comparable to a small family car" and not much faster than their previous generation.

 

 

Athlon x2 based systems are very cheap in Hamburg. Do I really have to wait till after X-mas. Can't I upgrade the processor later?

[Fop 1]

I'm looking to get a new computer and have been told vaguely what I need to ask for, so was wondering if anyone knows of a decent place I could go to to get it built. I know fuck all about computers, so I'm pretty much going in with a list of 3 requirements: Quad core processor, 2 or 4G RAM, and a graphics card that will allow me to run dual monitors.

 

Any and everything else that needs to go in it, I'm going to be at the mercy of the bloke in the shop, So I'd quite like to know somewhere I can go where I won't be walking out of the place with my trousers round my ankles. Any ideas?

 

 

Don't buy one yet, AMD are bringing out a new CPU early next year which at best will compete with Intel at a lower price and at worst will bring Intel prices down.

 

Athlon x2 no good?

 

AMD were way ahead for years, but couldn't really capitalise on it outside of the self-build market because Intel had the big boys tied up and roasting over their oem corporate spits. They've fallen behind in price/performance in the last couple of years due to some technical problems they had and Intel finally putting out some strong chips, although they were still decent CPUs and still decent value (now they've fixed a lot of the initial issues, they are much closer to Intel in outright performance and maybe back ahead in price/performance). The new generation (they are doing an x2 compatible one I think) seem about to redress the balance again - Intels latest generation of CPU's having their old pricing scale of "comparable to a small family car" and not much faster than their previous generation.

 

 

Athlon x2 based systems are very cheap in Hamburg. Do I really have to wait till after X-mas. Can't I upgrade the processor later?

As long as you're making sure it's a AM2/AM2+ socket and not socket 939 (make sure it's Phenom compatible - and if your buying it somewhere where you can, ask about deneb/Phenom II compatibility).

 

But you usually get a decent post X-mas price drop anyway, this year though, as things are so messed up.

[Renton 22501]

I'm looking to get a new computer and have been told vaguely what I need to ask for, so was wondering if anyone knows of a decent place I could go to to get it built. I know fuck all about computers, so I'm pretty much going in with a list of 3 requirements: Quad core processor, 2 or 4G RAM, and a graphics card that will allow me to run dual monitors.

 

Any and everything else that needs to go in it, I'm going to be at the mercy of the bloke in the shop, So I'd quite like to know somewhere I can go where I won't be walking out of the place with my trousers round my ankles. Any ideas?

 

 

Don't buy one yet, AMD are bringing out a new CPU early next year which at best will compete with Intel at a lower price and at worst will bring Intel prices down.

 

Athlon x2 no good?

 

AMD were way ahead for years, but couldn't really capitalise on it outside of the self-build market because Intel had the big boys tied up and roasting over their oem corporate spits. They've fallen behind in price/performance in the last couple of years due to some technical problems they had and Intel finally putting out some strong chips, although they were still decent CPUs and still decent value (now they've fixed a lot of the initial issues, they are much closer to Intel in outright performance and maybe back ahead in price/performance). The new generation (they are doing an x2 compatible one I think) seem about to redress the balance again - Intels latest generation of CPU's having their old pricing scale of "comparable to a small family car" and not much faster than their previous generation.

 

Since I'm presently in the market for a medium to top end PC I've done a bit of research and that bit at least is not true, according to everything I've read. Check out the i7 chip, which easily outperforms AMD at their own game (e.g. Tom's hardware). Computer Format reckoned the i7 was 60% faster than the nearest AMD equivalent. That's huge. The cheaper i7's are only £150 too.

[donaldstott 0]

Might be worth checking out a place called Cavtec, up at Kenton Bankfoot.

They have put stuff together for me in the past.

[Fop 1]

I'm looking to get a new computer and have been told vaguely what I need to ask for, so was wondering if anyone knows of a decent place I could go to to get it built. I know fuck all about computers, so I'm pretty much going in with a list of 3 requirements: Quad core processor, 2 or 4G RAM, and a graphics card that will allow me to run dual monitors.

 

Any and everything else that needs to go in it, I'm going to be at the mercy of the bloke in the shop, So I'd quite like to know somewhere I can go where I won't be walking out of the place with my trousers round my ankles. Any ideas?

 

 

Don't buy one yet, AMD are bringing out a new CPU early next year which at best will compete with Intel at a lower price and at worst will bring Intel prices down.

 

Athlon x2 no good?

 

AMD were way ahead for years, but couldn't really capitalise on it outside of the self-build market because Intel had the big boys tied up and roasting over their oem corporate spits. They've fallen behind in price/performance in the last couple of years due to some technical problems they had and Intel finally putting out some strong chips, although they were still decent CPUs and still decent value (now they've fixed a lot of the initial issues, they are much closer to Intel in outright performance and maybe back ahead in price/performance). The new generation (they are doing an x2 compatible one I think) seem about to redress the balance again - Intels latest generation of CPU's having their old pricing scale of "comparable to a small family car" and not much faster than their previous generation.

 

Since I'm presently in the market for a medium to top end PC I've done a bit of research and that bit at least is not true, according to everything I've read. Check out the i7 chip, which easily outperforms AMD at their own game (e.g. Tom's hardware). Computer Format reckoned the i7 was 60% faster than the nearest AMD equivalent. That's huge. The cheaper i7's are only £150 too.

 

I know you just like to argue with me, but this is silly.

 

If you can get the lowest full fat i7 for under £270 inc VAT (at 15%) I'll be very surprised (never mind £150 ), the top of the range i7 CPU is going for ~£900 at present, and that's not taking into account the price of the motherboards which are extortionate at present.

 

Also what you'll be comparing the i7 too is the last generation of AMD CPUs (not the deneb/PhenomII) as there are no official benchmarks out yet for AMD's next generation (the unofficial one from test chips look promising though, especially as they are running bug free and have vast amounts of scalability and ridculous amounts of on chip cash), especially as price/performance is always where AMD come in strong when they have a good CPU.

 

The AMD chip they are likely comparing the i7 to does however cost ~£150.

 

So £900 versus £150 you'd hope it was a tad faster.

Edited November 27, 2008 by Fop

[Park Life 71]

Gemma's head is spinning about now.

[Renton 22501]

I'm looking to get a new computer and have been told vaguely what I need to ask for, so was wondering if anyone knows of a decent place I could go to to get it built. I know fuck all about computers, so I'm pretty much going in with a list of 3 requirements: Quad core processor, 2 or 4G RAM, and a graphics card that will allow me to run dual monitors.

 

Any and everything else that needs to go in it, I'm going to be at the mercy of the bloke in the shop, So I'd quite like to know somewhere I can go where I won't be walking out of the place with my trousers round my ankles. Any ideas?

 

 

Don't buy one yet, AMD are bringing out a new CPU early next year which at best will compete with Intel at a lower price and at worst will bring Intel prices down.

 

Athlon x2 no good?

 

AMD were way ahead for years, but couldn't really capitalise on it outside of the self-build market because Intel had the big boys tied up and roasting over their oem corporate spits. They've fallen behind in price/performance in the last couple of years due to some technical problems they had and Intel finally putting out some strong chips, although they were still decent CPUs and still decent value (now they've fixed a lot of the initial issues, they are much closer to Intel in outright performance and maybe back ahead in price/performance). The new generation (they are doing an x2 compatible one I think) seem about to redress the balance again - Intels latest generation of CPU's having their old pricing scale of "comparable to a small family car" and not much faster than their previous generation.

 

Since I'm presently in the market for a medium to top end PC I've done a bit of research and that bit at least is not true, according to everything I've read. Check out the i7 chip, which easily outperforms AMD at their own game (e.g. Tom's hardware). Computer Format reckoned the i7 was 60% faster than the nearest AMD equivalent. That's huge. The cheaper i7's are only £150 too.

 

I know you just like to argue with me, but this is silly.

 

If you can get the lowest full fat i7 for under £270 inc VAT (at 15%) I'll be very surprised (never mind £150 ), the top of the range i7 CPU is going for ~£900 at present, and that's not taking into account the price of the motherboards which are extortionate at present.

 

Also what you'll be comparing the i7 too is the last generation of AMD CPUs (not the deneb/PhenomII) as there are no official benchmarks out yet for AMD's next generation (the unofficial one from test chips look promising though, especially as they are running bug free and have vast amounts of scalability and ridculous amounts of on chip cash), especially as price/performance is always where AMD come in strong when they have a good CPU.

 

The AMD chip they are likely comparing the i7 to does however cost ~£150.

 

So £900 versus £150 you'd hope it was a tad faster.

 

That's you all over, it's impossible to have a normal discussion without you trying to 'win' an argument and presuming everybody else is the same. OK, so I was wrong, the i7 920 is in fact about £238 (dabs), but that's not bad considering it has literally just been released and is arguably one of the fastest chips available (the only faster ones being its more expensive siblings).

 

Regardless, I'll take the opinions of professionals in the industry over an that of an AMD fanboy like you any time.

 

Edit: here's a link to a precis of the PC format article Fop PC Format.

 

As for how AMD's Phenom compares, it's an absolute massacre. Intel's finest is now often twice as quick as the best AMD can deliver.

Edited November 27, 2008 by Renton

[Meenzer 15871]

Just to throw another name into the hat, they don't do custom setups but I've used Novatech (www.novatech.co.uk) for all my techie stuff since moving back to the UK and they haven't let me down yet.

[Fop 1]

I'm looking to get a new computer and have been told vaguely what I need to ask for, so was wondering if anyone knows of a decent place I could go to to get it built. I know fuck all about computers, so I'm pretty much going in with a list of 3 requirements: Quad core processor, 2 or 4G RAM, and a graphics card that will allow me to run dual monitors.

 

Any and everything else that needs to go in it, I'm going to be at the mercy of the bloke in the shop, So I'd quite like to know somewhere I can go where I won't be walking out of the place with my trousers round my ankles. Any ideas?

 

 

Don't buy one yet, AMD are bringing out a new CPU early next year which at best will compete with Intel at a lower price and at worst will bring Intel prices down.

 

Athlon x2 no good?

 

AMD were way ahead for years, but couldn't really capitalise on it outside of the self-build market because Intel had the big boys tied up and roasting over their oem corporate spits. They've fallen behind in price/performance in the last couple of years due to some technical problems they had and Intel finally putting out some strong chips, although they were still decent CPUs and still decent value (now they've fixed a lot of the initial issues, they are much closer to Intel in outright performance and maybe back ahead in price/performance). The new generation (they are doing an x2 compatible one I think) seem about to redress the balance again - Intels latest generation of CPU's having their old pricing scale of "comparable to a small family car" and not much faster than their previous generation.

 

Since I'm presently in the market for a medium to top end PC I've done a bit of research and that bit at least is not true, according to everything I've read. Check out the i7 chip, which easily outperforms AMD at their own game (e.g. Tom's hardware). Computer Format reckoned the i7 was 60% faster than the nearest AMD equivalent. That's huge. The cheaper i7's are only £150 too.

 

I know you just like to argue with me, but this is silly.

 

If you can get the lowest full fat i7 for under £270 inc VAT (at 15%) I'll be very surprised (never mind £150 ), the top of the range i7 CPU is going for ~£900 at present, and that's not taking into account the price of the motherboards which are extortionate at present.

 

Also what you'll be comparing the i7 too is the last generation of AMD CPUs (not the deneb/PhenomII) as there are no official benchmarks out yet for AMD's next generation (the unofficial one from test chips look promising though, especially as they are running bug free and have vast amounts of scalability and ridculous amounts of on chip cash), especially as price/performance is always where AMD come in strong when they have a good CPU.

 

The AMD chip they are likely comparing the i7 to does however cost ~£150.

 

So £900 versus £150 you'd hope it was a tad faster.

 

That's you all over, it's impossible to have a normal discussion without you trying to 'win' an argument and presuming everybody else is the same. OK, so I was wrong, the i7 920 is in fact about £238 (dabs), but that's not bad considering it has literally just been released and is arguably one of the fastest chips available (the only faster ones being its more expensive siblings).

 

You coming in "you're wrong you idiot" guns blazing and then try to claim the moral high ground when actually YOU are wrong.

 

 

Their bottom of the range i7 is not much if any faster than the medium/top end of their prior generation, the motherboards cost a LOT though.

 

 

Regardless, I'll take the opinions of professionals in the industry over an that of an AMD fanboy like you any time.

 

Yes they know what they are talking about, like me, and unlike you.

 

 

 

Edit: here's a link to a precis of the PC format article Fop PC Format.

 

As for how AMD's Phenom compares, it's an absolute massacre. Intel's finest is now often twice as quick as the best AMD can deliver.

Again comparing a £900 i7 vs a £150 Phenom.

 

The Deneb/Phenom II is a much different beast, smaller architecture, completely re-jigged architecture, and lovely amounts of on chip cash.

 

Intel stole a march on AMD with Core2 (not helped by AMD's technical and financial problems), but like I said originally, it's looking like AMD are at least going to come close to restoring parity with their next generation (after Xmas).

 

It's not about AMD vs Intel (although it's totally true that when AMD had by far the superior CPU's in the early to mid 2000's the couldn't capitalises on it because Intel had the main OEM producers locked down - that's just how it is), it's about how when AMD is competitive over all prices come down and when they are not they rocket (Intel have been doing that since 1996 and earlier). The last generation of Intel CPUs have been great compared to AMDs (in general performance if not always price in every application), but the next generation of AMD chips are looking very promising so the wise decision is to hold off and wait and see, at best you'll get a superior CPU, at worse you'll have saved cash anyway.

[Fop 1]

Overclockers.co.uk - customer service calls can take some time, 20mins'ish but haven't had any real problems with them, the pc i build this afternoon came from them, motherboard had been damaged by dhl, took overclockers 3days to get me the new one out, pretty decent prices, and sell some really good priced custom pc's

(if you want a pc thats already built and want to pick and choose changes in it i suggest trying here tbh, you'll be able to get quality parts and not have someone rip you off)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=43 have a range of systems from value-gamer-overclocked-watercooled to picking your own bits.

They suspended you from their forums for swearing though, the bastards.

[Renton 22501]

Dunno about locally, but i literally just finished building my new quad-core watercooled rig about an hour ago.

 

Been building pc's for years so can give you my opinions on the retailers i used.

 

Dell/Alienware (it's dell owned) use the shitest parts know to man these days, charge you through the nose for things like Ram then you end up with brands like "Qimonda" at double the price it would cost for high performance lifetime guarantee stuff, bought an alienware last xmas just out of interest to see what they were like, all the parts from it apart from the case are now in a storage box never to be seen again

 

Ebuyer - is the total worst of the worst, cheap prices, but if you have a single problem you are well and truly fucked.

if you place an order with them (and this happened to me) your items don't get reserved for you, so by the time it's picked etc if one single thing has gone out of stock

the whole order goes on hold, and even then the rest of the items still dont get held for you.

 

I placed an order with them for a couple of pc's worth of gear. 1 item went out of stock, a graphics card.

3weeks later after multiple things going out of stock and things going back and forth, i spent 2days trying to get through to customer service

Day one i was on hold on a queuing system from 3.30 till 5pm when my call was promptly cut off,

Day two much of the same got through after 2hours to some moron who could barely speak, took 30mins of going nuts to get them to cancel the order and everything sorted out. (they'd already billed me as well)

avoid ebuyer like the plague, saving £20 on a processor really isn't worth the possible hassle you might have trust me.

 

Aria - haven't used them since about 2002, sent me the same faulty motherboard 3times, £45quid in shipping it back and forth, took an age for them to pay me back the carriage money.

Tekheads.co.uk - Can't praise them highly enough, really really good customer service, go out of their way to help ya, if somethings faulty like damaged in transit they shipped out a replacement and had the courier take away the damaged item at the same time.

 

Overclockers.co.uk - customer service calls can take some time, 20mins'ish but haven't had any real problems with them, the pc i build this afternoon came from them, motherboard had been damaged by dhl, took overclockers 3days to get me the new one out, pretty decent prices, and sell some really good priced custom pc's

(if you want a pc thats already built and want to pick and choose changes in it i suggest trying here tbh, you'll be able to get quality parts and not have someone rip you off)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=43 have a range of systems from value-gamer-overclocked-watercooled to picking your own bits.

 

 

Kustompcs.co.uk - Scottish based, used them for a few bits and bobs, always been quick delivery and no problems, good customer service.

 

 

p.s theres nothing wrong with AMD, the cpu's cost a hell of alot less than Intel equivalents, will still beat Intel in alot of benchmarks, and unless your sitting running benchmarks trying to squeeze every last point/ms to better a score... you really won't notice the difference

 

the cheapest current I7 intel btw will still set you back about £250 including vat, a phenom 9850 blackedition which beats it in a fair few benchmarks and runs it close in others will set you back £130 inc vat

that pcformat article is a total load of shite i suggest you go and read a few better ones, it's like picking up a copy of the sun for financial news

Lovely read though "look how well this i7 965 (at £900 cost) performs against this cpu costing £150

In reality the i7 920 will get you maybe an extra 7-9fps over the phenom's

worth another £120..?

 

I picked it PC format off the shelf, but at least half a dozen articles I have read have rated the i7 920 as being excellent value for the price, can you point me to one with a more negative viewpoint? Also do you think they are being deliberately biased? I'm not looking for an argument here as I'm going to buy an off the shelf PC shortly and genuinely want to know what is best to future proof myself. I'm not interested in building my own PC but will update the various parts as required, my understanding being that the CPU is by far the hardest to upgrade so I'm willing to invest a bit more in that, from what I've read the i7 would be a fair bet regarding that. Or have you got your own agenda bearing in mind you've just built some AMD specced machines, serious question? AMD users always seem to be very defensive about the company, I've noticed, a bit like Mac users.

 

For the record I don't give a shit about brand names so long as they work well. My current desktop is a 6 year old AMD which has faired me very well, time for a new one now though.

[Park Life 71]

Going back 3/4 years my old amd pc with xp never ever crashed.

 

My iMac never crashes.

 

 

My vista x2 intel core 2 laptop crashes at least once a day.

Edited November 27, 2008 by Park Life

[Renton 22501]

I'm looking to get a new computer and have been told vaguely what I need to ask for, so was wondering if anyone knows of a decent place I could go to to get it built. I know fuck all about computers, so I'm pretty much going in with a list of 3 requirements: Quad core processor, 2 or 4G RAM, and a graphics card that will allow me to run dual monitors.

 

Any and everything else that needs to go in it, I'm going to be at the mercy of the bloke in the shop, So I'd quite like to know somewhere I can go where I won't be walking out of the place with my trousers round my ankles. Any ideas?

 

 

Don't buy one yet, AMD are bringing out a new CPU early next year which at best will compete with Intel at a lower price and at worst will bring Intel prices down.

 

Athlon x2 no good?

 

AMD were way ahead for years, but couldn't really capitalise on it outside of the self-build market because Intel had the big boys tied up and roasting over their oem corporate spits. They've fallen behind in price/performance in the last couple of years due to some technical problems they had and Intel finally putting out some strong chips, although they were still decent CPUs and still decent value (now they've fixed a lot of the initial issues, they are much closer to Intel in outright performance and maybe back ahead in price/performance). The new generation (they are doing an x2 compatible one I think) seem about to redress the balance again - Intels latest generation of CPU's having their old pricing scale of "comparable to a small family car" and not much faster than their previous generation.

 

Since I'm presently in the market for a medium to top end PC I've done a bit of research and that bit at least is not true, according to everything I've read. Check out the i7 chip, which easily outperforms AMD at their own game (e.g. Tom's hardware). Computer Format reckoned the i7 was 60% faster than the nearest AMD equivalent. That's huge. The cheaper i7's are only £150 too.

 

I know you just like to argue with me, but this is silly.

 

If you can get the lowest full fat i7 for under £270 inc VAT (at 15%) I'll be very surprised (never mind £150 ), the top of the range i7 CPU is going for ~£900 at present, and that's not taking into account the price of the motherboards which are extortionate at present.

 

Also what you'll be comparing the i7 too is the last generation of AMD CPUs (not the deneb/PhenomII) as there are no official benchmarks out yet for AMD's next generation (the unofficial one from test chips look promising though, especially as they are running bug free and have vast amounts of scalability and ridculous amounts of on chip cash), especially as price/performance is always where AMD come in strong when they have a good CPU.

 

The AMD chip they are likely comparing the i7 to does however cost ~£150.

 

So £900 versus £150 you'd hope it was a tad faster.

 

That's you all over, it's impossible to have a normal discussion without you trying to 'win' an argument and presuming everybody else is the same. OK, so I was wrong, the i7 920 is in fact about £238 (dabs), but that's not bad considering it has literally just been released and is arguably one of the fastest chips available (the only faster ones being its more expensive siblings).

 

You coming in "you're wrong you idiot" guns blazing and then try to claim the moral high ground when actually YOU are wrong.

 

 

Their bottom of the range i7 is not much if any faster than the medium/top end of their prior generation, the motherboards cost a LOT though.

 

 

Regardless, I'll take the opinions of professionals in the industry over an that of an AMD fanboy like you any time.

 

Yes they know what they are talking about, like me, and unlike you.

 

 

 

Edit: here's a link to a precis of the PC format article Fop PC Format.

 

As for how AMD's Phenom compares, it's an absolute massacre. Intel's finest is now often twice as quick as the best AMD can deliver.

Again comparing a £900 i7 vs a £150 Phenom.

 

The Deneb/Phenom II is a much different beast, smaller architecture, completely re-jigged architecture, and lovely amounts of on chip cash.

 

Intel stole a march on AMD with Core2 (not helped by AMD's technical and financial problems), but like I said originally, it's looking like AMD are at least going to come close to restoring parity with their next generation (after Xmas).

 

It's not about AMD vs Intel (although it's totally true that when AMD had by far the superior CPU's in the early to mid 2000's the couldn't capitalises on it because Intel had the main OEM producers locked down - that's just how it is), it's about how when AMD is competitive over all prices come down and when they are not they rocket (Intel have been doing that since 1996 and earlier). The last generation of Intel CPUs have been great compared to AMDs (in general performance if not always price in every application), but the next generation of AMD chips are looking very promising so the wise decision is to hold off and wait and see, at best you'll get a superior CPU, at worse you'll have saved cash anyway.

 

OK Fop, I want a PC NOW. What do you recommend processor wise, NOW? Fwiw I agree with you re: AMD in the early 2000's, the same experts (i.e. people in magazines like PC Format or Tom's hardware) I listened to then recommended AMD, now they are saying Intel. Mind, I'm not an expert unlike you, who is clearly an expert on everything.

[Fop 1]

I picked it PC format off the shelf, but at least half a dozen articles I have read have rated the i7 920 as being excellent value for the price, can you point me to one with a more negative viewpoint? Also do you think they are being deliberately biased? I'm not looking for an argument here as I'm going to buy an off the shelf PC shortly and genuinely want to know what is best to future proof myself. I'm not interested in building my own PC but will update the various parts as required, my understanding being that the CPU is by far the hardest to upgrade so I'm willing to invest a bit more in that, from what I've read the i7 would be a fair bet regarding that. Or have you got your own agenda bearing in mind you've just built some AMD specced machines, serious question? AMD users always seem to be very defensive about the company, I've noticed, a bit like Mac users.

 

For the record I don't give a shit about brand names so long as they work well. My current desktop is a 6 year old AMD which has faired me very well, time for a new one now though.

 

A low/bottom end i7 if you're looking at easy upgrades and you must buy before you see what deneb performance equals and is priced like.

 

£ per performance, you're maybe better going for a fairly high spec pre-i7 CPU, but upgrading will be more of a chore (although may well still be more economical in the long run)... or maybe a looking at a top spec AM2+ system with an eye to Phenom II (but that's, of course, something of a gamble).

[Fop 1]

OK Fop, I want a PC NOW. What do you recommend processor wise, NOW? Fwiw I agree with you re: AMD in the early 2000's, the same experts (i.e. people in magazines like PC Format or Tom's hardware) I listened to then recommended AMD, now they are saying Intel. Mind, I'm not an expert unlike you, who is clearly an expert on everything.

I don't think there is a clear cut winner at the moment unfortunately, unlike a 6-12 months ago when Intel was still the easy choice and a few years ago when AMD was.

 

Another issue with i7 is it's DDR3 only which again makes it more expensive (deneb will be DDR2 and DDR3 - although not on the same CPU I think) for little if any current performance gain.

[Renton 22501]

OK Fop, I want a PC NOW. What do you recommend processor wise, NOW? Fwiw I agree with you re: AMD in the early 2000's, the same experts (i.e. people in magazines like PC Format or Tom's hardware) I listened to then recommended AMD, now they are saying Intel. Mind, I'm not an expert unlike you, who is clearly an expert on everything.

I don't think there is a clear cut winner at the moment unfortunately, unlike a 6-12 months ago when Intel was still the easy choice and a few years ago when AMD was.

 

Another issue with i7 is it's DDR3 only which again makes it more expensive (deneb will be DDR2 and DDR3 - although not on the same CPU I think) for little if any current performance gain.

 

Thanks for your opinion, genuinely. I now know what you do for a living, you're a geek.

 

Anyway I want a PC now to play games at christmas, there always seems to be something better around the corner to put you off buying but enough I say!

[Fop 1]

OK Fop, I want a PC NOW. What do you recommend processor wise, NOW? Fwiw I agree with you re: AMD in the early 2000's, the same experts (i.e. people in magazines like PC Format or Tom's hardware) I listened to then recommended AMD, now they are saying Intel. Mind, I'm not an expert unlike you, who is clearly an expert on everything.

I don't think there is a clear cut winner at the moment unfortunately, unlike a 6-12 months ago when Intel was still the easy choice and a few years ago when AMD was.

 

Another issue with i7 is it's DDR3 only which again makes it more expensive (deneb will be DDR2 and DDR3 - although not on the same CPU I think) for little if any current performance gain.

 

Thanks for your opinion, genuinely. I now know what you do for a living, you're a geek.

 

Anyway I want a PC now to play games at christmas, there always seems to be something better around the corner to put you off buying but enough I say!

 

Yeah there always is..... but there really might be at the moment (and then you've got to decide on Vista 32 or 64 ).

 

PC gaming could be on it's last legs, though, too much console economics and far, far too much iffy DRM.

[Renton 22501]

Fop's got a friend!

 

thunderbird 1ghz@2ghz those were the days

 

Sorry Ant but

[The Fish 11080]

Gemmil, hows about this puppy?

 

Clicky

[Gemmill 47228]

I don't really wanna spend 4 grand, you crazy slaphead! I'm looking for something more in the 600 to 1k range.

[Park Life 71]

This thread has turned into a salivating, pc- pervy- paradise.

[Lazarus 0]

I don't really wanna spend 4 grand, you crazy slaphead! I'm looking for something more in the 600 to 1k range.

 

you dont need to spend that much you crazy ginge.