UK PC Builds
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- Nairn
Yes, I know I could buy a Mac, but for a multitude of reasons, that's not going to happen.
So, with that in mind, can anyone recommend companies who can offer quality to-spec builds in the UK?
I was going to just build my own, but think I'd rather avoid that headache and go with a decent [relatively] independent company who can make me what I want.
I'm not after Alienware, I don't think I'd like to sink as low as a Dell (I'd like, for instance, to specify my own mobo) - I'm just a bit out of the loop where good suppliers are concerned.
In related news - where are we with GPUs and CPUs these days? We're ever on the verge of a complete transformation (i7, nehalem, post-octo core, multi GPU etc etc) - if you were buy a mid-high spec PC this month, what would you stump for?
Thanks!
- mistermik0
i was going to post this http://www.pcdoctor.co.uk/ but decided against it - as when i clicked on it - its really wasnt what i was expecting.
- monospaced0
Seriously, get a Mac.
- mistermik0
dan?
- mistermik0
or mesh - no idea mate.
- landock0
If I were going to get a pc this month, which I might do, I would go with a core 2 quad Q8200. It's not the latest and greatest but it's still fast as hell and it's like $190(us). People are overclocking it pretty easily too, if you're into that at all. If you have more cash to spend then I would jump up to the i7 940. It's ridiculously fast and easily overclockable. From what I understand with GPU's you'll be good with a high end ati or nvidia card. You don't really need to go multi with them for design unless you're looking to run crysis at 60 fps. If you're doing any kind of 3D then you might want to go with the FireGL's. The word is they're outperforming NVIDIA cards in "real world" use. I also ran across this supplier out of the uk, http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/
- modern0
Get a Mac and get a better hobby than computer geeking
- Nairn0
Jesus, you macwits really do obsess over your stupid brand preference, don't you? I'm after a workhorse to last me a few years - I have hardware and software that is specific to PC that I can't afford to (nor wish to) replace in the near-term. I see no practical justification to fuck up 6 months workflow, just to wade through another bloody OS that's not going to offer me any significant advantage over what I know and use each day, but is going to be costly both in terms of finance, time and effort.
That you have your own little hobby horse to play around with is all well and good, but I've been using computers in one form or another for nearly a quarter of a century so don't need some idiot child harping on out of their ass to make some utterly irrelevant point that I find not only boring and tiresome, but ignorant and stupid.
I made it quite clear with my very first line that I don't want any feckless grunts of 'get a mac' - I'm not anti-mac, I just know that a PC is better for me. I couldn't give a fuck what's better for you - that's not what I'm asking.
And fuck off with your petty 'computer geeking hobby' remark - you haven't got a clue what I do with my time, so don't presume to assume, you hapless non-entity. Jesus, you're just out of fucking university, child.
- skt0
just buy a cheap dell, 600 notes maybe, run it until it's fucked, then buy another one.
i don't know where people ever got the idea that you need expensive computers to push pixels around the screen.
- Well, my current desktop has done me well for 5+ years now, because I bought top of the line - I'd rather do that ..Nairn
- .. than wastefully buy a new machine every 3 years and not feel like I'm pushing it.Nairn
- I have to admit, despite modern's geek comment, that I do like to play the occasional game, which has a bearing.Nairn
- fair enough if you look at it that way. 200 notes* a year seams pretty reasonable to me.skt
- *i don't have a bastard pound symbol on this keyboard.skt
- ok, games make a difference. i have never played anything more than patience on mine so it was never a factor.skt
- Nairn0
Sorry, landock - I got a bit distracted there, so forgot to thank you for your post!
My primary thought with processors is the difference between Xeons and the consumer-orientated flavours - I've seen a few people here and on other sites mention Xeons and the price differential certainly hints at useful gains, but I've no idea whether an ostensibly less powerful Xeon (by numbers) is better at heavy processing than a higher-clocked '2 quad' or whatever?
I'm interested in what you say about FireGL too - I've started dabbling more with 3D, and expect to be getting deeper in that next year, and had been looking at (and frightened off by) nVidia's Quadro line - I must admit, I don't really understand why those fuckers cost over a grand more / or why I can't just use a borderline top-end card for 3D work..
er, anyway, I'm rambling. Thanks for your response!
- Because they handle million of poligons seamlessy without overloading the CPU, that's why.Fariska
- landock0
From what I understand the Xeons are just core2 chips that have passed through more rigorous Q&A testing and draw less power. They run about the same price as an equivalent desktop chip and you can use them in the same boards. So there would be no real difference in using one or the other. As far as the workstation vs. desktop gpu thing goes, the main difference is that the drivers are optimized for 3d and open gl stuff in your firegl or quadro and the hardware is overclocked compared to the consumer brand. So a high end desktop card would work for now but my understanding is that there is a real performance boost when you're doing the really crazy stuff like particle systems and liquids.
- Fariska0
This one should do.
http://www.cray.com/products/CX1…
- Nairn0
Article review on the new Nehalem Intel chips
In sum - if you're buying a PC, try buy a "2.66GHz Core i7-920" or upwards.
http://www.maximumpc.com/article…
Gosh, it's all so terribly exciting.
- you're up late, my god.Jnr_Madison
- My child, I live outside time.
I be with you. Always.Nairn