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Question:
I am looking to buy a custom made PC, but need some help in making my mind up. (26/06/2006) Answer: This is a question that probably everyone will face at some point in time. There isn't a universal answer, however, below there is a simple guideline that will help you making the best decision when buying a computer from us. Step 1) First things first - we have to determine which PC category we should be looking for:
Step 2) All of our systems are categorised primarily by the CPU type and then by the graphics if necessary. For example if a system is called AMD-939G-CROSSFIRE, it translates: Step 3) Below we have a simple guideline on how the core components work and how to choose between them: CPU There are two routes that can be taken with a processor, AMD or Intel. Intel’s line of CPU’s have generally been able to offer better Floating Point Unit (FPU) calculations which enables higher performance in Audio/Video applications due to the higher speed. However, Intel just released a new range of CPUs (Core Duo 2) that is outperforming AMD CPUs in the majority of applications including gaming and they offer a high overclocking potential with relatively low power consumption. Both companies have options for gamers, the FX from AMD and the Extreme range from Intel. These processors are designed with the gamer in mind and they offer the highest speeds available plus some overclocking potential. Graphics Cards The main difference between ATI and Nvidia is how they perform in games under Direct3D and OpenGL. Generally Nvidia is better at OpenGL and ATI is better at Direct3D. Usually you will be able to select which type of graphics engine to use in games but in some cases you won’t have the option so below you can identify the engines used in the most popular games. Battlefield 2 – Direct3D A mid level system should not require a graphics card with more than 128meg on board, but as soon as you are looking to use it for gaming we recommend having at least 256 – 512meg of graphics RAM. High level gaming machines should be running dual graphics cards in Crossfire or SLI mode, which means that the cards work together to render the single image shown on the monitor offering the highest performance. A good SLI or Crossfire configuration will offer the ability to run 24" and 30" monitors in high resolution. If you are interested in HDTV output then both chip manufacturers have compatibility, ATI through hardware and Nvidia through software. The constraint with the decoding being driver based is that you currently can’t run games in HDTV with Anti Aliasing enabled as they currently can’t support it. ATI and Nvidia also have workstation cards available that offer better performance when using 3D Design software such as 3D Studio Max or Solidworks. ATI offer the FireGL line of cards where as Nvidia has the Quadro. Memory All of the memory modules that we use in our systems undergo stringent testing to ensure maximum reliability under normal or overclocked scenarios. This also enables us to get maximum performance from you computer. For normal computer usage such as internet, email and office applications there would be no need to have more than 512meg – 1gig of RAM. Hard Disk A mid level computer where performance isn’t critical should require no more than a 160Gb hard drive. Servers and high end systems should be running multiple hard drives on a RAID5 or a similar array which offers high performance through striping as well as redundancy in case a hard drive fails. Power supply For most standard computers there is no need for more than 300 - 400 watts of power, but faster systems demand more power. High performance components require more power. If you are thinking of a gaming machine or better, then a 500+ watt power supply will be required. As with most other c omputer parts, you get what you pay for, so it's important not to buy a 600W PSU for £20 as it probably won't be capable of providing more than 250W in real life scenarios. For more information on power supplies, please look here. Case There are many options when it comes down to the case, and it is down to your own preference of aesthetics and colour. Cases also come in different shapes, sizes and can also be designed for specific functions. Depending on the purpose you would like your computer for, a suitable case can be found to facilitate that functionality. We do not sell cheap cases for the simple purpose – we don’t believe that a good case can be purchased for £20, but having a good case is essential as it can be further upgraded/reused etc. In most cases though, you will be limited on your choice of case, depending on which configuration you would like put in it. At the end of the day, if we cannot fit all the components or cooling apparatus into the case you want, you will have to choose a larger case. For more information on cases , please look here. Motherboard This is one of the most important components in a computer and it is an important decision. Like everything else in the world of computers motherboards are designed for specific purposes too. It is important to know exactly what you will use your computer for as this will dictate what motherboard you will need. Motherboards are made up of what is known as chipsets. Chipsets are integrated circuits that are designed for specific functions. E.g. if a mother board has a built in sound card, then it is only because it has an integrated chipset that is responsible for this function. The chipsets in motherboards will dictate what features a motherboard has. Nowadays, the majority of motherboards come with built-in one or two Gigabit LANs, 5.1 or 7.1 Sound, plenty of USB ports, RAID controllers etc. Cooling At the moment there are 4 main types of cooling - Air cooling, Liquid cooling, Phase change cooling and passive cooling
Audio Sound technology with computers has come a long way in the past ten years and you can now get the highest levels of audio for your computer. However audio requirements depend on exactly what use you have in mind for your computer. If you want your computer for watching movies and gaming then you have a wide range of cards available to you. There are sound cards that are designed to provide anything from stereo sound to 7.1 surround sound for the ultimate audio experience. If you are big on sound engineering there are cards that will also meet your needs. These kinds of cards are designed to work with a wider range of frequencies and the best programs for audio engineering such as Sound Forge, Reason and Q-Base. These sound cards will generally have an external counter part. You can also get very high sound quality nowadays without spending loads of money by using the on board sound cards on motherboards. With technology moving at such a fast rate on board sound cards have not been left behind and can provide high quality audio. Creative range of cards are known to give the best experience in game play. Optical/Floppy drives Optical drives have a high level of functionality and can be bought for relatively cheap. Optical drives can be used for mass storage and backing up with ease as they can burn on cds and dvds in various formats. This is a must for any computer nowadays. Mice and Keyboards With computers moving forward and being able to perform different functions the humble mouse and keyboard have also been adapted to do so. If you are a gamer in need of precision equipment you will be spoilt for choice with the wide range of mice and keyboards. Monitors Monitors come in many different sizes and qualities. In the past it used to be that CRT monitors were better that LCD, however with higher emphasis on investment by companies this has become a thing of the past. LCD monitors vary in design, shape and use. Monitors have many factors that affect how they work. Such factors as response time which is the time it takes for the monitor to show a change in display when an external factor causes a change, resolution which is the size of the images that the monitor can support (this is achieved with frequencies), colours supported (the more the better), dot pitch which is the space between pixels on the screen etc. The better these factors are, the better the monitor will be. Monitors are moving into the future with the newer range of monitors supporting High Definition (HD) for a great viewing experience. Discuss in forums |
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