Friend's rig for Uni in September

Hi,

I got asked by a friend to help him build a PC for when we go off to Uni in September (different unis though). Anyway, I haven't really been keeping up to date for the best part of the past 2 years or so and I only got told today so I haven't really read up on developments since the 7 series of nVidia cards came out.

Anyway, his budget is quite tight imo. £400 including software and he wants to orientate it for gaming and any studying stuff like word processing isn't taxing so we don't need to worry about that.

So, I came up with this:

CPU: AMD AM2 Athlon 64 4200+ Dual Core 2.2GHz
Mobo: ASUS MV2
Hard Drive: Hitachi Deskstar 7K80 (80GB)
RAM: 1GB (2x512) Corsair Value Select DDR2 RAM (PC5400)
GPU: Gainward 7900GS @ 500/1400
PSU: 400W North-Q Super Silent
CD-Drives: Just some generic DVD-RW drive, doesn't matter.
Case: Xclio 3060-25 Midi Tower
OS: XPHome

I know the PSU isn't the best ever, but he wants to make it as future proof as possible and as important as it is, most of my friends never quite get the importance of the PSU and they're usually quite adamant that they won't spend over x amount on a little power supply. Only went for 1gb RAM as he can upgrade it himself after he has more money, everything else just sounded alright.

He wants to try and future proof his PC to a certain extent. Not to the same levels of future proofing as enthusiasts, but enough for a normal person, so like the bare minimum for games.

So yeah, any ideas for tweaking the rig without going over budget? It's a tight budget and he said there'll be very little to no leeway on it, so what I've put up is squeezing it.

nb. Everything is from scan.co.uk and product links are as follows:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=445618
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=487053
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=476782
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=417756
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=468668
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=383030
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=202604
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=352344
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=179773

Cheers

Edit: I'll probably shop around, but that's as it stands for the moment.

Ah crap, forgot to add a CPU cooler:
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=487708

Nothing flashy, but that puts me over budget.

Help, anyone? Please.

Even an, okay, this is fine will do.

You don't need a separate CPU cooler. AMD includes one with their boxed processors, and it's probably better than that cheap one you picked out.

For the video card, I'd go with eVGA instead of Gainward. I'm not too sure how good Gainward's quality, but eVGA is great, and they have a lifetime warranty on their cards. It even covers it even if you take off the stock heatsink.

For the PSU, I've never heard of that brand, and it's important not to get a cheap brand of PSU. I'd go with a more well known brand like Fortron (FSP).

Thanks.

Fair game about the CPUcooler.

I'd have gone for eVGA but they don't sell it at scan, I haven't gotten round to looking around yet so I'll probably find one when I do.

I know how important the PSU is, I just have a hard time justifying it with my friends, and Fortron/FSP seem to be quite a rarity in the UK sometimes. In an ideal world I'd have gone to get a Seasonic or something for him, but nobody I know would ever pay that much for a PSU =/

I guess I'll shop around a bit more and make some ammendmants.

You need to get a good PSU.


If you're not gonna get a good PSU your rig is at risk.


http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=465702

Thats 40£ only 7 pound above the one you choose.


Its an enhance unit which oklahoma wolf reccomended me. (PSU Person)


if he games junk the 7900GS

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=619509

the best dx9 card out its 116 too.

The PSU is the most important part of the system. If you want, you could put a Powmax in that rig and teach your friends that the hard way, but I think it'd be easier to do it right the first time than to torch their whole rig. I second the PSU JamesXP recommended. I've heard good things about Akasa/Enhance, and it doesn't seem too expensive.

He's still around? He helped me out when I was buying my last build. The Seasonic I got is still standing strong

Anyway, I don't know how I missed that PSU, I think the whole tight budget thing got to me and I started looking at the cheapest one I could find and disregarded the brand names. Thanks.

Thanks for the GFX recommendation too.

Thanks so far everyone. I really need to get back into gear with hardware and stuff

I also second the X1950XT. I have one and it kicks. 1000 points better at stock in 3dmark06 than my overclocked 7900GT.

Ah, cool. Thank you