Computer System requirements

It is true that buying branded computers, often poses problems of scalability.
To free themselves from that yoke of the major manufacturers, and to regain its freedom of maneuver, the ideal is to build a PC oneself, and if you do not know, to appeal an independent assembler

I know the bit I hate the most is mounting CPU coolers, maybe I'm awkward but I always feel it takes a bit more force than I'm comfortable with to clip them into place.

I've seen some places selling kits, where you get a mobo, cpu and cooler - the pictures always look like it's been preassembled. Is this the case or is it just a representative image?
 
I know the bit I hate the most is mounting CPU coolers, maybe I'm awkward but I always feel it takes a bit more force than I'm comfortable with to clip them into place.

I've seen some places selling kits, where you get a mobo, cpu and cooler - the pictures always look like it's been preassembled. Is this the case or is it just a representative image?

I think it's just a representative image. You will receive often the parts to assemble yourself. A small independent assembler of neighborhood, is often an excellent solution. The sites sale of spare parts, often offer to assemble it for you, against a small fee.

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When was the last time you did that? Because they've got a lot easier over the years...

It's been about 10 years, after I wrecked a £200 mobo with a screwdriver slip ;). These days I tend to buy barebones systems and handle the rest of the specs. myself. But it's not as cheap as building from scratch and I end up with cases that I wouldn't have chosen.

Good to know that they're not as tricky anymore, might be time to build a new one again, thanks :)

Thanks Patrick and Cody too. :)
 
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Systems advertised as "overclocked" are often (always? it makes sense!) pre-assembled, since it has to be tested to make sure the overclock is okay. Searching for "overclocked bundle" on ebay brings up loads of these. Overclockers.co.uk also offers pre-built bundles ... probably with a stock cooler (they don't specify), though I daresay they would be happy to customise.
 
So I decided in the end to create my own set up and give my old computer to my wife.

I went with a quad core 4.2 ghz AMD motherboard bundle pre assembled and a GTX760 and 750 W power supply and 16GB RAM.

So that should do me, and if ED does not run well on that I will eat my socks...
 

Yeah - I was hoping it would run on my Old C64 - up the RAM a bit , add a harddrive , Convert one of the Serial Joystick ports into a Serial to NIC so It can get on the Web - and will then only require 7000 Floppies to Install.

My C64 has a Cockroach Turbo Rom installed - so this will decrease the load time to just over a week :)
 
For an Intel chip it is easy to mount the cpu, there are many youtube video's showing exactly how to do it, but it is really as easy as lifting the latch up, popping out the cover, drop the chip in, and place the heat sink fan on the chip and push the pins in diagonal across from each other. If you use an after market heat sink and fan (I used a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO) it isn't hard either. It looks more difficult then it is. They have video's showing exactly how to do it. May take you 20 minutes the first time, but it isn't hard at all. Don't let it scare you, you don't even need a screw driver for the stock heat sink and fan if you go Intel. Just push in the pins.

Good luck with it,

Calebe
 
hopefully they will give us some specs soon, my comp needs a complete rebuild so i could do with some minimum specs myself so i can get the parts priced up and ordered!
 
I am hoping i will not have to upgrade anything but i may just stick in a kick **** graphics card but not going to do anything till after the beta's.

May shell out for a joystick but think its wise to see how the finished game works before spending out cash on upgrades

:)
 
For an Intel chip it is easy to mount the cpu, there are many youtube video's showing exactly how to do it, but it is really as easy as lifting the latch up, popping out the cover, drop the chip in, and place the heat sink fan on the chip and push the pins in diagonal across from each other. If you use an after market heat sink and fan (I used a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO) it isn't hard either. It looks more difficult then it is. They have video's showing exactly how to do it. May take you 20 minutes the first time, but it isn't hard at all. Don't let it scare you, you don't even need a screw driver for the stock heat sink and fan if you go Intel. Just push in the pins.

Good luck with it,

Calebe

This is true. No more difficult than plugging in an electrical outlet in its wall bracket
 
hopefully they will give us some specs soon, my comp needs a complete rebuild so i could do with some minimum specs myself so i can get the parts priced up and ordered!

Agreed. I bit the bullet and bought an OEM/SystemBuilder edition of Windows 8 (the license and pricing is supposedly changing when the 8.1 media goes on sale, and the OEM edition is being pulled - *1), and after an incredibly painful install and upgrade process (*2) I'm dual booting 64-bit 8.1 on the existing hardware (quad core AMD 965 with 8Gb RAM).

Nvidia cut prices a couple of weeks ago - expect to see the effects trickle thru, but a GTX 660 can now be picked up for a whisker over £130, the prices of 650 Ti Boost and other lower cards should drop accordingly in the next few weeks.

*1 - http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsof...uilder-and-upgrade-editions-of-windows-227079

*2 - been installing Windows since 2.0, but a linux install is now quicker and works better then a Windows install, and offers better out-of-the-box support for my Microsoft keyboard, current NVidia graphics card, SSD h/d etc. The whole process was like a slow motion car crash...http://www.schmerg.com/1/post/2013/10/the-slow-motion-car-crash-of-installing-windows-8.html
 
In my experience mounting the CPU cooler was always more a question of the particular (aftermarket) cooler than anything really to do with the motherboard socket (some were easy other were... a pain). Plugging the CPU into place was always easy - actually nowadays it is slightly easier to mess up with the mobo (those pins are fragile ;)).

Not that things haven't improved - they have and currently most ot the coolers that I'm aware of are very easy to mount. And as most even use thermal pads, one of the points of failure (the correct amount of thermal paste) was removed (unless you are reapplying the cooler).

Strangely the easiest coolers I've dealt with were waterblocks - simple screws :)
 
I've pledged to first Beta level and my current desktop is knocking on five years old now, so I've decided that a new rig is called for.

As I'm working a silly amount of overtime atm, I've abitrarily set a budget for the new rig that has horrified my OH, but it's only money...right? :p:eek:

So, what can one get for c. £1500 these days? :)
 
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