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Buying a new PC (UK).

2K views 15 replies 2 participants last post by  Tanis 
#1 ·
Hi all,

I am looking at buying a new PC in around 1 - 1.5 months time and I am looking at a budget of around £1000 - £1200.

I know of quite a few suppliers in UK (overclockers, aria, ebuyer, novatech etc.) but I would be interesting to hear of peoples opinions on any suppliers they have used in the past. It's been many years since I have bought a complete system.

I am more than happy to buy my own component and build myself if that is a more viable option financially, however I am looking at getting a new monitor / LCD aswell so thought a complete package may better suit.

I do a fair bit of gaming but do not buy all the latest titles all the time. I would like a decent upgrade from my current rig (which wouldn't be too hard to be perfectly honest) and want to go to Win7 and 64bit ideally.

Any thoughts or comments are appreciated, I will be doing my own research aswell to see what options I can come up with.
 
#3 ·
Funnily enough I have been looking at Novatech over the last 30 mins and was thinking the same. One other thought I have had is to keep my existing case and PSU and upgrade the rest, this may afford me a way to get some slightly better speced components without extra outlay.

I have an OCZ 700w PSU and a fairly decent coolmaster case.

One of the problems I have been seeing is that alot of places that do higher end gaming type machines often dont sell them with a monitor. Now I already have a monitor but its a pretty old 19" LCD that only has VGA input! So I think an upgrade is in order there if I am going to spend that sort of money on a PC.
 
#7 ·
It struggles a bit at time, some of that I suspect is down to the old hard drive (I have a 120Gb SATA as primary and 160Gb IDE as secondary / backup).

The 8800GT runs reasonably well although I do get random crashes in some games, have done extensive investigation and can not find a cause. It seems a little more stable with the latest drivers (197.45), and I have an aftermarket heatsink / fan on it (ThermalRight HR-03A).

Most game I play now (Lord of the Rings Online, Battlefield Bad Company 2, Borderland) I can only really run about about medium settings and would like to be able to ramp them up. Would also be nice to be able to take advantage of DX10/11.

CPU is a bit of a bottleneck I think also, its at the bottom end of the range. It take me about 2 minutes or so to boot into Windows and be useable, I have a lot of startup items disabled already.
 
#8 ·
Download and install hwmonitor
and see what the temps etc are....take a reading when not running the game CPU(core) and GPU Video card and post them.

Then run the game for 10min or so and take another reading post the results

Also

You could post your HijackThis log and see if anything shows up

Download HijackThis to your desktop
  • Double click on HJTSetup.exe on your Desktop
  • Click Run and Install
  • It will install to Program files by default
  • it will launch Hijack This
  • Click on "scan system and save a logfile" usually in notepad
  • Copy and Paste the logfile in your next post
  • Using Ctrl+A to copy All and Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste.
 
#11 ·
Ill double check temps tonight, those are off the top of my head, but you may be right. Now that I think of it, I may even need to replace the thermal compound as I remember it was idling under 50C when I first installed it (a good 3-4 years ago).

Amazing what comes to mind when you actually sit down and think about things haha.
 
#12 ·
Right, here goes:

Ive ran HWMonitor to confirm temps, I was a little out on my previous post.

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/962/hwmonitor.jpg

I did notice a bit of a fluctuation in my 12v rail during this test, never noticed that before, 0.13v from min to max!

As for Hijack This, log file below:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 18:05:29, on 12/05/2010
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\COMODO\COMODO Internet Security\cmdagent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\CDBurnerXP\NMSAccessU.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrB.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin32\nSvcAppFlt.exe
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin32\nSvcIp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\COMODO\COMODO Internet Security\cfp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\RTHDCPL.EXE
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPointP\SetPoint.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\ISUSPM.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\KHAL3\KHALMNPR.EXE
C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPointG\SetPointII.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://google.atcomet.com/b/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=33568
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C255C8A-E604-49b4-9D64-90988571CECB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [COMODO Internet Security] "C:\Program Files\COMODO\COMODO Internet Security\cfp.exe" -h
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RTHDCPL] RTHDCPL.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EvtMgr6] C:\Program Files\Logitech\SetPointP\SetPoint.exe /launchGaming
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /installquiet
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ISUSPM] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\ISUSPM.exe" -scheduler
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [NVIDIA nTune] "C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\nTune\nTuneCmd.exe" clear
O4 - Global Startup: hpoddt01.exe.lnk.disabled
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvlsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvlsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvlsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\nvlsp.dll
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (YInstStarter Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yinsthelper.dll
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/win...ls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1202638856875
O16 - DPF: {69EF49E5-FE46-4B92-B5FA-2193AB7A6B8A} (GameLauncher Control) - http://www.acclaim.com/cabs/acclaim_v5.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{E5EF5781-0AA6-49C9-8F60-79D4F0BD3A28}: NameServer = 192.168.0.1
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\WINDOWS\system32\guard32.dll
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: COMODO Internet Security Helper Service (cmdAgent) - COMODO - C:\Program Files\COMODO\COMODO Internet Security\cmdagent.exe
O23 - Service: ForceWare Intelligent Application Manager (IAM) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin32\nSvcAppFlt.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Logitech Bluetooth Service (LBTServ) - Logitech, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\Bluetooth\lbtserv.exe
O23 - Service: NMSAccessU - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\CDBurnerXP\NMSAccessU.exe
O23 - Service: nProtect GameGuard Service (npggsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\GameMon.des.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: ForceWare IP service (nSvcIp) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin32\nSvcIp.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrB - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrB.exe
O23 - Service: ServiceLayer - Nokia - C:\Program Files\PC Connectivity Solution\ServiceLayer.exe

--
End of file - 7178 bytes

Any comments welcome.
 
#16 ·
Thanks for the input Megabite.

Have run the chkdsk, unfortunately I missed it finishing as I had a phonecall, so didn't see if I reported anything in the results. Or does it stop if there are reported errors, its been that long since ive used it I can't remember.

I have to log now for the night, will check the thread again when I get to work in the morning incase of any replies.

Also going to keep HWMonitor running for a bit in the future to monitor that 12v rail voltages, the PSU is probably 1-2 years old but the PC gets fairly heavy use with kids etc. in the house.
 
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