Looking to buy a gaming desktop.

[Jared Katooie]

With the new VAT rate looming and the flooding in Thailand about to do its part to jack up prices, I've decided the time is ripe for getting a new gaming desktop. I'd like to get a decent one that can handle all the fancy modern games, as I've always been a few years behind everyone else up to now.

I'm hoping a kindly boarder can offer some guidance as to whether there's anything out there that'll do the job. Unfortunately, building one (or even upgrading one) is well beyond my meagre intellect and the pre-built models seem to be both overpriced and under-powered.



The best option I've found so far seems to be the HP Pavilion HPE h8-1170uk from PC World, as it has an Intel I7 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 2TB Hard Disk. But I'm not sure about the graphics card (NVidia GT 545), as it seems to be underpowered.

Help? 

[Banners]

Specify your own PC from Chillblast or PC Specialist. Can highly recommend both companies, and both will be happy to help come up with a spec based on your personal requirements and budget. You will get far more for your money than with an off-the-shelf PC, and your machine will be tweaked and free of bloatware.

You may not have heard of either company, but they regularly feature as the best companies for desktops and customer satisfaction in the annual PC Pro awards.

[IAMTHESYSTEM]

Oh goody. I've been thinking to get a new computer soon [er within the next 6 months] and ChillBlast Fusion Electron was one I thought about getting so good to hear they've got some recommendations.

[mogzilla]

i just want a new laptop for under £50

[Jared Katooie]

Thanks Banners, Chillblast looks very promising.


Still happy to hear anyone else's suggestions though! Video cards in particular are something of a mystery to me...

[Banners]

Video cards in particular are something of a mystery to me...

Here you go -Tom's Hardware Round-Up.

[Mudcrab]

One of the graphics card options in the expensive one on the Chillblast site is an Nvidia 560ti, which I just bought for mine. Damn good it is (Asus 1.28Gb version). It's also feckin huge, 3 slots wide, 2 power supplies and had to move hard drives out of the way so it'd fit. Not a problem in a pre-built beast of course.

Here's a review with lots of numbers n stuff that'll make little sense to most, but it's got a picture of it
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GTX_560_Ti_448_Cores_DirectCU_II/

Needless to say it plays Lydia, I mean Skyrim, beautifully. 

[Jared Katooie]

Hmm.

Based on what I've heard so far I may be purchasing the Chillblast Fusion Batwing at some point in the future.

I'll just have to factor in shipping costs and, of course, anything that may be required ny those sticky-fingered rascals in customs.

[I, Cosh]

Not sure how prices and import duties will compare, but both ebuyer and www.overclockers.co.uk are UK based sites which offer pre-built options with pretty much unlimited configurability.

I've never bought a full system from them but I've bought numerous components and never had any problems with either. Although I swore I'd never use ebuyer again after they asked me if I wanted to add an England flag to my order during the World Cup last year.

[Jared Katooie]

Does anyone know if I have to pay the English VAT rate, or the Irish VAT rate when ordering from England?

[TordelBack]

Does anyone know if I have to pay the English VAT rate, or the Irish VAT rate when ordering from England?

Believe it or not, it depends on how much business the specific supplier has with Ireland.  I forget the threshold (something like €50K), but if it's under it, you pay the UK VAT, if it's over they (in theory) have to register with the Irish Revenue for VAT and charge you the Irish rate.  They'll probably be able to tell you, and it's very probably the former.  Confused the feck out of me when we used to buy equipment from the UK in my company (which itself worked differently because we were VAT-registered), but I think that's still how it works.

[Jared Katooie]

Many thanks Tordeback. I might send them off an e-mail and see what they say.

[Cactus]

One of the graphics card options in the expensive one on the Chillblast site is an Nvidia 560ti, which I just bought for mine. Damn good it is (Asus 1.28Gb version). It's also feckin huge, 3 slots wide, 2 power supplies and had to move hard drives out of the way so it'd fit. Not a problem in a pre-built beast of course.

Here's a review with lots of numbers n stuff that'll make little sense to most, but it's got a picture of it
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GTX_560_Ti_448_Cores_DirectCU_II/

Needless to say it plays Lydia, I mean Skyrim, beautifully. 

Another recommendation for the 560ti here. I had exactly the same experience as Lobster and had to go out and buy more cables for the second power supply. It works a treat though. I can play Shogun 2 Total War with all the settings maxed and no issues. It has two massive inbuilt fans working to keep it cool.