bit-tech.net | What Hardware Should I Buy? - Sept 2009

Freemanator 15th September 2009, 10:40

Thanks for getting this up.
A question that I hope is ok to put here. How do the different power BeQuiet DarkPower PSUs compare to the 650W? Is it just that you haven't tested them, or are the others not so great?
Thanks

Bindibadgi 15th September 2009, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freemanator
Thanks for getting this up.
A question that I hope is ok to put here. How do the different power BeQuiet DarkPower PSUs compare to the 650W? Is it just that you haven't tested them, or are the others not so great?
Thanks

We've tested the 850W and CustomPC has tested the 1000W.

Deadpool46 15th September 2009, 11:14

FYI, unless they've changed their packaging I wouldn't recommend the Sparkle GTX 275. I bought a pair of them from overclockers and they came through pretty much loose in the retail box (i.e. none of the foam or tight cardboard packaging you normally get) and the retaining brackets on both cards were bent.

I got a pair of the overclocked Gigabyte cards instead but it turns out these have issues with display signals on certain monitors so I guessed I'm just cursed.

logan'srun 15th September 2009, 11:15

good review, some nice recommendations. The layout is getting better (or maybe going back to the old format) and I appreciate the opinions stated in the text.

Still missing a HTPC (but maybe this market is dying anyway as more cable companies go to on-demand tv?) section, and the ever lasting 'where's the monitor' section?

ashikamlani 15th September 2009, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by logan'srun
good review, some nice recommendations. The layout is getting better (or maybe going back to the old format) and I appreciate the opinions stated in the text.

Yeah, agreed, and you finally got rid of that "affiliation with CCL" rubbish. Now we just get the cheapest prices, from wherever.

Good Stuff.

Threefiguremini 15th September 2009, 11:33

Another great hardware guide!
I'm currently looking at building my first computer and looking at the gaming workhorse as a guide to budget. It seems the best thing to do at the moment (for me at least) is to hang around for the new Dx11cards to appear. I'm pretty much sold on an i7 920 so my question is do you think there'll be any changes in pricing between now and the new graphics cards? i.e. should I buy some other stuff not dependent on graphics now (like the i7)?
Cheers

Andre_B 15th September 2009, 11:40

Hi

Your UK Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus link, links to the OCZ ModXStream Pro on Newwegg.

erratum1 15th September 2009, 11:44

I don't know whether to follow bit techs guide or custom pc's. In custom pc they recommend the corsair hx850 and it's only about £127. I know everyone has their own opinons but bit tech recommend one thing and custom pc recommend another.

Dave_M 15th September 2009, 12:48

Since when is it illegal to rip blu ray films?? I suppose I'm breaking the law when I rip my mums CDs to put on her ipod now :@

You might as well download HD films after buying the blu ray disk. It's a lot easier to play the film and you will save some money on the blu ray drive and new hardware for HDCP compliance.

Claave 15th September 2009, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Threefiguremini
Another great hardware guide!
I'm currently looking at building my first computer and looking at the gaming workhorse as a guide to budget. It seems the best thing to do at the moment (for me at least) is to hang around for the new Dx11cards to appear. I'm pretty much sold on an i7 920 so my question is do you think there'll be any changes in pricing between now and the new graphics cards? i.e. should I buy some other stuff not dependent on graphics now (like the i7)?
Cheers

Buy the Core i7-920 now! We have no idea when Intel will pull it from retail, but judging by the prices of LGA1156 Core i7, it could be any minute...

docodine 15th September 2009, 13:05

The US price of the gaming workhorse isn't in dollars, and I'm surprised that you couldn't squeeze a 4890 into the US budget.. They're going for about $200ish on newegg.

wuyanxu 15th September 2009, 13:09

Ripjaw looks to be really good, but you keep recommending cas9 kits, does timing not matter in i5 systems? which gives more performance in Nehalem, tight timing or higher memory speed?

fantastic recommendations. i can't help but wonder what would be gaming rig if DDR3 dual channel wasn't so expensive, and p55 motherboards are 20% cheaper.

Bindibadgi 15th September 2009, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_M
Since when is it illegal to rip blu ray films?? I suppose I'm breaking the law when I rip my mums CDs to put on her ipod now :@

You might as well download HD films after buying the blu ray disk. It's a lot easier to play the film and you will save some money on the blu ray drive and new hardware for HDCP compliance.

CDs don't have bespoke copy protection, Blu-rays do.

Some BD disks come with a digital copy I've been told however I don't know the ins and outs of that. I expect it's DRMd to high heaven too.

crompers 15th September 2009, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by erratum1
I don't know whether to follow bit techs guide or custom pc's. In custom pc they recommend the corsair hx850 and it's only about £127. I know everyone has their own opinons but bit tech recommend one thing and custom pc recommend another.

i'd suggest you cant go wrong with either, you're best reading up on them and making your own mind up.

nice guide once again, i find it interesting that intel have mid and high range covered with the new hardware now. i wonder if i3 will sew up the low end?

WildThing 15th September 2009, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claave
Buy the Core i7-920 now! We have no idea when Intel will pull it from retail, but judging by the prices of LGA1156 Core i7, it could be any minute...

I too have been thinking about getting the 920 (the OEM is only £194.99 on Ebuyer) but I was planning on upgrading for my birthday in October. Will that be too late do you think?

Omnituens 15th September 2009, 14:02

Was thinking about getting a i7 920, but how futureproof is the socket what with the newer i5 being different?

mrbens 15th September 2009, 14:53

Thanks for the guides.

Why not recommend the 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 instead of the F1? They can be had for the same price and have better performance.

mrbens 15th September 2009, 15:13

Also will you guys be reviewing the 120GB OCZ Agility 2.5 SSD (64MB Cache Up to 230MB/s Read & 135MB/s Write) ?

According to other reviews it performs on a par (sometimes better on some tests) with the OCZ Vertex and is £45 cheaper! (and is also £25 cheaper than the Crucial you recommend but I haven't read any reviews or seen benchmarks to compare that to the OCZ Agility.)

Bindibadgi 15th September 2009, 15:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbens
Also will you guys be reviewing the 120GB OCZ Agility 2.5” SSD (64MB Cache Up to 230MB/s Read & 135MB/s Write) ?

According to other reviews it performs on a par (sometimes better on some tests) with the OCZ Vertex and is £45 cheaper! (and is also £25 cheaper than the Crucial you recommend but I haven't read any reviews or seen benchmarks to compare that to the OCZ Agility.)

Are you in the UK? You can buy Issue 74 of CustomPC in the next week or so - there's a full review.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbens
Thanks for the guides.

Why not recommend the 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 instead of the F1? They can be had for the same price and have better performance.

We havent reviewed it so we cannot recommend it yet - we're still waiting for a drive from them :)

Skiddywinks 15th September 2009, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claave
Buy the Core i7-920 now! We have no idea when Intel will pull it from retail, but judging by the prices of LGA1156 Core i7, it could be any minute...

I have seen Intel roadmap slides with the 920 atleast still in circulation in 2010, even if not still being manufactured.

ano 15th September 2009, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_M
Since when is it illegal to rip blu ray films?? I suppose I'm breaking the law when I rip my mums CDs to put on her ipod now :@

Depends where you are in the world but in the UK at least that's illegal. You're making a copy so infringing the owner's copyright. Private copying is not excepted in the UK or Ireland (but is everywhere else in the EU). It is something which might be reformed but hasn't been yet.

Back to the article though and I'm holding my breath (with what feels like many others) to see the price changes (if any) on the release of the new ATi GPUs.

Scootiep 15th September 2009, 18:00

Maybe I'm out of the loop and just haven't been able to find any articles along this line but has the bit-tech think tank ever toyed with the idea of including one or two HTPC builds in their buyers guide? I would personally like to see a guide geared towards aesthetics, noise reduction and HD playback capabilities. If I'm missing an article somewhere, someone please point me in the right direction.

mrbens 15th September 2009, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrbens
Also will you guys be reviewing the 120GB OCZ Agility 2.5” SSD (64MB Cache Up to 230MB/s Read & 135MB/s Write) ?

According to other reviews it performs on a par (sometimes better on some tests) with the OCZ Vertex and is £45 cheaper! (and is also £25 cheaper than the Crucial you recommend but I haven't read any reviews or seen benchmarks to compare that to the OCZ Agility.)

Are you in the UK? You can buy Issue 74 of CustomPC in the next week or so - there's a full review.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrbens
Thanks for the guides.

Why not recommend the 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 instead of the F1? They can be had for the same price and have better performance.

We havent reviewed it so we cannot recommend it yet - we're still waiting for a drive from them :)

Thanks for the replies.

I'm already a subscriber to that great mag! =)

trig 15th September 2009, 18:15

the hx850 from corsair is awesome...whichever price is best is what i would grab. and fwiw, the new xfx 850 watt psu is an oem seasonic and tested amazing...

jamesthebard 15th September 2009, 18:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave_M
Since when is it illegal to rip blu ray films?? I suppose I'm breaking the law when I rip my mums CDs to put on her ipod now :@

It's illegal in the US. Lawyers accept that backing up CD's are part of Fair Use, but when you add CSS (DVD) and AACS (BluRay) you run afoul of the DMCA.

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What Hardware Should I Buy? - Sept 2009

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