How to buy a comp, any advice

[Rupertvdb]

I am thinking about setting myself up with a new computer, i am 18 and just about to head off to uni but i have had a gap year and saved up money from getting a job. After travelling it seems i have myself some spare change lying around and felt that it was time to get a new comp.
Plus I have loved half life since its release and now the second one is coming i want to be ready for it.

Anyways, i have up to 1000 pounds so i'm figuring i can get pretty much any parts i need, however i cannot make my own computer i do not know enough, i read those forum threads and they confused me. I just want to be a filthy noob and spend money on getting a computer i can play games on for ages.

What would you guys go for?

p.s. any advice about which motherboards go with which graphics cards better, stuff like that would be great. :cheers:

 

[brink's]

9800pro, AMB 2500 barton oced to p4 3.2(good cooling), 512 megs of ram, 1 recommended and ya anyone else.

 

[Shuzer]

AMB 2500 barton oced to p4 3.2(good cooling)

You must have some REALLY good cooling to turn an AMD into an Intel P4

 

[Rupertvdb]

I don't know where to buy a computer like that, i can't really overclock as in i don't know how, i got a programme that did it for me but it sucked.

Should i wait for this next gen ATI card to come out?

 

[ailevation]

:naughty: Or maybe a p4 2.4 and just overclock(Hear some good stories about this one and overclocking). 875PE/G/P, which ever. 512MB-1 Gig(Corsair, Crucial) of ram(DDR PC-2700 and up). 9800(flash to pro) or just get the 9800 Pro, both i'd say are bang for buck.

 

[SidewinderX]

i'd suggest lookign throguh my build-a-system thread... i made a few for UK folks (and the prices will be out of date) but you shuld get some good ideas.

 

[PinFX]

i'd recommend the barton 2500+ as well, although you can't compare it to its intel competitor, its just different technology. Get some corsair, PC3200 sticks, and i recommend the Radeon 9800PRO 256MB modified to XT status

 

[Rupertvdb]

Cheers for the help guys

 

[brink's]

no dude my friend oced his 2500 to a p4 3.2
no lie