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Post by jojo on Sept 12, 2014 15:31:18 GMT
Would appreciate some views on this. Seriously thinking of it. www.novatech.co.uk/barebonebundles/view/bb-83208b.htmlProcessor Description AMD Bulldozer FX-8 Eight Core 8320 Processor Cache 8MB Clockspeed 3.50Ghz Manufacturer AMD No. of Cores 8 Memory Description 2 x 4GB DDR3 1600Mhz Memory Speed 1600Mhz Case Form Factor ATX 2x USB 2.0 1x USB 3.0 Fan Controller Audio Ports Description Novatech Gaming Tower Case Drive Bays 5 1/4" x4 (exposed) Top Panel Connections 2x USB 2.0 Audio Connections Colour Black Dimensions 445 (L) x 192 (W) x 435 (H) mm Drive Bays 3 1/2" x1 (exposed), x5 (hidden) Power Supply Description 750W Gaming PSU Wattage / Rating 750W Motherboard SATA Ports 6 x SATA 6Gb/s connectors supporting up to 6 SATA 6Gb/s devices RAID Support for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and JBOD PCI 2 x PCI slots PCI-EX 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16) 1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4) 3 x PCI Express x1 slots (All PCI Express slots conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.) Memory Slots 4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets Max Memory Capacity 32GB OS Compliance Support for Windows 8/7/XP Audio Realtek® ALC887 audio codec High Definition Audio 2/4/5.1/7.1-channel Support for S/PDIF Out IO 1 x PS/2 keyboard port 1 x PS/2 mouse port 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 1 x RJ-45 port 3 x audio jacks (Line In/Line Out/Microphone) LAN Realtek® GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit) Socket Type AM3+ USB 2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports 6 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports 1 x USB 3.0/2.0 header 3 x USB 2.0/1.1 headers Description GIGABYTE GA-970A-DS3P Form Factor ATX Form Factor; 30.5cm x 21.5cm CPU Support AMD AM3+ FX processors AMD AM3 Phenom™ II processor/ AMD Athlon™ II processor Chipset North Bridge: AMD 970 South Bridge: AMD SB950 |
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Post by mikkh on Sept 12, 2014 16:23:55 GMT
Adding the prices up for the separate components, it's certainly value for money. I wouldn't be overjoyed with the motherboard myself because it seems that's where they've cut the budget to make it sub £300
There's nothing wrong with it, it's a perfectly good workmanlike board, but a bit sparse on features. That is to be expected for a board costing £50 or so though. I'd like to have seen more (or all) USB3 ports and the option of eSATA, but you only get that with more expensive motherboards.
I shouldn't knock it really, it's will still make a hell of a PC compared to off the shelf ones from PCWorld
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Post by jojo on Sept 12, 2014 17:49:12 GMT
Thanks mikkh. I did notice the USB issue. On my current board, though the case is designed to have 6, there is an unused USB connection inside where additional USB ports can be connected. I bought a lead for one a while ago. I run a flash drive from one, the other is free. I can't know with this board of course, but if the worst comes to the worst, I could attach a USB card.
I've been saving up for some time for a new machine and more or less have enough. I held off because my current machine just seems to trundle on regardless.
With the problems I've been having with video cards recently, my wife said I should just bite the bullet. I can tidy up my current one and donate it to the next church jumble sale. It's not a bad piece of kit really.
I have to wait about a week for the next batch of these to be ready so thought I'd take the time to research more. It's a shame they don't give the actual details of what they are putting in. I think they are using their own stuff where they can, a Novatech PSU for example.
Apart from the video card, the main thing I need to buy is a DVD drive. To be honest, I find these frustrating. We rarely use them. after a while they tend to develop a rather unpleasant moan each time the computer starts. Yet unplug it, even for a moment, and sure as anything, some reason to have it powered up again will emerge.
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Post by vikingken on Sept 12, 2014 17:55:05 GMT
Looks OK to me as well Jojo, my 8 core cost a little bit more. My motherboard alone was £200+, the water cooling was nearly 100 quid and them two alone dont get you very far. Mine does run a multi engine flight simulator; with a full control panel, yoke and foot pedals. The only thing I dont have is a radio, I dont take any notice of air traffic control and so I'm bloody sure I dont want to listen to them.
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Post by vikingken on Sept 12, 2014 18:00:29 GMT
You could always get an external DVD writer and only plug it in when needed Jojo. I had to get one, my mini netbook hasn't got an optical drive.
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Post by mikkh on Sept 12, 2014 19:24:12 GMT
Yup, like Ken said, an external drive would be perfect for you.
They used to be expensive and big ugly brutes, but now you can get the slimline ones meant for laptops and powered by USB for about £25. I see one of my local stores even has a wireless version for the same price, but that seems a bit gimmicky to me and pretty pointless when you've got to physically go to the drive to feed it blanks every time
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Post by mikkh on Sept 12, 2014 20:13:35 GMT
It's a lot better than I first realised, I'm thinking pure parts and forgetting this comes pre-assembled which is a big bonus. It's difficult to find any alternatives because they're mostly Intel or just bits you have to put together yourself. I'll forgive the motherboard now, which wasn't a great problem before really
Did a quick search for their power supplies (origins of) and it appears OCZ make the better ones like the one included with that, so that's good too
I'd be tempted myself if I was in the market for a new one.
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Post by vikingken on Sept 12, 2014 20:19:10 GMT
I had a couple of perfectly good internal DVD drives, but I wanted a Lightscribe burner and I picked one up in a sale. Its a big ugly brute, but it was cheap. Years later when I bought my mini netbook, I wanted one that I could stick in my bag. It was a little bit more than 25 quid, but its also a Lightscribe burner. You dont need a power supply, just two USB ports. One for data and one to power the device.
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Post by jojo on Sept 12, 2014 20:23:09 GMT
I think so too. Excellent suggestion. Thanks Ken.
With my current machine I bought a better cooling unit later, when I realised I'd need it. It's one of the things I like about the Barebones option. But since I'll starting with a high graphics game, I may have a look now. Thanks also for that ken.
Had a quick look at what is on offer in Novatech, most between £19 and £25. I'd feel more comfortable if there were some reviews to be honest and the only one there is a decidedly negative.
I can see what you mean mikkh about a wireless DVD being gimmicky.
I'm just wondering about my two SSD drives. One has XP, the other W7. I'd like to simply transfer them over, but doubt M$ will be very pleased. Getting another W7 key should be a problem. XP perhaps not.
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Post by jojo on Sept 12, 2014 20:23:56 GMT
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Post by jojo on Sept 12, 2014 20:31:59 GMT
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Post by mikkh on Sept 12, 2014 20:40:32 GMT
www.web-systems.co.uk/?page=Products&pid=4865No lightscribe, but having owned lightscribe capable devices in the past and even going to the trouble of buying the right blanks, I've yet to actually try them The XP SSD is almost certain to go tits up and refuse to boot, the Windows 7 one has a chance of working though
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Post by jojo on Sept 12, 2014 20:52:36 GMT
Yeah, had a closer look at the Lightscribe and now see that it's as much a labeller as a read/writer.
That doesn't sound quite what I'm after really.
Had a look at some Lightscribe discs on offer and the reviews were not very consistent. One in particular seems to dislike the HP discs.
That Samsung looks a bit more promising. A small point, the ability to open it with the power off is pretty good. I can't be the only one to have had to search for an elusive paper clip. Since my room was formally my office, it's actually full of paper clips and similar supplies. But can I find one when I need it?
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Post by mikkh on Sept 12, 2014 21:42:46 GMT
I have a little pin cushion in my tools with various darning needles for opening optical drives when the machine is off. They've never sewn a thing, nor will they ever - but they've opened lots of drives  I used to buy a lot of old second hand computers and that's the first thing I did, check what goodies I'd been left. I've inherited lot's of original XP CD's that way, various games and a ton of mostly rubbish music and films |
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Post by vikingken on Sept 13, 2014 10:21:19 GMT
I wasn't suggesting you got a Lightscribe burner Jojo, its not very popular. I like it, but most people dont. I was just stating it was the reason I paid more money for my DVD writer, you pay for the labeling side as well as the data burning side. Blank disks are very expensive as well, unless you buy in bulk.
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Post by jojo on Sept 13, 2014 10:27:26 GMT
No problem at all ken.
I've heard the name of course but not what made it so special.
Your support has, as always, been fantastic.
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