What PC desktop computer for heavy programming and light gaming?

Which one of these options would be best for a lot of programming (both Desktop and Web such as .NET, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, Python and all other), graphic design and photo editing (like Photoshop, Illustrator, GIMP, etc), some 3D modelling (SketchUp, Blender, 3DS Max, Maya, etc) and some gaming (like CrossFire or any Steam games)?

CPU:

-Intel i3
-Intel i5
-Other (suggest one)

Memory:

-4GB
-8GB
-16GB

OS:

-W7 Home Premium
-W7 Professional
-W7 Ultimate

Please suggest items from this eBay buyer (http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Millenium-Computers-UK) if you can. I don't want to spend more than £400 as I have to buy the OS separately (W7 Pro is about £60 on eBay). I don't have any idea about any graphics card so is the Intel HD integrated OK? Thanks. Regards.

heavy and what for light programming desktop pc computer

asked Feb 25 at 11:31

RafalChmiel
281●69●100●113

edited Feb 25 at 13:37

I'm not particulary bothered by 3D modelling but it would be nice.

(Feb 25 at 12:34) RafalChmiel

What about this one? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Galaxy-3-Intel-Quad-Core-I5-1tb-8gb-DDR3-ATI-Radeon-6770-1gb-Desktop-Gaming-PC-/150764193945?pt=UK_Computing_DesktopPCs&hash=item231a3f0899#ht_3561wt_1396

(Feb 25 at 13:07) RafalChmiel

Out of interest how come specifically that eBay seller? I didn't look at all his/her products but, as an example, they're charging £126 for the Sapphire 6850 which I got for £105ish on Amazon.co.uk so they possibly aren't the cheapest

(Feb 25 at 14:01) osiris

I found that one today and thought that I can't be bothered to look any further.

(Feb 25 at 14:05) RafalChmiel

One Answer:

oldest newest most voted

if you are on a budget, then go with a core i5 (compiling can be CPU intensive)

4Gb RAM can work but 8GB is better especially since it is only a little bit more expensive than 4GB.

Windows 7 home premium will be fine (the others offer nothing extra that will help you)

for a videocard, a radeon 6770 will work great for basic gaming, (it will handle most games out right now, but don't expect great performance on a highly demanding game like metro 2033)

PS that ebay seller is overpriced (with a seller like that you will end up with a lower end system for the money you are willing to spend.

PS. The prebuilt computers on that ebay page are a horrible deal

answered Feb 25 at 15:22

Razor512
11.2k●30●66●189

edited Feb 25 at 15:23

Thank you. Your answer was great! Could you recommend any other sellers? I found that these high spec PCs (on eBay) are a MUCH better value than those in the shops or on pcspecialist.co.uk (a service I wanted to use before I checked out eBay). Thanks.

(Feb 25 at 15:39) RafalChmiel

are you ok with building your own PC?

(Feb 25 at 15:45) Razor512

for example the system you linked to under your first post cost $717.0183 US dollars (when you convert the currency)

The same system built your self would cost $592 or 376 British pounds sterling

which is 79.51 GBP cheaper

If you cant build your own system, then I guess you can buy one from that ebay seller, but if you can build, then know that that cost difference, is the difference between a low-mid gaming PC and a mid-high gaming PC

The CPU is decent, it will have no issues with any current game and it overclocks well.

The memory is relatively low end but DDR 3 is already as a speed where it makes very little difference in performance (most games will not show a difference between ddr 3 1333 at cl9 and ddr 3 1600 at cl 7)

The motherboard is a micro atx board and is designed around 95 watt chips so you may not be able to reach the average overclocks for the CPU as the extra voltage will cause too much line ripple and excess heat on the phases. (you may only be able to hit 3.8GHz stably on that system

(Feb 25 at 15:59) Razor512

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Asked: Feb 25 at 11:31

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Last updated: Feb 25 at 16:09

What PC desktop computer for heavy programming and light gaming?

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