help me build a new pc

Need: cpu, mobo, graphics card
Must: be able to run games. Not after crazy next-gen stuff, would just like to be able to run HL2 no problem.
Want: to spend around ukp400?

I get so bored of trawling round tomshardware every couple of years or so trying to relearn all this stuff.

i guess what i really need to know is stuff like - amd? intel? dual core? quad core? octuple core? nvidia or ati? (running quiet is something of a priority here too.)

i tried building one and was never happy with it.
May i direct you to newegg?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2032280010%201308920938&bop=And&Order=PRICE

I went to a good store in SF that is frequented by IT dudes who need parts, and basically told them what I use my computer for and asked them to help me out. I love the computer I bought there, though it's getting old.

http://www.incrysis.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=18017

^ borken?

If I didn't not need a hard drive and psu I would think about getting a pre-built. However that would mean I wouldn't have to faff around trying to steal a copy if windoze. However I would I presume be forced to go Vista.

Have been pointed to some good arsetechnica guides though so they should help me figure stuff out.

If you're not going to steal a copy of Windows, is it even worth building it yourself? There are a million places that will do it for you now, and not even charge a huge premium over what you'd have to spend yourself. Maybe this was always true and it's highly likely I have a crotchety attitude about it, but unless you're willing to spec and bargain hunt every component, and you still love putting the things together, it's not really worth doing it yourself...

See if maybe your new system will come with some kind of cheap upgrade to Windows 7...

In the states you can get a decent rig for about 600 bucks, pre built with windows. That assumes you don't need a monitor.

best: http://shsc.info/PCPartsPickingGuide

Don't build a gaming rig! They're going to be obsolete in a few months, cos of this:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/25/video-onlive-streaming-game-demonstrated/

Too good to be true! Hard to imagine how someone could pull a 500-fold increase out if thin air. I can't even *guarantee* error-free music streaming over my connection.

cheers kingfish btw, great link. think i will go the build-yer own route, yet again, just 'cause i don't actually need a complete system.

streaming gaming discussion continued here:
THE END OF CONSOLES

sooo on line gaming didn't happen. I need a new gaming rig.

I could build one or I could buy this one from Amazon:

I7 6700
Gigabyte Z170X-Gaming 5 Motherboard
Nvidia GTX 980TI 6gb
16 GB DDR4
2TB Seagate HD
Win 10

It's got very good reviews, but for £1300 is it better to build my own?

I know there are 1080 gfx cards now but I think a 980 is sufficient for myself

Ignore that, it's completely out of balance. I'll find another.

ok, this one. Didn't require the 2tb hard drive at all. and realised that 980 gfx card may as well have been a 1070 one. So I've dropped down to a 970 which is still well within my needs.

Freshtech Intel Core I7 4790 1tb 8gb 1600Mhz GTX 970 4gb Galaxy Computer Gaming PC Gigabyte H81M-S2H Motherboard 8GB DDR3 1600mhz Performance Ram Nvidia Geforce GTX 970 4gb VR Ready Corsair CX600 80 Plus Bronze Certified 600w Power Supply 1tb Western Digital WD10EZEX 64mb Cache 7200rpm

at £747

(£832 with Win 10)