Need some clarification on current PC tech

[{UFP}Chugster]

ok, these computer issues I have suffered has meant ive spent alot of time looking at new PCs, one way or another I'll be buying a new PC in the next 12 months....but as its been 4 years since I last bought a PC I have no idea what is the best gear to get....is it intel or AMD...i5 or i7...Nvidia gfx or ATI?

Also I need to know what is considered 'low', 'medium' and 'high' spec, i.e. is a Radeon 6870 low, medium or high end?

[{UFP}Burtonshaw]

intel i7 socket 1156 / ivybridge
ATI 6870 is mid range graphics card. it is what i use, and is pretty good. here is top ten http://graphics-cards-review.toptenreviews.com/

[{UFP}Babyhead4127]

Processor AMD FX(tm)-6100 Six-Core Processor
Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB
Graphics AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series
After market cooler cpu never goes higher then 40c on BF3


All in all think I have spend about 400 pound with this set up

[{UFP}Supergrover]

Need a budget and time frame, no point in posting a build if your not going o be buying for a year. PC tech get old real fast.
What do you use the build for? Just gaming? Any encoding? What res will you be using?
What can or will you keep from your existing build?
A bit of a shameless plug to my site but there is some Dam good builds there budget and higher end
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/new-builds/
My Spidy sense says your from the UK but if you are local I have a crap ton of used/review items I would be willing to sell at a cut rate....... but if your across the pond then forget it, to much in shipping.

STO Rig:
P67 Sabertooth
i7 2600K @ 5ghz / Cooler Master V10
4x4GB Corsair Vengeance LP DDR3-1600
2 x Asus 6970 DCII in Crossfire
950/1400
Corsair P64 ssd
4x WD 500GB "Blues" hdd
2x WD 1.5TB "Greens" hdd
Lian Li PC X-2000
Seasonic X-850
Dell U2711

I'll be putting up this up for sale within the next 2 months. Canada Local if anyone from here is interested. Just had no time to do a build this summer other than the testbeds.

[Rayne]

I'm with Grover, too much can change in the PC market in 12 months to help you out. If you're looking for a current build with today's prices, you'll need to detail what you use your pc for so for I.E. Gaming should probably include a list of your most graphic intensive game or a game you want to be able to play. As that can set a building point for us to go on.

[{UFP}tomroseuk]

I've been pondering a new computer for a while. Posted ages ago about it got enough for a pretty high end deal. But here's The bit that'll start some debate/grinding of teeth. I'm considering getting top spec iMac when they get refreshed. I know £ for £ it's a bit of rip off but am liking the looks and os.

[{UFP}Burtonshaw]

DON'T DO IT MAN!

and here is why:
-You cannot play STO on a mac (without a windows emulator £££'s)
-They are more expensive than normal PCs
-They are almost impossible to repair if something goes wrong

[{UFP}Terrell]

Macs are only great if you want to do some photoshop work or movies. They are great computers, and I love my macbook pro to bits. However for a main computer your better sticking with windows if you intend to do any sort of gaming. There just isnt any support for gaming on Mac unless you intend to pay over the odds for games that are years old.

(thanks mainly to Microsoft who deliberately limit DirectX to Windows, instead of the good old days with OpenGL which worked on both)

[{UFP}Dark]

Personally, I tend to look at http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/ when I buy new video cards.