Spec me a PC @ £400

Hi , I am looking to build A PC for my dad whos requirements are web surfing, photos, Youtube, DVd playback and NO gaming(something I am working on...). I have a spare 20" LCD monitor (pretty high res @1600x1200 native though), keyboard and mouse.
I like the idea of going with Intel CPU this time around.
So looking for complete base unit including Operating system (Windows 7?).

Do you think it is possible for a half-decent home-build on a budget of £400?

Been looking at various other pre-built systems by other companies out there, but the components seem so poor and ususally come loaded to the brim with bloatwear...

Any help and advice would be much apreciated.

Many thanks

Marc

Buy the latest issue of Custom PC mag they've got a good article on exactly that "Build a £400 Future Proof PC", we all know there such thing as a Future Proof PC but the build is ideal for what you want it for and very upgradeable if you wanted to go down that route.

Including win7 is a push, 450 can be done

Intel Core i3 530 2.93GHz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail £91.99 (£78.29)
Patriot G Series 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel (PGS34G1333ELK) £88.99 (£75.74)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £84.99 (£72.33)
Gigabyte GA-H55M-S2H Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 microATX Motherboard £66.99 (£57.01)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £39.99 (£34.03)
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK) £36.99 (£31.48)
Xigmatek Asgard Midi Tower Case - Black £26.99 (£22.97)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99 (£11.91)
Total : £450.92

Thanks chaps! Thriffles, no graphics card. Guess I will be looking at £500 + by the time I include that, thanks for the spec list m8, very helpful.

The mobo uses onboard gfx, well its on the cpu actually, integrated, you said no gaming so need for dedicated gfx card

Your other option would be to go AMd route, in which case swap cpu and mobo for these

AMD Athlon II X4 Quad Core 635 2.90GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £80.99 (£68.93)
Gigabyte GA-880GM-UD2H AMD 880G (Socket AM3) microATX DDR3 Motherboard £72.99 (£62.12)
Total £153.98

vs the Intel cpu/mobo @ £158.98

Intel Core i3 530 2.93GHz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail £91.99
(£78.29) £91.99
(£78.29)
Patriot G Series 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Dual Channel (PGS34G1333ELK) £88.99
(£75.74) £88.99
(£75.74)
Gigabyte GA-H55M-S2H Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 microATX Motherboard £66.99
(£57.01) £66.99
(£57.01)
Corsair CX 400W ATX Power Supply (CMPSU-400CXUK) £36.99
(£31.48) £36.99
(£31.48)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (ST3250318AS) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Akasa AK-CC017 Freedom Tower CPU Cooler (Socket AM2 / AM3 / 775 / 1156 / 1366) £28.99
(£24.67) £28.99
(£24.67)
Xigmatek Asgard Midi Tower Case - Black £26.99
(£22.97) £26.99
(£22.97)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Sub Total : £330.15
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £11.75
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £59.83
Total : £401.73

Slap said:

Thanks chaps! Thriffles, no graphics card. Guess I will be looking at £500 + by the time I include that, thanks for the spec list m8, very helpful.

Click to expand...

When you say 'NO gaming' one tends to assume you actually mean no gaming. Besides, modern integrated GPUs are quite respectable, most gobble up hi-res video and somesuch workaday stuff quite nicely.



- Ordokai

hows about....



Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £84.99

Kingston HyperX 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 8500C5 1066MHz Dual Channel (KHX8500D2K2/4G) £76.99

"Primo Elevation" AMD DDR2 Ready Barebones (Socket AM2+) £67.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 7850+ Black Edition 2.80GHz (Socket AM2+) £39.99

Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £39.99

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev 2 CPU Cooler (Socket 939 / AM2 / AM3 / 775 / 1156 / 1366) £18.99

LG GH22NS50 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99

Sub Total : £292.69
DPD Next Day Parcel £15.50
VAT : £53.93
Total : £362.12

want a bit more grunt from it....add one of these

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-026-ZT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1010

Still change from £400

Westie69 said:

Buy the latest issue of Custom PC mag they've got a good article on exactly that "Build a £400 Future Proof PC", we all know there such thing as a Future Proof PC but the build is ideal for what you want it for and very upgradeable if you wanted to go down that route.

Click to expand...

read that one myself.. well worth a read guys if you havent already.

You can get this +win7&GT220 for 390 quid.http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-265-OK&groupid=43&catid=1078&subcat=

nice find! that is pretty damn good value!

Thanks you all! Amazing what bang for buck is available these days...
After spending a few days researching my father called me to say that he went to Peter Jones and bought himself a 17" laptop (HP/17")! The sly old fox . Seems to work well but personal I think he would have been better off with something that you recommended. At least PJ offer a 2 year waranty with there PC. Thanks for your efforts all the same. I will be upgrading my system at some point so will post back for advice.
Going to be a hot one today, slap that factor 50, stay in the shade and drink plenty of water .

PS Thriffles, ah yes integrated GPU...Forgot about those and your right, they seem to have come on as the one that came with mu fathers laptop seems to handle everything he needs just fine