Building a back-up PC in stages

[Preest]

I need to build a 2nd PC to back up my I5 rig, which is now completed – it goes like a train, and is almost silent. Thanks for the input!

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=18551054#post18551054

The backup will almost certainly be I3, 4gb, nothing fancy, just a reserve PC. I am assuming from what I read that AMD kit is currently not competitive, and that having Intel motherboards that I can swap components on later makes sense. If that is wrong please tell me!

At the moment I can’t afford to start from scratch, so I need to get the most out of what I currently have, which is two reliable old AMD hacks. Both are in crappy, dented ancient cases, have cheap old PSUs, and make enough noise to waken the dead.

If I strip them down to combine the 2 machines I get an AMD 4200 with 3 gb of ddr 400mghz. Like I said, I can’t afford to build the PC in one go, so I would like to buy a couple of bits (case and PSU seem to be the obvious starters) to get started, and combine them with the remaining old parts till I can buy the i3 kit. Do these seem like sensible choices?

Case - Coolermaster Elite 335 - Black [RC-335] at £30
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-160-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=29
or –
Xigmatek Asgard Midi Tower – Black at £28 this week
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-002-XG

PSU - OCZ StealthXStream 2 500W Power Supply [OCZ500SXS2] at £40
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-045-OC&tool=3

Anyone know how loud that PSU is, BTW?

 

[Preest]

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-225-CM

Thanks. I had seen that deal, and it is one hell of a bargain, plus the 2 reviews on that combo are very positive.

I seem to recall reading that the PSU is noisy, though. Any idea how it rates against the PSU I quoted for noise, or reliability, for that matter?

I must admit that I have no experience of either case, though I love the 690 ii that the i5 build was based on - so easy to use, and a real quality product.

 

[Preest]

yes i have a 690 ii lovely case and i cant comment on the noise of the psu sorry

I last built a pc when an AMD 4200 was pretty sexy . As for cases....

I therefore was ready for the new i5 build, and had sticking plasters at the ready for the usual cuts, gashes....you know the rest. The quality of the 690 ii was a bit of an eye-opener, tbh