Hi all
Long time lurker (and buyer!), first time poster.
I’m building a PC for my dad for Christmas. Obviously, I want to build him something that will last him a good while (his PC atm - 2500XP, 512Mb RAM, 9800Pro - has lasted him at least 2 or 3 years) at the same time, not cost the earth, but able to play games at a decent resolution. (Possibly on a 2007FPW according to my mum!)
He plays a few games (Tiger Woods 07, Battlefield 2 and others), listens to music, browses the web etc.
This is what I came up with. It has to be quiet, hence the Shuttle.
Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.86GHz (1066FSB)
Shuttle XPC SD37P2 Aluminium Barebones System - Intel Pentium D (LGA775)
BFG 3DFuzion GeForce 7600 GT 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI
Samsung SpinPoint P SP2504C 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM
Samsung SH-W183 18x18 DVD±RW Serial ATA Dual Layer ReWriter (Black)
Corsair 1GB DDR2 Value Select PC4200 Dual Channel Kit (2x512MB)
It would be currently connected to a 17"FP which has a resolution of 1280x1024.
A few questions
1) What do you guys think of the Shuttle? Is it quiet? Is there a better solution out there? I.e., would it be better to look for a mATX case and motherboard?
2) I know for a fact he won't be overclocking it, and I won't be overclocking it for him, but is the RAM speed sufficient? Like many, this is my first Intel based system build in a LONG time, so I’m not too sure what speed the RAM should be running at for 1:1.
3) How loud is the 7600GT? Would it be worth getting him a 7900GS?
4) Would it be worth getting him 2 GB of RAM, just for a bit of future proofing?
My budget is ~£700 (the current cost of the system) but I can go over that to a point, possibly up to £100 more, but I'd rather not.
Many thanks guys, and sorry if questions like these are asked a bazillion times.
skell
Long time lurker (and buyer!), first time poster.
I’m building a PC for my dad for Christmas. Obviously, I want to build him something that will last him a good while (his PC atm - 2500XP, 512Mb RAM, 9800Pro - has lasted him at least 2 or 3 years) at the same time, not cost the earth, but able to play games at a decent resolution. (Possibly on a 2007FPW according to my mum!)
He plays a few games (Tiger Woods 07, Battlefield 2 and others), listens to music, browses the web etc.
This is what I came up with. It has to be quiet, hence the Shuttle.
Intel Core 2 DUO E6300 "LGA775 Allendale" 1.86GHz (1066FSB)
Shuttle XPC SD37P2 Aluminium Barebones System - Intel Pentium D (LGA775)
BFG 3DFuzion GeForce 7600 GT 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI
Samsung SpinPoint P SP2504C 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM
Samsung SH-W183 18x18 DVD±RW Serial ATA Dual Layer ReWriter (Black)
Corsair 1GB DDR2 Value Select PC4200 Dual Channel Kit (2x512MB)
It would be currently connected to a 17"FP which has a resolution of 1280x1024.
A few questions
1) What do you guys think of the Shuttle? Is it quiet? Is there a better solution out there? I.e., would it be better to look for a mATX case and motherboard?
2) I know for a fact he won't be overclocking it, and I won't be overclocking it for him, but is the RAM speed sufficient? Like many, this is my first Intel based system build in a LONG time, so I’m not too sure what speed the RAM should be running at for 1:1.
3) How loud is the 7600GT? Would it be worth getting him a 7900GS?
4) Would it be worth getting him 2 GB of RAM, just for a bit of future proofing?
My budget is ~£700 (the current cost of the system) but I can go over that to a point, possibly up to £100 more, but I'd rather not.
Many thanks guys, and sorry if questions like these are asked a bazillion times.
skell
