Associate
- Joined
- 22 Feb 2007
- Posts
- 3
Hi all
I have been a long time reader of these excellent forums but lost my original sign-in hence the new member...
I have an old (2004) PackardBell
machine that has served me badly for the last 3 years. I and family have PC for very mixed usage but obviously way over time for a complete new rig.
PC is up-stairs in bedroom and needs to do following... Games - Kids starting to move from Xbox to PC but obviously current machine can't get past maybe HL2 or Guild Wars on very low settings. So needs to be able to play all current games. Not necessarily on high settings but definitely playable for Oblivion, BF.... etc (yes I enjoy games also..).
Lots of internet browsing, p2p, general light office work excel etc, photos etc.
And here is the thing. I also want to use it as a media centre for the bedroom. TV, DVD, radio etc.
Would like to be able to run Vista when it settles down and be future-proof-ish for as long as possible.
It will never need to be the best or even close but just has to operate smoothly without problems.
Is there an off-the-shelf from OcUK that works as a quiet media centre but can handle games also? Size is no problem. Or am I better to have a go at building myself? Am reasonably confident I could achieve it as have goodish PC knowledge but time a factor with kids etc..
I have my eye on a nice Dell or Aseus 22” monitor so not including that if I looked to spend circa a grand sterling would I be able to achieve what I am after?
Any help suggestions etc. greatly appreciated. Also can I ask do you guys ever build to order? Or is that a no no on these forums.. Sorry if it is.
I have been a long time reader of these excellent forums but lost my original sign-in hence the new member...
I have an old (2004) PackardBell

PC is up-stairs in bedroom and needs to do following... Games - Kids starting to move from Xbox to PC but obviously current machine can't get past maybe HL2 or Guild Wars on very low settings. So needs to be able to play all current games. Not necessarily on high settings but definitely playable for Oblivion, BF.... etc (yes I enjoy games also..).
Lots of internet browsing, p2p, general light office work excel etc, photos etc.
And here is the thing. I also want to use it as a media centre for the bedroom. TV, DVD, radio etc.
Would like to be able to run Vista when it settles down and be future-proof-ish for as long as possible.
It will never need to be the best or even close but just has to operate smoothly without problems.
Is there an off-the-shelf from OcUK that works as a quiet media centre but can handle games also? Size is no problem. Or am I better to have a go at building myself? Am reasonably confident I could achieve it as have goodish PC knowledge but time a factor with kids etc..
I have my eye on a nice Dell or Aseus 22” monitor so not including that if I looked to spend circa a grand sterling would I be able to achieve what I am after?
Any help suggestions etc. greatly appreciated. Also can I ask do you guys ever build to order? Or is that a no no on these forums.. Sorry if it is.