Help me build a second system - cheap please

[sidefxv1]

I'm looking at building another system, mainly for the Mrs to use. We're currently running the one in my sig and will keep using it, so looking for something that will perform similar to it.

It will likely sit in our bedroom so needs to look decent, be reasonably quiet and not huge. I'm also thinking perhaps it could double as an HTPC so if anybody has any thoughts on good cases\monitors(or lcd tv for monitor?)

Doesn't need to be hugely powerful, she mainly just plays sims 3\sims medieval\that sort of thing. I'd like to use it on occasion though so not too under powered.

Most importantly it needs to be cheap! Anybody got suggestions on a starting point for this?

 

[95thrifles]

How does this look for the main box of it?

Then Add in a monitor/TV, its powerful enough as is for the above uses, and you could add a low powered gfx card later if you wanted to start playing a few more mid level games

 

[bastic]

If it has to be cheap,I would go AMD llano and micro atx board.
No need for flu etc.

 

[bastic]

Silverstone Sugo SG01B-F Evolution Aluminium Micro-ATX Case - Black £79.99
(£66.66) £79.99
(£66.66)
AMD Llano A6-3500 2.40GHz (Socket FM1) APU Processor £67.99
(£56.66) £67.99
(£56.66)
MSI A75MA-G55 AMD Hudson D3 (Socket FM1) DDR3 Llano MIcro-ATX Motherboard £65.99
(£54.99) £65.99
(£54.99)
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB SATA 6Gb/s 16MB Cache - OEM (WD5000AAKX) £30.98
(£25.82) £30.98
(£25.82)
Corsair Value 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C9 1333MHz Low Voltage Dual-Channel Kit £29.98
(£24.98) £29.98
(£24.98)
OcUK Swift 500W V2 Silent Power Supply £17.99
(£14.99) £17.99
(£14.99)
LG GH22NS70 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £17.99
(£14.99) £17.99
(£14.99)
Sub Total : £259.09
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 20.00% VAT : £54.17
Total : £325.01

 

[Hyburnate]

Bastic, change the PSU for a LEPA or Antec.

 

[sidefxv1]

Thanks guys, those look like good starting points! How will that "feel" in use compared to my current system, much difference?

 

[bastic]

llano could be same if not faster .not sure as I havent read any reviews

 

[Smithy0115]

If you want it to be quiet get an SSD for it, I'm guessing you won't need much storage.

 

[bobbarley]

When you say cheap, how cheap? Rough budget?

 

[sidefxv1]

budget... I would say around 400 max, preferably less.

Also, while small is good, it doesn't have to be "tiny" if there's going to be significant price differences - I just don't want any monster gaming cases, lol.

I probably do want a bit of storage on it, enough for windows 7 and a few games (Sims3 + a bunch of expansion packs, sims medieval and maybe mass effect 2) so if I went SSD I;d probably still want something backing it up for storage.

And I'd probably prefer discrete graphics to start with, though the Llano integrated graphics do look ok...

 

[bobbarley]

Why don't you build yourself something a little faster for £400, and give her your old one?

 

[bastic]

And I'd probably prefer discrete graphics to start with, though the Llano integrated graphics do look ok...

so just get best Llano

 

[sidefxv1]

@bobbarley: hmmm, that's not a bad idea either - let's say my max budget is 370 then; What would a good "standard" build be to compare to the more HTPC oriented builds above. HTPC would be nice but if there's going to be significant price\performance trade-offs we can probably live with my current PC-7 Plus (or something similar) in our bedroom

 

[olivier renault]

some other good looking m-atx small cases


1 x Silverstone Temjin TJ08B-E Midi Tower Case - Black £89.99
1 x Fractal Design Define Mini Computer Case £79.99
1 x Lian Li PC-A05FNB Aluminium Midi Tower Case - Black £79.99