Help spec me a rig for the GF

BYTEr · 26 May 2009 at 00:14

Need help in coming up with a spec for the GF, at the moment she's using a laptop with half the keys missing and wants something new.

She's looking to buy a new TV soon and so I was thinking of using her new TV as the new PC monitor also, what features or connections would the TV need for this and is their a simple method for swapping between PC/TV screens.

Also as space is sort of an issue I was thinking of possibly going the Mini-ITX route, it doesn't need to be all that powerful, she'll be mostly web surfing and word processing with the odd low spec game, wireless connectivity is a must though, any features I should look out for in a wireless network card?

Trying to keep to a £250 budget and willing to buy 2nd hand.

Thanks in advance.

Shawreyboy · 26 May 2009 at 00:20

£250 veeeery tight budget...would need to go to around £350 quid.. il have a go..

cmndr_andi · 26 May 2009 at 00:28

How does this Core 2 Duo Mini-ITX box look?

That should connect happily to the VGA most modern TVs or the HDMI via a DVI-HDMI converter. It also has in built Wi-Fi. If she needs a keyboard, this looks like a good one to get. As for the mouse, I swear by this one, but if you want to keep costs down - this will do the job.

Edit: I changed the Case to an In-Win BH648 over the BM639 so that both the DVD drive and HDD will definately fit - only £3 extra on the build.

BYTEr · 26 May 2009 at 00:29

Thanks, perfect, was thinking of possibly trying to source a 2nd hand E21** for cheap as possible as well. Also I'll have to buy a wireless keyboard and mouse combo as she still wants to be able to sit on her bed like she does with her laptop.

Shawreyboy · 26 May 2009 at 00:33

hope it helps.. if your willing to buy second hand there are "B" grade parts although these often dont come all the cables etc so its best to buy new if you dont have your own cables at home.

Answer to your question...most decent lcd tv's have a "VGA" port which is the same as the blue port on the mobo you just need a VGA cable which can be bought from most electrical stores

.

Hope this all helps mate

Shawreyboy · 26 May 2009 at 00:34

damn people are quick on here lol. and better specs tbh although he forgot psu and OS.

Shawreyboy · 26 May 2009 at 00:36

cmndr_andi said:
How does this Core 2 Duo Mini-ITX box look?

That should connect happily to the VGA most modern TVs or the HDMI via a DVI-HDMI converter. It also has in built Wi-Fi. If she needs a keyboard, this looks like a good one to get. As for the mouse, I swear by this one, but if you want to keep costs down - this will do the job.

errr 120w psu thatl fail hard trying to power a 140w cpu..... too much ram for what his missus needs.... my spec is better....

cmndr_andi · 26 May 2009 at 00:39

PSU is in the case, OS should be Windows 7 Release Candidate- Free till March 2010, then buy it and you'll be getting the best, most up to date operating system.

120W will be plenty to power the 65W CPU - people on here usually draw 80W load using a similar setup (have a look at this thread if you don't beleive me). RAM is cheap - may as well get 4GB for the extra few quid, Vista/win 7 are ram hungry.

Shawreyboy · 26 May 2009 at 00:44

cmndr_andi said:
PSU is in the case, OS should be Windows 7 Release Candidate- Free till March 2010, then buy it and you'll be getting the best, most up to date operating system.

120W will be plenty to power the 65W CPU - people on here usually draw 80W load using a similar setup. RAM is cheap - may as well get 4GB for the extra few quid, Vista/win 7 are ram hungry.

yes i know the psu is in the case but its only a 120 w according to that image itl fail hard as the e5200 draws atleast 140 - 150 w on standard itl fail to boot period!!! the intel atom draws something like 20 - 30w

the OS should really be xp if your going the intel atom route itl die booting vista and windows 7 RC i dont think many ppl have had success on the eee pc with windows 7

cmndr_andi · 26 May 2009 at 00:49

Shawreyboy said:
yes i know the psu is in the case but its only a 120 w according to that image itl fail hard as the e5200 draws atleast 140 - 150 w on standard itl fail to boot period!!! the intel atom draws something like 20 - 30w

Holy cow- where are you getting your information from? The e5200 is a 65W rated chip - this guy, for example, draws 80W max from his e5200 rig with a similar motherboard and is using the same case/PSU.

In terms of performance, the intel atom may just cut it in this case, but there is no performance headroom - and very little power for games. As a zotac mini ITX + e5200 costs around the same as an atom single core 1.6GHz + ion - then I guess its really up to the OP and who ever pays the power bills.

Shawreyboy · 26 May 2009 at 00:53

Techguage... they are pretty reliable..

http://techgage.com/article/intel_pentium_dual-core_e5200/12

cmndr_andi · 26 May 2009 at 00:58

That test shows full system load power - fair enough.

However, that particular test is based on an enthusiast grade motherboard (X48) and a 4870 graphics card. That system I specced uses a low power chipset and onboard graphics. It will be well below 120W load utilisation - as many HTPC builders on these forums can attest to.

If you want to throw some numbers at me - you probably should read them first.

Mattus · 26 May 2009 at 01:06

I doubt an E5200 will draw more than 40-50W in general usage. 140W is nowhere near.

JonJ678 · 26 May 2009 at 01:39

Shawreyboy said:
the e5200 draws atleast 140 - 150 w on standard itl fail to boot period!!!

Ha ha FAIL

That comedy aside, the rig looks very good. It's almost exactly what I'm likely to assemble for the missus' mum in a few weeks time.

Something that rings a bell though, I think that case can take either 2.5" drive with full size optical, or a 3.5" drive with a slimline optical. I don't believe you can have full size versions of both.

Might be possible to fit an aftermarket cooler in the case (to reduce noise), but there is precious little space I fear. I'd be interested to know if you find one that fits

cmndr_andi · 26 May 2009 at 01:47

I fear you may be right about it all fitting with a full size DVD drive and 3.5in HDD. However, based on this thread a simple £3 upgrade to this case will allow both of the full size drives to fit happily as long as the cpu cooler used is the cooler that comes with the retail e5200 ( so no big overclocks I guess

)

Tomorrow I'll have a search for a better cooler which will fit in the case with the above arrangement, looks like it will have to be pretty low.

Mr.Nick · 26 May 2009 at 01:50

Heres 3 specs, dono if any of those tickle you fancy,

Audigex · 26 May 2009 at 01:56

Mini ITX are designed for low power draw.

Why not put a WD Green drive in though? Even lower power draw and she'll barely notice the difference.

I'd be tempted by Mr Nick's first spec, grab a couple of components 2nd hand (there was a 4gb set of ram on MM earlier for £20) and possibly another tenner on the PSU, job done :-)

Methanoid · 9 Jun 2009 at 14:12

Asus Eee Box B202 - has wireless, low power, small, fits on back of TV and plays the odd low spec game, perfick... (and one in FS forum)

mp260767 · 9 Jun 2009 at 15:02

Shawreyboy said:
errr 120w psu thatl fail hard trying to power a 140w cpu........

no idea where you get that from, mate has recently put together a spec very similar with that case and processor, it works fine.

would need to swap the case to the In-Win BM639 tho as i think the 648 only takes a slimline cd/dvd drive.

despotofmidnor · 9 Jun 2009 at 15:44

On the OS front, if shes going to be ditching the laptop can't she just use the key from the OS thats running on that atm?