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<M>

<M>

<M>

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Joined
12 Jan 2010
Posts
4
Location
Gloucestershire
Hi,

It’s been a few years since I last built a PC and I’m a little out of touch of what is available, good and compatible. I’m hoping that some of you kind souls will be able to help me out.

What I’m aiming to build is a home PC. (Simiples!) My use of this box, in order of intended use, will be to experience Windows 7, internet, e-mail, word processing, sharing of film/music/photos (I don’t currently have any blue-ray media) to other home devices (not yet acquired), web chats with the kids grandparents, support of my parents old PC (using the virtualization tools that are available in Windows 7), web page development using Visual Studio 2008 (and 2010), database design and support.

Not much!

I hope to be able to get all this for a price tag of between £300 and £400, but not knowing the market or current technologies I don’t know if this is possible, so over to you.

I have a suitable DVD RW, monitor (well that's another thread), keyboard, mouse, card reader, USB Hub, router, wireless access point, web cam, so it's just the PC build that i'm looking for help with.

If you are able to help I’m looking for suggestions of components that would be suitable and compatible with each other.

Thanks,

<M>
 
If you want to experiance Win 7, go and have a play at PC World :P. In all seriousness you will be able to use remote desktop built in to Win 7 as long as you get the Professional or ultimate version as I don't think Home Premium has that feature. You don't need massively high specs for your requirements but something like this would be ideal but will come a little over budget with the OS.
 
Thanks Manicfest. I've actually been running Win 7 (ultimate) for a while via an MSDN license, but it's on my old XP box which doesn't support hardware virtulization or aero. Also, since i've been using it for development and testing the MSDN license is fine, but when I move to it asthe primary OS i'll need a full license. I was probaly going to start with Professional as I can easily upgrade in the future if I need more features.

I'd looked at the suggested box before but as I say it's been a while since I had to buy (or build) a box and wasn't sure what was suitable. The spec seems to fit what i'm looking for, but how upgradeable is it for futureproofing, or for that price do i just not worry about that?

Cheers,

<M>
 
Not sure if the system, suggested by Maniacfest, would meet your spec in your opening statement?

Sure it meets the price point! .. but graphics wise I'm not so sure

Reading down the spec you'll note that no video card is mentioned. On searching the net I found that the MOBO uses a Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 (Intel GMA 3100). So I suggest that you investigate if this will meet your media watching/sharing needs?

It's also, dare I say, "old tech" now. Intel have just brought out the i3 series to replace the dual core CPU's. Nowt wrong at all with older tech but just so that you are aware.

You'll be hard pushed to get a "optimum system" to cover all the bases set out in your spec for £300 - £400. Up the budget and ask on here for a spec or compromise is my suggestion

ATB
 
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Can you give a 'finger in the air' guess (not the alternative insult meaning) as to what price bracket i should be looking at in order to better meet my requirements?

<M>
 
>>>>>>> thinks

>>>>>>> measures piece of string

>>>>>>> I guess £800 ....fail!

seriously though

a) read through some of the spec posts on here to get a feel for build suggestions

b) post a request for a spec stating realistic budget(ish) and if your not gaming say so etc otherwise you'll get specs for outlandish cases etc

c) avoid PC****d like the plague!!!! lol

ATB
 
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OK,

I'll do a bit more reasearch and re-post if I have more specific questions.

Thanks,

<M>
 
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