New Spec Please!

[Trickeh]

Basically looking to get a total overhaul on the PC i've been using for the last 4-5 years or so, it's done me proud over the years but it's time for a change and i thought i'd treat myself.

Basically all i use my PC for is browsing, watching DVDs/TV Series and the ocasional play around with Photoshop. I hardly play any games on my PC nevermind anything Graphically intensive so a cheap Graphics card is preferable to keep the costs down, my total budget is £500-£600.

Preferably a AMD spec if possible i don't want to turn to the dark side so to speak.

Thanks in advance guys!

 

[BillytheImpaler]

How's this look?:

 

[mp260767]

Not sure what you're taking from you're current system, so figured at the minimum of monitor, keyboard and mouse.

being as billy did the amd route thought i'd show you an intel comparison.

Could reduce it further by dropping the processor down to a 2180 and the gfx card to a 2400 series, without too much affect on what you're likely to use it for.

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.66GHz (1333FSB) - Retail £101.99
(£119.84)

Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (11110-00-20R) £51.99 (£61.09)

Antec Sonata III Piano Black Quiet Case - EarthWatts 500W PSU £67.99
(£79.89)

GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC2-6400C5 800MHz Value DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GX22GB6400DC) £27.99 (£32.89)

Samsung SH-S203BEBN 20x20 DVD±RW Dual Layer Serial ATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £16.99 (£19.96)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (ST3250410AS) £37.99 (£44.64)

Gigabyte GA_P35_DS3R (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard £64.99
(£76.36)

Sub Total : £369.93
Shipping : £10.95
VAT : £66.65
Total : £447.53

 

[Trickeh]

Wow thanks for the fast replies guys! I'll just be taking the moniter, keyboard and mouse as you assumed mp260767 so you were spot on, really liking the look of the AMD spec although it's nice to have a Intel alternative.

Just wondering if my wallets brave enough to pickup a flashy LCD moniter now. lol

 

[gt_junkie]

Just wondering if my wallets brave enough to pickup a flashy LCD moniter now. lol

If you can run to £600 like you mentioned in your original post then a 20" monitor is on the cards.

Samsung, LG and Dell all have some lovely options. You'll definately appreciate their performance. Much easier on the eyes and, now that i have it, the widescreen layout is something i would not want to give up!

This LG is nice but has only a single analogue VGA socket: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-046-LG&groupid=703&catid=17&subcat=948

I had the 22" version of this Samsung and can't recommend it enough - even has a DVI socket which will provide a slightly better image: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-051-SA&groupid=703&catid=17&subcat=948

gt

 

[mp260767]

Wow thanks for the fast replies guys! I'll just be taking the moniter, keyboard and mouse as you assumed mp260767 so you were spot on, really liking the look of the AMD spec although it's nice to have a Intel alternative.

Just wondering if my wallets brave enough to pickup a flashy LCD moniter now. lol

if you take out the psu and case spec'd by billy, swap it for the Antec Sonata III in my spec that will save you £50/60 to put towards the new screen.

 

[BillytheImpaler]

if you take out the psu and case spec'd by billy, swap it for the Antec Sonata III in my spec that will save you £50/60 to put towards the new screen.

Not a bad idea. I splashed out for fancy stuff in those areas because there was so much room in the budget. An Antec NSK 4480B would do the job nicely as well.

 

[gt_junkie]

I'd personally choose to go intel just for the extra grunt the C2D will give you but this looks quite balanced. You get your 20" monitor and a lovely aluminium Lian Li case.

The graphics card is silent, the PSU i know to be whisper quiet and the spinpoint HDD is well known for it's quiet operation - might wanna budget £20-30 for a quiet CPU heatsink.

gt

 

[Trickeh]

I think we have a winner! Loving the look of the Lian Li case and even have a nice swanky LCD screen to go with it all for under £600, i may pay the little bit extra for the 4800+ CPU other than that it looks great.

 

[gt_junkie]

I think we have a winner! Loving the look of the Lian Li case and even have a nice swanky LCD screen to go with it all for under £600, i may pay the little bit extra for the 4800+ CPU other than that it looks great.

Cheers,

Yeah, if you can stretch to the better chip then go for it!

Should be a nice system.

gt