Spec and some questions

Dazednconfused · 15 May 2006 at 17:32

Hello, I am about to make a final decision on my purchase.
I have had some help from people here already, as a result of this I had to modify my expectations somewhat :-)

.
The graphics card will have to wait, but In need a machine now.
The idea being that the rig will be capable of running games when time and budget allow.
Is there anything that you would change in the spec listed and keep the budget about the same.?

Antec SLK3800BUK Black Quiet Midi Tower Case - 400W SmartPower PSU (CA-048-AN)
(£61.04 Including VAT at 17.5%)

I thought this case/power unit looked ok, then I read the thread with people complaining about bad service from Antec, but I am fed up with changing my mind all the time, so I guess l'll take the chance.
Unless there is a better alternartive.
I understand that if I get a powerful graphics card I might need a new psu, but thats for another day.

Asus A8R-MVP Crossfire (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-129-AS)
(£70.44 Including VAT at 17.5%)
What do people think of this board? I am unlikley to need crossfire or sli. Would you still recomend it?

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 90nm (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA3200BPBOX) (CP-118-AM)
(£98.64 Including VAT at 17.5%)

do the retail units come with thermal gunk?

GeIL 1GB (2x512MB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS2.5 (GE1GB3200BHDC) (MY-005-GL)
(£58.69 Including VAT at 17.5%

Layer LabelFlash ReWriter (Black) - OEM (CD-033-NE)
(£29.32 Including VAT at 17.5%)
This seems to do everything, though I don't understand the "you can burn images on to the data side of any standard disc, in an area not already written with data." Can you burn an image, and then write data?

Ahead Nero Express v6.6 - OEM (SW-000-NR)
(£3.47 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition inc. SP2 - OEM - 1Pk (E85-04026) (OS-002-MS)
(£90.42 Including VAT at 17.5%)

OcUK Value Floppy Drive - Black (HD-001-OK)
(£6.99 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Samsung SpinPoint P HD080HJ 80GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-023-SA)
(£36.37 Including VAT at 17.5%)
Will I need to buy cable for this?

Have I missed anything?
I make that
£455.38
Plus postage
Does that look ok?

Dazednconfused · 15 May 2006 at 19:36

Thanks for the reply, I don't have a graphics card yet, I didn't want to spend anymore at the mo. I was thinking that the motherboard would have some graphics capability, apparently not.
The cards on OC all seem a bit expensive, perhaps I need to consider another board, or up my budget, which is the best of the cheaper cards?

Dazednconfused · 15 May 2006 at 21:21

Thanks for the advice,
What does the 'micro' mean in 'micro ATX'
I am also considering upping my budget, would these be a good choice?

Asus A8N-SLi SE nForce4 SLi (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-101-AS)
(£64.57 Including VAT at 17.5%)

BFG GeForce 7300 GS OC 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-020-BG
(£52.82 Including VAT at 17.5%)

This will be about £50 more, which does stretch my budget to its limit.
But it might be worth it.
What do you think?

Dazednconfused · 15 May 2006 at 21:52

I think your reasoning is sound, this could be it!

Antec SLK3800BUK Black Quiet Midi Tower Case - 400W SmartPower PSU (CA-048-AN)
(£61.04 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Asus A8N-VM Micro ATX (Socket 939) PCI Express Motherboard (MB-134-AS
(£50.47 Including VAT at 17.5%)

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 90nm (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA3200BPBOX) (CP-118-AM)
(£98.64 Including VAT at 17.5%)

GeIL 1GB (2x512MB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS2.5 (GE1GB3200BHDC) (MY-005-GL)
(£58.69 Including VAT at 17.5%

Layer LabelFlash ReWriter (Black) - OEM (CD-033-NE)
(£29.32 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Ahead Nero Express v6.6 - OEM (SW-000-NR)
(£3.47 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition inc. SP2 - OEM - 1Pk (E85-04026) (OS-002-MS)
(£90.42 Including VAT at 17.5%)

OcUK Value Floppy Drive - Black (HD-001-OK)
(£6.99 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Samsung SpinPoint P HD080HJ 80GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-023-SA)
(£36.37 Including VAT at 17.5%)

£435.41 inl vat + postage

What do you think?

Dazednconfused · 15 May 2006 at 22:47

The newer board is not much more expensive, thanks.
Can you suggest a dvd writer?

Dazednconfused · 15 May 2006 at 23:09

The NEC ND3550, only available in silver. How about this?

NEC ND4570 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM (CD-030-NE)
(£24.62 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Dazednconfused · 16 May 2006 at 11:05

oops yea, it was getting late.
How does this look?

Antec SLK3800BUK Black Quiet Midi Tower Case - 400W SmartPower PSU (CA-048-AN)
(£61.04 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Asus A8N-VM CSM Micro ATX (Socket 939) PCI Express Motherboard (MB-119-AS)
(£56.34 Including VAT at 17.5%)

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 90nm (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA3200BPBOX) (CP-118-AM)
(£98.64 Including VAT at 17.5%)

GeIL 1GB (2x512MB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS2.5 (GE1GB3200BHDC) (MY-005-GL)
(£58.69 Including VAT at 17.5%

NEC ND3550 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM (CD-035-NE)
(£23.44 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Ahead Nero Express v6.6 - OEM (SW-000-NR)
(£3.47 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition inc. SP2 - OEM - 1Pk (E85-04026) (OS-002-MS)
(£90.42 Including VAT at 17.5%)

OcUK Value Floppy Drive - Black (HD-001-OK)
(£6.99 Including VAT at 17.5%)

Samsung SpinPoint P HD080HJ 80GB SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-023-SA)
(£36.37 Including VAT at 17.5%)

£439.36 + postage

I would like to order today, any other changes?
Thanks for the help