Spec Check - £400

gee3000 · 23 Feb 2010 at 15:45

Hey

I'm putting together a budget PC for office use, odd photoshop cropping, resizing etc (nothing exciting). Will be running Windows 7 on a 24" monitor @ 1920 x 1200 res.

Here's what I have so far:

+ AMD Athlon II X3 425 @ £58.99 (from the bay)
Total: £381.90

Any suggestions? Not a gaming orientated PC so just got a basic graphics card. Already have everything else I need.

Much appreciated!

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 23 Feb 2010 at 15:52

The HD4200 IGP on the motherboard you listed has 128MB of dedicated DDR3 on the motherboard for the IGP. Also the IGP can run one monitor with a digital input and one with an analogue input simultaneously meaning there is really no need for you to get a separate graphics card.

You may also want to consider ATX version of the motherboard:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-355-AS

I would also get the X3 440 which is available for around £66 including postage from a well known company.

gee3000 · 23 Feb 2010 at 17:26

Thanks CAT. I've now got the following;

+ AMD Athlon II X3 440 @ £69

Total: £355.92

Mojo · 23 Feb 2010 at 17:32

You're going to need ddr3 ram mate, the MB is ddr3, the ram is ddr2, and they are incompatible

Elfmeister. · 23 Feb 2010 at 17:39

Or this if you want DDR2!

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-357-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1482

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 23 Feb 2010 at 17:51

gee3000 said:
Thanks CAT. I've now got the following;

+ AMD Athlon II X3 440 @ £69

Total: £355.92

Edit: I also need a 2nd budget system which is similar but cheaper - below £300 if possible. Any suggestions?

Get this RAM instead:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-026-PA&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517

Sorry I did not spot the mistake earlier!!

Run the DDR3 RAM at 1333MHZ using lower latencies.

gee3000 · 23 Feb 2010 at 17:56

Ok thanks MOJO for the heads up and CAT for the recommendation.

Only a £4 difference, so I guess we're good to go?

Cheers.

gee3000 · 23 Feb 2010 at 18:02

I also need a 2nd budget system using cheaper CPU, RAM and MOBO - around £250-£300 if possible. Any suggestions?

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 23 Feb 2010 at 18:06

gee3000 said:
Thanks CAT. I've now got the following;

+ AMD Athlon II X3 440 @ £69

Total: £355.92

Edit: I also need a 2nd budget system which is similar but cheaper - below £300 if possible. Any suggestions?

For the budget build I would get the following:

Asus M4A78L-M LE ~ £47

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-377-AS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1482

This motherboard uses DDR2.

AMD Athlon II X2 240 ~ £47

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-252-AM

Samsung F1 250GB ~ £29

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-084-SA

Coolermaster Elite 360 Mini Tower Case ~ £25

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-189-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

Here is a review of the case:

http://www.ocia.net/reviews/cmelite360/page1.shtml

OTH,you may need to add some case fans.

I would also look at this case too:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-184-CM&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=

The Coolermaster Elite 334 comes with one 120MM fan included.

I would get the other parts listed in the components list picture.

gee3000 · 25 Feb 2010 at 15:45

Ok i'm down to the following and and wondering which one I should go for out of:

AMD Athlon II X3 440 @ £71
AMD Athlon II X4 620 @ £82

EDIT: Ignore this -- X3 440 wins for productivity.