Spec me £450-£500

lauy

lauy

lauy

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16 Apr 2008
Posts
387
Hi

My dad needs a new computer this time so if you guys could spec me that would be great! He uses it for general browsing and plays a few games but not graphic intense games (e.g. Red Alert 2, Football Manager and the sorts) so won't need a graphics card

He just needs a tower, but no need for SSD or OS or any peripherals (already have them). Also I am not looking to overclock, will just keep things at stock

Want
- intel
- Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX Mini-ITX case
- cd/dvd drive (external i presume with the case)
- nice looking (i.e. some LED - blue or white, or something colourful)
- modular PSU (easier to tidy?)

Budget £450-£500

Can't think of anything else, will post if I think of any! Thanks in advance guys!
 
 
Last edited:
mickyflinn said:
YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i3-4160 3.60GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £99.95
1 x MSI H97I AC Intel H97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £79.99
1 x Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX Mini-ITX Chassis with Window - Black £49.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430w Modular '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CP-9020058-UK) £44.99
1 x TeamGroup Elite Black 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (TPKD38G1600HC11DC01) £38.99
1 x Toshiba (7K1000.D) 1TB SATA 6GB/s 32MB Cache - OEM (DT01ACA100) HDD £35.99
1 x LG GP50NB40 8x Slim External DVD-RW Retail Kit (Black) £16.99
Total : £380.99 (includes shipping : £11.75 Ex.VAT).

Click to expand...


Looks good, little under budget?

Any room for some nice colours so the case is as nice looking from the window as possible? And with the budget, could the processor be upped to possibly an i5?

Thanks!
 
Does he need a HDD or is the SSD large enough for his uses?

For that case, with the big PSU shroud hiding the cables - can go for a better PSU even though it's not modular. Plenty of room down there.

A few of the Command & Conquer games do not work with Intel HD graphics. I'd leave some budget spare in case he ends up needing a little R7 360 or similar.
 
Personally wouldnt go for the i-5 for ur dad as danny75 says leave room for a gpu. Heres a rear case fan and led lights.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i3-4160 3.60GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £99.95
1 x MSI H97I AC Intel H97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £79.99
1 x Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX Mini-ITX Chassis with Window - Black £49.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430w Modular '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CP-9020058-UK) £44.99
1 x TeamGroup Elite Black 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (TPKD38G1600HC11DC01) £38.99
1 x Toshiba (7K1000.D) 1TB SATA 6GB/s 32MB Cache - OEM (DT01ACA100) HDD £35.99
1 x LG GP50NB40 8x Slim External DVD-RW Retail Kit (Black) £16.99
1 x NZXT CB-LED20-WT 24x White LED Sleeve - 2m £13.99
1 x BitFenix Spectre PWM 140mm Fan White LED - Black £11.99
Total : £406.97 (includes shipping : £11.75 Ex.VAT).

 
Last edited:
Danny75 said:
Does he need a HDD or is the SSD large enough for his uses?

For that case, with the big PSU shroud hiding the cables - can go for a better PSU even though it's not modular. Plenty of room down there.

A few of the Command & Conquer games do not work with Intel HD graphics. I'd leave some budget spare in case he ends up needing a little R7 360 or similar.
Click to expand...

Sounds good! If not a modular one, then what one would you recommend? Got a 250GB SSD but having a 1TB HDD would probably be better


mickyflinn said:
Personally wouldnt go for the i-5 for ur dad as danny75 says leave room for a gpu. Heres a rear case fan and led lights.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i3-4160 3.60GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £99.95
1 x MSI H97I AC Intel H97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 Mini ITX Motherboard £79.99
1 x Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX Mini-ITX Chassis with Window - Black £49.99
1 x Corsair Builder Series CX 430w Modular '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply (CP-9020058-UK) £44.99
1 x TeamGroup Elite Black 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C11 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (TPKD38G1600HC11DC01) £38.99
1 x Toshiba (7K1000.D) 1TB SATA 6GB/s 32MB Cache - OEM (DT01ACA100) HDD £35.99
1 x LG GP50NB40 8x Slim External DVD-RW Retail Kit (Black) £16.99
1 x NZXT CB-LED20-WT 24x White LED Sleeve - 2m £13.99
1 x BitFenix Spectre PWM 140mm Fan White LED - Black £11.99
Total : £406.97 (includes shipping : £11.75 Ex.VAT).

Click to expand...

Looks brilliant! Will look to get this, once confirmed whether to get a better but non modular PSU, if you or danny could recommend one?

Thanks guys!
 
mickyflinn said:
There is nothing wrong with the psu it's excellent value for money, unless your dad is gonna drop in a high end gpu then stick with what you have.

Hers is a good altenative as requested.

YOUR BASKET
1 x SuperFlower FX 650W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply - Black £49.99

Click to expand...

That's great. Will most likely stay with the corsair. Just asking to see what the alternatives are. To clarify, the corsair will support a GPU if it's required right? Thanks again anyway
 
lauy said:
That's great. Will most likely stay with the corsair. Just asking to see what the alternatives are. To clarify, the corsair will support a GPU if it's required right? Thanks again anyway
Click to expand...

It will support any video card that requires a single 6+2 pin connector. Which is fine for the kind of cards that your dad may need (if at all).

There's also the SuperFlower Bronze 450W or EVGA Bronze 500W, for example. Slightly cheaper and slightly better specs, other than not being modular which is unnecessary for that case. But if you fancy that Corsair go for it, shouldn't have any probs.

I think all you need to add is a fan adapter, because the motherboard only has two fan headers, one CPU_FAN and one SYS_FAN. Added an alternative fan and RAM suggestion too in the basket below. Just for looks in the case of the RAM as it'll only run at 1600MHz on that mobo anyway. The fan is excellent and not noisy even on 12v and displays ring patterns when it spins.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Kingston HyperX Fury White 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-14900C10 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit (HX318C10FWK2/8) £44.99
1 x Aerocool DS Edition Fan, White - 140mm £13.99
1 x Akasa AK-CB001 Single PSU 4-pin Molex to 4 Fans (AK-CB001) £2.99




lauy said:
Any room for some nice colours so the case is as nice looking from the window as possible?
Click to expand...

You can add coloured extensions too, but the cost really starts to pile up to the point you'd probably think it would be more worth it to spend on hardware that actually improves performance. So if any, I'd suggest just the one that is more noticeable - the big 24-pin cable for the motherboard because the 24-pin cables on the PSUs mentioned are the basic ugly type (except on the SuperFlower FXs I think).

YOUR BASKET
1 x BitFenix Alchemy 24pin ATX extension 30cm - White £8.99

 
Danny75 said:
It will support any video card that requires a single 6+2 pin connector. Which is fine for the kind of cards that your dad may need (if at all).

There's also the SuperFlower Bronze 450W or EVGA Bronze 500W, for example. Slightly cheaper and slightly better specs, other than not being modular which is unnecessary for that case. But if you fancy that Corsair go for it, shouldn't have any probs.

I think all you need to add is a fan adapter, because the motherboard only has two fan headers, one CPU_FAN and one SYS_FAN. Added an alternative fan and RAM suggestion too in the basket below. Just for looks in the case of the RAM as it'll only run at 1600MHz on that mobo anyway. The fan is excellent and not noisy even on 12v and displays ring patterns when it spins.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Kingston HyperX Fury White 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-14900C10 1866MHz Dual Channel Kit (HX318C10FWK2/8) £44.99
1 x Aerocool DS Edition Fan, White - 140mm £13.99
1 x Akasa AK-CB001 Single PSU 4-pin Molex to 4 Fans (AK-CB001) £2.99






You can add coloured extensions too, but the cost really starts to pile up to the point you'd probably think it would be more worth it to spend on hardware that actually improves performance. So if any, I'd suggest just the one that is more noticeable - the big 24-pin cable for the motherboard because the 24-pin cables on the PSUs mentioned are the basic ugly type (except on the SuperFlower FXs I think).

YOUR BASKET
1 x BitFenix Alchemy 24pin ATX extension 30cm - White £8.99

Click to expand...

All sounds good! If I were to get that RAM then is it worth getting a mobo that supports that speed or not really? I know you guys said to save some for GPU but I'm sure he wouldn't mind spending more just to get a better spec without saving some for GPU and just buy a GPU outside the budget if need be.

Thanks anyway!
 
lauy said:
All sounds good! If I were to get that RAM then is it worth getting a mobo that supports that speed or not really?
Click to expand...

Honestly won't make a real difference. I'd change CPU if I wanted to spend more. At least Football Manager will benefit a bit from that due to all the continue game processing involved, so can be somewhat justified, even if it's not a game that requires spending a lot of money just to run it.
 
Danny75 said:
Honestly won't make a real difference. I'd change CPU if I wanted to spend more. At least Football Manager will benefit a bit from that due to all the continue game processing involved, so can be somewhat justified, even if it's not a game that requires spending a lot of money just to run it.
Click to expand...

If that's the case, then what CPU if he wanted to spend more on that? i5-4690? He can still get a new GPU on top if need be.
 
Why not go for an APU though? It seems to me like it would be a better fit than an i3, even if just for having more versatility with its igpu.
 
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