Spec me a build? <£600

Mr.Bon

Mr.Bon

Mr.Bon

Associate
Joined
2 Dec 2007
Posts
821
Location
Suffolk
Hi there,

This is my second spec thread, I asked for one back in May 08 but never built it because I bought a car instead. Now I get my loan in 2 months time and will be buying a new PC/Htpc
I think I am up for building one, or I might just buy one of the pre-built ones so its got guarantee/warranty :P

I've never built a complete PC before, BUT I have replaced some parts on current pc due to failure or ineed of upgrade, PSU, RAM, HDD, Custom made CPU fans, custom HDD Fans.....
So tell me, have I pretty much built a PC?

Here is my previous spec back in MAY '08 ........

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y245/bon72/spec5.jpg


I got a new budget now, much lower than the 1st spec (£1000)
New budget around £600
I need something decent and will last over 6-7 years or so

The computer is going to be used for;
  • Multi-tasking, a lot.
  • Auto Cad
  • Photoshop
  • Internet surfing
  • Playing HD and Bluray Movies (downloaded, not bluray disc so will not need blue ray drive)

I also want:
HMDI outs so I can hook it up to 50" plasma TV @ 1080p
HTPC Case such as Antec Fusion
As for primary screen, back in May 08 I was looking at Samsung 245b (£200 things) and the HAZRO screens, if any of you remember which one I am talking about.
Whats good these days? I want 24" Screen budget is separate, £150 to £250 :)

* I noticed in recent specs, people suggest the amd phenom..... so I guess the q6600 thing is old now....?
** I got a Samsung 1TB HDD, so if you could suggest a primary HDD that would be cool. Would another Samsung 1tb be good?
*** I forgot to add, I am really into HTPC, so one of the Antec Fusion HTPC Cases is probably what I want.
 
Last edited:
Hows this?

spec1-3.jpg


Question, why are RAM sticks sooooooo cheap? I think I saw 4gb Corsair for £20 lol? then some others at over £100, even over £200
 
Last edited:
This is my first build I put together last week.

Coolermaster elite 335 case - link
AMD atlon 7750+ black edition CPU - link
Gigabyte MA78G-DS3H motherboard - link
4GB Kingston Hyper X 1066Mhz RAM - link
500GB Hitachi deskstar HDD - link
OCZ Stealth Xstream 500w PSU - link
22x Samsung Dual Layer DVD+/-RW - link
Vista home premium - link

So far multitasking has been amazingly good (i've got 16 windows open at the moment including photoshop cs3 and canon digital photo proffesional and there's literally no slowdown) it also runs cad software smoothly too, and this is with integrated graphics!

It also has support for HD movies, though you'll need to add a blu ray drive unless you download you're films, and has an integrated HDMI socket along with realtek high definition audio.

oh and the total cost was around £370 :D
 
Mr.Bon said:
Question, why are RAM sticks sooooooo cheap?
Click to expand...

Too much supply, not enough demand. Additional problem is that semiconductor fabs don't react well to production being halted for a bit and then resumed later (like Honda are doing with their car plants) as its a continual process to keep the manufacturing process tuned to get good yields ... thus its not easy for the manufacturers to address the oversupply and to some extent there in a big game of chicken to see who will drop out first (e.g. Qimoda going bankrupt a few weeks back)
 
29ftod3.jpg


might have to fork out a lil bit more for a GFX card but the onboard not bad and the cpu will fly as CAD and multitasking, photoshoping were the main priorities and the mobo has HDMI output
 
HTPC is meant to run cool and quiet and does not tend to need powerful graphics card. You can always add one in with your order and install it yourself.
 
Newer generation built in graphics are designed specifically with HD video in mind so it'll handle just fine I'd imagine.

Both the fusion case and corsair psu can accomodate a full size PCI-E graphics so you can always add one in later should you feel the need so it's not such a big issue imo.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
Hows this?
And how did I go £200 over budget mhmmmmm.
What can I cut down on?




spec4.jpg



EDITED spec....
 
Last edited:
It will fit but I think for that price there are better coolers around.

Do you need a CPU to go with that setup as well? Are you going to overclock? If not then the stock cooler is perfectly fine unless you want it abosolutely silent.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom