I've got £650 to spend what would you suggest?

[RichieLee]

Well the rig's been built and it's all working properly as it should. thanks for all the input guys. it's been a real help. Although I would've saved money by waiting for the GT I think my computers great and I cant complain about it! Only thing is that my 22" monitor reverts to using it's standard speakers in TV mode, I'd like to change it to my PC speakers but without having to physically change the jacks. I'll have to take a look around I guess.

Great PC, Great monitor! Lovely picture quality, and very very silent!

[Pob255]

4 GB is not worth it. Illustrator and Photoshop isnt what i would call "heavy" media/design work.

It is depending what you do with it, if you start working with A3 600dpi images in photoshop the memory is very useful.

That said if RichieLee is sticking to XP then 4gb is wasted and so is a quad core

Must say I'm currently putting a system to gether for a friend £650, no monitor, XP and it's pritty much the same as your specs Richie

Couple of things
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound, not really needed the ArcticCooling Freezer7Pro comes with MX1 pre-applied
That said if you are buy at Scan, they have the Asaka ak-965 on special this week for just over £10, a saveing of a couple of quid and it's suposed to be as good/slightly better than the ACf7p
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

And personally I would go for the Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer, optical are nice but Laser are better
I quite like the Logitech MX 400 Laser mouse as a basic corded laser mouse, I found the shape very nice.