£250 build - is it possible?

[DanceswithUnix]

I think they build the main heatsink on that side of the video card so that it can catch some draught from the CPU fan.

Still, the 8600GT link from SiM looks a superb deal and saves some cash.

Also saving a tenner, there are a couple of VIA 890 chipset versions of that barebones. The built in graphics are worse, but then you aren't using that anyway.

[freddie]

yup possible,

cheap case with psu - antec 4480 £50
motherboard s775 - 945 - integrated graphics - £50
E2140 - £40
2gb Ram - £40
optical drive - £15
hard disk 400 gb - £50
=£245

and you could prob overclock the processor a wee bit. it's not a bad combo i might do it myself!

have a look at scan or dabs for prices and maybe even bundles.

another thing is to buy a barebones case, that would be case, psu and motherboard. a cheap one can be had for £80! saving another £20

[Bleek]

I wouldn't ever trust a cheap PSU bundled with a value case.

[DanceswithUnix]

Lol, that woud be true of a 30 quid case, not an Antec case with bundled Antec Earthwatts PSU. There was a review of the next model up recently on Anandtech, and I have one in my rather expensive home theater Antec Fusion case (and it is still there, so I did trust it).

Same with the Asus cases, I know their PSUs are not the best but other than one developing a noisy fan they have yet to let me down.

Still, I think the Intel list proves to me once again that low cost is the realm of AMD where you get a graphics card for free and better performance (I assume for business use it will not get overclocked).

[mycarsavw]

Nope, no overclocking, this is a build and forget with scope for future upgrades.

Asus Barebones - £74.01

256MB GeForce 8600GT - £47.28

2Gb PC2-5400 - £33.36

Athlon 64 4400+ - £51.69

160GB Samsung - £32.54

Leaves £11.12 for potential fan upgrades.

A question for David, if he's still browsing, does the AMD come with a HSF?

[DanceswithUnix]

That is a Retail CPU which means it comes with longer warranty and a Heatsink+fan.

Ones without fan are marked OEM (though I think the recent Black Box ones also have no HSF).

Nice build, though if you dropped the requirement for a graphics card you could swap the boring looking barebones for a Shuttle

[mycarsavw]

I thought that was the way it worked, but couldn't remember if I bought an OEM or retail CPU for my last build.

All this building has my fingers itching, which wasn't the plan at all! That shuttle just made it worse

[this_is_gav]

The PSU in the Shuttle will be infinitely better than the one in the ASUS too. I'd pay the extra for that alone. Actually maybe not. VIA. Urgh. I'd rather saw my right foot off with a nail file. Starting from the waist.

[DanceswithUnix]

That shuttle just made it worse

lol, know the feeling. I very nearly used the slightly more expensive shuttle when my wife's PC keeled over, but ended up going the repair route.

Repairs are boring, but I always enjoy building a Shuttle

[eshrules]

Bumping to the top....

i'm the friend that wants this pc, any chance i could ask for a bit of direction here chaps? i'm getting the money together, so need a bit of advice now.....

im kinda hoping with technology moving on like it always does, i might get a bit more bang for my buck?

[directhex]

y'know, if doom 3 is the game of choice, windows doesn't even need consideration

[staffsMike]

Bit of flexability and bang for buck..

Antec Case + 380W earthwatts PSU - £55
Abit IP-35 - £60
Intel E2160 - £43
2GB PC5300 - £25
250GB Western Digital HDD - £40
Optical drive - £20

At this point you can swap the motherboard i've suggested for one with integrated graphics and reduce some of the flexability of the system. These can be had for as little as £45.

Or you can buy a graphics card.

ATi 3650pro - £50 for media, HD decoding etc..
Nvidia 8600GT - If it's for gaming.

[peterb]

It's basically an office machine so it doesn't matter what it looks like - go for the Asus barebones solution. If you are worried aboutthe PSU (I have built 3 or 4 of various ASUS barebones systems, and only ever had one PSU die) get an FSP ATX psu for for less than 30 from scan and swap it out. However that was on an early barebones system built about 6 years ago.

The most recent one I built (last year) was pretty well made internally - far more spacious, the CPU air flow was ducted to a vent at the side of the case, and build was dead easy - it took about an hour. (plus about abnoyther hour installing the OS - and another couple applying the upgrades - oh well!)

[staffsMike]

I was thinking about recommending the asus barebones but if you ever want to release a bit more of the CPU's potential I figured an overclocking board would be better.

[eshrules]

y'know, if doom 3 is the game of choice, windows doesn't even need consideration

forgive me .... but you've lost me there?

[mycarsavw]

forgive me .... but you've lost me there?

*nix will run Doom 3 perfectly well.