check my new rig for me?

[lost eden]

I'm planning on ordering the parts for a new C2D rig when Scan reopen after New Years. I'm building the cheapest C2D machine possible whilst still leaving upgrade potential.

This is the list I've come up with, which I think is now pretty final;



Before I order, can somebody tell me whether I've made good choices? A couple more bits of information to avoid the obvious questions; there is no optical drive because I will be using an external USB DVD-RW that I already have (just to save that extra £15), I hardly ever game so as long as 3D performance is comparable with my venerable 2GHz Barton + 5900 I'll be happy, & the machine will be running Linux so if anybody knows that any of this hardware is glaringly incompatible please tell me now!

[benwoodcock]

Whoops

[SiM]

No OS?

the machine will be running Linux

Spec looks fine to me, although I would try to get an extra £10 for 2gb of ram...

[benwoodcock]

Shop around to save money!

Yay for Linux!

Change the case to the coolermaster w CM 460W for £43 on ebuyer and look for a mobo with integrated graphics assuming you don't want to game much. What games do you want to play? (P5K-VM maybe?)

Change the CPU to an E21n0.

[benwoodcock]

Spec looks fine to me, although I would try to get an extra £10 for 2gb of ram...

Down the left hand side the quantities of stuff. He has 2* 1gig.

It looked a bit wrong that the RAM cost £10 and there was £15 VAT!

[menthel]

Though about one of the antec cases with PSU included? The PSU's are of a good quality and will run a decent rig.

[lost eden]

Change the case to the coolermaster w CM 460W for £43 on ebuyer

I'm a big fan of the 534 (I already own one) plus I would like to keep the entire order with Scan because of the free next-day shipping.

and look for a mobo with integrated graphics assuming you don't want to game much. What games do you want to play? (P5K-VM maybe?)

ATM the only PC games I play are NWN (the original) & Morrowind. However if I get back into PC gaming I may want to upgrade to a better graphics card/CPU for NWN2 & Oblivion.

Change the CPU to an E21n0.

E21n0?

Though about one of the antec cases with PSU included? The PSU's are of a good quality and will run a decent rig.

The only one I can see on Scan is the Sonata 3 for £72.72 compared to the £80.94 for the 534 + Corsair. I'll take a look at some reviews for the Sonata 3 (if it's anything like the original Sonata then it might be a viable option) to see if I wouldn't mind switching to it from the 534. How does the 500W PSU in the Sonata 3 compare with the 450W Corsair?

[staffsMike]

How about something like this

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

it has onboard graphics so you won't need to buy the 8400GS and the motherboard is £15 cheaper. Only donwside is it's uATX so you lose a few PCI slots and it's only got two memory slots but 2x2GB are getting very cheap now if you ever want to upgrade.

And as been suggested you could get something like
Antec NSK 3480 Micro ATX Case - 380W Earth Watts PSU

The PSU is quiet and efficent and the case it pretty good to. Only for uATX though like the motherboard.

There also the E2180 CPU. It's got a less cache and it's only 2.0GHz but it does save £25 and it can easily be overclocked to 3.0Ghz without even overclocking passed the motherboards native 1333MHz FSB.
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

it's more often than not on Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK for £50

EDIT: haha wish I had beaten your last post.. this kinda looks stupid now

[Lanky123]

Is the PSU in the Asus TA-37 any good? If its usable its on Today Only (about half way down) for £12.91...it doesnt look great but at that price...

[lost eden]

staffsMike:

So are the E2140/60/80 C2Ds or are they Pentium Ds? Because they're still Allendale core, so is the only difference between them the smaller cache, like the difference between Durons & Athlons back in the day? Because if so, I will probably go for the £42.88 1.6GHz E2140 & then save my pennies for a high-end C2D or low-end C2Q when I feel the need to upgrade.

As far as uATX goes, that's a no-go. I need the space of an ATX case along with the ports/slots of an ATX motherboard for my upgrade plans.

WRT the Sonata 3, it is only £8-9 cheaper but doesn't include a front 120mm fan so that's more like £4-5 cheaper. I'm tempted by the Sonata because it's fairly compact, but at the same time I'm tempted by the 534 because there's more space for expansion! I think I need to go search for some set-up Sonata 3 pictures online...

Also, I should really remember to check Today Only whenever I put together an order, there is *always* at least one of the items in my basket on offer for a couple of pounds less!

Lanky123:

I wouldn't trust a 360W Asus considering that I will be running 4+ hard drives & possibly a beefier graphics card in this thing sometime in the near future. Plus, that case leaves somethings to be desired visually in my eyes!

[staffsMike]

Yeah the pentium dual cores were originally branded core 2 duo's anyway. It's just the cache and they are very good overclockers anyway, including the 1.6GHz. They were selling OEM 1.6's for £29 a month or so back..that was a steal lol

To be honest I would get a cheapish case and the corsair VX to. It's a great PSU. Not quite up to the HX build quality (on the outside) but it's still super quiet and a great performer.

[lost eden]

I've been checking out the architecture & performance of the E2140 & it'll probably be more than enough for what I need - even the 1.83GHz C2D (which Scan no longer list) would've been overkill. That brings the price down to <&#163;270.

But now that I've seen the Sonata 3 I am starting to like it... I just like 'cosy' cases! Probably because I've built so many SFFs in my time...

[staffsMike]

Bit ugly and cheap on the outside but they are fantastic for quiet or silent PC's

Good PSU as well.

[lost eden]

Yes, the one thing I don't particularily like about my 534 is that it isn't overly quiet. I do want to be able to sleep in the same room as this new machine, if possible, so the Sonata is looking even more inviting...

Edit: It just keeps getting cheaper...

[staffsMike]

Looks like a decent silent build

I would probably stick with the IP-35E but there is a cheaper option for the motherboard if you feel like shaving a few more pounds.

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

Custom PC rated it very highly

[lost eden]

Order submitted

I stuck with the IP-35E, because I've always been a bit of an Abit fanboy (no pun intended!) & tbh I never expected to build the machine so cheaply so I've no real reason to shave the pennies even more by dropping to a lower chipset. I still can't believe how cheap this has worked out! It's going to be good to retire my 3x ageing desktops with this new machine & simplify things a bit!

Howver, because of New Year, estimated delivery date is Monday Ah well, I do have exams to be revising for... just would've been nice to have the weekend to get it all set up!