Project "Value for Money"

[Thorsson]

If we are talking VFM rather than just cheap, I would go pretty much with Zak33:

Antec 900
Corsair HX520
Abit Dark Raider
E2160 or Q6600 (depends on whether any need for Quad - I do for instance)
WD 500Gb AAKS

2x1Gb or 2x2Gb named PC6400 (depends on use)
Graphics card very much depends on whether gaming (and what resolution & games).

[hermeticist]

Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS II Aluminium Midi-Tower Case £55 approx?

[TooNice]

I can't comment on the case/PSU much. The Antec 900 + a 520 Corsair is probably what I'd go if I really couldn't afford the extra £10 for the P182. But to be honest, I don't think that they are necessarily the best value for money. A case that cost half as much may not be half as bad - it's much harder to measure the bang for buck for those things. Even PSUs are partly subjective.

The Samsung T166 can more often be found for less than the AAKS (I got mine for under £50). At the same price, I think there is room for debates as to which one is more suitable, but with a £10-15 price gap, it may be king of bang/size for buck.

RAM wise, I don't think you can go too far wrong. those may well be the cheapest I've seen posted (but I wonder if its 2x1GB or 1x2).

Hexus hasn't tested the 3850 Pro (so I can't just link a simple bang for buck chart), but my impression is that the 8800GT would be more money for even more performance. It beats the 3870 with ease in that aspect (Palit Sonic is about £153).

I have no opinion on CPU. I've only been looking at the upper mid end (E6750, Q6600, E8400) and I am quite sure those carry a premium over lower models.

[staffsMike]

E6750 isn't worth considering with the new chips out now.

I have a soft spot for the Q6600 I think it represents very good value for money given how well it overclocks.

Pentium dual cores are well known for overclocking with little effort upto and above 3.0Ghz and since they are about £45 I'd say that was great value for money. You could of course get a bit of a lemon and it won't clock as high.

We have had deals floating around for the 512mb 3850pro for < &#163;100 and it's perfect for most games you could through at it @ 1680 x 1050 or less.

Antec 900/P182 + corsair 520w HX is a great combo for sure. It's what I would buy and recommend but whether it is the best value compared to something like the sonata 3 I don't know.

[TooNice]

I haven't quite looked at the pricing of the E6750 lately. If it hasn't budged since the release of the E8-series, then no, I suppose not. But if it eventually dip to just under &#163;100 (or say, 15-20&#37; less than the E8400), then it still represent good B4B.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

may i ask what you will use your pc for? gaming? photoshop, programing?

[Zak33]

It'll be used for Gaming and web use. Occasional photo editing, but gaming on the whole.

Resolution isn't the end of the world, the video card is gonna be potential for change, and so it's bottom of the list, but moving up fast.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

get a 8800GT, thats the best bang for buck card out at the moment