Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 34

Thread: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

  1. #1
    Taz
    Taz is offline
    Senior Member Taz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,152
    Thanks
    57
    Thanked
    29 times in 27 posts
    • Taz's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z270 HD3P
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5 7600K
      • Memory:
      • Corsair CMK16GX4M2B3200C16R Vengeance LPX 16 GB
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 960 EVO M.2-2280 500GB (PCIe) + 1TB Sandisk Ultra II SSD (SATA)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 OC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair CS550M 550W Hybrid
      • Case:
      • NZXT Source 340
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • 34" Asus Designo Curve MX34VQ UWQHD Monitor
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media M350

    £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    I need to build a new PC system for a friend but the budget is £500 max. For this I need to buy a case, cpu, memory, motherboard, graphics card, Vista 60 OEM, DVD-writer, HDD and PSU. I will reuse the existing 19" LCD monitor, mouse and keyboard.

    I would like to have a quad-core CPU, 4GB of RAM and Vista 64 to ensure the system has a useful life of 3-5 years.

    The PC will only be used for surfing, a couple of CAD/CAM type apps and emails. No gaming-capability required. It needs to be a near-silent PC too!

    So far I have come up with the following:

    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, Retail - £143.29

    Antec Solo Quiet Mini Tower ATX Case without PSU - Piano Black/Silver - £58.69

    500GB Western Digital WD5000AACS Caviar GP, Green SATA II, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ - £55.21

    Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1* 64Bit 1Pk OEM (DVD) - £61.79

    LiteON DH-20A1S-18C Black 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8 / -RW x 6, DVD-RAM x12, SATA Black - £17.61

    520W Corsair HX Series Modular PSU, ATX, EPS12V, whisper quiet, 5 year warranty - £65.55

    512MB EVGA 9600GT Standard, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), 1800MHz GDDR3, GPU 650MHz, Streams 64, 2xDL DVI-I/HDTV - £108.81

    This has already gone over the £500 limit and I have yet to include 4GB of RAM (probably around £60).

    So, where can I save some cash to allow for 4GB of RAM? If possible, I would like to keep the CPU (as it's an incredible bargain and this retail version comes with an HSF), the motherboard (as I already have a similar Abit motherboard) and the PSU (I already have the HX620W in my own system which is similar to the HX520W). However, alternative cheaper components with similar specs would be fine.

  2. #2
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    11,498
    Thanks
    197
    Thanked
    794 times in 741 posts
    • staffsMike's system
      • Motherboard:
      • evga 680i
      • CPU:
      • e6600
      • Memory:
      • geil ultra pc6400
      • Storage:
      • WD 320gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • leadtek 8800 GTS 640mb
      • PSU:
      • ocz gameXstream 700w
      • Case:
      • akasa eclipse
      • Monitor(s):
      • dell 2007wfp and Lg L194WT
      • Internet:
      • pipex homecall

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    Well you could get the antec sonata Plus + 550w modular PSU. The case is same, but it comes wit hthe PSU for £100 all in.

    If he is not gaming drop that graphics card. It's a waste. An ATi HD3450 for £27 will do CAD stuff, not sure about CAM. They will be passive though so avoid noise.

    Intel stock cooler will ruin a system like that so you need something like a scythe mine for £23 to make it really nice an quiet.

  3. #3
    No-one's Fanboi Thorsson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Neverneverland
    Posts
    2,750
    Thanks
    47
    Thanked
    93 times in 92 posts
    • Thorsson's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P8Z77-V PRO
      • CPU:
      • i5 3570k
      • Memory:
      • 2x8Gb Corsair Vengeance PC1866
      • Storage:
      • 256M4 SSD; 2Tb 7200RPM Barracuda; 2Tb Linkstation
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX970 SC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX650
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Win10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2515H
      • Internet:
      • Fibre Optic 30Mb

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    The Samsung (SH203) ODD is quieter than the Lite-On.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Hicks12's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Plymouth-SouthWest
    Posts
    6,586
    Thanks
    1,070
    Thanked
    340 times in 293 posts
    • Hicks12's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P8Z68-V
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5 2500k@4ghz, cooled by EK Supreme HF
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Kingston hyperX ddr3 PC3-12800 1600mhz
      • Storage:
      • 64GB M4/128GB M4 / WD 640GB AAKS / 1TB Samsung F3
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Palit GTX460 @ 900Mhz Core
      • PSU:
      • 675W ThermalTake ThoughPower XT
      • Case:
      • Lian Li PC-A70 with modded top for 360mm rad
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Professional 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2311H IPS
      • Internet:
      • 10mb/s cable from virgin media

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    not trying too be harsh or anything but i doubt you can get it for around £500, i spent £550 on my current rig excluding a case.

    Motherboard, you havent listed one yet but you could try a gigabyte p35 for something like £50(yes abit may be better but more expensive too).

    As mike said, cut down the gfx card too a 3450 or something.
    Does he really need a 500gb hard drive? you could get a cheap 250gb for around half the price.
    Switch the case too a coolermaster 690, cheaper and is good enough or you could even wait for the antec 300 @ £38 it should be good.

    PSU: could save a 10er by getting the non modular corsair 550w psu Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

  5. #5
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    83
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    8 times in 8 posts
    • dagger_meerkat's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Abit IP35 Pro [Snake]
      • CPU:
      • Q6600 G0 SLACR @ 3.33Ghz
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 2x2GB XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX 4-4-4-12 @ 1.9V
      • Storage:
      • Western Digital 500GB WD5000AAKS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB BFG 8800GTS OC PCIE 750/2000
      • PSU:
      • Tagan TG530-U22
      • Case:
      • Akasa Eclipse 62
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2007WFP S-IPS
      • Internet:
      • O2 Broadband

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    Your best bet is to save on the case + psu option ; there are some other options apart from the ones I have pointed out below.

    There are a number of cases that come with integrated 500W for as low as 24 pounds on Ebuyer like this, or this.

    Or there is the Coolermaster

    I am going to upgrade and I ended up shifting my old parts into this Extra Value Case and although my old PSU is a 530W .. this 400W handles everything like a breeze even after I have overclocked the old system. The case is solid, has enough space and I quite like it. Don't discount these cheaper cases with combined PSUs, they are very good deals.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    398
    Thanks
    10
    Thanked
    16 times in 13 posts
    • -iceblade^'s system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Neo2 FR
      • CPU:
      • Intel E2160 @ 3ghz
      • Memory:
      • 2x 1gb GEIL Black Dragon DDR-800
      • Storage:
      • Western Digital 320mb AAKS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gecube HD3870 X-Turbo III O.C. Edition
      • PSU:
      • Hiper HPU4m 580W
      • Case:
      • CoolerMaster Elite 330
      • Monitor(s):
      • Yuraku 22" Widescreen LCD

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    staffsmike or blitzen or someone came up with a super sexy quad core 500 quid build not long ago...

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    390
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    2 times in 2 posts

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...p-machine.html
    I believe has a build with similar requirements, but if you search q6600 £500 there are loads of threads which come up, no sure how relevent they all are, but if you have have time to trawl through them there may be some good ideas.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    524
    Thanks
    79
    Thanked
    67 times in 47 posts

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    I second StaffsMike with respect to the graphics card - if they are not a gamer, then a significantly cheaper graphics card will do fine, may well be passive, and can easily be replaced in the future if they get into gaming.

    I also agree with the comments regarding the hard drive size. You can get some very nice drives for around the £35 mark, shaving some money off to allow for other components.

    However, I must warn with respect to dagger_meerkat's suggestion of an integrated PSU with a case. With PSUs protecting your computer from full on mains voltage, you really get what you pay for. However, a full 520W is probably more than this system will need unless they really get into gaming bigtime and want a powerful graphics card. Corsair may do lower power PSUs that will likely still meet your quality requirements. Similarly, you might be able to get a cheaper case, but be careful of noise increases.

  9. #9
    No-one's Fanboi Thorsson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Neverneverland
    Posts
    2,750
    Thanks
    47
    Thanked
    93 times in 92 posts
    • Thorsson's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS P8Z77-V PRO
      • CPU:
      • i5 3570k
      • Memory:
      • 2x8Gb Corsair Vengeance PC1866
      • Storage:
      • 256M4 SSD; 2Tb 7200RPM Barracuda; 2Tb Linkstation
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX970 SC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX650
      • Case:
      • Antec 300
      • Operating System:
      • Win10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2515H
      • Internet:
      • Fibre Optic 30Mb

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    The Antec combo suggested by staffsMike is the exception that makes the rule regarding cases & PSUs. The PSU is a good one in its own right. The 3 suggested by d_m are not.

  10. #10
    HSK
    HSK is offline
    Over Worked & Under Paid HSK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    West London
    Posts
    2,369
    Thanks
    451
    Thanked
    139 times in 111 posts
    • HSK's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Z87-Pro Socket 1150 DVI HDMI DisplayPort 8-channel Audio ATX Motherboard
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 4770K 3.50GHz Socket 1150 8MB Cache
      • Memory:
      • Corsair Vengeance LP Memory CML16GX3M2A1600C9 16GB 1600MHz CL9 DDR3
      • Storage:
      • Seagate 2TB BARRACUDA 3.5" SATA-III Hard Drive - 7200RPM 64MB Cache X 2 + Samsung 256GB 840 Pro SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Point Of View 8800GTS 512mb PCIE DVI
      • PSU:
      • Corsair Professional AX860 Fully Modular 80 PLUS Platinum 860W PSU
      • Case:
      • Corsair Graphite 600T Mesh Black Case
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell UltraSharp U2713HM 69cm (27")
      • Internet:
      • Plus.net

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    Yea, i have a (small) black antec case nsk 4480 mini, that came with a nice earthwatts PSU, it's only 380w though, but seems very solid.

    and i think it around the same price as the one you've put down :-\

  11. #11
    Taz
    Taz is offline
    Senior Member Taz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,152
    Thanks
    57
    Thanked
    29 times in 27 posts
    • Taz's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z270 HD3P
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5 7600K
      • Memory:
      • Corsair CMK16GX4M2B3200C16R Vengeance LPX 16 GB
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 960 EVO M.2-2280 500GB (PCIe) + 1TB Sandisk Ultra II SSD (SATA)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 OC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair CS550M 550W Hybrid
      • Case:
      • NZXT Source 340
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • 34" Asus Designo Curve MX34VQ UWQHD Monitor
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media M350

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. The Antec case combo sounds ideal.

  12. #12
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    83
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    8 times in 8 posts
    • dagger_meerkat's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Abit IP35 Pro [Snake]
      • CPU:
      • Q6600 G0 SLACR @ 3.33Ghz
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 2x2GB XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX 4-4-4-12 @ 1.9V
      • Storage:
      • Western Digital 500GB WD5000AAKS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB BFG 8800GTS OC PCIE 750/2000
      • PSU:
      • Tagan TG530-U22
      • Case:
      • Akasa Eclipse 62
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2007WFP S-IPS
      • Internet:
      • O2 Broadband

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    There's this Antec with a 500W Earthwatts at £75?

  13. #13
    Taz
    Taz is offline
    Senior Member Taz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,152
    Thanks
    57
    Thanked
    29 times in 27 posts
    • Taz's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z270 HD3P
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5 7600K
      • Memory:
      • Corsair CMK16GX4M2B3200C16R Vengeance LPX 16 GB
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 960 EVO M.2-2280 500GB (PCIe) + 1TB Sandisk Ultra II SSD (SATA)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 OC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair CS550M 550W Hybrid
      • Case:
      • NZXT Source 340
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • 34" Asus Designo Curve MX34VQ UWQHD Monitor
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media M350

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    Okay, having taken on board some of the suggestions, i've added a motherboard and 4GB of RAM too and the price isn't too bad, still above £500 but not by a huge amount:

    Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, Retail - £143.29
    Scythe Miné Quiet Heatpipe CPU Cooler S478, S775, S754, S939, S940 compatible - £23.84
    ANTEC MIDI CASE SONATA PLUS 550 SIL/BLK - £99.82
    500GB Western Digital WD5000AACS Caviar GP, Green SATA II, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ - £55.21
    Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1* 64Bit 1Pk OEM (DVD) - £61.79
    Samsung SH-S203D/BEBN 20x DVD±R, 12x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, SATA,Black, OEM - £16.79
    256MB HiS HD3450 FullHD PCI-E2, 800MHz GDDR2, 600MHz GPU 40Streams, D-Sub/DVI-I/HDTV Silent Heatsink - £32.91
    Abit IP-35, Dark Raider, iP35 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX - £67.79
    4GB (2x2GB) Corsair DDR2 6400 2x256Mx64 non-ECC 2x240 DIMM unbuffered 5-5-5-18 64bit OS DHX - £60.68

    TOTAL: £562.12

  14. #14
    Taz
    Taz is offline
    Senior Member Taz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,152
    Thanks
    57
    Thanked
    29 times in 27 posts
    • Taz's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z270 HD3P
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5 7600K
      • Memory:
      • Corsair CMK16GX4M2B3200C16R Vengeance LPX 16 GB
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 960 EVO M.2-2280 500GB (PCIe) + 1TB Sandisk Ultra II SSD (SATA)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 OC
      • PSU:
      • Corsair CS550M 550W Hybrid
      • Case:
      • NZXT Source 340
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • 34" Asus Designo Curve MX34VQ UWQHD Monitor
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media M350

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    Quote Originally Posted by dagger_meerkat View Post
    There's this Antec with a 500W Earthwatts at £75?
    Thanks for that - that shaves £25 off the total price!

  15. #15
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    83
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    8 times in 8 posts
    • dagger_meerkat's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Abit IP35 Pro [Snake]
      • CPU:
      • Q6600 G0 SLACR @ 3.33Ghz
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 2x2GB XMS2 TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX 4-4-4-12 @ 1.9V
      • Storage:
      • Western Digital 500GB WD5000AAKS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB BFG 8800GTS OC PCIE 750/2000
      • PSU:
      • Tagan TG530-U22
      • Case:
      • Akasa Eclipse 62
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2007WFP S-IPS
      • Internet:
      • O2 Broadband

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    That's ok .. I was thinking .. why don't you for an IP35-E .. that goes very well with the Q6600 and its 10 pounds cheaper? And there is cheaper corsair ram if you want to look into it.

  16. #16
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    12,113
    Thanks
    906
    Thanked
    580 times in 405 posts

    Re: £500 quad-core system - struggling!

    Not read anything but the OP but why spend that on a case and then the same again on a PSU, I use the Antec SLK1650's here when I build machines, decent enough case and comes with a decent enough Antec PSU...

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. budget desktop for playing the sims 2 and expansion packs
    By lodore in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 29-03-2008, 05:37 PM
  2. Core 2 Quad & PCI-X? also POWER! How much is enough?
    By Vimeous in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 07-02-2008, 10:30 AM
  3. My PC won't fold...
    By Nemz0r in forum Software
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 18-01-2008, 10:02 PM
  4. Shall i wait for quad core?
    By No.72 in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 21-11-2006, 06:57 PM
  5. HEXUS.reviews :: Intel Core 2 Quad CPUs
    By Tarinder in forum HEXUS Reviews
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: 10-11-2006, 10:14 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •