£500 quad-core system - struggling!

[Taz]

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.

[staffsMike]

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.

[Thorsson]

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

[Hicks12]

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

[dagger_meerkat]

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.

[-iceblade^]

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

[fredered]

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.

[Rosaline]

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.

[Thorsson]

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.

[HSK]

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 :-\

[Taz]

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

[dagger_meerkat]

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

[Taz]

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

[Taz]

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

Thanks for that - that shaves £25 off the total price!

[dagger_meerkat]

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.

[[GSV]Trig]

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...