Need some help picking a PC

[P5X]

I've narrowed it down to the following 3 options so would appreciate some input on which option would be best:

1) Dell Vostro 200 ST (slimline)
Intel Core2 Duo Processor E7200 (2.53GHz, 1066MHz, 3MB cache)
2048MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]
250GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst cache
MSI 8600GT 256MB GDDR2 DVI HDMI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1

£280

2) Shuttle SD30G2
Intel Core 2 Duo E7200
Crucial 2GB RAM
Seagate ST3500320AS 500GB Hard Drive SATA II 7200rpm 32MB Cache
MSI 8600GT 256MB GDDR2 DVI HDMI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card

£360

3) As option 2 but with a different case, eg:
Asus T3-P5945GCX
MSI Hetis 945GC
MSI Hetis G31
Aplus Blockbuster Storm


I'm not too sure about the chipsets used on the shuttle/other cases. Never bought a dell before so i'm not sure what their performance is like but the price is definetly right

[martinm10]

shuttle good for games - but seems expensive for the only extra 250gb - you can buy a HD for £50 for 500GB

[Mark C.]

I think the big question is what are you going to use it for?

[staffsMike]

I'd get the dell but none of them are going to be amazing at games, better off building it yourself for that.

[P5X]

I'd be using it mainly for general use, internet etc. but i'm also wanting to play red alert 3 when it comes out

BTW - the shuttle is a custom build priced using parts from ebuyer, the case is £150 and the other parts work out to be around £200.

I've been out of touch with the components market for a while. Is it best to go for an intel or amd cpu? Plus I can't seem to find any reviews of the shuttle SD30G2 case anywhere...are they not that popular any more?

[staffsMike]

Intel is a good way to go, but in this price range AMD isn't bad either. You will tend to get better motherboards for AMD, things like the 780G or nvidia 8200's for around £45 which have good onboard graphics but obviously if you are going dedicated then this makes little difference.

With say £300 I would build this,

Intel E5200 ~£55
Asus G33 ~£60
2GB PC6400 ~£30
640GB Western Digital AAKS ~£48 (could shave a few quid here getting an 320GB single platter)
Antec NSK3480 +380w Earthwatts ~£53
palit 9600GT ~£65
or
palit 9800GT~£83

Makes it about £310 but the 9600GT will be a lot better than the 8600GT and the CPU difference is tiny.

The case is very small but not Dell slimline or shuttle small. A very well rounded system though.
I guess if you need to buy a new O/S though the dell will become more and more appealing.

[Powderhound]

Why are you so insistent on the 8600GT, because it's one of those cards that is overkill for internet browsing etc. but underpowered for gaming. Have a look for a low profile HD 4670 or 4550.

[P5X]

not sure really, someone suggested it as it was one of the few low profile cards in my price range + it's available at ebuyer. Open to any other suggestions, only other requirement is to keep the noise down as much as possible

[Webby]

That shuttle uses a 945 chipset and probably wont be compatible with the 45nm (ie E5***, E7***, E8***) Intel CPU's out of the box, at the very least I would expect it to need a BIOS upgrade.

[Rookie1986]

You could try looking on somewhere like yoyotech.co.uk as they do system starting at just over £100

[P5X]

That shuttle uses a 945 chipset and probably wont be compatible with the 45nm (ie E5***, E7***, E8***) Intel CPU's out of the box, at the very least I would expect it to need a BIOS upgrade.

The SD30G2 Plus supports the e7200 cpu according to the shuttle website

[Webby]

Yeah the SD30G2 Plus may well do but your looking at buying the SD30G2 (as in not the Plus model) which according to shuttle supports these CPUs http://global.shuttle.com/support_list03.jsp?PI=644 where the 45nm chips are absent in fact all the 1333MHz FSB processors are not on there.

[P5X]

thanks for that. I think I may just go for a custom build using a cube case, that way I don't need to worry about which gfx card will fit inside (I think) so I could probably go for one of those suggested above.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a cube case/matx motherboard combination - are any of the cases I linked to in my first post any good?

Looking to spend around £130-150 for the case, cpu, heatsink & mobo if possible

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

A Silverstone Sugo SG02 may do nicely:

http://scan.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=sg02

The advantage with the G2 series Shuttles is that they are very small and will still fit a standard single slot graphics card.

The SD30G2 plus compatibility list states that both the 9600gt and 8800gt will fit:

http://global.shuttle.com/support_list03.jsp?PI=969

The advantage of using Sugo SG02 is that it will easier to upgrade with a new motherboard and PSU then the Shuttle will be.

[Webby]

Any particular reason you want a cube?

I think Mike has all ready provided you with the most realistic spec for the money, you will be hard pressed to find a Cube case, PSU, motherboard and CPU for £130 - £150.

CPU - E5200 - £55
MB - G33 Asus - £60
PSU - Silverstone Strider 35W - £30 (absolute minimum would be happier spending £40 on an Enermax Pro82+ 385W)

So thats £145 already and no case yet...

Alternatively

CPU: AMD 4850e - £40
MB: 780G Abit - £46
PSU: Same as above so £30-40

Total £116-126 without case

A cube case is going to cost you ~£40

CPU cooler is going to depend on the case, as this will determine how tall the cooler can be.

[P5X]

Any particular reason you want a cube?

I think Mike has all ready provided you with the most realistic spec for the money, you will be hard pressed to find a Cube case, PSU, motherboard and CPU for £130 - £150.

I was just looking for a cube because it seems like it'll work out cheaper to buy a cube+mobo+psu rather than a shuttle for £170ish...

I only really need a pc for general use and to play red alert 3 when it comes out so I've got around £300 odd to build a mid range pc, this is what I was thinking:


CPU - E7200 - £80
MB - G33 Asus - £60
Crucial 2GB RAM - £25
Seagate 500GB 32MB Cache HD - £45
DVD drive £20

That makes £230, which leaves around £100 for a case, PSU and gfx card. Only real requirement for the gfx card is that it's quiet, fits inside the case and is good enough for RA3. Can it be done? ...or is there an mobo with onboard gfx good enough for ra3?