Advise on upgrading.

[scaryjim]

The Antec P180 mini is only mATX anyway, so won't fit CATs suggested motherboard! In fact, it sounds possible that your case is mATX, in which case you'll either need a new case or a different motherboard...

[watforddude]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139978

its 50 pounds more expensive but, if i got a new case it would have to compromise in something else, like the PSU or RAM

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would at least get the PSU before the offer runs out for today!! Add it to your basket - hopefully it will not revert to its full price!!

This motherboard is the same size as the old one:

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152225...roduct_reviews

It is a reasonable overclocker too:

http://www.overclock.net/intel-mothe...overclock.html

http://www.silentpcreview.com/forums...ic.php?t=51534

Someone got a 1.6ghz E1200 to 2.5ghz. People who had issues were probably trying to overclock while using the integrated graphics!!

Not bad for around £46 which will bring you under budget.


The other way forward would be to get a larger case like an Akasa Zen or a Coolermaster Elite:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Akasa...U-(NEW-Version)

http://www.scan.co.uk/Search.aspx?q=COOLERMASTER+ELITE

[Badbonji]

[QUOTE=CAT-THE-FIFTH;1665966]

Someone got a 1.6ghz E1200 to 2.5ghz. People who had issues were probably trying to overclock while using the integrated graphics!!
QUOTE]

Overclocking on integrated is actually more stable, not sure what that is supposed to mean? It loads the PSU less, so the outputs are more stable.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

[QUOTE=Badbonji;1666097]

Someone got a 1.6ghz E1200 to 2.5ghz. People who had issues were probably trying to overclock while using the integrated graphics!!
QUOTE]

Overclocking on integrated is actually more stable, not sure what that is supposed to mean? It loads the PSU less, so the outputs are more stable.

It is nothing to do with power and is due to the chipset itself. I have had experiences with using 945 and G31 based motherboards before and having a separate graphics card always improves the maximum FSB speed attainable. This is probably since the system RAM is also being shared with the graphics chipset too and it leads to instability when running a high FSB. Also the P31(which does not have integrated graphics) is generally a better chipset for overclocking than the G31. However since a 320mhz FSB can be even achieved with the G31 Gigabyte motherboard the OP's E1400 can be overclocked to 3ghz easily(hopefully) so it should be enough for their uses.

Unless you cannot lock the PCI-E frequency while overclocking using a separate graphics card will always be better with G31 and 945 based motherboards. If anything thing this is why some people may get higher overclocks using integrated graphics since particular motherboards do not have this PCI-E lock and hence it is run out of spec when the CPU is overclocked.

Any of the PSUs suggested will provide more than enough power for the OPs system especially with an celeron dual core and a 9500gt.