New system recommendations please

[Fatman]

Hi folks,

I'm looking for recommendations on a new system, please. I've not been 'up' on PC hardware for a few years so I'm a bit out of touch on what's going on.

I've got a Barton So-A chip on an Abit nForce-2 board just now. However since nVidia isn't going to supply drivers for Vista RTM, I think I'm going to need a new setup.

I'm not fussed if the system is Intel or AMD based. However it must support an SATA RAID-1 array. I'm not into gaming at all, I need stability and reliability for coding work. I've got an Aero-capable AGP card, so if this new motherboard can support AGP (instead of that new fangled PCI-E !) then all the better. From what I've read, dual-core is the way to go. Can I assume everything (new, ish) supports 64-bit?

I'm guessing I'll need...
* motherboard
* RAM ('cos my current stuff is basic DDR)
* CPU & cooler

I used to have a Shuttle SV-24 SFF PC many moons ago, and I enjoyed that. Is there anything similar now that meets my requirements in the SFF shape? SFF has probably come on quite some way since back then! Don't worry if there's not, as I'll just reuse my current mid-tower aluminium Lian-Li box.

cheers,
Ben

[johnny02004976]

what sort of budget are you looking at mate?

[Fatman]

Hmm... doesn't need to be done on a shoestring budget but I'm not going to blow a grand on top of the range kit either. I don't know... less than £400 if we can but less if it's not needed. Sorry to be vague.

[Rack]

ASrock have a conroe board with AGP, and it's mATX too so you could get a small case to go with it, like the TJ-08 or Sugo.

Not that I'd normally recommend ASrock.

Then it would be Asrock mobo, E6300, 2GB PC5400 Crucial Value, case and 450W PSU (Tagan for example).

[MadduckUK]

the asrock rack is talking about, then slap it in one of these cases http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/108079/rb/23115556156
£50 with a 450w psu. bargain for an alu case.

[Fatman]

Thanks chaps. How would the story change if I abandoned the need for an AGP card and got a new PCI-E card instead? Could you recommend a solid motherboard from a less 'bargain-basement' manufacturer? I'd rather splash out on a new graphics card if it means getting a fundamentally more sound motherboard/chipset.

A relatively entry-level CPU would probably do fine. As mentioned above, I'm not into gaming and I'm guessing even a ~1.8GHz-rated modern chip would be a lot faster than my current 1.8GHz Barton and well capable of running Vista happily.

cheers,
Ben

[Steve B]

i'd stick with racks suggestion and get the Asrock board, its not the best, but for an easy transition from a) socket A - socket 775 and b) AGP - pci-e (the matx ASrock board has a pci-e slot, the one with AGP and PCI-E is standard ATX)

Buy a cheap graphics card like a 7300 series and away you go. its upgradeability in a bag

[Fatman]

If I chose against the Asrock hybrid route, how does this lot look?
E6300 Core 2 Duo (£115)
Abit AB9 board (£85)
2Gb RAM (£160)
Sapphire X1300 PCI-E (£47)
Some random PSU (£60)
Some random cooler (£20)

Is there a better way to distribute ~£500 between the necessary components?

cheers,
Ben

[Steve B]

i'd still advise going for the ASrock board and upgrading the graphics card