If you had to spend 3.5K on a desktop...

[BenW]

Havn't read other people's replies but i would go for a Dell 8400

They are using the new Intel processors so will be fast!

[Tom]

ive heard that the new a64 are actually faster than the p4's according to the anandtech review even for video editing?

[PeteSmith]

Nobody's got enough money to throw it all away, instead of buying any of these pre-built systems, take a look at the system spec and shop around for the indivudual components, then build it yourself, it's not rocket science. Even if you haven't built a system before it's worth doing yourself, because i promise you your wasting money buying a pre-built system. Build your own, if you get stucj or have any questions then forums like this will be able to help, thats if you can't find help on the web or from the instructions that come with the hardware. It's worth the extra effort.

[Stoo]

It's a work thing hence why he has a budget to spend..

Also hence why I recommended Kustom, spec built to order, job done.

[BenW]

Nobody's got enough money to throw it all away, instead of buying any of these pre-built systems, take a look at the system spec and shop around for the indivudual components, then build it yourself, it's not rocket science. Even if you haven't built a system before it's worth doing yourself, because i promise you your wasting money buying a pre-built system. Build your own, if you get stucj or have any questions then forums like this will be able to help, thats if you can't find help on the web or from the instructions that come with the hardware. It's worth the extra effort.

If you don't plan on upgrading though, if you jst buy a new pc in a few years without touching the one you buy now then a pre built pc will be a much better choice

[BigLad]

Well bugger me. I got the grant and I'm a white British born straight guy. Shurely shome mishtake? I thought I was going to have to convert to Islam and move in with Big Al from down the street to get any help...

Will be going for the Evesham Axis F-53 pro as soon as they switch over to socket 939 (they are still on 940 as of Fri 13th Aug). Laptop will be a Rock Quadra Ti 3.4 but I'm waiting for them to start using the ATI Mobility Radeon 9800 - no ETA as of Fri 13th August.

I'm currently using an old Sony laptop with a mobile AMD Athlon 1600+, 20GB hard disc, and 256 Mb RAM so I'm hoping I should see dramatic improvements lol. If not there's something very wrong...

Thanks for all responses guys. Much appreciated.

Will no doubt seek your expert advice when selecting the machine specs. before ordering.

BigLad.

[BigLad]

P.S. Machine choices were in large part due to preferred suplier/quote thingummy from work but I beleive those machines should be just fine and dandy.

[Jaym0nd]

Well if I had that ammount I'd have to make sure the following was included:

FX53
1TB HDD SPACE
2-4GB RAM
2x 6800 Ultra's in SLI
Vapochill Lightspeed
Coolermaster Wavemaster
42" PLASMA

And whatever else could fit in the budget if theres any left