Spec ples

[Matblack]

I'm so out of the loop PC wise at the moment and someone at work has asked me for advice so I'm passing it on to you guys

He's after a relatively inexpensive machine

Case + PSU
Motherboard
Dual core chip + heat-sink fan
4GB or more RAM
Only small HDD needed (have 2 x large external)

Monitor + peripherals already have

Basically its for 2D design work, Photoshop and messing with Cubase, no need for OS. He's happy ordering online so Scan or Ebuyer or whatever would be good, obviously there are places I won't be recomending ;)


Thanks guys


MB

[divine]

Vague budget?

Relatively inexpensive, to me says about £600 for the base unit, but obviously he may have other ideas :p

[Matblack]

Vague budget?

Relatively inexpensive, to me says about £600 for the base unit, but obviously he may have other ideas :p

Ideally much lower, under £400 if possible, it really doesn't need to be a powerhouse or a games machine, no video encoding but he would like to be able to use dual monitors. I said I didn't feel that quad core was really essential, don't know what you guys think?

As I said I'm out of the loop and stuff may have got more expensive recently

MB

[divine]

Well on Scan i just knocked together...

Intel E8400 C2D - £117.37
Asus P5Q motherboard - £80.83
4GB (2x2GB Corsair PC6400) RAM - £52.45
500W Seasonic PSU - £53.92
ATi HD4670 (2xDVI) - £64.59
Coolermaster RC-330 v2 case - £29.99
Samsung F1 320GB HDD - £35.94

Total - £445.02 delivered.

Some things in there could be changed through personal preference, such as the case.

The Samsung F1 drive will be sublime for using Photoshop on, they're lightening quick.

Wait for someone else to pass comment on the RAM, as I get confused, i've been told 1333 chips should be paired with PC8500 RAM, yet then told that PC6400 is fine. That's working on the assumption PC6400 is fine, because that's cheaper :p

[Mark]

Well, neither are optimal (i.e. 1:1) - PC8600 = 1066MHz, PC6400 = 800MHz.

Having said that, for most applications the difference, though measurable, isn't huge. PC6400 should work fine.

PS - might want to add a heatsink.

Any requirements for an optical drive?

[divine]

E8400 comes with a HSF, you can't get OEM ones (or at least couldn't last month) and he doesn't sound like the sort of guy that'll be wanting a bigger one for overclocking with, so no point in spending £15 on a Freezer 7 Pro really, unless he's really picky about noise...

[Matblack]

Thanks guys, I've pointed him in this direction, so if anyone has any further ideas please chip in :)

MB

[divine]

If he does need a DVD-RW, then there are loads of dual layer 20x speed writers for £15-£20 on Scan, just a case of picking a brand you like, Pioneer would be my preference.

[Admiral Huddy]

Novatech do some great values PCs.. I've been supplying them to customers for the last 12 months..from budget to top end.. Not had any complaints and very competitive.