New Computer.....self built? Mac? Dell?

[Mondo]

First of all, I haven't bought a new PC in about 8 years and not upgraded the CPU for 4/5 years. Well apart from getting a new GFX (ATI X800 XTPE 4 years ago) and upgraded to a Widescreen TFT around the same time, with a new PSU and more ram. It is still the same as P4 3.2Ghz, 2G DDR RAM (not even DDR2) as before.

It is time to get a new rig now, I am open to anything.

Options:-

1 - Get a iMac 20" or 24". Reason being that these days i don't use CAD (i did when i had the last machine), and these days its all Web, Photoshop and Lightroom. So I thought i would give Mac a chance.

2 - Get something like Dell, just base unit as i already have 2 monitors i can use it with...which also means they are a waste if i get an imac and i think a mac mini is not enough.

3 - Self Built PC....could do but i have no idea how to install the mobo and vaguely knows how to install the CPU and heat sink.

Obviously the imac is the most expensive but i think the price can be justified. A Dell unit often can be a bargain as it comes with an OS pre-installed and legit with warranty on the entire unit. Self built is cheapest and i can use windows 7 for the next 7 months at least.

I want something with at least 4G of ram, Quad Core if possible, low spec GFX would be fine, just enough to run HD res. HD wise, i am just going to get external from now on i think, with 1TB drives like £60, its easy just to fill up, and then back up and put it in the cupboard or something.

I guess the question is, i don't know what spec is good, what can one get for £600 PC wise? I know why imacs are as they spec are fixed on the apple site. But with PC i am very lost, which DDR are good?

Can someone spec me something for say £500 to £600? including case, and PSU.

P.S. I wanna go Intel, not AMD.....bad experience....

[Dymetrie]

I'm looking at upgrading to a Phenom quad system shortly and priced up the chip, mobo (gigabyte) and 4GB PC1066 for about £250-£300...

So if your budget is £600 then something like that with a decent case, PSU and GFX card should be easy.

Of course, most people will probably advise a core2 quad, I just like the name Phenom

[Mondo]

The thing is that i have no idea what advantages of one of them over an other?

If the difference in number crunching is minimal then i would save my money obviously...I have looked, there are quad cores at 2.44 ghz at £130 ish but there are ones at 3ghz or there about at £900 !!! WTF ?

[divine]

Originally Posted by Dymetrie

Of course, most people will probably advise a core2 quad, I just like the name Phenom

Indeed, because even if you get a Phenom that can compete performance wise with a Core 2 chip, they are hugely more power hungry.

AMD have been slapped silly in the CPU game recently and unless you have a motherboard already that will just take one, it takes a special kind of love to buy their stuff at the moment.

[Flibster]

Shuttle with a quad core, 4gb and if you use the onboard graphs it is easily done for that. If you're using external drives then there is no real need for much internal capacity which means you can go for the shuttle case.

Pluspoints - really nicely made little machine - will be quite rapid
Downsides - limited space inside.

Just a quick spec here.


4GB Corsair (2x2GB) TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18
£40.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, OEM
£143.36

250GB Samsung HD252HJ, Spinpoint F1, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ
£36.97

Shuttle XPC SG45H7, S775, Intel G45, DDR2 667/ 800 MHz, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), SATA 3Gb/s, On Board VGA
£288.57

Total - about £510

Add in any basic DVD writer for £20... or HD-DVD/Bluray and DVD Writer for £70

[divine]

Originally Posted by Flibster

4GB Corsair (2x2GB) TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18
£40.99

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, OEM
£143.36

250GB Samsung HD252HJ, Spinpoint F1, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ
£36.97

Can't go wrong with a Q6600 and 4GB RAM.

If you don't fancy the shuttle idea, a nice P35 motherboard can be had for about £70, with onboard sound, graphics card something like a 9600GSO for £65 provides plenty of beef for not a lot of cash and then a case to your liking, something like an Antec 300 for £50 and a 550W Corsair PSU for £50 again.

Of course that can all be done cheaper if you want. £50 for a P31 board, £30 graphics card, cheap case etc.

[Matblack]

[slaps self]

Strikes me the Mac is pretty much built for what you want to do with it.

I have to say that if I start to take a lot of photos I'll probably look at getting on in the future and keep my main PC doing exactly what it does now, acting as a media centre.

MB

[divine]

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro - P4 up to 4.4GHz - S775 Dual/Quad Core Ready - The Favourite One! £14.89 £17.12

4GB Corsair (2x2GB) TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18 £35.64 £40.99

550w Corsair VX Series PSU, ATX, PS/2, 5 year Warranty - see specs £60.55 £69.63

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, OEM £124.66 £143.36

Antec Three Hundred Black Midi Tower Case w/o PSU £43.99 £50.59

Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L, iP31 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 1066/667/800, SATA 3Gb/s, ATX £46.47 £53.44

320 GB Samsung HD322HJ Spinpoint F1, SATA 300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms £33.04 £38.00

Pioneer DVR-216DBK 20x DVD±R, 12x DVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RW x6, SATA, Black, OEM £16.49 £18.96

768MB XFX 9600 GSO, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), 1000MHz GDDR2, GPU 580MHz, 96 Cores, 2x DL DVI-I/ HDTV £57.99 £66.69

£433.72

£11.26

£66.75

Total
£511.73

I expect i've missed something vital there, I always seem to manage that.

[Dymetrie]

Originally Posted by divine

I expect i've missed something vital there, I always seem to manage that.

The operating system?

[divine]

Originally Posted by Dymetrie

The operating system?

He said he'd use Windows 7 if he self built.