spec me a new (cheap) pc

lostkat · 28-06-2008, 20:50

I'm pretty sure that my motherboard has just died because the computer's been having some strange problems this week and now it just sits there humming with a completely blank screen. Monitor doesn't even come on.

SO I need a new system, and I say system because I still run on the old type of ram (can't remember what it's called). I will also need a new hard drive since I don't have any spare and I can't format the 2 I have because they have photos/work stuff on them

I have very little wonga floating around atm due to operation kitchen, so I can't afford to spend much at all.

Soo, please can someone suggest a good, CHEAP combo of....

Motherboard (MUST be able to run IDE hard drives)
Memory
Chip
gfx
sound? (happy with built in)
and a cheap HDD

Thanks in advance

lostkat · 28-06-2008, 21:25

Right, just had a browse in Ebuyer and come up with this little lot. The motherboard only has 1 IDE slot for a HDD so I may as well get a bigger SATA drive to transfer 1 HDD's worth of stuff onto. Will this all work together? Any suggestions for a better/cheaper combo???

Seagate ST3250410AS 250GB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 16MB Cache - OEM
£32.99inc vat
quickfind code: 131301

AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620 SKT AM2 2.4 GHz L2 1MB Cache Energy Efficient 45w Retail
Boxed Processor
£25.95inc vat
quickfind code: 134746

MSI K9N6SGM-V GeForce 6100 Socket AM2 onboard VGA and 8-channel audio mATX
Motherboard
£27.99inc vat
quickfind code: 126138

Extra Value 1GB DDR2 667MHz PC5300 240pin Extra Value Ram
£13.00inc vat
quickfind code: 115961

Akasa AK 860SF - Processor cooler - ( Socket 754, Socket 940, Socket 939, Socket AM2
) - aluminium
£4.53inc vat
quickfind code: 126790

Innovision GeForce 6200 256MB DDR2 64Bit AGP Graphics Card
£24.14inc vat
quickfind code: 119720

Total £141.60

Zirax · 28-06-2008, 22:57

Not a better solution, but how would an AMD XP2500m or barton chip and mobile fit? Used to be my old server. Takes DDR (your old) ram. Its not going to be a gaming spec, but it'll run most stuff without any issue

I even have a hdd knocking about, 40gb and an 120gb iirc thats IDE

Justsomebloke · 29-06-2008, 11:12

Could you not just buy a replacement mobo & a small HD say an 80GB.
Rebuild using the new HD & then once up & running hook up your other HD's.
Post your Full specs anyway so we can see what we have to work with.

Daz · 29-06-2008, 11:46

Do you want to borrow my old Shuttle Kate? It's sitting in the garage doing nothing, was fine when I left it though

Can have it as long as you like, I'm sure you dont need to be spending anything with the kitchen and all.

[edit]If you'd rather sort it out on your own, I'd suggest this:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/19141...p-base-with-v/

Little more but everything will be new, if you wanted to upgrade it you wouldn't have to hunt for older parts, and you get a years NBD warranty. Plus you can be sure it'll all work together.

Del Lardo · 29-06-2008, 12:15

If it helps I'm sure to have an 80GB IDE drive lying around here somewhere.

lostkat · 29-06-2008, 19:03

Thanks for the comments and offers of help guys. I think my gfx card is also pretty much dead, which is why I was thinking of just going for a new system rather than trying to codge this one together for another few months until something failed. Also, I don't think they actually sell any motherboards like mine anymore. I forget what it is, but it's helluvaOLD.

Daz - the Dell one you've suggested. Could I reformat it (i.e. get rid of the Dell software) and upgrade it if needed?? Would I be able to transfer it to my Coolermaster case? This is always my worry when buying off-the-shelf computers. Also, could I plug my existing HDDs into it. One at a time would be fine. I only reformatted one a few months ago so there's not too much on it.

Daz · 29-06-2008, 19:12

Format it no trouble, transfer it probably not - the motherboards sometimes have custom fittings and the power supplies are proprietary. Hard drives - the internal mountings are usually custom but the hard drives are standard, so you could nick the mounts off whatever's in there and put your own in. Windows will unlikely boot though if you're thinking of doing that.

I've got an external caddy if it's just for transferring old data though

Upgrade wise you'll be set for a lot of it - those cases will take a standard full height GC, you can put your own RAM in and you could upgrade the CPU if you wanted, though they're not really designed with upgrading in mind (business systems - designed to survive a life-cycle then get refreshed).

Davey_Pitch · 29-06-2008, 19:41

I may have an old gfx card knocking about you can have Kate. Not sure what type it is any more, but you're welcome to have it

lostkat · 01-07-2008, 08:25

Hmmm, I think I'd rather have something that I can modify without having to worry if Dell have done something to prevent me from messing with it in all honesty. I know it's more of a faff to put it together, but it's a lot less faffing if I want to upgrade something or a component fails and needs replacing. I would also want one of my IDE drives in there permanently to back up my photos. I also already have a perfectly good case, PSU, DVDRW, mouse, keyboard etc. so I'd rather spend the money on the components only.

Thanks for the offer of the gfx card Davey. I honestly don't know if that's the culprit or not though. I can't even get it to display anything let alone boot so I don't know if it's mobo or gfx card. I suspected one or other of them would cork it soon though. Either way, there's not much point in me fiddling around for hours to salvage it. My computer was slow and couldn't run some programmes. Firefox and Media Player crashed constantly and I knew I'd have to replace it soon. Just a bit crappy timing. I can take some money out of my car fund and pay it back over the next 2 months to get a new system though.

In terms of the system I posted up. Any thoughts??? I want something that'll run Photoshop CS2 (and The Sims occassionally

), but no hardcore gaming requirements or anything.

28-06-2008, 20:50	#1
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	spec me a new (cheap) pc I'm pretty sure that my motherboard has just died because the computer's been having some strange problems this week and now it just sits there humming with a completely blank screen. Monitor doesn't even come on. SO I need a new system, and I say system because I still run on the old type of ram (can't remember what it's called). I will also need a new hard drive since I don't have any spare and I can't format the 2 I have because they have photos/work stuff on them I have very little wonga floating around atm due to operation kitchen, so I can't afford to spend much at all. Soo, please can someone suggest a good, CHEAP combo of.... Motherboard (MUST be able to run IDE hard drives) Memory Chip gfx sound? (happy with built in) and a cheap HDD Thanks in advance __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

28-06-2008, 21:25	#2
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Right, just had a browse in Ebuyer and come up with this little lot. The motherboard only has 1 IDE slot for a HDD so I may as well get a bigger SATA drive to transfer 1 HDD's worth of stuff onto. Will this all work together? Any suggestions for a better/cheaper combo??? Seagate ST3250410AS 250GB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 16MB Cache - OEM £32.99inc vat quickfind code: 131301 AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620 SKT AM2 2.4 GHz L2 1MB Cache Energy Efficient 45w Retail Boxed Processor £25.95inc vat quickfind code: 134746 MSI K9N6SGM-V GeForce 6100 Socket AM2 onboard VGA and 8-channel audio mATX Motherboard £27.99inc vat quickfind code: 126138 Extra Value 1GB DDR2 667MHz PC5300 240pin Extra Value Ram £13.00inc vat quickfind code: 115961 Akasa AK 860SF - Processor cooler - ( Socket 754, Socket 940, Socket 939, Socket AM2 ) - aluminium £4.53inc vat quickfind code: 126790 Innovision GeForce 6200 256MB DDR2 64Bit AGP Graphics Card £24.14inc vat quickfind code: 119720 Total £141.60 __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

29-06-2008, 11:12	#4
Justsomebloke The Night Worker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,228	Could you not just buy a replacement mobo & a small HD say an 80GB. Rebuild using the new HD & then once up & running hook up your other HD's. Post your Full specs anyway so we can see what we have to work with. __________________

29-06-2008, 11:46	#5
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Do you want to borrow my old Shuttle Kate? It's sitting in the garage doing nothing, was fine when I left it though Can have it as long as you like, I'm sure you dont need to be spending anything with the kitchen and all. [edit]If you'd rather sort it out on your own, I'd suggest this: http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/19141...p-base-with-v/ Little more but everything will be new, if you wanted to upgrade it you wouldn't have to hunt for older parts, and you get a years NBD warranty. Plus you can be sure it'll all work together. __________________ apt-get moo

29-06-2008, 19:03	#7
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Thanks for the comments and offers of help guys. I think my gfx card is also pretty much dead, which is why I was thinking of just going for a new system rather than trying to codge this one together for another few months until something failed. Also, I don't think they actually sell any motherboards like mine anymore. I forget what it is, but it's helluvaOLD. Daz - the Dell one you've suggested. Could I reformat it (i.e. get rid of the Dell software) and upgrade it if needed?? Would I be able to transfer it to my Coolermaster case? This is always my worry when buying off-the-shelf computers. Also, could I plug my existing HDDs into it. One at a time would be fine. I only reformatted one a few months ago so there's not too much on it. __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

28-06-2008, 22:57	#3
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Not a better solution, but how would an AMD XP2500m or barton chip and mobile fit? Used to be my old server. Takes DDR (your old) ram. Its not going to be a gaming spec, but it'll run most stuff without any issue I even have a hdd knocking about, 40gb and an 120gb iirc thats IDE

29-06-2008, 12:15	#6
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	If it helps I'm sure to have an 80GB IDE drive lying around here somewhere.

29-06-2008, 19:12	#8
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	Format it no trouble, transfer it probably not - the motherboards sometimes have custom fittings and the power supplies are proprietary. Hard drives - the internal mountings are usually custom but the hard drives are standard, so you could nick the mounts off whatever's in there and put your own in. Windows will unlikely boot though if you're thinking of doing that. I've got an external caddy if it's just for transferring old data though Upgrade wise you'll be set for a lot of it - those cases will take a standard full height GC, you can put your own RAM in and you could upgrade the CPU if you wanted, though they're not really designed with upgrading in mind (business systems - designed to survive a life-cycle then get refreshed). __________________ apt-get moo

29-06-2008, 19:41	#9
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	I may have an old gfx card knocking about you can have Kate. Not sure what type it is any more, but you're welcome to have it __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

01-07-2008, 08:25	#10
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Hmmm, I think I'd rather have something that I can modify without having to worry if Dell have done something to prevent me from messing with it in all honesty. I know it's more of a faff to put it together, but it's a lot less faffing if I want to upgrade something or a component fails and needs replacing. I would also want one of my IDE drives in there permanently to back up my photos. I also already have a perfectly good case, PSU, DVDRW, mouse, keyboard etc. so I'd rather spend the money on the components only. Thanks for the offer of the gfx card Davey. I honestly don't know if that's the culprit or not though. I can't even get it to display anything let alone boot so I don't know if it's mobo or gfx card. I suspected one or other of them would cork it soon though. Either way, there's not much point in me fiddling around for hours to salvage it. My computer was slow and couldn't run some programmes. Firefox and Media Player crashed constantly and I knew I'd have to replace it soon. Just a bit crappy timing. I can take some money out of my car fund and pay it back over the next 2 months to get a new system though. In terms of the system I posted up. Any thoughts??? I want something that'll run Photoshop CS2 (and The Sims occassionally ), but no hardcore gaming requirements or anything. __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?