Buying a PC

Thenotsowyzewun

Hey I've seen a computer and I'm wondering if it's a good deal, note it's just a base unit (base keyboard and mouse) anyway here's the spec:

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (Venice) Processor
1024MB PC3200 DDR RAM
Radeon 7000 64MB Graphics
120Gb 7200rpm Hard Drive
LG 16X Dual-Layer DVD±RW
Standard keyboard
Optical mouse
8 USB ports (4 front 4 back)

It costs £349, and only comes with a basic warranty (manufacturer's guarantee plus a basic 1 year RTB for faults caused during building.
I wouldn't worry too much about the guarantee though - it's from a very reputable source.

Good deal?

CIS

certainly is

Browntoa

and the source is.....??????

Mr_Skint_2

Yeah tell me tell me...........

Browntoa

me first !!!!

Mr_Skint_2

No me !!!!!!!!

Browntoa

gone off to make sure they gets theirs......

left us two hanging on

Mr_Skint_2

Oooooh C'mon I hate hanging about......

Thenotsowyzewun

Hey me again, I was just trying to see if it'd got myself a bargain actually hehe. This is the computer I'm putting together (I'm having to buy a PSU aswell as the other parts already listed) anyway if you want one for yourself I'll post the shopping list later hehe (just wanted to check no-one'd come along and say nah you should get this Dell blah and I'd be like damn (cos I've already ordered it!).

Course I could build you one... I've got 2 jobs though you'd have to wait til I had a spare Sunday hehe.

Thenotsowyzewun

I'm at home now, so here's the list for y'all!

NOTE: Type the Quickfinder codes into ebuyer (non-referral link) to find the products quick!

Processor:
AMD (venice) Athlon 64 3000 + (ADA3000DAA4BP) OEM 512Kb Cache Skt 939pin £100
Quickfind code: 91935

Motherboard:
Asrock 939Dual-SATA2 £51
http://www.aria.co.uk

RAM:
Corsair (VS512MB400) 512MB, DDR400 / PC3200, non-ECC, 184 DIMM, unbuffered £33 x2
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=11061847299&action=c2VsZWN0X3Byb2R1Y3Rfb3ZlcnZpZXc=&product_uid=48122
Quickfind code: 48122

Graphics Card:
Connect3D Radeon 7000 64MB DDRc/Retail £18
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=11061977897&action=c2VsZWN0X3Byb2R1Y3Rfb3ZlcnZpZXc=&product_uid=63684
Quickfind code: 63684

PSU:
Ebuyer 600w ATX Power Supply in silver with Dual Fans £12
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=11062121411&action=c2VsZWN0X3Byb2R1Y3Rfb3ZlcnZpZXc=&product_uid=89191
Quickfind code: 89191

HDD:
Western Digital Caviar 120Gb 7200rpm Hard Drive - OEM £46
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=11062434784&product_uid=27486&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&filter_display=both&filter_order=rating_useful&offset=20
Quickfind code: 27486

DVD-RW:
LG GSA4163 16X DVD±RW Dual Layer Internal IDE (Beige) - OEM £30
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=11062569661&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=82782
Quickfind code: 82782

Mouse
Microsoft Optical Wheelmouse £5
www.ebuyer.co.uk

Thats it, for me it came to a grand total of... (looking for my confirmation emails...) £341.75

Admittedly the list above doesn't include vital things like a case or keyboard or screen but I've already got them.

wolfman

Not a bad setup. Budget may be of importance, but I'd be tempted to spend a fraction more to improve quality and make it more future proof.

Firstly, don't get an OEM AMD64. The retail is about 50p more (quick code 88105) and will come with warranty and a heatsink/fan. The OEM version won't.

Also, I don't like Asrock mobo's. They're very cheap and have never done well in any tests. For an extra £10 you could get the Abit KN8 Ultra (quick code 96984), a solid motherboard with SATA and PCI-E.

Because of the PCI-E on the mobo I've suggested, you'd need a different graphics card. You can pickup X300 for around £28.

With regards to the hard drive, I'd get a SATA drive instead. More future proof and faster for pretty much the same price as an IDE drive. The 160gb sata version of the WD (an extra 40gb) comes in at £45.50 (quick code 55236).

Those above items will have only added about £20 to the total.



Next I'd steer well clear of the 600W eBuyer psu (just because it's 600W doesn't mean it'll be any good). It's definitely worth spending a little more. The Tagan 380W psu (about £48 at Microdirect) is worth spending the extra money on. For stability, and future upgrades it's worth getting a decent psu first time round.

Alternatively, if your current case isn't great, have a look at the Antec Sonata II. It's a brilliant case, and it comes with a decent 450W psu. At £80 it's very well priced considering the quality you get.

Personally I'd go with the Antec Sonata. That'd take you added expenditure to £100, but you'd have a decent case for future systems, and a power supply that is reliable and will be able to handle any upgrades.

I know it may be out of your budget range, but then my advise would be to save for an extra few weeks, or try to stretch your budget as it'll be worth it.