How expensive is it to get a decent SFF? Thinking of getting one.

BabylenTatarsky · Jul 23, 2006, 04:19 PM

I'm talking around about the following specs:
2 GHz * processor - hmm, I don't really know processors so you fit in here.
1GB RAM
60GB or bigger HDD.
And then a good, not just decent, good graphics card.
Doesn't need to burn DVDs or have any fancy "sockets."

I'd also then need a flat screen monitor but 15" would do, and a cheapo mouse.

What pricerange would I be looking at here? I was hoping to spend less than a grand (British Sterling). The further away from a grand, the better.

Google says: UK£1000 = $1853.10US

This would be like my secondary PC, although bordering on having better specs for some reason, so it doesn't need all the best stuff - just decent stuff. I mainly want to play Counterstrike Source on it.

Randomletters · Jul 23, 2006, 05:20 PM

you could do it for way under uk1k but it depends on what you expect out of the machine, game playing aside,.

Edit: Saw you said mainly for lite game playing, Ill make up a rig list in a min.

Randomletters · Jul 23, 2006, 05:34 PM

Shuttle XPC SN27P2 Barebone $370
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ $108
pqi POWER Series 1GB DDR2-667 $76
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1600XT 256MB $130
Seagate Barracuda 160gb Sata II $63

Total price = $747 US All these prices taken from Newegg sorry if im not much help considering I dont believe Newegg ships to the UK.

BabylenTatarsky · Jul 23, 2006, 06:11 PM

Nah man, that's great. It's an excellent starting point (seeing as I'm bordering on clueless, here) for me to search for similar stuff on UK sites.

Thanks a lot.

Cheap as chips too!

BabylenTatarsky · Jul 24, 2006, 08:36 AM

The processor you listed is skt939, is it not? And the case AM2? That's if I'm looking at the right stuff.

Anyway, I got help with that and I've done some digging around and found the following:

Shuttle XPC SN27P2 Barebone - £328.94 inc.
AMD AM2 Athlon 64 3500 - £66.06 Inc VAT
pqi POWER Series 1GB DDR2-667 - £49.15
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1600XT 256MB - £81.77 Inc VAT
Seagate Barracuda 160gb Sata II - £42.42 Inc VAT
Total: £568.34 +del.

Does that all fit? Would it be a decent rig?

The main thing is the case that you've selected. I can't seem to find it stocked in many UK stores, and it is quite expensive as it's the first AM2 shuttle case apparently. However, if you think it's worth it, I can get it.

So an alternative, skt939 based machine (all from scan.co.uk):
Shuttle XPC SN21G5 - £210.67
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ - £68.02 Inc VAT
1GB (2X512MB) Corsair Value Select, DDR PC3200 (400) - £67.35 Inc VAT
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1600XT 256MB - £81.77 Inc VAT
Seagate Barracuda 160gb Sata II - £42.42 Inc VAT
Total: £470.16 +del.

How would you guys rate that?

Both fall well within my budget so I'm one happy shopper so far.

Thanks again for the work, and thanks in advance for the replies.

Randomletters · Jul 24, 2006, 08:50 PM

No the processor I listed is the AM2 ver.

They are both very decent rigs.

Considering its still a little more then half your budget I would go with the AM2 rig, The Socket 939 chips are no longer being manufactured and while yes the 939 chips will still preform well for the months to come, AM2 is only slightly more expensive, So theres no reason not to go with the newer tech.

Randomletters · Jul 30, 2006, 12:28 PM

So what did you get?

pr0digal jenius · Jul 30, 2006, 11:36 PM

starting with a barebones you can finish off the box [no input or moitor, etc...just the case and it's contents] quite well for $5-700 depending on video [500-ish is onboard, 700-ish is a decent PCI-Express]

BabylenTatarsky · Aug 1, 2006, 06:57 AM

Nothing yet. I'm still unsure about the gfx card.

Do you think I should just buy the rig I listed?
Shuttle XPC SN27P2 Barebone - £328.94 inc.
AMD AM2 Athlon 64 3500 - £66.06 Inc VAT
pqi POWER Series 1GB DDR2-667 - £49.15
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1600XT 256MB - £81.77 Inc VAT
Seagate Barracuda 160gb Sata II - £42.42 Inc VAT
Total: £568.34 +del.

Seems an alright price, I'm just a bit wary. Is the SAPPHIRE Radeon X1600XT 256MB a good graphics card?
Any idea what constant frames per second this rig will give me when playing Counterstrike Source?
Also, is this RAM any good? Should I have aimed for better?
Same questions for he processor too..

And besides the keyboard, mouse and monitor, is there anything I've completely forgot about?

I really don't wanna make any rash decisions and just buy for the sake of buying. Sure, the laptop it will replace is pretty sucky but that doesn't mean I'm in a rush to replace it, and spend all my money.

BabylenTatarsky · Aug 11, 2006, 03:26 PM

firyace · Sep 13, 2006, 08:13 AM

the 1600xt is a mid level ati graphic card, but its more than enough if you are playing css and more powerful cards might overheat in shuttles

BabylenTatarsky · Sep 16, 2006, 02:54 PM

I've still not bought anything. Grr, this always happen when I plan on buying something.

Pay day in ten days though, so I'm gonna order it then - no questions asked. Might risk getting a better gfx card though.

Are those specs massively out of date yet?

Randomletters · Sep 16, 2006, 05:21 PM

No thats still a decent rig, but hurry up and buy it already

BabylenTatarsky · Sep 17, 2006, 03:54 PM

Bollocks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabylenTatarsky

AMD AM2 Athlon 64 3500 - £66.06 Inc VAT
pqi POWER Series 1GB DDR2-667 - £49.15
Seagate Barracuda 160gb Sata II - £42.42 Inc VAT

One's vanished and the other are pre-order. What's going on?

Please help.

Randomletters · Sep 17, 2006, 04:32 PM

New Ram :

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=202604

New Harddrive:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=428743

BabylenTatarsky · Sep 17, 2006, 06:12 PM

You're very good, I must say.

How about processor? That says 'pre-order item' too.

I'm gonna order the stuff from scan.co.uk tomorrow!

Randomletters · Sep 17, 2006, 07:05 PM

Same processor, different vendor

http://www.ginger6.com/athlon-3500-5...il-p-6405.html

Feel free to click my reputation button if you feel Ive been helpful

BabylenTatarsky · Sep 18, 2006, 07:51 AM

I gave you some rep yesterday, I'll give you more when I can though.

Right, it's looking good!

Shuttle XPC SN27P2 Barebone - £313.20
AMD ATHLON 64 3500+ 512K SKT-AM2 - £61.08
1GB (2X512MB) Corsair Value Select, DDR2 PC5400 (667) - £85.23
SAPPHIRE Radeon X1600XT 256MB - £76.83
160Gb Maxtor 6G160EO DiamondMax Plus 17 - £38.85
Total: 575.19 +delivery

Someone mentioned overheating. I was thinking I could get a very good gfx card (say, £200?)
and then fill the gaps with fans. Does that box have any fans?

Any suggestions for fan type? I was looking at them and mst have different coloured LEDs and things - but they'll be boxed up so I don't care what the fan looks like. I saw an awesome golfball one though. Hehe, yeah - fans?

Thanks a lot for your help, Randomletters.

BabylenTatarsky · Sep 18, 2006, 10:52 AM

Ignore that, I've bought it!

Shuttle SN27P2 Barebones Socket AM2 - £313.20 inc. VAT
AMD ATHLON 64 3500+ 512K SKT-AM2 RETAIL - £61.08 inc. VAT
1GB (2X512MB) Corsair Value Select, DDR2 PC5400 (667) - £85.23 inc. VAT
256MB Leadtek 7950GT, PCI-E (x16) - £170.01 inc. VAT
160Gb Maxtor 6G160EO DiamondMax Plus 17 £38.85 inc. VAT
LiteOn 16X DVD+/-RW Double Layer - £19.46 inc. VAT
80mm Sharkoon 1000 "Golf Ball" Ultra Quiet 8.9 dB(A) Case Fan - £4.45 inc. VAT
Chic Black Wireless Multimedia Keyboard - £7.98 inc. VAT
Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 4000 - £18.99 inc. VAT
Delivery - £24.69
-------------------------
Total - 743.94
-------------------------

All I need now is a cheapass flat monitor. Any suggestions? I've been told I should aim for one that's 400cd/m2 or higher, but I understand that'll come at extra cost.

scan.co.uk's collection is a bit small so preferably from somewhere else. And preferably black to match everything else.

I won't give an exact price because for the next eight days I only have £147.24 left to my name. Payday soon though, so I can spare a bit more than that. I don't fancy spending ~£300 though. £200 max, probably - and even that's really high.

Thanks again for the help! I just hope it all fits together.

Randomletters · Sep 18, 2006, 03:02 PM

For a cheap/decent Monitor I'd reccomend an Acer AL1706 $160US http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009088

Its what I use and it suits me just fine, Coming from an old 17" CRT monitor to this was almost Night/day Difference, Colors were far more vibrant and the overall picturee was clearer.

BabylenTatarsky · Sep 19, 2006, 02:50 PM

Is it possible to overclock this rig? Lemme rephrase, is it worth it?

I've never done it before though.

(Status: Still searching for a monitor. Processor arrived. Got myself an antistatic wristband, just incase. And I've started to really worry that my gfx card won't fit in my box.)

niceguyrichy · Sep 20, 2006, 08:12 AM

the GF card should fit, I wouldn't worry overly about that (I had a gigantic mofo of an X800 in a tiny shuttle, so..)

Dabs do a 19" widescreen tft with decent spec (think 5ms response) for around £120 / 130 inc vat, seems decent value if you don't want to drop ridiculous amounts of cash on a dell or samsung

BabylenTatarsky · Sep 21, 2006, 01:28 PM

Grr, nothing but problems so far. Which numbnuts forgot to order that paste stuff for his processor?

I decided to install some version of Windows XP that my bro got as it wasn't loaded with crap but had the Windows Updates on. But when it had installed, Network Creation Wizard didn't work. Fresh install time!

So I figured I'd install windows XP x64 edition - bollocks! It doesn't like my gfx card or CS Source. Bye bye 64 bit version!

Now I'm burning a regular joe copy of Windows XP Pro (w/ SP2) and if it doesn't work - I'm gonna murder some people.

Another thing, when I right-click my computer and click properties - it just says 1GB RAM and there's no mention of my processor. Apparently Belarc Advisor (? heh, going off what my bro said) picked it up fine as 2.2 GHz. Is something wrong there?

One thing that is wrong though - when I press shutdown, it does shutdown. But the light on theback stays lit and it sounds like a fan or something's still going inside. Then if I press the 'on' button on the front - it all starts going and the monitor comes on. I have to switch the switch off at the back for it to silence. Does anyone know why this is?

Meh, noober here, please help.

[This keyboard and monitor are so crap it hurts, so ignore any mistakes!)

Hehe, scrolling kills my eyes. Stupid apparently non-existant 3d card.

BabylenTatarsky · Sep 24, 2006, 12:43 PM

I've had nothing but trouble from that SATA harddrive.

I'll buy an IDE one when I get paid.

Does this 250 Gb Samsung SP2514NSpinPoint P120 look alright?