My ageing AMD64 rig is starting to reach its limits (AMD64 2Ghz, 1GB DDR, 7300GS AGP, IDE), and it's been a looong time since I was into what's hot and not in the specialist PC press, so lazy me (at least I'm honest! :hihi:) could do with a bit of help with some initial specs, if only at least to get me started.

I haven't got a set budget to work to, but let's say sub-£500 and the cheaper the better. I only need a full base unit w/out OS (will be XP Pro, until Win7 comes out @ retail), I got the rest handy.

Ideally, I'd like -
* a small case (e.g. Shuttle, but not ridiculously small like XPC200 or e.g. EEEbox)
* only 1 HDD required, 500GB max (prob.SATA)
* only 1 optical drive required (dual-layer or BluRay)
* graphics-wise, the rig should be capable of running e.g. COD4 in 1280 at high/max settings at decent FPS (maybe Xfire or SLI, but not indispensible)
* not got a clue about which CPU or graphics, it's been too long!

So -to recap- small, potent enough in the games dept (but no need for a Crysis-eating monster), and cheap.

What says you educated lot, pretty please? :)

My ageing AMD64 rig is starting to reach its limits (AMD64 2Ghz, 1GB DDR, 7300GS AGP, IDE), and it's been a looong time since I was into what's hot and not in the specialist PC press, so lazy me (at least I'm honest! :hihi:) could do with a bit of help with some initial specs, if only at least to get me started.

I haven't got a set budget to work to, but let's say sub-£500 and the cheaper the better. I only need a full base unit w/out OS (will be XP Pro, until Win7 comes out @ retail), I got the rest handy.

Ideally, I'd like -
* a small case (e.g. Shuttle, but not ridiculously small like XPC200 or e.g. EEEbox)
* only 1 HDD required, 500GB max (prob.SATA)
* only 1 optical drive required (dual-layer or BluRay)
* graphics-wise, the rig should be capable of running e.g. COD4 in 1280 at high/max settings at decent FPS (maybe Xfire or SLI, but not indispensible)
* not got a clue about which CPU or graphics, it's been too long! :help:

So -to recap- small, potent enough in the games dept (but no need for a Crysis-eating monster), and cheap.

What says you educated lot, pretty please? :)

Some of the lower spec HP Pavilion Slimlines might fit your bill.

Hadn't seen/heard of these, thanks for the suggestion.

My current rig happens to be an HP Pavilion (bought when AMD64 chips first came out), and to say I used to build my own rigs (well before that, obviously) and the bad press HP ready-builts used to get, I have nothing but good things to say about it.

i'll sit down later and spec/build you one up.... the 3 month old is calling :P

Thanks Ghozer :)

I know all about 3 month-olds calling, been-there-done-that. Still the best time in the world, tho' :D

My ageing AMD64 rig is starting to reach its limits (AMD64 2Ghz, 1GB DDR, 7300GS AGP, IDE), and it's been a looong time since I was into what's hot and not in the specialist PC press, so lazy me (at least I'm honest! :hihi:) could do with a bit of help with some initial specs, if only at least to get me started.

I haven't got a set budget to work to, but let's say sub-£500 and the cheaper the better. I only need a full base unit w/out OS (will be XP Pro, until Win7 comes out @ retail), I got the rest handy.

Ideally, I'd like -
* a small case (e.g. Shuttle, but not ridiculously small like XPC200 or e.g. EEEbox) £85
* only 1 HDD required, 500GB max (prob.SATA) £50 (click) (http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.aspx?Quicklinx=4QXH&CategorySelectedId=11154&PageMode=1&NavigationKey=11154,45560000,42240000&InMerch=1)
* only 1 optical drive required (dual-layer or BluRay) £20 (click) (http://www.overclock.co.uk/product/Pioneer-DVR-216DBK-20X-SATA-Dual-Layer-DVD-Rewritable-Black,-OEM_6386.html)
* graphics-wise, the rig should be capable of running e.g. COD4 in 1280 at high/max settings at decent FPS (maybe Xfire or SLI, but not indispensible)
£80 (click) (http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=5DDW&SearchType=1&SearchTerms=xfx+geforce&PageMode=3&SearchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=0)
* not got a clue about which CPU or graphics, it's been too long!

So -to recap- small, potent enough in the games dept (but no need for a Crysis-eating monster), and cheap.

What says you educated lot, pretty please? :)

Had a quick look for you, get you started....

the bigges problem is, if your wanting a shuttle type machine, that limits your graphics card etc as you can only use microATX boards, this could also limit the graphics capabilities, especially if your thinking of CrossFire / SLI as there's no mATX boards (that I know of.. prove me wrong please) that support that because of the size constraints.

ignoring that for now....
Motherboard - Asus P5E-VM - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+(Intel)/Asus+P5E-VM+HDMI+iG35+Socket+775+Motherboard+?productId=305 81 - £92
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CPUs+%2F+Processors/Intel/Core+2+Duo/Intel+Core+2+Duo+E8400+3.0GHz+(Retail+775)+?produc tId=30243 - £143
GFX - ATI Radeon HD 4670 512MB - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/PCI-E/ATI+Radeon+4000+Series/Sapphire+ATI+Radeon+HD+4670+512MB+PCI-E2.0+?productId=33727 - £70
RAM - OCZ 4GB PC2-6400 Reaper HPC - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Memory/DDR2/DDR2+800+(PC6400)/OCZ+4GB+PC2-6400+Reaper+HPC+(2x2GB)+?productId=34468 - £35 (I have the DDR3 version of this stuff, and its solid as a rock, and cool as anything)
HDD - 500GB Samsung Spinpoint F1 - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Hard+Drives/Serial+ATA/500GB+Samsung+Spinpoint+F1+502IJ+SATA2+7200RPM+16M B+cache?productId=33024 - £44
PSU - OCZ 700W ModXStream - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/500w+%2B/OCZ+700W+ModXStream+Pro+Power+Supply+?productId=34 273 - £80
Optical - Sony BDU-X10S Blu-ray BD-ROM - http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CD%2FDVD+Drives/Internal/SATA/Sony+BDU-X10S+Blu-ray+BD-ROM+Black+SATA+Retail?productId=34470 - £58

Total £522 - this is of cause not including a case, but is the higher spec items, you could maybe reduce the power supply slightly, get a lower rated Optical drive (not BluRay for example)

Avoid Packard Bell systems, I had one years ago and had no end of pain in the ass problems with it, hence my distrust of small backstreet computer shops cos I was bought it from a shop on Commonside, Walkley (the shop conveniently went bust in early 1998, right after I got the PC for Christmas 1997)

Can Do Exactly Same Spec As Above Excluding Case £448

Can Do Exactly Same Spec As Above Excluding Case £448

I can do it cheaper if I purchased the parts myself... I was pricing up for him to do it himself, sourcing the parts from online like dabs, aria, overclockers etc...

http://www.tr1ckle.co.uk/basket.JPG

You might find a case more to your liking at a better price (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Silverstone-SG01S-W-Sugo-Evolution-Small-Form-Factor-case-in-silver-windowed-RoHS) elsewhere.

Not what I'd choose on a £500 budget, but it meets your thread requirements (though lacking an OS).

Edit: This forum's no image policy really hacks me off.

Much thanks for all the above, peeps :D

After checking the linkies, I'm leaning towards a DL optical drive rather than BD (I'm not going to use it as a media center, so little point), and a single GFX card solution (I don't do gaming or graphic apps serious/often enough to justify Xfire/SLI), so I expect I could reduce on the PSU as well.

Given that I've now decided to upgrade the TFT as well (currently 4:3 17"), savings will go towards that :)