Need help buying a small but powerful PC

silvine

I am looking for new PC and need some help.

I work from home so the PC will have to be comfortable to use, tidy and small. I want a decent wireless keyboard, mouse and a good large monitor (preferably one I can plug an Xbox 360 into).

I also want to be able to play some games on the PC. I mainly play RTSs but I'd be interested in playing Crysis (not a deal breaker). If the PC can be easily upgraded, even better!

My budget is €1400 but I would like to spend less.

To be honest, I think I am asking for too much and am now leaning towards getting the iMac or the Acer 8920 laptop.

I know both are hard to upgrade and the iMac is not a games machine. However, I like the all-in-one nature of the two. The form factor and size would be perfect for my small workspace. And I do have an Xbox so I can always stick to playing games on that.

However, before I do buy a laptop or even move to the Mac am I missing anything? Are there any small powerful desktop PCs out there? They all look way too big, or expensive.


Thanks for the help.

L31mr0d

well... it depends. Will you be building it yourself? If so you'll want a larger case. Smaller cases look nicer but when you have to try and cable manage and work inside them you'll regret not going for one with a bit more space

silvine

I will probably just buy a custom built spec off the likes of Komplett.

L31mr0d

how big are you into PC's. I mean will you be overclocking? You could get yourself a PC worth 2k+ for around 1200 if you overclock

savemejebus

You could go the shuttle route. Get one of these http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=340380&view=detailed#ProductTabs and then add CPU, HDD, Ram, GFX and monitor.

You'll get a nice small form factor machine that will be quiet semi-upgradeable and will fit your budget. Also if you are doing serious work on it remember to add some sort of backup solution into your budget.

silvine

Is there anywhere I can buy a custom built spec with a case like that?

I don't really fancy putting in all the bits and pieces myself.

savemejebus

maybe from their website http://eu.shuttle.com/DesktopDefault.aspx/tabid-23/

silvine

savemejebus wrote: »

maybe from their website http://eu.shuttle.com/DesktopDefault.aspx/tabid-23/

Cool I'll have a look. Are there particular graphics cards etc worth looking at?

Also can anyone recommend a good 20-24 inch monitor?

Anti

savemejebus wrote: »

You could go the shuttle route. Get one of these http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=340380&view=detailed#ProductTabs and then add CPU, HDD, Ram, GFX and monitor.

You'll get a nice small form factor machine that will be quiet semi-upgradeable and will fit your budget. Also if you are doing serious work on it remember to add some sort of backup solution into your budget.

going the shuttle route is a good idea, but dont bother with the g33 model, there is a x38 version out at the moment that is much better, and cheaper then the one komplett are selling. Though i dont think they can be bought in ireland yet.

silvine

How does Shuttle system look (they seem a little pricey):

Barebone
SP35P2 Pro (including speed-link and fingerprint reader)
Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Home + Power DVD
Processor
E6750 (2x 2.66 GHz) Intel CPU (Core2 Duo)
Memory
4 GB DDR2-800 (4x1024 MB)
Hard Disk Drive
SATA 500GB Hard Disk Drive
Hard Disk Drive 2
Optical Drive
DVD +/- Dual Writer - black
3.5'' Bay
Graphic Card
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT 512MB
Additional ports
WLAN module WLAN 54 MBit/s (IEEE 802.11b/g)
Adaptor
DVI - HDMI Adaptor
Warranty
Pick-Up-And-Return-Service: 24-Month warranty on all original Shuttle complete systems
Keyboard
XPC branded Logitech UltraX Media Desktop wireless keyboard + optical mouse (silver/black - available in Engl. & Fr.)
Recommended Retail Price (net.) €1240.00
RRP (inclusive 17.5% VAT ) €1457.00

http://sys.eu.shuttle.com/configuratorConsumerPrt.jsf

savemejebus

That is horribly expensive. You could do so much better by putting it together your self and do it cheaper.

Surely you know someone that could put something together for you.

Just remembered. i heard a rumour of PC world selling off their Dell XPS 420 Stock with a 20" monitor for around 800 euro. Quad core processor (q6600), 4 gigs of ram, 8800gt.

Sqaull20

Im building the exact system you want, with all the stuff from Hardwareversand, its a very cool matx build with 9600gt and E2180 for overclocking...

You could get a cool little Thermaltake Lanbox, pimped out with Quad, 8800gts, 22" monitor, Vista 64bit for a bit over €1100 built and delivered,

With hardwareversand's pc configurator

http://www3.hardwareversand.de/3/pcconfigurator.jsp?pcConfigurator.step.1=1



http://www3.hardwareversand.de/3/articledetail.jsp?aid=9152&agid=635

silvine

Is there anyway I can translate that site? I don't speak German! And will they assemble all that for me?

Sqaull20

Click the English flag to the right and it will do an ok job of translating

http://www3.hardwareversand.de/3/home.jsp?lid=2

Yeah they will assemble everything for €19.99, its €34.99 then if you want them to install all the software, like motherboard drivers, graphics drivers, vista etc, but you can probably do that yourself...

Alot of people here have bought of them, including myself and find them very good, only negatives is 2 week plus delivery time and they dont accept credit card, only bank transfer, but thats only a 5 minute job...

Oh yeah dont go buying keyboard and mouse of them, different layout to what we are used to and thats about it...

That pc I spec'ed for you is high end, it will play every game out now fine ( even Crysis ) and that Q6700 is a serious cpu, armed with a good motherboard for overclocking and very fast ram...

silvine

Looks great. I might go with that.

2 quick questions:

1 Does that motherboard have on-board sound?

2 There doesn't seem to be any wireless networking cards to select. CAn I just buy one myself and put it in easily?

Sqaull20

Motherboard has decent on board sound..

Customer reviews of mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128085

System builder doesnt let you add on wireless network card, but you can email them and tell them which one you want to add on to your order or you can get one somewhere else and plug it your self...

I have this usb one and find it perfect

http://www3.hardwareversand.de/3/articledetail.jsp?aid=7252&agid=207