£400 PC from a local shop

[fenurch]

So, a company is providing me with free £400 to get a new PC and I can't add in any other money so I have to stay withing the £400 budget period. Sadly it's not a whole lot but I still have to try and build the most PC you can get that will last for at least about 3-4 years. The PC will mainly be used for gaming and it would be great if I could still play games in about 2 years time without having to run them at super low and 640x480. So help me pick out the components and ALL of them have to come from www.mplex.com since it's my local shop . But if you can find a pre-built system (so, no components, but a system) that's good and cheap then feel free to post it up.

Just pick every component required to build a whole new PC (without monitor, mouse, keyboard and so on).


Big, big thanks
ATZ

 

[El_Mayo]

So, a company is providing me with free £400 to get a new PC and I can't add in any other money so I have to stay withing the £400 budget period. Sadly it's not a whole lot but I still have to try and build the most PC you can get that will last for at least about 3-4 years. The PC will mainly be used for gaming and it would be great if I could still play games in about 2 years time without having to run them at super low and 640x480. So help me pick out the components and ALL of them have to come from www.mplex.com since it's my local shop . But if you can find a pre-built system (so, no components, but a system) that's good and cheap then feel free to post it up.

Just pick every component required to build a whole new PC (without monitor, mouse, keyboard and so on).


Big, big thanks
ATZ

it HAS to be complete?

you can't spend £400 on most of it and add your own cash to buy a case?
also what do you already have?

OS?
Keyboard and Mouse?

 

[fenurch]

It has to be a fully working PC (not software wise, just so that there is all the hardware required so I can just pop in the Win 7 CD and all will be great).
Sadly £400 has to include absolutely everything (like case, PSU etc)

I have every peripheral and OS and well, a sound card I would take out from my old PC but that doesn't really change much.

 

[El_Mayo]

how's this:

 

[crazy pyro]

http://www.mplex.com/category-32/3373.html The one the above post recommended is IDE, this is 50p cheaper too.
That's the only thing I can find to improve.

 

[fenurch]

The only thing that worries me is the Motherboard and VGA.
Motherboard for the reasons that it's a cheap Gigabyte one that can't be upgraded (e.g. it only has 2 PCI slots and VGA will probably block one of them anyway) and the VGA (isn't the 9800GT really old and well, crap? )

So I've made up a little system myself to see what you think and would this be an improvment over yours or a downgrade especially CPU/MOTHERBOARD/VGA-wise.

http://www.mplex.com/category-32/3373.html The one the above post recommended is IDE, this is 50p cheaper too.
That's the only thing I can find to improve.

The CD Drive really doesn't matter since I've had my current PC for about 3 years and I've used a CD on it for about 3-4 times.


Or how about this - 2 Different i3 Systems (530 & 540)

 

[pantherx12]

You would want better then a 5450 really if your gaming, its a media centre card mostly.

 

[crazy pyro]

My point was getting an IDE drive is pointless when a SATA drive is cheaper and will last longer (in terms of just moving it to a new rig when this one gets outdated).

 

[kurosagi01]

The parts are kinda poor to choose from the website and really expensive,i would keep your case and DVD drive.
and just get these:

 

[fenurch]

Well crazy, thanks for the contribution.

Another option could be to make a setup from www.overclockers.co.uk since I'm pretty sure they build systems but I'm gonna send them an e-mail later to see.

So if you can make a better system from the parts from Overclockers then go ahead.


Also, big thanks for everyone's contribution.

 

[kurosagi01]

Can't you build yourself your own computer?? You should do it yourself its a fun and great experience.
Also forget about overclockers they are rip off.
This is definitely bang for the buck system just install your DVD drive and your sorted.
This from ebuyer:

Edit: change the Hd to the 16MB version its only extra £2
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/124735

 

[pantherx12]

You suck at shopping kuro! 500gb sata drives on the same site cost the same for better

 

[kurosagi01]

You suck at shopping kuro! 500gb sata drives on the same site cost the same for better

lols extra £3 more like for a 500GB Sata!
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146252

But the build overall kicks ass

 

[fenurch]

Except that I NEED to buy a pre-built system. It's not my rules, it's where Im getting the money from since I have to send them a receipt once I've bought 'this' computer. And it can't go over £400 mark, I've said that in first post as I CAN'T add in money.

 

[TheCrow]

What sory of resolution will you be gaming at? I use a 9800gt with a x2 6000 (3ghz) and most games run fine at 1680x1050, its only some that struggle with full AA and all eye candy on.

As for being a media pc card? Christ it'd be a beast of a htpc if that was the case.

 

[kurosagi01]

Except that I NEED to buy a pre-built system. It's not my rules, it's where Im getting the money from since I have to send them a receipt once I've bought 'this' computer. And it can't go over £400 mark, I've said that in first post as I CAN'T add in money.

So what your saying is you can only buy a system already build?? or buy parts and the store builds it?

Edit:
This best build i can think of from the website:

 

[KieX]

*Please forgive the size of my post*

Except that I NEED to buy a pre-built system. It's not my rules, it's where Im getting the money from since I have to send them a receipt once I've bought 'this' computer. And it can't go over £400 mark, I've said that in first post as I CAN'T add in money.

In my humble opinion, your client/customer has unrealistic expectations of what a prebuilt system will offer for £400. "Gaming" computers start from £500+ on majority of websites with pre-built systems. Yoyotech, Overclockers, Novatech, Scan, Dell.

My advice to you, and feel free to dismiss it, is to talk with your client/customer regarding this and any other research you've done into it. Their only realistic choices are to either re-consider the budget they've given you (not always likely to follow through), or present them with your well informed alternative. For instance, the post by Kurosagi01, at that price provides much closer system to specified requirements than any pre-built. All those parts have their own warranty too, and let's face it, most prebuilts are based on the same warranty too.

As a technician, if I may please call you so, you should not only seek to give your client/customer the most for their money, but also seek for yourself the benefit of future business with them. If you build them their system, you can also arrange for future work such as maintenace and repair too. Money that goes to you and not the pre-built system companies!

Well, at least that's my work code...

Reconsider this:

Can't you build yourself your own computer?? You should do it yourself its a fun and great experience.
Also forget about overclockers they are rip off.
This is definitely bang for the buck system just install your DVD drive and your sorted.
This from ebuyer:
http://img.techpowerup.org/100221/Untitled047.jpg
Edit: change the Hd to the 16MB version its only extra £2
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/124735

 

[pantherx12]

Except that I NEED to buy a pre-built system. It's not my rules, it's where Im getting the money from since I have to send them a receipt once I've bought 'this' computer. And it can't go over £400 mark, I've said that in first post as I CAN'T add in money.

Wouldn't sending them the bill for the computer parts suffice?

My mother got a grant for a PC for her nursing studies and it turned into rig in system specs

 

[fenurch]

KieX - I'm not building the PC for anyone but myself. And I would build it, if I could and I do realise that buying a pre-built PC is a rather dumb choice since they're usually just pieces of junk.

 

[Fourstaff]

So what your saying is you can only buy a system already build?? or buy parts and the store builds it?

Edit:
This best build i can think of from the website:
http://img.techpowerup.org/100221/Untitled858.jpg

This build is quite solid, and slightly over budget and optical drive is needed. £30 over is allright, is it not? I can't see anymore cuts, unless you are willing to game at 640X480 in 3 years time.

 

[pantherx12]

KieX - I'm not building the PC for anyone but myself. And I would build it, if I could and I do realise that buying a pre-built PC is a rather dumb choice since they're usually just pieces of junk.

Buy via a forum member and get them to do you a receipt

 

[kurosagi01]

This build is quite solid, and slightly over budget and optical drive is needed. £30 over is allright, is it not? I can't see anymore cuts, unless you are willing to game at 640X480 in 3 years time.

Like i said he could always take the DVD drive from his current system. and its not over budget at all if you look at the right its £395 in total and £410 because of postage which can be change.

 

[InTeL-iNsIdE]

Best build for that £ imo

 

[KieX]

KieX - I'm not building the PC for anyone but myself. And I would build it, if I could and I do realise that buying a pre-built PC is a rather dumb choice since they're usually just pieces of junk.

Sorry, must have misread the OP (will triple read from now on). I'll stick to saying it's best custom built though

 

[InTeL-iNsIdE]

Sorry, must have misread the OP (will triple read from now on). I'll stick to saying it's best custom built though

For those who didnt read the OP, it must be strictly within a £400 budget AND from the shop the OP listed, no OCUK, Ebuyers Dabs etc, I think my build 2 posts up owns