New build all round PC £550 (including monitor)

[kingteeb]

Approximate Purchase Date:
Preferably within the next week/couple of days

Budget Range:
About £550 (including monitor)

System Usage from Most to Least Important:
Browsing the web, word processing, watching videos/tv (Preferably buy a TV that can be used as a monitor.), very light gaming (Trine, possibly dirt 2)

Monitor Resolution:
1920x1080

What I am currently looking at getting:

CIT MTX-003B Black ITX Case 300W PSU
http://www.ebuyer.com/247134-cit-mtx-003b-black-itx-case-300w-psu-cscitmtx003b

Zotac H77ITX-A-E H77 Socket 1155 DDR3 8 Channel HD Audio mini-ITX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/386990-zotac-h77itx-a-e-1155-mini-itx-h77itx-a-e

Intel Core i5 3470 3.20GHz Socket 1155 6MB L3 Cache Retail Boxed Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/387256-core-i5-3470-3-20ghz-6mb-lga-1155-box-bx80637i53470

Crucial 4GB DDR3 1333MHz Ballistix Sport Memory
http://www.ebuyer.com/342389-crucial-4gb-ddr3-1333mhz-ballistix-sport-memory-bls2cp2g3d1339ds1s00ceu

Samsung 1TB Spinpoint F3 Internal Hard Drive
http://www.ebuyer.com/173804-samsung-1tb-spinpoint-f3-internal-hard-drive-hd103sj

Samsung SH-222BB SATA DVD Write Optical Drive | OEM
http://www.ebuyer.com/342873-samsung-sh-222bb-sata-dvd-write-optical-drive-oem-sh-222bb-bebe

And probably a 24" Samsung TV as a monitor, though I haven't properly looked at them yet.

Cheap mouse and keyboard.

I'm aware that currently there is no graphics card in this set-up and that if I wanted it to be able to play any half demanding game it would probably fall over. However, I do have a Radeon 5770 in another machine that I may upgrade soon. So in the back of my mind I'm thinking I can put that in this build at a later date if I feel I need to. (if the case will take it :\ may have to upgrade the PSU and it might be a bit of a squeeze.)



Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm a bit of a novice so if I have made any stupid mistakes please don't hesitate to correct me!


Thank you in advance for your time

 

[malbluff]

I know you are on a tight budget, but, honestly, that's a rubbish case, with rubbish ventilation, with a c**p power supply. You will find it difficult, also, if you ever want to upgrade. For your needs, you don't NEED i5. You would be much better to have an i3, and use the bit of money that releases, to build a bit better system around it.

 

[kingteeb]

Would this be a better case at all?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002VFG5A6/ref=asc_df_B002VFG5A69476704?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B002VFG5A6

if not, is there anything you can recommend?

I know that I don't really need an i5 for my current needs. However, the reason I picked it is that its becoming the norm to have a quad core processor and software is taking advantage of this fact. I also assume that paying this little bit extra now will save money in the long run as this system would last me longer than if I got a less powerful processor.

Thank you for your response

 

[malbluff]

If anything, it's worse. The power supply is too small to have anything but the processor, drives, and bits. There's no scope, at all, for any graphics. Is there a particular reason for having a mini case. They give you no scope at all. I know a mid tower and a proper power supply are a bit more expensive, but will be MUCH better, and last you a lot longer, cos you can add bits, as and when.

 

[kingteeb]

Well the main reason is because this PC is going to be used for university for the next couple of years. Which means space is at a premium and being able to easily transport it from uni to home, or to a new house easily is quite important.

 

[malbluff]

I see. I tend to think you might be better off with a laptop. The better Kepler mobile graphics cards are certainly OK for light gaming, and actually designed to be portable. Of the two minis, there's not that much to choose, but neither will take your graphics card (you really need 400W, at least), and I'm not sure how easy it will be to fit. You'd need to check spec's on the two cases, to see which is possible. If funds allow, you might be better to get a more modern, lower power (electric wise) graphics card. You don't need a lot, as long as you don't have to have high settings.

 

[kingteeb]

Well I'm not looking to get a graphics card straight away, so I suppose there will be plenty of options in the future of more powerful, but less power consuming cards. Having high settings isn't really something I am that bothered about. I know that I could get a fairly decent laptop for my budget, but I really find it easier to work at a desktop, especially with a decent sized screen. The temptation of sitting on a sofa with a laptop in front of the the TV is very high and certainly not productive

 

[metal orient]

Having been to uni myself, i'd suggest you go for a laptop as you'll appreciate the portability of it and it sounds like you don't need a powerful machine.