Advice on specific PC build please

[Leo123]

Hello,

I was just about to build a server and a sandy bridge PC but I have decided to hold off until the end of the year instead (I intend to use one of the AMD Fusion boards for the server eventually).

I am currently using an old desktop computer for my medicore tasks (itunes, web etc) and also as a central storage for all my media, documents etc.

Not having a separate PC and server will do for the time being, but my current set up will not, my embarrasing set up consists of:

AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2500+
MS-6570 K7N2 AMD Motherboard
HDD 1 Samsung Spinpoint F1 (1TB SATA) -
HDD 2 Samsung F4 Spinpoint (2TB SATA)
(HDDs Connected via VT6421A SATA PCI Adapter)
Advance MPT-300 300W PSU
Generic Armada Case - room for 5 hard drive ports,and 4 optical drive ports
Pioneer DVD-RW DVR 116-D
Additional 80-mm case fan
2 x 512 DDR 400 RAM (Crucial)
Windows XP

What I want, therefore, is a cheap upgrade to keep me going until I build a separate server and PC in the future.

I therefore need recommendations for a CPU, MOBO, RAM, PSU and Case.

A few of my criteria:

CPU - does not need to be particularly powerful, but needs to be efficient/cool - perhaps Athlon II x2 250?

MOBO - could get away with integrated graphics (unless it would be better to get a motherboard with really poor graphics and add a cheap discrete card). The board must also use DDR3 and have a DVT output. I would really like esata aswell but realise that it is quite easy just to add an e-sata backplate for this.

DDR3 - 4GBs

Case and PSU - I intend to keep these for the server I eventually build, so do not want to skimp too much on these two bits. The case needs to be quiet and the PSU has to be efficient and quiet too (though probably not particularly powerful in the circumstances. I was thinking perhaps the Cooler Master Elite 330 with either a SeaSonic SS-300ES Bronze 300W or Corsair VX450W.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot.

 

[Dangman]

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
3) Where do you live?
6) Will you be overclocking?
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?

 

[Leo123]

2) I would say £250 including tax, plus additional postage. That works out at about $400 USD.
3) UK
4) I will not be overclocking
5) There is no deadline for the build, but like to build in the next few weeks if possible.

Thanks

 

[Dangman]

Then go with the X2 250 CPU. For the mobo, go with a AMD 880G mobo by either Asus, MSI, or Gigabyte. The onboard video of the 880G chipset is more than enough for basic usage. RAM wise, just go with the cheapest 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM set you can find. Timings or RAM speed don't matter at all. The Elite 330 is a decent case. As for the PSU, go for the Antec Neo Eco 400C 400W or the Antec Earthwatts EA380D 380W PSU or Corsair 430CX (if equal in price to the other PSUs). If the Seasonic 300W PSU is cheaper than the previous Antecs, then go with that.