Case, PSU, Keyboard and mouse

[sbanks]

Hello again!

I've basically spec'ed out my new machine now. I've just got a few final things to choose from. I could just choose from what's available and I'll probably be ok, but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask a few opinions.

Case
Any recommendations for a good case? It'd be nice to have one that looks good/impressive/quality rather than an ultra cheap one, though I don't want to spend a silly amount on a case.

One thing that's also very important is that I'd want one that was easy to use when assembling the PC. I've not got a lot of experience of this so would prefer to pay more for a quality case that made the assembling easier.

Here are a few I saw that looked possible:

1) Quite cheap with 450W PSU included - http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24482

2) More expensive, plus need to buy PSU - http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=25650

3) Again, no PSU - http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=16357

4) Lots of comments on this one, though only a 400W PSU - http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=18050





PSU
If I run an Intel Core 2 Duo with 1 hard drive and 1 DVD am I right in thinking that a 450W PSU or higher is advisable, which would also allow for a bit of future addition, like a 2nd hard drive if needed?


Keyboard and Mouse
While not the most expensive components, they're probably among the most important. I thought I'd get a wireless keyboard/mouse set. Any recommendations? E.g. I wondered about:

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24625


Thanks! 8)

[mac124]

Right first things first, if you are building a decent spec pc, and you mention C2D so i assume you are building something decent DO NOT use a psu that come supplied with a case ESPECIALLY if is costs less than £50 and even then id recommend you think twice about it.

Ok whats the full spec of this pc? Then we can talk psu. :wink:

In the mean time the Akasa Zen found here (http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=25262) is a spanking good case and for £30 puts alot of more expensive cases to shame i have one and it is great, 2x120mm fans included, stealth panel for 1 optical drive, front i/o everything you could need.

[sbanks]

Thanks Mac - that looks a good case! I may get one too!

Basically, the spec of the PC I want is Intel Core 2 Duo E6700, 2 or maybe 4 gig of RAM (800MHz), 150 GB Raptor HD (10k), motherboard with P965 chipset (have to decide which one), something like XFX GeForce 7600GT 256MB PCI-E DDR3 Dual for the graphics card, two (possibly 24\" widescreen) monitors, XP Pro, plus a few other bits and pieces.

I use a PC all day and as I'll be buying it through my business I'll save 40% tax and 17.5% VAT so I want to get one that's decent and that won't need upgrading for a while.

It's not one that's ever likely to have banks of drives in or that will be used for gaming. I just want a PC that'll be quick for 'normal' applications.

Which PSU would you recommend, then?

[mac124]

7600gt and not going to be used for gaming, yeah right :wink:

Ok your build is quite a power house so it needs to be a decent psu ok i would recommend a psu of around 500w ideally and from the likes of someone like Tagan, Seasonic, FSP and the like, ie big name brands. NEVER go for a generic comes with the case psu when building a high spec pc, ot might be ok for a while but i guarentee it will end in tears sooner or later.

Any of these psu's should do you nicely. They aren exactly cheap but you get whats you pays for.

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24287 (probably a bit ott for your build but its what i currently have in my gaming rig so i KNOW its top notch)

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24664

(if you want a modular psu)

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=24283

http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=19634

These are about the best choices from Aria, personally im not a hughe fan of modular psus but alot of people do use them and they should be just as good as their hard wired equivealents just a bit more expensive.

[sbanks]

Thanks again, mac!

Honest - I don't play games! Well, I did used to have chess for a bit, but uninstalled it a while ago and now don't even play solataire! I sit in front of a computer all day as it is, so really don't want to get hooked on games as I'd never go out!

I've never really been interested in games consoles, but I've got to say that what I've seen of the Nintendo Wii's got me interested enough to buy one, if anywhere ever gets them in stock! Not the most powerful machine, so the graphics aren't the best, but it looks fun! :)

It's going to be a pretty expensive computer so I'd prefer to spend a little more than I need to to make sure I get one that's fast, rather than try to save £30 and find that I got an underpowered graphics card. So I might be getting a card that's better than I need. But while I don't play games I don't know what exactly Vista requires from a graphics card.

Anyway - thanks for the suggestions! Like you say, the first one probably is more than I really need so I'll probably go for the 2nd as that one looks pretty good!

[Anonymous]

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