New Shuttle PC buyage - some help please!

[PeteJ]

I'm selling my laptop and getting a new PC, and after talking to Marcus and looking about, I've decided to buy a Shuttle and spec it far higher than I probably should.

So far, I have...
Shuttle SN 959 G5
Microdirect ?240

Monitor Samsung 710T
Microdirect ?293.75

ATI X800XT GFX Card
Scan ?298.45

CPU 3500+ Winchester
Microdirect ?138.29

RAM Corsair 2x512 DDR
Overclockers ?193.95

Raptor 80gig HDD
Microdirect ?116.31

DVD-RW Pioneer 108 Black
?49.69


As you can see, this is pretty expensive So far it is ?1360, and that's without any soundcard, keyboard\mouse, windows or wireless network card...

What do you think of the spec, and where do you think I can change things? I've been so out of touch with the PC market over the past two or so years that I really don't know what is good, what is overpriced and what will simply fail to work with other components.

If you can see something in my above list that is a bit OTT or whatever, then your help would be most appreciated

So far I've also found
some cheeper ram - Kingston 2x512 DDR ?145.64
and also a slightly less powerful CPU (3200+) for ?138.64

The harddrive is only an 80gig, but if I were to go for the Raptor (worth it?) I would buy a larger hdd (250gig or so) for storage and use the raptor for windows and games.

Do I need a soundcard if planning on just using headphones to begin with?

Is that graphics card the right one? I'm pretty sure I want a X800XT, but there are so many types of the same chipset that it is really confusing!

Ta for reading!

[Owain]

Dont bother with the raptors, sure the're fast but the're not that fast. Certainly not worth the money considering how GB they have.
Lovely monitor btw, the specs certainly kick ass.

[Ish]

You can never have high enough specced kit

I'd go for a bigger monitor though. Anything below 19" always seems teeny to me.

[Owain]

I thought A 19" monitor with a good responce time would cos nuts money, but after a quick browse on OCUK their quite good price wise.
The motion to get a 19" monitor is seconded.

[Kotatsu Neko]

Sounds like a nice system, but I'd agree on the bigger screen thing.

Try this one LINK

I have one of the original Shuttles myself. Nice little thing but sounds like a jet engine and overheats when I play Doom 3. (but it's fine with all other games). I think they're better now though.

[marcus]

I have the same shuttle as the one Pete is looking to buy, the only components that are audible are the GFX card and more notably the Raptor drive, which spinning at 10000 RPM isnt surprising. All in all, its damn quiet, although when you first power it on it sounds (for a few seconds) like a jet engine taking off, but once past the POST its quiet as anything.

The 19" monitor minimum is pretty much unanimous, Im sure Pete will regret not going for a 19" when he could do so :P

[PeteJ]

Ok, I'll look into a bigger monitor and get a bigger hdd (non-raptor).

I'd like to get the 19" version of the monitor I've linked in my first post, because I know how good it is, however I don't know if Samsung make a 19" version...shall looke!

By the way, that 19" dell monitor is ?500 - stupid price!

[PeteJ]

Ok - the 910t is the 19" version, however the price is ?360! Hmm.

I've also read that 19" monitors don't have as good a display as the 17" versions, this true?

[Kotatsu Neko]

Ok, I'll look into a bigger monitor and get a bigger hdd (non-raptor).

I'd like to get the 19" version of the monitor I've linked in my first post, because I know how good it is, however I don't know if Samsung make a 19" version...shall looke!

By the way, that 19" dell monitor is ?500 - stupid price!

The Dell monitor link I posted is 20" W/S, which for ?500 is pretty amazing value! It's on sale at the moment and will return to ?700 or so at the end of the month.

Just imagine HL2 on a W/S 20" screen!

[MartyG]

The repsonse time if often a lot slower, and in this case it's 22ms for that 19". Bear in mind that a 17" LCD will give you the same screen area as a 19" CRT, and often they have the same max resolution as 17" screens, until you start spending loads.

17" LCDs are plenty big enough for gaming IMO.

[Ian(not Ian)]

If you do stick with a 17" screen Overclockers have a decent one on offer this week under ?200

Hyundai ImageQuest L70S+ 17" LCD Monitor - Black/Silver (MO-018-HY)
The Hyundai ImageQuest L70S+ has an industry leading ultra-fast 12ms response time making it perfect for blur-free video and gaming.

- 12ms response time
- Contrast Ratio 500:1
- 17 Inch Viewable SXGA LCD
- 0.264 mm pixel pitch
- 1280 x 1024 @ 75 Hz Max. Resolution
- 1280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz Recommended for use
- Audio System: 2ch x 2w max, Earphone Jack
- Analog Input
- TCO'03
- Comprehensive 3 year on-site warranty

Previously sold for ?189.95 +VAT

Price: ?167.00 (?196.22 Including VAT at 17.5%)

[Pij]

Not seen the screen but what i will recommend if your local has one, PCworld are selling the Iiyama Prolite E435S 10ms panel for ?200.

It has both DVI and Dsub aswell.

[NeilMcRae]

get an intel chip and bin those disks. Hitachi's are quite quiet.

Neil

[PeteJ]

Intel chip, are you crazy?

Do I need a soundcard by the way...?

[Concept]

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=302657&cks=SPK

You can pick up the SB Audigy for ?40. Picking up a soundcard shouldn't cost much these days.