Solved Best computer for a value of £600 to £650

[whs]

I've got my SSD taped to the bottom of my case. It can't move and has no moving parts to break anyway

That's the way to go. No adaptors required. Works for me too.

The Crucial is a fine SSD. That would be my next choice too - after 3 OCZs and 2 Intels. And as was said, don't get too excited about data transfer rates - means very little. Even my 4 year old Intel Gen1 beats any Raptor Raid0 hands down. The secret is in the access time - and they are all around 0.1ms.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What's the max capacity for each SSD/HDD?

If I wanted could I have 5 hard drives all at 2TB?

I think SSDs are now maxed at about 600 GB, very expensive.

HDDs are up to at least 3 TB--may have even heard of a 4 TB??

I've heard of people who are heavily into video that have over 10 TB of storage space.

 

[Faceofjoe421]

Can you recommend me one with the hardware I have chosen please for a cheap price - £100 = $156.15

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Can you recommend me one with the hardware I have chosen please for a cheap price - £100 = $156.15

No.

I don't know anything about UK sources or prices.

See what you can come up with from Intel, Crucial, or OCZ with a size of at least 40 GB, preferably 60 GB.

A Windows install is somewhere around 15 to 20 GB, when updated. Plus applications. You could get by with 40 for a while, but eventually may wish it was larger.

My current SSD Windows installation is sitting at 28 GB. All of my data is on another drive.

WHS says the Crucial M4 is fine. It should be just fine, depending on price.

 

[Faceofjoe421]

One thing I am concerned about is managing the space.

Windows will use 15 GB, Swap File will use a lot, Applications and so on.

 

[essenbe]

I have 4 SSDs. Intel, OCZ and 2 crucial M4's. What WHS said is true. Access time is the most critical. The M4's have been very good for me, but the Intel is good as well. I always say the worst SSD is faster than the fastest mechanical hard drive. Any of the Intel or Crucial drives will do you well. I am using a 64Gb Crucial on this machine. All user files are on a mechanical drive, I have only the OS and programs on this drive and have 30GB of free space.

 

[essenbe]

One thing I am concerned about is managing the space.

Windows will use 15 GB, Swap File will use a lot, Applications and so on.

Managing space is not a problem. Just move the user files to another hard drive, disable hibernate and don't worry about the swap file, it is of little consiquence.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

One thing I am concerned about is managing the space.

Windows will use 15 GB, Swap File will use a lot, Applications and so on.

Managing space is not a problem. Just move the user files to another hard drive, disable hibernate and don't worry about the swap file, it is of little consiquence.

Essenbe:

I think this is going to be a single SSD, no HDD system, at least in the beginning---maybe for months, maybe for a year or more.

I don't know how many or what apps he will install.

 

[whs]

If the SSD is the only disk, some data could go to an external device. The wife runs two laptops with 60GB SSDs that way and keeps all her data on 16GB sticks.

I have one laptop with a 90GB SSD and never ran out of space. All a matter of organization.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Look here:

Novatech Barebone Bundle - Intel Core i7 2600K - Corsair Vengence 8GB DDR3 Memory - Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3P - Novatech Gaming Case & Thermaltake 700W PSU | BB-I7268T

This is a less expensive bundle from Novatech; 550 pounds---one step down from the 600 pound model you were looking at.

It is nearly identical to the 600 pound bundle. The only difference I can see is the case. They have the same CPU, motherboard, power supply, and RAM. You might find it preferable to go with this cheaper unit because you could then use the saved 50 pounds toward your SSD or a better monitor. If it were me, I would take this one, because a good monitor is something you appreciate every moment.

The case is still a regular ATX model.

Does anybody recognize it?

 

[Faceofjoe421]

Look here:

Novatech Barebone Bundle - Intel Core i7 2600K - Corsair Vengence 8GB DDR3 Memory - Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3P - Novatech Gaming Case & Thermaltake 700W PSU | BB-I7268T

This is a less expensive bundle from Novatech; 550 pounds---one step down from the 600 pound model you were looking at.

It is nearly identical to the 600 pound bundle. The only difference I can see is the case. They have the same CPU, motherboard, power supply, and RAM. You might find it preferable to go with this cheaper unit because you could then use the saved 50 pounds toward your SSD or a better monitor. If it were me, I would take this one, because a good monitor is something you appreciate every moment.

The case is still a regular ATX model.

Does anybody recognize it?

Will the SSD still be compatible?

The £600 one is sold out, looks like I will have to get a £550 one as long as the only difference is the case (is that a bad or good thing).

 

[essenbe]

Yes. An SSD is compatible with any computer that has sata connectors as this one does.

 

[Faceofjoe421]

So after having a proper look at the specs between both, the £599.99 has a slightly different case style and dimensions, is there any disadvantage about this over the other case?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So after having a proper look at the specs between both, the £599.99 has a slightly different case style and dimensions, is there any disadvantage about this over the other case?

None that we can determine with what we know.

50 pounds is quite a big difference between systems when the only known difference is the case.

If the 2 cases were sitting in front of me, I might be able to point out some differences, but I don't really know what brand cases Novatech is using.

So, barring more info, I'd choose the cheaper model to save the 50 pounds.

Both are full ATX and have plenty of drive bays. They would be equally upgradable as far as I can see.

The cases are the same depth. The more expensive case is about 4 cm wider and 4 cm taller. But the less expensive case doesn't appear to be cramped or overly small.

 

[Faceofjoe421]

What if I bought the whole system then bought a £100 case a few days after that, can I just take everything from this computer into that leaving this one empty?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What if I bought the whole system then bought a £100 case a few days after that, can I just take everything from this computer into that leaving this one empty?

Yeah, but it would be foolish. Why waste 100 pounds?

If you don't like the case on the Novatech, don't buy that system.

Find another supplier with a case you do like.

 

[Faceofjoe421]

What if I bought the whole system then bought a £100 case a few days after that, can I just take everything from this computer into that leaving this one empty?

Yeah, but it would be foolish. Why waste 100 pounds?

If you don't like the case on the Novatech, don't buy that system.

Find another supplier with a case you do like.

Because I want a computer that gives great performance for £600 now so I can gradually upgrade bit by bit without worrying about hardware or size.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Because I want a computer that gives great performance for £600 now so I can gradually upgrade bit by bit without worrying about hardware or size.

What makes you think that is not perfectly doable with that 550 pound Novatech system?

If you want to cherry-pick each and every part down to the level of fans, you need to do one of 2 things:

1: build it yourself

2: find a local builder, show him your list of parts, and have him build it.

If you buy a pre-assembled system of any type over the Internet, you may never get EXACTLY what you want.

I see nothing wrong with that case, although I don't have it in front of me.

What do you see wrong with it????

 

[Faceofjoe421]

Because the fan and stuff might not be powerful enough, so if I get a case upgrade I assume I can get a better fan too.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Because the fan and stuff might not be powerful enough, so if I get a case upgrade I assume I can get a better fan too.

Uhhh....................fans are replaceable on their own. Regardless of system.


What makes you think that the fans or cooling in the 600 pound system is better than the fans or cooling in the 550 pound system??