Im finally looking to upgrade my pc. I remember a few years back this site was amazing for all the help i used to get (is serious etc still about?).

Anyway this is what im looking at and id just be really grateful of any comments etc :

 OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz Dual Channel Platinum Series DDR2
 Shuttle XPC SX38P2 Pro Black Barebones System Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad (LGA775)
 Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 "LGA775 Conroe" 3.00GHz (1333FSB) - Retail
 Point of View GeForce GTX 260 896MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) [ive not heard of POV so was kinda tempted by the BFG?]
 Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (ST3500320AS)
 Asus DRW-2014L1T 20x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer Lightscribe ReWriter (Black/Silver)

Personally I would swap out the 260 for a 4870.  

what os are you going to run ?
(vista loves memory and its dirt cheap right now)

aslo, it could be a good idea to avoid shuttles... tekheads stopped selling them because they were always breaking... and Ive had 3 fail on me (out of 4!)... Im sure plenty of people have been fine with them... and i still really liked em.... they just kept breaking

Quote from: knightywhat os are you going to run ?
(vista loves memory and its dirt cheap right now)

aslo, it could be a good idea to avoid shuttles... tekheads stopped selling them because they were always breaking... and Ive had 3 fail on me (out of 4!)... Im sure plenty of people have been fine with them... and i still really liked em.... they just kept breaking

xp (for now) I have official keys so may as well.

Ive had a shuttle for about 5 years now with no problems, the occaisional small hitch ive fixed myself.. thats why i went for a shuttle tbh... I am open to the idea of case/mobo, but im just not sure what a decent mobo is, last time i bought a mobo and case seperate it was a nightmare (some gigabyte heap of junk).

I take it you want it for gaming with having a GeForce GTX 260 on the list?

If so personally if I was starting building from scratch as already said I would avoid a Shuttle, even when they don't break ...they are still loud as hell and the cooling really isn't up to a gaming system these days IMO.

I would also consider buying 2 cheaper graphic's cards and running them in SLI, a pair of 8800 GT's would work out around the same price as a single GTX 260. Have a look at the game results in this review of a GTX 260: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3334&p=1 to see how a pair of 8800 GTs compare to a single 260, but of course you could also add another GTX 260 at a later date for an even larger performance boost over a pair of 8800 GT's if you would rather go with a single 260.

I would also go for a Wolfdale E8500 over a Conroe, tbh I have no idea why a 3 gig Conroe is more expensive the a 3.16 gig Wolfdale, the Wolfdale is the better chip

To replace the Shuttle I would recommend:
http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=607794 is a good solid mobo.
http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=608616 is a really nice case for the price
http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=608116 a good quality PSU.

Add a decent cooler like a http://www.tekheads.co.uk/s/product?product=606957 and that lot still works out cheaper than the Shuttle you listed

if you are using 32 bit XP then youll "lose" however much graphics memory you have out of the system memory.  32Bot OSen can only use up to 4Gb of physical memory in total.  No point in 4Gb if you are going "Normal" XP, you might as well got for 3Gb, or just get 2Gb and when you upgrade the OS to a 64Bit flavour later on you can upgrade to more RAM.

edit :: also almost every test ive read has seen the 4870 anything between 10% and 20% faster than the 260 GTX.  Neither are bad cards, but why spend the extra for a less powerful card?

Quote from: Beakerif you are using 32 bit XP then youll "lose" however much graphics memory you have out of the system memory.  32Bot OSen can only use up to 4Gb of physical memory in total.  No point in 4Gb if you are going "Normal" XP, you might as well got for 3Gb, or just get 2Gb and when you upgrade the OS to a 64Bit flavour later on you can upgrade to more RAM.

edit :: also almost every test ive read has seen the 4870 anythign between 10% and 20% faster than the 260 GTX.  Neither are bed cards, but why spend the extra for a less powerful card?

Good point about the OS and the graphic card front a pair of 8800 GT's is still faster than a single 4870 in nearly every test http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=1  

Quote from: ShaunGood point about the OS and the graphic card front a pair of 8800 GT's is still faster than a single 4870 in nearly every test http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3341&p=1  

However a 4870 will set you back ~£180, and a pair of 8800GTs will set you back ~£250, while also not allowing you to do any future upgrades unless you replace two graphics cards.  

edit :: At the same price point as the 8800Gt is the 4850, and that in Crossfire spec has been mentioned on various websites as the "Sweet Spot" for price and performance.  

You a bit out on your prices there chief Leadtek GeForce 8800 GT

Quote from: ShaunYou a bit out on your prices there chief Leadtek GeForce 8800 GT

Most places Ive looked they are £115 and upwards, plus its OCUK.  From personal experience I wouldnt buy from them anyway, not will many other folks Ive spoken to.  Aftersales service is somewhere between sh*te and Tiscali.

Beaker /sigh what is it about you and wanting to get into a pissing contest every time I post something on this forum?

If you have something you think is constructive to add to a post ...well post it!
No need to go on the attack every single time! Isn't it up to the thread starter to decide which path he wants to follow???

Note the code used in Punk's original post after Seagate Barracuda (ST3500320AS) is that not an OCUK stock code???

Note the links to Tekheads I posted above, if Tekheads had any decent 8800 GT's in stock at  decent prices I would have linked them.

I have had to use OCUK quite a few times lately because they have been the only people with the items I have wanted either in stock or at a decent price.

While they would not be my first choice to order from after a experience I had 5+ years ago with them,
tbh I cant really fault them on the service I have received with 4 personal orders and 6 or 7 orders from people who I told to order stuff from them this year,
they were all well packed but there was 1 faulty HD in that lot and the return was handled quickly and with no hassle.

Quote from: ShaunBeaker /sigh what is it about you and wanting to get into a pissing contest every time I post something on this forum?

Heh, hardly a pissing contest.  Youre the one that set out to prove me wrong, and im not.  At present the ATi products are the best bang for buck, pretty much every website agrees on that.  You appear to be hung up on nVidia, and im pointing out the other options.  If you feel im victimising you then please report me to the mods, if not then stop behaving like a petulant child.

edit :: the ST3500320AS isnt an OCUK order code, its the Seagate Manufacturer code, its instantly recognisable.  

Quote from: BeakerYoure the one that set out to prove me wrong

Point proven right there tbh :mutley:

You drag out the "fanboi" stuff again, lol I will not to reply to you again  

Quote from: Shaun

Quote from: BeakerYoure the one that set out to prove me wrong

Point proven right there tbh :mutley:

You drag out the "fanboi" stuff again, lol I will not to reply to you again  

Cool, after this ill extend the same courtesy to you.  Much simpler.

The links i provided were from overclockers (the reason being they offer interest free finance agreements on their products).

and I like the sound of the ati, but i had new idea they had new cards out :O (ive been out the loop for a while). Last i heard nvidea were owning the gfx market, but i am gunna give the ati some consideration.

Shaun thanks for the links to the case etc, sounds like a much better idea