Build or Buy?

[Jam]

Going to go for that Antec 300 case, the Lian-Li ones are also nice but just too much for my budget.

Another question, are DDR3 and/or USB 3.0 worth it? I know DDR3 costs quite a bit and that USB 3.0 has a very small userbase so if they aren't needed that's more in the processor and graphics fund.

[Kieran]

If you can push for it, get DDR3. It's certainly a worthy upgrade if you can afford it. If not, make sure you get a DDR3 compatible motherboard. Then at least in the future you can upgrade to DDR3 without needing to get a new motherboard.

[The Professor]

If USB 3 is an option go for it, its only a matter of time until the standard is widely adopted then you'll be laughing! As long as it doesn't cost much though

[Stephen!]

If you can push for it, get DDR3. It's certainly a worthy upgrade if you can afford it. If not, make sure you get a DDR3 compatible motherboard. Then at least in the future you can upgrade to DDR3 without needing to get a new motherboard.

I would say only go to DDR3 if you need to. Performance differences are hardly noticeable compared to DDR2. Benchmarks will improve, but real life performance will not.

[Jam]

So far I plan to buy:

Antec 300 Case - £40
WD 1TB HDD - £60
650W Silent PSU - £40
LG GH22NP20 DVD-RW- £15 (Although may use from another PC)
Belkin Ethernet & 'N' Wireless Cards- £30 (As above)
Windows 7 Professional - £100 (Swear I've seen it advertised at that price)

So £315 left for RAM, Motherboard and Processor :/

[Kieran]

Well if your going to go i5, cheapest is around £140-150. A 1156 motherboard is probably around £70-80 leaving about £70 for Ram... Plenty of money for those three components

[Stephen!]

You may have difficulty finding 4GB of DDR3 for £70. Anything decent, anyway.

[Jam]

Yeah, I noticed its about £120 so I might just spend another £100 so its upto scratch and might be able to get a 2.8GHz instead aswell.

[N!ck]

So far I plan to buy:

Antec 300 Case - £40
WD 1TB HDD - £60
650W Silent PSU - £40
LG GH22NP20 DVD-RW- £15 (Although may use from another PC)
Belkin Ethernet & 'N' Wireless Cards- £30 (As above)
Windows 7 Professional - £100 (Swear I've seen it advertised at that price)

So £315 left for RAM, Motherboard and Processor :/

Graphics card?

Why an ethernet card? Motherboard will have ethernet.

If you're a student you can get Windows 7 for £30 (if you have a student email address) or you could pirate it. Otherwise it's £75.

Get this 1TB drive, not the WD. http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173804

[Jam]

Yeah I was looking between a WD one and a Samsung one (not sure if it was that exact one) but that price is cheaper than what I seen it at. As for the student discount, I'm only 15 and I've always thought that it was in 6th form/college you get given those, so not sure if I would get one if I asked.

Thanks everyone for being so helpful so far, my lack of knowledge would result in me proberly buying overpriced crap if it wasn't for you's.