[zovat]

Originally Posted by Bifta

Forget going for a P4, go for an Asus A78NX deluxe Nforce 2 motherboard, 2 x onboard lan, loads of USB 2 ports. A fantastic (and reasonably priced) board. If you don't have a soundcard to use, the soundstorm audio is pretty good, but I'd recommend a decent creative card (Audigy/2/ZS)

I agree - the NForce 2 chipset is pretty good.

Originally Posted by Bifta

Go for a white chieftec, solid as a rock.

http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/...=16141&cat=288

None other than your CPU HSF, you won't be having any real performance parts so you shouldn't generate any heat that the PSU fan can't dissipate, if you're not comfortable with none, just stick one at the top of the back of the case (blowing outwards)

I went for an iCute case - but with additional fans (one on top sucking in - one one the side blowing out..), as the room the computer is in gets warm.. cost £30 or so.

Originally Posted by Bifta

Optical drives are dirt cheap now, takes around 30 minutes to burn a film on my 4x writer, but I tend to burn more normal CD's as it never seems to fail no matter what media I use.

If you are going to get a DVD writer - get one that supports both + and - formats.

Originally Posted by Bifta

300 watt minimum, avoid junk like QTEC or any of the ole sh*te sold in PC worlds parts dept, something like http://www.overclock.co.uk/customer/...=17606&cat=266 will do you.

definately at least 300W - preferably more (so you can add more stuff later with no issues)

Originally Posted by Bifta

Make sure you're earthed to at least the case chassis if you're handling components.

better to get earthed to something else (unless you fit the PSU and plug it in before you do anything else..) - I used the old case - plugged in but not switched on...