New PC (yeh, not mac) build needed for £1k

so, my laptop/work machine died. i need a new work station. i was thinking imac but then i got turned off by all the 'can't upgrade/fix' comments here and there so i went back to good old pc territory but i've totally lost touch since building my own systems back in 2002. i need a punchy build, powerful, quiet, reliable, and for under £1k.
also need a monitor, so any recommendations for a nice size monitor (24"?) too. if i can get it all for £1k that'd be good, but i can be flexible.

oh, the less case lights and mod-looks the better :D

thanks boys and girls.

Hackintosh! Its the best of both worlds, an upgradeable mac pro at a fraction of the cost.
this is a great website this post has an number of different builds - http://tonymacx86.blogspot.com/2010/06/building-customac-three-complete-pc.html
you should have kept the SSD to use would have made it super quick
If you need any help i've built two so can offer advice and guidance
You just need to decide on what case you want i like my antec 300 plain and simple whilst being cool and quiet.

the ssd was only a 2.5" though, but i would consider a ssd hybrid or a full ssd drive in a new build with a big ol' regular drive as a slave or whatever.
hackintosh's seem nice, but i can foresee hassle and tweaking and glitches... am i wrong?

i thought the same as you, but if you select the correct parts once setup its plain sailing. If you weigh up the hassle with the benefit it wins out. The website i linked to has huge amounts of information and a great tutorial

Flickwg, if you've never built a computer, how hard is it to build one of these? Or would i be better off hacking one of the suggested laptops?

Im looking to build the same as matt... Though same as im no longer in touch with the pc world...

derp derp derp! :D

If you can build a bike you can build a pc, I'd describe it as expensive lego, match the colours and plugs and you're golden. I'd never built a pc in my life and built a fully working hackintosh in about a day.

Before I made my first hackintosh I had no clue about computer parts, but a lot of reading and it really wasn't that hard.

**DISCLAIMER: If you want a mac get a mac, if you want a cheaper more flexible and upgradeable PC running mac os X get a hackintosh. The extra effort is worth it but I'd still buy a Macbook Whatever before trying to hackintosh a laptop. My 2p.

Any more questions just ask

this is pretty interestin

http://lifehacker.com/5672051/how-to-build-a-hackintosh-mac-and-install-os-x-in-eight-easy-steps

There are very few easily Hackintoshable laptops. If you want OS-X on a portable, buy a Mac, or a Dell Mini 10v if you can operate with max 2gb RAM.

just got to find one, 10v is no longer made :(

here's my thinking on the hackintosh build:
reasons to like macs - the build quality is great. the os is pretty good. the software is no different.
i kinda find it hard to justify tailoring a build to be OSX friendly to then wrangle OSX to work on it when i'm not going to feel much benefit.
i like OSX, but hey, windows 7 is pretty sweet too.

so, getting away from hackintosh specific builds does anyone have any suggestions for a quality pc build?

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/pc/range/irushpro.html

Then spend some money on a nice monitor. You'll still have change for beer.

you've got to love the fan on that matt, have you thought of looking at custom pc builder magazine, or some websites like anandtech or tested,com have monthly builds

hmmn! interesting. some of the higher spec models look tasty.

Agree home build of a PC much easier than putting together a bike.
I put one together using an online guides for about £250 6 years ago and have only just replaced it with a monster Sony Vaio laptop Core i5 17.3" 6GB Ram Blu ray etc. for £700 just so I can ditch the computer desk etc.

i did all my design work on a £1600 acer laptop since 2005, which was great for all aspects, gaming included. it was nice to be able to get away from the desk but eventually working at that 15" wide screen was a pain in the arse. i'm looking forward to a big screen/desk set up.

Seriously though, if you want to concentrate on design and not not hacking/tweaking it is simpler to get a iMac. I know this sounds lazy but I always used to build machines with upgradeability in mind, and then I never did it. Maybe replacing dead drives or RAM, but you can still do that with an iMac.

BUT, if it's a hobby and interest, go Hackintosh. I love the idea of getting similar MacPro performance for under a grand.

you should have a look at scan 3xs pc, they're doing a wide range of built pc, and they're quite famous for their recording studio PCs (very silent stuff).
otherwise if you plan on building it yourself, which is probably going to save you some cash, overclockers and Scan are good/cheap retailers...

I'm after a similar sort of thing. May just build my own this time.

Or pick up something like this from Ebuyer: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/239774

think i'll go with:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?PC-1464P

with:

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-M2753V-PF-27-LCD-Monitor/dp/tech-data/B0026ZFGEC/ref=de_a_smtd"]LG M2753V-PF 27" LCD Monitor 16:9 HDMI Gloss Black: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories[/ame]

i'm not in a massive rush but i am without a home computer capable of anything serious. currently just have an apple cube and an acer laptop from 2002 running at home. ha!

I've got a 27" imac for design work - worked straight out of the box, and I've no problems since (about 1.5 years ago)... it rocks my world. I used to have mac pros... but to be honest for graphic design they're total overkill

Maybe upgrade the graphics card and softmod if you are into design / graphic intensive work.

NVIDIA GeForce To Quadro Soft-Mod Guide

i was planning on a 27" imac initially, but then the cost is around the £2k mark. this way i can get a 27" workstation that all my current software works on etc, and i have enough cash for a new telly and notebook for the wife :P