I'll take a shot at this, as I am working out a server system, which would be quite simular:
1) Case - get a size that offers easy access and working area: I like the Cheiftech Aluminum 450W P/S with front USB/Fire ports =
$105 Free Freight
Points: A) Steel case costs $75, Aluminum case costs $88 without the P/S. B) I'll bet that the 450W P/S is more than your sysem (and mine) will need.
The aluminum case with the P/S is only $30 more than a bare steel case, and only $17 more than the bare aluminum - and has the front access ports.
Case Link
2) Motherboard - a higher performing motherboard can get more out of a lower performing CPU than a Bottom line motherboard can get from a top CPU.
Points: A) the three top performing motherboard manufacturers are - Asus, Abit, EPoX. Asus is a very common board known for it's stability,
EPoX is the current Overclocking Champion (but not by much), and of course Abit - which over time has shown it's perfromance capabilities.
I'll stay with Abit, as I know I can mildly tweak the BIOS settings and sneak an extra 40% perfomance out of it - without compromising the stability =
$99 + $5 freight
My choice for this application would be the Abit KD7 - as it has built in sound, LAN, Firewire, and USB 2.0. (Remember the port on the front of the case?)
Getting the motherboard without sound would only save $15, and there is no way you can get a comparable sound card for $15 as an add on.
Motherboard Link
2A) Heatsink and Fan - Subset to the motherboard. Your CPU depends on this to keep it cool. Failure is catostrophic in nature.
I only use Alpha PAL8045, which is a big chunk of metal, and it needs to attach with 4 ZIF hole standoff mounts, no wimpy clip-on here =
$34.99
This aslo will restrict the motherboard applications, as now you have to have a board that has the ZIF mounts adjacent to the CPU socket.
Fatugue, Fatigue, Fatigue: Office environment, constant noise of a fan hissing, blowing, irritating, hate fan, must have QUIET!
Well looks like a Panaflo is in order here, don't want the troops to go Psyco on me - 32 dBa background level 8 hours a day is a bit much,
let's do the inside the case set up as an extraction fan to eject heat and minimize the sound =
$6.99
Heatsink Link
Fan Link
3) Memory - Subserviant to the Motherboard and CPU, when a computer starts up and posts, it starts with the memory - no place to compromise quality.
Very responsive and volume of memory, depth of queque, etc. is mostly a memory function. Not sure if you really need the ECC unless you plan to use
it as a multiple system server agent, so lets just go with the PC2100 which is DDR266, but you can go very deep in the Queque volume =
$131.39
Qty (3) sticks of 512MB gives you 1546MB of RAM, and thats a lot of depth (But you CAN go all the way to 3.5GB - if you use ECC and money!)
You also have the option to use the more expensive PC2700 DDR333 RAM which gives a memory speed bost of 10% to 15% over DDR266 =
S139.49
(Since the PC2700 is only $8.10 higher than the PC2100, a 10% to 15% boost is only $24 higher for purchasing 3 sticks, $394.17 Vs $418.47)
*CAUTION: Even though there is a KT400 chipset on the Motherboard, the DDR400 (PC3000) is not "Official" as there is NO CONTROLING SPEC.
Some companies do not support the function, and those that do are not alowing much depth to the memory banks - limited to 2 banks.
Crucial Memory Link
4) CPU - here's where you get to reap the benifits of getting a GOOD motherboard and Quality memory, you can squeeze much better performance out
of some of the less expensive T'Bred chips that have replaced the Palaminos in the marketplace. Seems that the Higher multiplier L1 bridges aren't
being laser cut to "Lock Them Down" so the highly capable motherboards recognize then and run them at the higher performance settings.
So an XP1700 T'Bred CPU may be recognized and run as if it was an XP2400 or even an XP2600. (Which it was born to be)
$ 57.00 XP1800 only $10 more.
XP1700 CPU Link
4) Hard Drive - Mass storage & dependable, your choices are Maxtor and Western Digital, with the performance edge to Western Digital.
The most price effective as far as cost per GB is to the 80GB and 120GB, and the extra 8MB cache is a nice 'speed-it-up' feature.
The 80GB is probably all you would need unless there is a requirement for digital images, pictures, graphic applications, CAD programs, etc.
Oh what the heck, the 120GB is only
$159.00, if you downgrade consider it a discount, save maybe $50, costs more than that to add back the 40GB difference.
Western Digital HDD Link
5) CD-RW - How do you beat a Lite-On? A recent 'Top 10' review of the best perfroming CD-RW rated them from the
#1 Best to the 10th best
and 6 of those 10 were Lite-on's, 5 being repackage to 'Brand' name items - all BIG names. If you can't match 'em, buy 'em & sell 'em =
$50 - $60
Lite-On Link
6) You didn't mention a Video Card - I think you'll need one, as they are not integrated on the motherboard, and aren't that good anyway.
Since this isn't going to be a Hard Core Gamer, lets stick to the basics for good crisp image quality with clear text display.
The Radeon 9000 W/64MB DDR fits the bill nicely, and is only a
$73.99 hit, and this DOES have the higher performance capability!
Video Card Link
7) Anythin Else? Yeah - some spiffy round cables to allow better internal airflow, and minimize electrical interferance and cross-talk =
$9.75 the set
Round Cable Link
And the damage comes to:
MINIMUM = $ 728.10 1 stick PC2100 memory @ 512MB
MAXIMUM = $ 1039.20 3 sticks PC2700 memory @ 512MB AND better Lite-On.
Well it kind of blows your $600 budget, but gives you a starting point to add to or subtract from.
Lots of range in the middle to play with hard drive and memory combinations, and there is about
a year of configuration upgradability so the technology dosen't go obsolete too quickly.
Expected performance life functionally would be about 5 years, and again - upgradable.