Update time, I bought the case
I'm also leaning very heavily towards AMD now, for a few reasons
1. A6-3500 (inc HD6450) is virtually the same price as G620+GT210 and a touch more CPU power (although only for multi-core apps)
2. FM1 mobo specs are better than H67, bang for buck (+ can handle o/cing, if it ever comes to that)
3. the A8-3850 is a stonking CPU, and if I ever did decide to upgrade to the equivalent power 1155 CPU, I'd want a new mobo anyway. The A8 is currently out of my price range, but with Ivy Bridge on the horizon, that may all change in March if AMD have to slash their prices in response.... fingers crossed.
4. I've not bought an Intel CPU since 1996
and their
laissez-faire approach to onboard GPUs is pretty embarrassing really (although I could say the same about AMD's approach to their CPUs)
5. the case I bought (see below) is a bit smaller than anticipated, and so with only 3 PCI backplates, a cheapo 300W (Flex ATX) PSU, and concerns about airflow, I'd prefer not to have a discrete GPU card
And so, the case...
http://ow.ly/7HpD1
Paid for it on Saturday, went to pick it up (it's local) on Sunday. It's the case pictured on the auction listing, but the seller sent me a photo of the insides of a different case!! This one has 3 (not 4) half-height PCI slots, space for one 70mm (not 80mm) case fan next to the PSU, two 40mm fans, and no fan above the PCI slots, although there are vent holes. The whole side opposite the PSU is drilled, so it's gonna be draughty in there.
It all unscrews and comes apart easily, it's quite a well-designed case really. 1.5mm aluminium housing (so it's pretty flimsy) with strengthening struts everywhere to give plenty of scope for internal drives. One slim optical drive slot, which I'm not intending to use, but I might do eventually. Two 3.5" HDD slots - I've got 1x2.5" HDD so that's more than enough for me.
The Wife™ couldn't "believe I'd paid £50 for
that". She is a mechanical engineer and I did ask her first if she would make me one. I pointed this out last night and she said "yeah, fair enough" - she's promised to spray paint the insides of the case black for me though. Sexy.
The PSU fan shield was bent inwards into the fan... no idea how. Don't have mobo so can't test it for rattles, but fan bearings are very easily damaged. Hoping the seller is willing to accept my offer of a partial (£20/£56) refund, as I'd prefer to spend a bit more cash and get a better PSU anyway. Local store selling 250W 85+ for £35, so I hope she thinks that offer is fair.
EDIT: no such luck with partial refund, swapping the whole thing tomorrow. Will probably stick the case PSU on eBay (if it works) and take my chances and get the more efficient PSU anyway
My only other concern (it's very minor) is that there's only 90mm total case height, so I might struggle to find a CPU cooler to fit. Should be fine though.... and above all else, it fits in the drawer shelf!!!!