160GB Samsung SATA 7200 RPM

Too much hard drive space is never enough. Unfortunately, in this price range we have to draw a line in the sand and decide on the minimum amount of hard drive space we can live with.

160 GB of space should be a great starting point for anyone who isn't storing a lot of video footage. The Samsung SATA 7200 RPM drive is certainly priced right at £45 / €50, and it's great to see that even the budget segment isn't saddled with the old IDE standard.

Power Supply: Fortron Source AX450-PN

Fortron Source AX450-PN Power Supply

It's certainly tempting to opt for a no-name power supply in this price segment, but anyone whose ever experienced system instability should know that you never, ever skimp on the power supply. Fortron is our choice, but you can find budget PSU's from name-manufacturers, and should always try to do so.

You get a solid PSU by a reputable manufacturer that comes with a total 36 amps of 12 volt power split between two 12v rails rated at 18 amps each. The bottom line is that the AX450-PN should handle pretty much any single video card you throw at it.