Kudos Mark. I'm sure your sister will be very pleased.

Pics? ...

Good onya mate! 

It feels really good to build your own or assemble a PC for others, done it myself for years, so I know how it feels.

Nice one starkers!

Can't beat that "Put together all by myself" feeling and the recipient will be more than pleased!

Like jafo said-pics please!  

Tomorrow alright?  I've had a real long day and I need some shut-eye before I even contemplate it.

Been up since 4 this morning, so I'm going to finish my cuppa and it'll be Enter Sandman while I nod off.

Good job, mate!  And happy sister, too! 

Good onya Mark. Nothing beats that "New PC" feeling.

Nice specs. It should serve her well for many years to come.

Hey guys, thanks for the replies and I'm sorry about the pics.  When I tried yesterday with my phone there was no life and it needed charging.... hence no photos 'til it's charged, which now it is.... so here goes:

I'm still waiting on a couple of parts arriving from Sydney to complete the build, but other than that it's done, though the cabling isn't quite how I'd like it  The black SATA cable going across the build from the PCI slots to the %.25 bays in pic 4 is actually 4 SATA cables bundled together with ziplock ties.  I would have liked to have rerouted them to be less conspicuous, but they're just not long enough to do that. However, I do see there are some cables that I can tidy up and will. 

Yeah, I'm fussy about such things, and even if other people don't see the need when nobody's really going to see it, it assists airflow and I do take pride in my work, whether it's my own PC or somebody else's.  Anyway, I'll do that when I install the other parts when they arrive on Monday, according to the parcel tracking advice.

Yeah, thanks, mate.  I picked the best parts I could on the budget I was given, and I believe it is a very nice machine for the money.  However, I probably could have gotten better better parts had the AU$ had not recently taken a nosedive against the greenback.  Whenever the exchange rate dips against the US$, we always pay more for PC parts and etc. 

It shouldn't be that way on old stock prior to the exchange rate adjustment, but sadly it is, and if you want/need the part you have to pay the going rate, like it or not. If my sister could have afforded it 2 -3 months ago I could have greatly improved on the mobo and several other parts to get a better rated PC, but it is what it is and she no doubt will be thrilled with the result.  Given the comparison between this and her old machine, it's like the difference between heaven and hell... between a 50cc moped and a 1200cc racing machine

Anyhow, my stomach's growling like my throat's been cut and I need to get something to eat.

I've never been one for windows in boxes....prefer to be able to hide the multitude of 'sins' that is usually my cable routing....

That's why I take pride in my work, but whether the case has a side window or not, I still like to route the cables in a tidy and orderly fashion... for better airflow, etc.  Could be, though, I have a touch of OCD because I'm the same with many other tasks I have to do. 

For example, when I'm out in the yard mowing and whipper snippering, everything has to be a tad shorter than an acceptable length, and if a blade of grass or two do not conform to that exacting standard I will go back over them until they do do conform... which reminds me.  I need to pull my finger out and get the yard cleaned up before it gets any worse.

I'm the same with a lot of things, though I've slipped a bit in recent times due to health and other reasons, but I like to fold and put away my laundry in a certain way, and my spare PC parts have to be in certain compartments or drawers. While that makes sense for easier location later, I do obsess over the tidiness and appearance of things, even if nobody else is ever going to see it... which reminds me that my now computer room needs a darned good sorting out to fit the criteria/standard I set myself.

As for cable routing, I am still learning and picking things up along the way.  I still make mistakes and sometimes end up having to cut ziplock ties to rectify them, but that's okay, having learnt something for next time.

Actually? starkers has vacuumed over the same spot for half an hour until he was told it was the vacuum cleaner's shadow.

Now ya tell me!  Didn't believe it the 1st time, but now you mention it, it does explain why that patch of dirt was able to move from room to room.

Impressive build my friend...

Yeah, and thanks.  It's quite a good little unit with a good amount of kick. I would have preferred to have gotten her the Thermaltake Chaser MKII full tower to have better used the larger interior, but it would not have fitted into the tower space in her desk... and given her [solid timber] desk isn't a cheap DIY throw-together, I didn't see her parting with it to accommodate a larger case.  Still, it was an alright case to work with and she will be happy with the end-product.