Hi all
im looking to do my first build (UK). my current PC is approaching 6 years old now. i'm playing games on medium/ low graphics. often scaled down due to slow CPU.
the purpose of a new PC would be for strategy games and intermediate video editing.
a key reference point would be that id like to be able to run Rome 2: Total war on 'High' settings.
Kerbal Space program and other games would not be needing so much power.
my budget (not including monitor) is £500. this figure is not definitive, as projects develop, things change.
In regards to budget, spending more will mean waiting longer. Iv recently begun self employment, so i'm a bit short on project funding these days. going over budget will mean longer wait for funding.
the mark is Rome 2 on high graphics + Large scale options for strategy games.
my knowledge of computing is patchy. but i understand the structure of a PC and what does what.
im fairly technical minded and eventually find answers to IT problems.
So the 1st draft of a build is as follows:
1) Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 - £50
I have little knowledge of motherboards. i believe it to be the skeleton of the system, housing the Bios, the intermediary between different components.
My only reasoning for an ASUS motherboard is iv heard a good rep about ASUS reliability in relation to gaming.
and that they are more compatible with Nvidia cards.
2) CPU: Intel Core i5. within the i5 range i am unsure.
my experience with Intel has been very good. the gist i get is they're better but more expensive. my attraction is reliability. an intel seems to run smother at 90% than an AMD.
Intel seem like a very professional company that branch further out that PC components.
the i5 seems like it would pack enough punch for Rome 2. within strategy games iv noticed that a better processor allows for larger scale, which unlocks certain 'Epic' aspects of certain games.
within the i5 range i am not sure where to go.
3)GPU: Geforce GTX 6xx range
i used to Have an Nvidia, then upgraded to AMD/ATI. i don't know which had better performance-to-price, but i do prefer the Nvidia software/drivers. seems more tidy.
For Rome 2, the 'can i run it' sites said something in the 6xx range would be good enough for high.
considering i'm trying to keep the build under £500, this choice i find difficult.
4)RAM: 8GB
I recon 8 is enough. though i have never done Ram usage tests while on games, so i cant be sure how much was being used.
I am hoping to be able to finally play strategy games on a huge scale, so im not sure if 8 is enough.
5)HD - SSD: Samsung 840 evo 120GB
Iv noticed, with a windows update every other time i shut down, my hard drive becomes very fragmented. once steam games + editing softwares are on it all runs so slow.
I was hoping for the new build, i could perhaps use my existing Hard disk, alongside an SSD.
keeping only Game files on the SSD.
how many SATA slots do motherboards usually have?
6)PSU: not too sure. i know that the wattage of the PSU must be more than the sum of all components.
7)Sound card: no idea on the difference in price ranges. i studied in broadcast operations at college, iv always wanted to know more about sound interface for PC/sound equipment.
8)Case: from what i gather, with a classic tower, the main air intake is in the front and out the back/top.
id quite like to look into alternative designs. iv noticed cased with corners don't circulate air well.
a case with more curved features would be nice. there is also the option of modifying an existing case.
my only experience of metal joinery is with a soldering iron on circuit boards.
I don't need monitor/mouse/keyboard
what do you guys think? its a 1st draft and from here i'm not to sure where to go.
id be very grateful for any advice.
-note-
I really like building stuff and learning new skills. This project could be a wonderful catalyst for learning new stuff.
feel free to any creative suggestions.
im looking to do my first build (UK). my current PC is approaching 6 years old now. i'm playing games on medium/ low graphics. often scaled down due to slow CPU.
the purpose of a new PC would be for strategy games and intermediate video editing.
a key reference point would be that id like to be able to run Rome 2: Total war on 'High' settings.
Kerbal Space program and other games would not be needing so much power.
my budget (not including monitor) is £500. this figure is not definitive, as projects develop, things change.
In regards to budget, spending more will mean waiting longer. Iv recently begun self employment, so i'm a bit short on project funding these days. going over budget will mean longer wait for funding.
the mark is Rome 2 on high graphics + Large scale options for strategy games.
my knowledge of computing is patchy. but i understand the structure of a PC and what does what.
im fairly technical minded and eventually find answers to IT problems.
So the 1st draft of a build is as follows:
1) Motherboard: Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 - £50
I have little knowledge of motherboards. i believe it to be the skeleton of the system, housing the Bios, the intermediary between different components.
My only reasoning for an ASUS motherboard is iv heard a good rep about ASUS reliability in relation to gaming.
and that they are more compatible with Nvidia cards.
2) CPU: Intel Core i5. within the i5 range i am unsure.
my experience with Intel has been very good. the gist i get is they're better but more expensive. my attraction is reliability. an intel seems to run smother at 90% than an AMD.
Intel seem like a very professional company that branch further out that PC components.
the i5 seems like it would pack enough punch for Rome 2. within strategy games iv noticed that a better processor allows for larger scale, which unlocks certain 'Epic' aspects of certain games.
within the i5 range i am not sure where to go.
3)GPU: Geforce GTX 6xx range
i used to Have an Nvidia, then upgraded to AMD/ATI. i don't know which had better performance-to-price, but i do prefer the Nvidia software/drivers. seems more tidy.
For Rome 2, the 'can i run it' sites said something in the 6xx range would be good enough for high.
considering i'm trying to keep the build under £500, this choice i find difficult.
4)RAM: 8GB
I recon 8 is enough. though i have never done Ram usage tests while on games, so i cant be sure how much was being used.
I am hoping to be able to finally play strategy games on a huge scale, so im not sure if 8 is enough.
5)HD - SSD: Samsung 840 evo 120GB
Iv noticed, with a windows update every other time i shut down, my hard drive becomes very fragmented. once steam games + editing softwares are on it all runs so slow.
I was hoping for the new build, i could perhaps use my existing Hard disk, alongside an SSD.
keeping only Game files on the SSD.
how many SATA slots do motherboards usually have?
6)PSU: not too sure. i know that the wattage of the PSU must be more than the sum of all components.
7)Sound card: no idea on the difference in price ranges. i studied in broadcast operations at college, iv always wanted to know more about sound interface for PC/sound equipment.
8)Case: from what i gather, with a classic tower, the main air intake is in the front and out the back/top.
id quite like to look into alternative designs. iv noticed cased with corners don't circulate air well.
a case with more curved features would be nice. there is also the option of modifying an existing case.
my only experience of metal joinery is with a soldering iron on circuit boards.
I don't need monitor/mouse/keyboard
what do you guys think? its a 1st draft and from here i'm not to sure where to go.
id be very grateful for any advice.
-note-
I really like building stuff and learning new skills. This project could be a wonderful catalyst for learning new stuff.
feel free to any creative suggestions.
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