Best gaming computer for around £750 ($1200)

VikingPsycho · Sep 17, 2014

I need (or rather want) a computer than is the best in the price range. I don't need an OS, monitor or peripherals. I have a 60Hz 900p monitor but I will probably get a 1080p 120Hz monitor later on in the year.

VikingPsycho · Sep 17, 2014

I might be able to stretch an extra £100.

VikingPsycho · Sep 21, 2014

How is this?

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/bB2WJx

Though the SSD will only be 120GB. Thinking about it, is the SSD really worth it?

tiny voices · Sep 21, 2014

PSu is not great. Change to XFX650. looks good otherwise.

You will need an aftermarket CPU cooler for overclocking though.

I also recommend getting a gtx970 over the 290. Same or better performance but better power and heat management.

VikingPsycho · Sep 21, 2014

How good is the gtx 970 and 290? Which brand for the gtx 970 should I get?

tiny voices · Sep 21, 2014

The 970 is better than the 290 and competes with the 290x in most games.

Get any brand for the 970. EVGA makes a nice one with the ACX cooler.

VikingPsycho · Sep 22, 2014

Hmm, after looking around on PCPartPicker, I found this:

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/VikingPsycho/saved/KqWJ7P

EVGA make a superclocked version of the 970, is it worth getting that?
If I were to scrap the SSD, what improvement could I make to the list?

tiny voices · Sep 22, 2014

Get the cheapest 770. Don't pay more for "superclocked"

VikingPsycho · Sep 22, 2014

Here's the updated list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/VikingPsycho/saved/dMmNnQ

I have around £100 left, what improvements could I make?

tiny voices · Sep 22, 2014

Nothing needs improvement. Just throw in a 120gb SSD to use as the boot drive and you are good to go.

VikingPsycho · Sep 22, 2014

Thanks a lot for your help. One last question, how well do you think it will run games like Crysis 3 and Battlefield 4?

tiny voices · Sep 22, 2014

BF4 at max at 1080p.

Crysis 3 at max with no AA and stuff like that.

VikingPsycho · Sep 22, 2014

I've just realised the case doesn't have room for an optical drive. Are they any good but inexpensive cases with space for an optical drive?

tiny voices · Sep 22, 2014

What case were you looking at?

VikingPsycho · Sep 22, 2014

Oh, it was a NZXT S340. I would be able to use an external optical drive to install Windows 8.1, right?

tiny voices · Sep 22, 2014

YEs you can use an external drive. Another similarly designed case that looks VERY good is the Fractal Design R4.

VikingPsycho · Sep 23, 2014

I think I'll just get the external drive. I forgot to ask, what frames rates would I expect to see on those games at those settings?

Callum0800 · Sep 23, 2014

http://www.ebuyer.com/609533-gigabyte-gtx-780-ghz-edition-3gb-gddr5-dual-dvi-hdmi-displayport-pci-e-gv-n780ghz-3gd

angaddev · Sep 23, 2014

I would get a cheaper air cooler and a better graphics card. A better gpu does make a difference as better coolers mean better overclocks.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor (£166.74 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler (£48.79 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£77.99 @ Ebuyer)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£76.51 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£83.69 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£37.50 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 4GB Superclocked ACX Video Card (£286.76 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£59.96 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£63.31 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £901.25
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-23 13:40 BST+0100

VikingPsycho · Sep 23, 2014

Sorry, but I don't quite understand what you mean. When you refer to a better cooler, are you referring to the GPU's? And that cooler for over-clocking the CPU will be sufficient, right?

VikingPsycho · Sep 30, 2014

Can anyone else try to answer?

tiny voices · Oct 1, 2014

He means that the CPU cooler is good for pretty high overclocks.

The GPU cooler matters a bit but not too much. Honestly get any 970. They will all perform about the same.

VikingPsycho · Oct 1, 2014

Ok, I've finally decided on a build: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/user/VikingPsycho/saved/vVzXsY
It's slightly cheaper, but then again I'm at university.
I'm going to get an SSD Christmas time.

I've just noticed this warning: "Some Intel Z87 chipset motherboards may need a BIOS update prior to using Haswell Refresh CPUs." - But that doesn't refer to the Intel i5, right?

tiny voices · Oct 1, 2014

Yeah you should be using a z97 board.

angaddev · Oct 3, 2014

Just change it to a z97 board :

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor (£171.54 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S 55.0 CFM CPU Cooler (£48.79 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97-HD3 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£77.99 @ Ebuyer)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£77.15 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£37.50 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card (£274.99 @ Ebuyer)
Case: Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£59.99 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply (£63.31 @ Amazon UK)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/RSBS DVD/CD Writer (£12.64 @ CCL Computers)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£69.23 @ Aria PC)
Total: £893.13
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-03 13:42 BST+0100

Best gaming computer for around £750 ($1200)

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