really need advice on buying a complete pc

Race Pro · Jul 19, 2015

Hi

I would really appreciate some advice on buying a complete pc for gaming with games such as cities skylines etc

However I am restricted to only buying from fierce pc uk as I only have a credit voucher for that store upto the value of £650

So I don't have a pc or laptop right now so ideally would need a full setup monitor tower etc

The processor,gpu combo I can choose from is this

I5 4690 with gtx 960 £650

I5 4690 with gtx 750ti £615

I5 4690 with r7 260 £600

I5 4690 with gtx 750 2gb £580

Or

Amd x4 860k with gtx 960 £550

Amd x4 860k with r7 260 £400

Amd x4 860k with 750ti £450

All above include 21" monitor psu motherboard 1tb hdd and 8gb of ram

Which would be the best to go for obviously cheaper the better which has the best value ?

Thanks

MasterDell · Jul 19, 2015

Get the i5 and the GTX 960. You have a voucher to this place, but can't you pick a different CPU like the i5-4460? And who is picking the PSU?

Race Pro · Jul 19, 2015

http://www.game.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/m/AjaxVendorSearch?msg=&catalogId=10201&langId=44&vendorShopId=2046&storeId=10151

Thanks for advice I have provided a link to where I have to buy from its from game uk

They have about 80 different pcs not really sure which one to get about the psu I think its just a generic 500w not too sure.

p_nut_uk · Jul 19, 2015

i5 and 960, the 960 is vastly superior to the 750Ti.

QSV · Jul 19, 2015

Those PCs dont have a SSD? At least add a few pounds and get a small one, like a 120 GB 850 Evo, and put it in yourself.
You just dont buy new PCs without SSD nowadays.
And yes, I also vouch for the i5/960.

TheTemest · Jul 19, 2015

I'd personally get the AMD x4 860K with the GTX 960. That said, if I'm reading their "specs" correctly they're selling a computer that they've overclocked the CPU? I don't know that I'd get one they've overclocked, but if they have the stock CPU.....
@MasterDell asks a very good question about the PSU. If the one that comes with the unit is garbage, take some of the money saved buying the AMD and get a quality PSU. Too often people think of the PSU as just a throw-in when it's what makes everything go.

Race Pro · Jul 19, 2015

Thanks for everyone's advice much appreciated

So for the gpu I will go with the gtx960

For the cpu most you suggest the i5 where as one suggest the amd x4 860k

What is the major differences? As I understand there both quad core and have turbo boost

And looking at the description the amd is 3.7ghz to Intel i5 3.5ghz

So does that make the amd faster,better ?

Thanks

Also no I don't think they come with an ssd are they essential now ?

QSV · Jul 19, 2015

An SSD with your OS on it will speed up your PC massively, since youre not using the biggest bottleneck in a conventional PC anymore: A HDD.
Of course you can put some games on it and those games will also load faster and even have less loading stuttering, which is basically an increase in minimum FPS.

TheTemest · Jul 19, 2015

Race Pro :

Here's a comparison of the two chips courtesy of cpu-world.com: http://www.cpu-world.com/Compare/159/AMD_Athlon_X4_860K_vs_Intel_Core_i5_i5-4690.html

There's no denying that the i5-4690 is one fine chip. But then again, the X4-860K ain't too bad either. If your sole criteria for making a decision is benchmarking, the i5-4690 outperforms the X4-860K. However, both can play Cities: Skylines and it could boil down to wanting to spend $225.00 for the Intel vs $75.00 for the AMD. Either way you're going to get a nice system....but please double check on the PSU!

Driessen · Jul 19, 2015

Race Pro :

If you use it for mostly gaming. You cant compare the i5 to the amd.

The i5 is the overal better CPU if you dont calculate video rendering with it.

There is more then just the clock speed. Yes the amd has a higher clock speed, but the technology behind the intel processors makes up or this fact.

So I would say, get the i5 with the gtx 960.

Plus if you want to upgrade in the future you dont have to purchase a new motherboard since the i7 has the same socket as the i5!

MasterDell · Jul 19, 2015

Okay:

1. The 860k would be absolutely destroyed by the i5. Like murdered. The IPC (Instructions per clock) on any Intel chip will annihilate any and all AMD chips.

2. Never ever ever compare two clock speeds against any chip. Unless they are within the same family. i.e. i5-4690 and i5-4460

3. Never x2 use a synthetic benchmark. For example, CPU World. Completely garbage and useless information

4. The 860k is beat by the Pentium G3258 is some cases. A dual core Pentium. And then an i3 will kick the 860k's buttocks. And furthermore if you compare it to an i5. Just lol. No competition.

5. The 860k's socket offers no upgrade path. There is literally no better CPU than the 860k for it's socket. (Which is actually quite pathetic). Atleast with the i5 you get an upgrade path up to a 4790k + Broadwell CPUs. (If the computer has a Z97/H97 board. Which is hopefully does..)

I am quite stunned that you guys were even comparing an 860k against an i5. Usually it's a pentium vs the 860k.

Race Pro · Jul 20, 2015

Thanks for everyone's help its all very much appreciated and have took some of your advice on board

Due to the terms of the voucher I could not custom the pc and had to choose a set bundle

After alot of research and considering what I need I ended up ordering this

Amd x4 860k
8gb ddr 3 ram @1600
1tb hdd
WiFi card
Cd writer
Keyboard and mouse
21.5" monitor
GTX 960 2gb

And a two year warranty also the pc is brand new and will be overclocked @4.3ghz with extra cooling and decent psu (so they told me on the phone)

All that cost £519 I hope I made a good choice. The only thing I need to get is a copy of windows 7 64 bit.

I know the 4690 is better but I could not get it in a bundle with monitor etc only just the tower with the gtx960 and the would of cost £599 not inc windows either

So with all that in mind I hope I have done the right thing ? As I traded a ps4 towards my voucher.

Please let me know what you think ?

Also any tips where I could buy a cheap windows 7 would be appreciated

Thanks again

p_nut_uk · Jul 20, 2015

Honestly I'm really sorry to say this but I think you made a mistake, the 860k is a poor match for the 960.

Race Pro · Jul 20, 2015

Ok thanks for your honest opinion

Could you please go into more detail as to why it is a poor match ? Would something like a 260x be better ?

Thanks

p_nut_uk · Jul 20, 2015

The 960 is a very good graphics card, but the 860k is a poor CPU, I know you had a difficult decision because there wasn't much selection. Your CPU will limit your FPS in games.

Even though the 750Ti is nowhere near as good as the 960, upgrading your graphics in future is a LOT easier than a new CPU and motherboard

Race Pro · Jul 20, 2015

Ok I could see if its possible to change the order. If you don't mind could you find a suitable pc from the link I provided.

Also going by youtube and google etc people say the 860k chip is a great gaming budget processor and will run games really well ?

Thanks

Race Pro · Jul 20, 2015

I have just found this one (did not see this bundle earlier)

i5 4690 @3.5ghz
Gtx 750 2gb
8gb of ram
1 tb hdd
21.5" monitor
Mouse and keyboard

Would this be better to buy ?

Also it has this motherboard gigabyte H81M-H

Is this any good ?

How is the gtx 750 is that a good card untill I could afford a gtx960 ?

Also the 4690 is not the k version would I need the k version ?

Thanks

QSV · Jul 20, 2015

Yes, the 860k is a good budget CPU. But its on an obsolete platform and you wont be able to upgrade easily from there. You will have to buy a new mainboard and CPU if you want something faster.
And the 960 is no budget GPU. Its a very good mainstream card. Putting those 2 together is a bad match.
If you really cant afford it, then take the 860k/750ti instead, because those 2 will fit together better and you wont have wasted as much money when you realize its too slow.
Seriously, just save a bit longer if you cant afford it now. Its useless to just force yourself buying something that is inferior just because youre missing a bit of money.

The i5 with a 750 is a bad combo either. That card is too slow for that processor. Who the hell puts these offers together? Geez...
The K version means you can overclock it. You cant overclock with a H81 mainboard anyway.

Race Pro · Jul 20, 2015

Thanks for the advice

So would I need to overclock the 4690 ? Just for gaming ?

The thing is I have been saving in a funny sort of way I saw that game uk retail were starting to sell gaming pc from their website I started to trade some old xbox and playstation games there and have a massed a credit voucher of £698

So I can buy though the website and use voucher but it must be one of the set bundles there

All I want is a gaming pc to play games like cities skylines and sim city and simulation type games basically games you cannot get on console and would like to be able to play high settings and smooth

All the pc would be used for is simulation games like sim city and project cars and genral internet browsing.

So what is best option to do as some of you say i5 one suggest 860k

Please try and help as I'm now at a complete loss.

Maybe should I just stick to consoles as this is really frustrating.

Thanks again

p_nut_uk · Jul 20, 2015

Sorry I guess it's our fault for throwing too much info out there and our own game tastes not taking into account yours. Project Car's Minimum requirements exceed a 860k, I would go for the I5 and GTX 750Ti bundle and if you felt the graphics weren't good enough then you buy a new card in the future, you should be getting PS4 levels with a 750Ti.

The thing with graphics cards you can always turn down settings to make games run faster, you can't always do that with CPU's.

And no you will not need to overclock the i5.

TheTemest · Jul 20, 2015

p_nut_uk :

You are absolutely correct. In my earlier post I did say the 860K + the 960. That was a grotesque error on my part. That card is far too much for that cpu. I still like the 860K but with a card without such demands.

Race Pro · Jul 20, 2015

Ok thanks p nut uk for advice.

I had another look how does this sound

i5 4690 @ 3.5gz
8gb ram
1tb hdd
Gtx 960

That will cost £599 delivered is that alright and a fair price ?

Then I can buy a cheap usb keybaord and mouse for £10 from ebay also from ebay I can get windows 7 64bit HP with key for £33

For a monitor I could use this 24" 720p hdtv untill I can afford a proper monitor.

So does this sound better ?

Also with the 860k and gtx 960 there are people on youtube playing the witcher 3 and gtv 5 in high to ultra settings and getting good frames.

So please bare this in mind and consider the games I want to play and remember cheaper for me is better as I could use the rest of the credit at game on other stuff.

Is the x4 860k with gtx 960 really that bad and will I see a big difference with the i5 4690 with the games I choose to play ?

Thanks again

All advice is really much appreciated

p_nut_uk · Jul 20, 2015

If you can afford the i5 4690 then go for it, but only if you can. No point having a 960 if you've only got a 720p monitor.

My only worry is that you said you wanted to play Project Cars and the 860k doesn't meet minimum requirements.

The 860k with the 960 is a good combo, but my fear is that if you ever wanted to play a game that you couldn't run because of your CPU then upgrading would be a nightmare where as changing graphics is one thing to do.

MasterDell · Jul 20, 2015

I would have taken the GTX 750 + i5 over the 860k + 960 any day. I am glad you were able to change it. The 860k would bottleneck the 960 completely.

When you found your 860k to be too weak (which it already is), you would have been looking at buying a new motherboard, new CPU, and possibly new RAM and a new PSU.

Race Pro · Jul 21, 2015

Thanks both of you for the advice.

I managed to get a full refund back to my credit voucher no problem. Game retail uk were really helpfull in the matter.

So I'm back to square one again. Its either buy a pc through game or just stick with consoles which I'm used too

The only downside is there are games on pc I like eg cites skylines sim city etc which you cannot get on console.

However its alot easier with consoles as I have tried my luck with pcs before and although you lot are a helpful and knowledgeable community on this forum. I just seem to get problems with pc.

So I will have another look at game for a decent pc or if someone could suggest a pc from game if not I will just stick to console. Or possibly wait until a budget steam box comes.

Thanks again

really need advice on buying a complete pc

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