Nic88

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Apr 23, 2012
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Hi!

My name is Nicolas and I'm new on the forum.

Unfortunately my Xbox 360 doesn't match my graphics/performance standards anymore, therefore, since I'll receive my bonus by the end of May, I decided to upgrade to a brand new gaming rig.
Please find below the config I have in mind. Could you please provide me with your feedback? My budget sits around 2500£ (screens excluded).


Case
PCS MAELSTROM T900 BLACK GAMING CASE

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7 Six Core Processor i7-3930K (3.2GHz) 12MB Cache

Motherboard
ASUS® P9X79 PRO: INTEL® SOCKET LG2011

Memory (RAM)
16GB KINGSTON HYPERX GENESIS QUAD-DDR3 1866MHz X.M.P(4 x 4GB KIT)

Graphics Card
2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 680 - 2 DVI, HDMI, DP - 3D Vision Ready

2nd Graphics Card
2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 680 - 2 DVI, HDMI, DP - 3D Vision Ready

Memory - 1st Hard Disk
2TB 3.5" SATA-III 6GB/s HDD 7200RPM 64MB CACHE

1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
10x LG BLU-RAY RE-WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW (£65)

Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (XD, MS, CF, SD, etc) + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT

Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W ENTHUSIAST SERIES™ TX850 V2-80 PLUS® BRONZE (£99)

Processor Cooling
TITAN FENRIR EVO EXTREME HEATPIPE CPU COOLER (£39)

Sound Card
ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Network Facilities
GIGABIT LAN & DUAL-BAND WIRELESS 802.11N 450Mbps PCI-E CARD (£35)

USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD

Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)

DVI-D & HDMI Monitor Cables
1 x 2 METRE GOLD PLATED V1.4 HDMI CABLE (£8)

Keyboard & Mouse
LOGITECH® MK520 WIRELESS KEYBOARD & MOUSE COMBO (£39)

Speakers
LOGITECH Z323 2.1 SPEAKERS - 30W RMS with 360 Degree Sound (£44)


Thanks in advance for your help.

Nic
 

Nic88

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My goal is to build a PC powerful enough to play all games on Ultra, 1080p, AA 4x, AF 16x for the next 2/3 years. I AM AN AA MANIAC! :pt1cable:

 

wr6133

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That must be one hell of a bonus. Just for gaming you could get away with an i5 2500k. If you want the i7 get a 2600k on a z77 LGA1155 mobo this motherboard will allow future upgrade to ivybridge if you ever wanted also costs less.

With your budget I would expect a much better quality full tower case (with all that grunt inside you want the cooling of a quality full tower)

What brand is the HDD not all are equal and OEM builders generally use low grade parts if they dont list the maker the name.

The CPU cooler is overpriced for what it is.

Windows costs a tenner more than it should

I see a lack of USB 3.0..... not acceptable at this price point.

Wireless card seems expensive

Wireless mice and keyboards = bad idea for gaming

Is this being builtforr you or are you willing to self build? Self build you will save a few £ and generally get a better final result. Throwing £2500 at a build without research can bite back later. Theres lots of needless crap or cowboy tactics used by builders to fleece that budget from you. Its good you came here to check :)

In brief that is a monster of a build BUT alot is not needed and some is overpriced.
 

wr6133

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http://www.cclonline.com/product/78332/G1-Sniper-3/Motherboards/Gigabyte-G1-Sniper-3-Motherboard/MBD0351/
Gigabyte G1.Sniper 3 Motherboard Z77

http://www.cclonline.com/product/44972/BX80623I72600K/CPUs/Intel-Core-i7-2600K-3-4GHz-Quad-Core-Processor-/CPU1107/
Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz

http://www.cclonline.com/product/74097/CML16GX3M4X1600C7/Desktop-Memory/Corsair-LP-Vengeance-Memory-16GB-1600MHz-CL7-DDR3-Four-Module-Kit/RAM0518/
Corsair LP Vengeance Memory 16GB 1600MHz CL7 DDR3

http://www.cclonline.com/product/80232/426018336-2500/Graphics-Cards/Gainward-GeForce-GTX-680-2048MB-Graphics-Card/VGA0601/
Gainward GeForce GTX 680 2048MB X2 for 2 way SLi

http://www.cclonline.com/product/53891/ST31000524AS/Hard-Drives/Seagate-Barracuda-SATA-6Gb/s-1TB-Hard-Drive/HDD1138/
Seagate Barracuda© SATA 6Gb/s 1TB Hard Drive

http://www.cclonline.com/product/58355/AGT3-25SAT3-120G/Hard-Drives/120GB-OCZ-Agility-3-2-5-Solid-State-Drive-/HDD0547/
120GB OCZ Agility 3 2.5" Solid State Drive

http://www.cclonline.com/product/70743/BH10LS38-AUAU/Optical-Drives/LG-10x-BH10LS38-Internal-Blu-Ray-BD-RW-Drive-OEM/CDR0064/
LG 10x BH10LS38 Internal Blu Ray BD-RW Drive

http://www.cclonline.com/product/71545/P1-850S-UKB9/Power-Supplies/XFX-Pro-850W-Power-Supply-Unit/PSU0277/
XFX Pro 850W Power Supply Unit

http://www.cclonline.com/product/76740/RR-212E-16PK-R1/CPU-Coolers/Cooler-Master-Hyper-212-EVO-CPU-Cooler/CLR0412/
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler

http://www.cclonline.com/product/45623/RC-942-KKN1/Cases/Cooler-Master-HAF-X-Full-Tower-Case/CAS1285/
Cooler Master HAF X Full Tower Case

http://www.cclonline.com/product/55272/GFC-02050/Operating-Systems/Microsoft-Windows-7-Home-Premium-64-bit-SP1-/SFT0066/
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Thats what you could DIY build for £2483.17.

You have and SSD for lightning fast boot times with this build.



 

Nic88

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Apr 23, 2012
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Thanks for your comprehensive reply!

I would like to use Socket 2011, because I'd like to upgrade the CPU to Ivy Bridge Extreme in the future!
You're right, I'm going to upgrade to a full tower case.
I'm also going to double-check the HDD.
Which CPU cooler would you suggest? The integrated one?
Why do you think that wireless is bad?
I totally agree with you! I am ordering the PC from PC Specialist UK. I haven't got enough time (nor will :))to build a SLI system by myself. Any suggestions?


Thanks again.

Nic


 

wr6133

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There is no garuantee that IB will have an extreme edition on the 2011 socket thats why i recommend the z77 and 2600k route (unless you have info I don't know)

Coolers unless watercooling I would say just get a CM 212 EVO it'll do all you need.

Wireless for gaming is just generally bad be it wireless internet or wireless mice and keyboards. Responses are not as fast, things sometimes disconnect, etc. If you look up gaming boards and mice you will find the majority are wired. As for wireless network card they aren't the best for gaming try to be hard wired and if you need wireless as a backup dont spend much more than £15 on a card.

The parts I linked above that company CCL will actually build it all for you for £60 if you wanted them too. I just think my build gives you a bit more Having the SSD alone will give a perceived boost to load times thats enormous. The CPU can easily OC well past 4GHZ. The board I linked also allows another GPU to be added at a later date for 3 way SLi if you ever wanted too.

Dont get me wrong though your build is a true beast :) I just think mine has longer claws that will keep you happy longer.
 

Nic88

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I can't really build a SLI PC by myself. Would you be able to suggest me some good (and cheap) PC builders?
 

wr6133

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That Company CCL actually offer a build service for those parts if bought from them so you buy parts they build and deliver complete. I think its around £60 may be a little more when SLi is involved
 

Nic88

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Understood.
I still prefer opting for a Sandy Bridge Extreme. Consider it an investment for the future.
I get your point in regards to wifi. I can get a wired keyboard and mouse. However, the wireless connection is a must, since the router is far away from my room.
What about PCI-E 3.0? Is it supported by the mobo?
I'll definetly check out CCL!

Thanks again.

Nic
 

wr6133

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The z77 has PCIe 3.0 slots. Its nice to have though without an IB CPU they wil run as 2.0

I can't really say enough though there is no garuantee that Ivy will have a socket 2011 version and the extreme CPU's really offer no real world benefit at all in gaming over the 1155. The money saved can go on SSD, case etc or if you want insane bragging rights a 3rd 680 for 3 way SLi :D
 

Nic88

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Haha! 3 way SLI is just too much for me! Especially at 1080p :lol:

The only thing that concerns me about 2600k is the future. how do you see it in 2/3 years time? I'm trying to run games at 60fps minimum for 2/3 years... :(
 

wr6133

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2-3 years is hard to predict but barring any massive tech change that would render both 2600k or extreme CPU's obsolete alike the life span of either will be pretty much the same.

The i7 2600k already offers more than any current game utilises fully. As mentioned there is the garuantee of the IB upgrade on the 1155 socket though as IB gains are largely in the integrated graphics department I suspect the Sandy will keep you running as long as you need.

The next major change from Intel will then be Haswell and that will be new architecture, new socket etc.

The extreme CPU's for gaming are largely overkill. By the time games use that many cores/threads or need the 64GB RAM you can put on those mobos the CPU will be dead and out of date.
 

Stupido

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Nic88, my advice to you is to look really carefully to the advice from wr6133!
He gave you a very very nice advice...

2011 for gaming only simply doesn't do the just... the savings from 1155 should be much better spent on an SSD.
even today's GPU are having hard time to saturate x8 PCIe 2.0 link not to mention the x8 PCIe 3.0 link that comes with IB; this means that nice z68/z77 motherboard with IB would be more than enough for the next 4-5 years even...
the hell, my PC is 4 years old, based on overclocked Q9650 (@4Ghz) driving 2x6850, still runs games nice & smooth @1920x1200 (higher than the now standard 1920x1080)
 

Nic88

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Do I have to select all the components first, then click on the building option? Is this a UK website?
 

wr6133

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Its a UK website they based up north. I always self build so never used the build option but i have used them for parts for years and never had any issue. I think you add the build thing to your cart along with the parts
 

Nic88

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Thank you!