Advice on new build

[mattzx]

I'm about to attempt my first build. Computer will be used for medium gaming, internet browsing and other general tasks. Is this build any good? I would welcome any advise/feedback. Budget is around £500.00

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core (£145.38 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 (£62.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 (£34.19 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM (£57.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB (£94.52 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: Xigmatek Asgard II Black ATX Mid Tower (£26.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Power Supply: XFX 550W ATX12V / EPS12V (£49.99 @ Amazon UK)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer (£12.88 @ CCL Computers)

Total: £484.92

 

[geekapproved]

Looks very good imo.

 

[austing]

I'm about to attempt my first build. Computer will be used for medium gaming, internet browsing and other general tasks. Is this build any good? I would welcome any advise/feedback. Budget is around £500.00

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core (£145.38 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 (£62.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 (£34.19 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM (£57.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB (£94.52 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: Xigmatek Asgard II Black ATX Mid Tower (£26.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Power Supply: XFX 550W ATX12V / EPS12V (£49.99 @ Amazon UK)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer (£12.88 @ CCL Computers)

Total: £484.92

It looks good, I was not sure you could get an Ivy 5 for so cheap hahah, I would try and spen and extra 30-40 dollars and get an upgradable Motherboard like the Asrock extreme4.

 

[mattzx]

It looks good, I was not sure you could get an Ivy 5 for so cheap hahah, I would try and spen and extra 30-40 dollars and get an upgradable Motherboard like the Asrock extreme4.

Thanks i'll check out the more expensive motherboard. The prices quoted are in British pounds £145.38 works out around $225.00 US dollars, so not so cheap.

 

[austing]

Thanks i'll check out the more expensive motherboard. The prices quoted are in British pounds £145.38 works out around $225.00 US dollars, so not so cheap.

Under estimated

You should like the Asrock board, it gives room for expansion in the future, and its a nice looking board at that.

Dont want to dwarf your case with a tiny micro atx motherboard

 

[mattzx]

I've amended my build slightly. Austing suggested that I go for the Asrock extreme4 mobo, but that's a little too expensive for my budget. Instead I've gone for the ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX and also changed the memory. Again any advice would be appreciated.


Original proposed build
CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core (£145.38 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M Micro ATX LGA1155 (£62.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Memory: Kingston Blu 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 (£34.19 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM (£57.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB (£94.52 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: Xigmatek Asgard II Black ATX Mid Tower (£26.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Power Supply: XFX 550W ATX12V / EPS12V (£49.99 @ Amazon UK)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer (£12.88 @ CCL Computers)

Total: £484.92

New proposed build
CPU: Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Quad-Core (£145.38 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 (£72.99 @ Amazon.co.uk)
Memory: Kingston HyperX 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 (£44.99 @ Dabs.com)
Storage: Toshiba 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM (£57.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition 1GB (£94.52 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: Xigmatek Asgard II Black ATX Mid Tower (£26.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Power Supply: XFX 550W ATX12V / EPS12V (£49.99 @ Amazon UK)
Optical Drive: Sony AD-7280S-0B DVD/CD Writer (£12.88 @ CCL Computers)

Total: £503.13

 

[geekapproved]

It looks good, I was not sure you could get an Ivy 5 for so cheap hahah, I would try and spen and extra 30-40 dollars and get an upgradable Motherboard like the Asrock extreme4.

HUH?

There's nothing you can't put on the H77 that you can put on the Extreme 4.......

Also if you don't need the extra features of a full atx board, there's no point in buying one. Dwarf the case? LOL

You seriously gotta laugh at some of the ignorant comments you hear on this forum.

 

[mattzx]

HUH?

There's nothing you can't put on the H77 that you can put on the Extreme 4.......

Also if you don't need the extra features of a full atx board, there's no point in buying one. Dwarf the case? LOL

You seriously gotta laugh at some of the ignorant comments you hear on this forum.

So I could just go with the first option? Which of the two I've posted do you consider the best?

 

[geekapproved]

Well depends on your needs. Do you need a full size board?

The difference is the full size board has more sata and usb ports. It also has 2 more dimm slots.

 

[kanoobie]

Seen people warn about using 1.65V memory in other builds. You need 1.5V ram, something like http://www.dabs.com/products/g-skill-8gb--2-x-4gb--ares-ddr3-1600mhz-dimm-240-pin-cl9-orange-810Q.html?q=g.%20skill%20ares&src=16

 

[mattzx]

Well depends on your needs. Do you need a full size board?

The difference is the full size board has more sata and usb ports. It also has 2 more dimm slots.

Right, no I think I'll be ok with the smaller board then.

 

[mattzx]

Seen people warn about using 1.65V memory in other builds. You need 1.5V ram, something like http://www.dabs.com/products/g-skill-8gb--2-x-4gb--ares-ddr3-1600mhz-dimm-240-pin-cl9-orange-810Q.html?q=g.%20skill%20ares&src=16

Thanks for your comment. I saw that earlier on as well and was planning to change the ram to 1.5V. The one you linked look good.

 

[geekapproved]

Seen people warn about using 1.65V memory in other builds. You need 1.5V ram, something like http://www.dabs.com/products/g-skill-8gb--2-x-4gb--ares-ddr3-1600mhz-dimm-240-pin-cl9-orange-810Q.html?q=g.%20skill%20ares&src=16

Nice catch. I stopped looking for that, didn't think they were still making 1.65v modules.

 

[kanoobie]

I also checked for alternative GPU's and the pricing scheme in the UK (Vat sucks ). Since I am unfamiliar with your vendors, I can't vouch for the reputation for this dealer/brand, but, after a quick google search, I saw this deal for a 7850 posted: http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/ARIANET+Radeon+HD+7850+1024MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=51846
might be worth looking into that deal

 

[mattzx]

I also checked for alternative GPU's and the pricing scheme in the UK (Vat sucks ). Since I am unfamiliar with your vendors, I can't vouch for the reputation for this dealer/brand, but, after a quick google search, I saw this deal for a 7850 posted: http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/ARIANET+Radeon+HD+7850+1024MB+GDDR5+PCI-Express+Graphics+Card+?productId=51846
might be worth looking into that deal

Yeah tell me about it, 20% Vat on top of the item price. The government loves to tax the hell out of us.

I've heard of aria, but don't know a lot about them. I'm tempted by the 7850, but for my needs I don't know if I need a 7850. Having said that I did see a 6850 for a much cheaper price than anywhere else on scan.co.uk, although it does state stock was due in 20 july and is still to arrive. Maybe won't appear.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/1gb-xfx-hd-6850-4000mhz-gddr5-gpu-775mhz-960-cores-eyefinity-hdmi-2x-mini-displayport-2x-dvi

 

[kanoobie]

You do not need a 7850 now since a 7770 should be able to play pretty much all games at medium settings at or below 1080p. I suggested that 7850 since I felt the performance gained surpassed the additional cost and it would allow you to comfortably play on high-medium settings for a few years with the processor you chose.
The 6850 is faster than the 7770 in most games, but the 6850 requires a bit more power and produces more heat.
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/539?vs=536
I can't comment on the noise made by the two cards. If you could get the 6850 for that price then that would be a better deal than the 7770.
You might want to start a thread in the graphics card section where your video card related question will get more attention.

 

[austing]

HUH?

There's nothing you can't put on the H77 that you can put on the Extreme 4.......

Also if you don't need the extra features of a full atx board, there's no point in buying one. Dwarf the case? LOL

You seriously gotta laugh at some of the ignorant comments you hear on this forum.

Yes, you're 100% true *Sarcasam*

How about more overclocking potential, more DIMM's, more SATA, okay bro.

Dwarf the case as in, make it bigger than it needs to be (micro atx board in a mid atx case), I used the wrong pre-text, get at me about it, I dont care..

Your pretty ignorant, lurk moar bro.

 

[geekapproved]

That would be great if he needed more dimm's, more sata and more usb.

He hasn't mentioned anything about plans for overclocking.