Need recommendations for Gaming Rig

[Roach75]

Approx max budget £1500

I need everything including OS in this budget.

Only wish to use Amazon or other reputable/reliable online or high street stores in the UK.

I would prefer quality over performance.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Check the link in my sig.

 

[Roach75]

Approximate Purchase Date: within next 2 months

Budget Range: £1500 After Shipping

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming

Are you buying a monitor: Yes

Parts to Upgrade: Err, complete build from nothing
Do you need to buy OS: Yes, don't want an OEM version

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Amazon, Overclockers or UK High Street stores
Location: UK
Parts Preferences: Quality products over cheap/performance options
Overclocking: No, doubt I will ever attempt this

SLI or Crossfire: No

Your Monitor Resolution: best possible HD
Additional Comments: Quiet PC would be great

And Most Importantly, Why Are You Upgrading: I have the money now (saving it won't happen) and support for XP will be ending in 2014

 

[Someone Somewhere]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3550 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor (£153.28 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£72.99 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£29.76 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda Green 1.5TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive (£53.98 @ Scan.co.uk)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (£365.76 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£79.67 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: OCZ ZT 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply (£63.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£11.96 @ Scan.co.uk)
Monitor: Asus PB278Q 27.0" Monitor (£479.12 @ Scan.co.uk)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) (£69.68 @ Scan.co.uk)
Keyboard: Gigabyte Force K3 Wired Gaming Keyboard (£28.57 @ Amazon UK)
Mouse: Gigabyte GM-M6980 Wired Laser Mouse (£23.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Total: £1432.74
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Feel free to change the keyboard, mouse, and case. They're mainly placeholders as everybody's tastes vary.

I couldn't find a retail version on PCPartPicker, but there's budget left.

 

[JJ1217]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3550 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor (£153.28 @ CCL Computers)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4/MVP ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£72.99 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£29.76 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda Green 1.5TB 3.5" 5900RPM Internal Hard Drive (£53.98 @ Scan.co.uk)
Video Card: Gigabyte Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3GB Video Card (£365.76 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: NZXT Phantom 410 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£79.67 @ Scan.co.uk)
Power Supply: OCZ ZT 550W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply (£63.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£11.96 @ Scan.co.uk)
Monitor: Asus PB278Q 27.0" Monitor (£479.12 @ Scan.co.uk)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) (£69.68 @ Scan.co.uk)
Keyboard: Gigabyte Force K3 Wired Gaming Keyboard (£28.57 @ Amazon UK)
Mouse: Gigabyte GM-M6980 Wired Laser Mouse (£23.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Total: £1432.74
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)

Feel free to change the keyboard, mouse, and case. They're mainly placeholders as everybody's tastes vary.

I couldn't find a retail version on PCPartPicker, but there's budget left.

Thats a fantastic monitor, and a very good build. I only have a few issues with your build, that could be touched up on

OCZ don't make the best Power Supplies, and I feel that with 550W (Which is enough) the power supply is most likely going to run at around 90% all the time. Which is something you don't want, it'll make it die very quickly. Since you have around another 50 pounds to work with, you should probably get this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMPSU-650TXV2UK-Enthusiast-Series-Performance/dp/B004O0P9TO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350738792&sr=8-1

Much better build quality, better warranty, and just better overall in terms of wattage and amps on the 12V rail.


Also, the windforce 3 cooler on the 7970 is very heavy -- it tends to cause the PCIe slot to sag and what not.

Thats why I would recommend this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sapphire-11197-12-40G-HD7970-Vapor-X-Graphics/dp/B008I7YZJY/ref=sr_1_4?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1350738873&sr=1-4

Much better, quieter cooler. Sapphire are probably among the best Radeon card makers.

Good build overall however, I just feel those tweaks will utilise his budget a little bit more.

 

[Roach75]

Thanks chaps, much to chew over