Hi,
I've currently got a slightly aging AMD Phenon II X4, 4 GB of RAM, 700W (non-modular) PSU, a GTX 570 and rubbish wide screen LG monitor that only supports up to 1680 x 1050...
I'm a massive Battlefield fan & am quite happy with the frame rates I'm getting in BF3 at this resolution (something around 60 fps at Ultra with AA turned off)... but I have the money in the next couple of months to invest in a new gaming rig & am after a bit of advice really...
I want to build something for BF4 and that will also last me 5 years or so with the plan to drop in a 2nd GPU after a couple of years in SLI to bring me up to date with the latest games when that times comes, but at less cost than a new single GPU that delivers the same performance as an SLI setup.
So I've been thinking of:
CPU = i7 4770K (Haswell) - not sure if this overkill, but I wanna future proof myself now with the hyperthreading potential while I have the money).
RAM = 16GB (will get the highest speed I can for now & perhaps look at adding an additional 16Gb later on if required)
MoBo = Undecided, but likely a moderately priced gaming one that supports SLI & has overclocking potential.
PSU = Corsair ATX1200 (again this might be overkill, but I plan on SLI'ing at least 2 cards further on down the line so I thought for the marginal price difference between a 1000W & 1200W supply, I'd rather invest the extra money now just in case).
GPU = GTX 780 Superclocked with ACX cooler (I've heard this actually beats the Titan in many games @1080p & is significantly cheaper).
I would then look at adding another 780 in a couple of years, which by then should be a fair bit cheaper & this will allow me to be more or less capable of running the latest games for less than £250 (my estimated cost of a 780 in 2-3 years time).
First of all - do you think this rig would future proof me well enough or would I for instance be better off saving some money by not getting an i7 & settling on a i5? Do you think the PSU is overkill, any SLI'ing advice etc?...
... and secondly in terms of a monitor I'm wondering whether just to go for a IPS 1080p 27inch monitor now or invest the extra money in either a 120Hz monitor or one that supports 2560 x 1440 resolution?
I'm guessing that although I will be able to get 60 fps in new games like BF4 with everything maxed out with a single GTX780 SC @1080p... when future games are released & until I SLI up, I'm gonna get less than this further on down the line... so a 120HZ monitor sounds like it wouldn't be worth it?
As for a 1440p monitor I'm likely to see even less frame rates in new games so I'm thinking a decent IPS 27inch 1080p monitor would be the better option for now.. and perhaps if they come out with a IPS 120Hz 1440p monitor at an affordable price in years to come I can look at investing in one then...
Sorry to ask so many questions, but I want to be sure of what I'm buying & future proof myself as much as possible (without the aid of a crystal ball) before I invest in a new rig
Any advice / ideas are greatly appreciated!
I've currently got a slightly aging AMD Phenon II X4, 4 GB of RAM, 700W (non-modular) PSU, a GTX 570 and rubbish wide screen LG monitor that only supports up to 1680 x 1050...
I'm a massive Battlefield fan & am quite happy with the frame rates I'm getting in BF3 at this resolution (something around 60 fps at Ultra with AA turned off)... but I have the money in the next couple of months to invest in a new gaming rig & am after a bit of advice really...
I want to build something for BF4 and that will also last me 5 years or so with the plan to drop in a 2nd GPU after a couple of years in SLI to bring me up to date with the latest games when that times comes, but at less cost than a new single GPU that delivers the same performance as an SLI setup.
So I've been thinking of:
CPU = i7 4770K (Haswell) - not sure if this overkill, but I wanna future proof myself now with the hyperthreading potential while I have the money).
RAM = 16GB (will get the highest speed I can for now & perhaps look at adding an additional 16Gb later on if required)
MoBo = Undecided, but likely a moderately priced gaming one that supports SLI & has overclocking potential.
PSU = Corsair ATX1200 (again this might be overkill, but I plan on SLI'ing at least 2 cards further on down the line so I thought for the marginal price difference between a 1000W & 1200W supply, I'd rather invest the extra money now just in case).
GPU = GTX 780 Superclocked with ACX cooler (I've heard this actually beats the Titan in many games @1080p & is significantly cheaper).
I would then look at adding another 780 in a couple of years, which by then should be a fair bit cheaper & this will allow me to be more or less capable of running the latest games for less than £250 (my estimated cost of a 780 in 2-3 years time).
First of all - do you think this rig would future proof me well enough or would I for instance be better off saving some money by not getting an i7 & settling on a i5? Do you think the PSU is overkill, any SLI'ing advice etc?...
... and secondly in terms of a monitor I'm wondering whether just to go for a IPS 1080p 27inch monitor now or invest the extra money in either a 120Hz monitor or one that supports 2560 x 1440 resolution?
I'm guessing that although I will be able to get 60 fps in new games like BF4 with everything maxed out with a single GTX780 SC @1080p... when future games are released & until I SLI up, I'm gonna get less than this further on down the line... so a 120HZ monitor sounds like it wouldn't be worth it?
As for a 1440p monitor I'm likely to see even less frame rates in new games so I'm thinking a decent IPS 27inch 1080p monitor would be the better option for now.. and perhaps if they come out with a IPS 120Hz 1440p monitor at an affordable price in years to come I can look at investing in one then...
Sorry to ask so many questions, but I want to be sure of what I'm buying & future proof myself as much as possible (without the aid of a crystal ball) before I invest in a new rig
Any advice / ideas are greatly appreciated!