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New builder, gaming pc - anything I'm missing here?

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  • Gaming
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July 21, 2014 5:11:05 AM

Hi,

I'm building a new PC for the first time in about a decade, and wanted to run my plans past you knowledgeable people first!

Current budget is roughly 500GBP. Used PCPartPicker (naturally!).

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor (£81.79 @ Ebuyer)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.25 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£29.77 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£39.18 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card (£109.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£29.99 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£35.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £350.96

I already have RAM (24GB!), power supply (525W) and 2 optical drives that I'm cannabilising from an old Dell Precision T3500 that I got given.

I'm presuming that the memory I have already will be compatible with the newer stuff - is that correct? They're in 4GB sticks (can't get them out of the case at the moment because it's a real faff taking that case apart, but there are 6 of them and there's 24GB, I just can't read the exact labels.).

Am I missing anything?
What else might I need (e.g. fans)?
Do I need to buy the aftermarket CPU cooler or is the bundled one with the CPU fine?

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions about this build I'd love to hear them.

Thanks for your time.

More about : builder gaming missing

a b 4 Gaming
July 21, 2014 5:27:28 AM

thesynapse said:
Hi,

I'm building a new PC for the first time in about a decade, and wanted to run my plans past you knowledgeable people first!

Current budget is roughly 500GBP. Used PCPartPicker (naturally!).

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor (£81.79 @ Ebuyer)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.25 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£29.77 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£39.18 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card (£109.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£29.99 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£35.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £350.96

I already have RAM (24GB!), power supply (525W) and 2 optical drives that I'm cannabilising from an old Dell Precision T3500 that I got given.

I'm presuming that the memory I have already will be compatible with the newer stuff - is that correct? They're in 4GB sticks (can't get them out of the case at the moment because it's a real faff taking that case apart, but there are 6 of them and there's 24GB, I just can't read the exact labels.).

Am I missing anything?
What else might I need (e.g. fans)?
Do I need to buy the aftermarket CPU cooler or is the bundled one with the CPU fine?

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions about this build I'd love to hear them.

Thanks for your time.


The OS is a recovery disc for dell computers so you need to get a full version of Windows 8.1 since Windows 7 is losing support quickly
a b 4 Gaming
July 21, 2014 5:29:57 AM

PCPartPicker part list: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/zGJ2WZ
Price breakdown by merchant: http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/zGJ2WZ/by_merchant/

CPU: AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz 6-Core Processor (£70.20 @ Aria PC)
Motherboard: ASRock 960GM/U3S3 FX Micro ATX AM3+ Motherboard (£39.76 @ CCL Computers)
Storage: Sandisk Solid State Drive 128GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£45.99 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£38.70 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card (£164.74 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: BitFenix Comrade ATX Mid Tower Case (£29.99 @ Aria PC)
Power Supply: EVGA 500W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£35.40 @ Scan.co.uk)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£79.18 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £503.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Related resources
a b 4 Gaming
July 21, 2014 9:58:01 PM

DeadGraphics said:
thesynapse said:
Hi,

I'm building a new PC for the first time in about a decade, and wanted to run my plans past you knowledgeable people first!

Current budget is roughly 500GBP. Used PCPartPicker (naturally!).

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor (£81.79 @ Ebuyer)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.25 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£29.77 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£39.18 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card (£109.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£29.99 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£35.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £350.96

I already have RAM (24GB!), power supply (525W) and 2 optical drives that I'm cannabilising from an old Dell Precision T3500 that I got given.

I'm presuming that the memory I have already will be compatible with the newer stuff - is that correct? They're in 4GB sticks (can't get them out of the case at the moment because it's a real faff taking that case apart, but there are 6 of them and there's 24GB, I just can't read the exact labels.).

Am I missing anything?
What else might I need (e.g. fans)?
Do I need to buy the aftermarket CPU cooler or is the bundled one with the CPU fine?

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions about this build I'd love to hear them.

Thanks for your time.


The OS is a recovery disc for dell computers so you need to get a full version of Windows 8.1 since Windows 7 is losing support quickly


Windows 7 is losing support... but so what? I personally prefer everything on it over Windows 8.
a b 4 Gaming
July 22, 2014 6:30:08 AM

sora said:
DeadGraphics said:
thesynapse said:
Hi,

I'm building a new PC for the first time in about a decade, and wanted to run my plans past you knowledgeable people first!

Current budget is roughly 500GBP. Used PCPartPicker (naturally!).

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor (£81.79 @ Ebuyer)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.25 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£29.77 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£39.18 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card (£109.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£29.99 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£35.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £350.96

I already have RAM (24GB!), power supply (525W) and 2 optical drives that I'm cannabilising from an old Dell Precision T3500 that I got given.

I'm presuming that the memory I have already will be compatible with the newer stuff - is that correct? They're in 4GB sticks (can't get them out of the case at the moment because it's a real faff taking that case apart, but there are 6 of them and there's 24GB, I just can't read the exact labels.).

Am I missing anything?
What else might I need (e.g. fans)?
Do I need to buy the aftermarket CPU cooler or is the bundled one with the CPU fine?

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions about this build I'd love to hear them.

Thanks for your time.


The OS is a recovery disc for dell computers so you need to get a full version of Windows 8.1 since Windows 7 is losing support quickly


Windows 7 is losing support... but so what? I personally prefer everything on it over Windows 8.


So soon Microsoft is going to leave Windows 7 behind like Windows XP earlier this year
July 22, 2014 7:04:33 AM

The stock cooler that comes with Intel CPUs is a bit loud. If noise is a big factor, get the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO. If noise does not bother you, the stock cooler will cool your CPU with no problems.
July 25, 2014 5:48:55 AM

That's wonderful feedback - thanks guys.

Not sure that Windows 7 is going anywhere anytime soon. I suppose that games will support Windows 8.1 fine though, so 8.1 isn't a bad bet.

The fan's were the only thing that I found difficult to make a decision on. I usually play with headphones on or speakers turned up, so I don't think that noise will be a problem.

Do I need extra fans for the case?
July 25, 2014 5:54:32 AM

Thanks for the suggested build DeadGraphics.

I did toy with the idea of an AMD-FX 6300, but wasn't sure how good a situation it left me in for future upgrading.
Also - the power supply. I already have a 525W supply inside the Precision T3500 case - should that be fine?

My money has also shrunk a little since my post, so I have less than I posted initially! I also stupidly forgot to explain that I need to buy a new monitor out of that money (currently using a 1280x1024 monitor - I'm living in the dark ages!), so that's about £100 I figured.

Those 280 graphics cards do look lovely though...;-)
a b 4 Gaming
July 25, 2014 5:57:09 AM

thesynapse said:
I already have RAM (24GB!), power supply (525W) and 2 optical drives that I'm cannabilising from an old Dell Precision T3500 that I got given.

I'm presuming that the memory I have already will be compatible with the newer stuff - is that correct? They're in 4GB sticks (can't get them out of the case at the moment because it's a real faff taking that case apart, but there are 6 of them and there's 24GB, I just can't read the exact labels.).


The ram may not be compatible - the Dell precision workstations could take both ECC and non-ECC memory so it depends on what is installed. It may also be 1066mhz and if it is then you should seek to upgrade.

The 525w PSU - no complaints about recycling it if it's Dell OEM, those things last forever

What is your current budget?
July 25, 2014 5:59:18 AM

Oh bums. That ram not usable at all in that system then? If it is, will it SERIOUSLY hamper it's performance or only a little bit? I'm not aiming high-end yet (obviously)...
a b 4 Gaming
July 25, 2014 6:03:08 AM

thesynapse said:
Oh bums. That ram not usable at all in that system then? If it is, will it SERIOUSLY hamper it's performance or only a little bit? I'm not aiming high-end yet (obviously)...


If it's ECC - your new mobo likely will not support it
If it's non ECC but low speed - your mobo will support it, performance impact won't be major
July 25, 2014 6:17:13 AM

The sticker reads "4GB PC3-10600, DDR3, 1333Mhz, 4096BM, Non EEC 9-9-9-24"

So I guess I'm lucky and that's all cool to be used in newer build?
a b 4 Gaming
July 25, 2014 6:19:31 AM

thesynapse said:
The sticker reads "4GB PC3-10600, DDR3, 1333Mhz, 4096BM, Non EEC 9-9-9-24"

So I guess I'm lucky and that's all cool to be used in newer build?


yeah and performance wise it will be fine - 1333 isn't ideal but it won't hurt you much, spend your budget elsewhere :) 
July 25, 2014 6:21:39 AM

Cool, thanks a lot for your help it's much appreciated. Bit of a minefield - even if most of the basics remain the same a decade on!

Re: budget. Not 100% sure yet (it depends on some small bits of contract work I'm hoping to get and negotiations on rates are still going on!), but just under £500 (to include a 1920x1080 monitor - £100 ish?) seems doable and enough to get a decent pc together. I won't have much opportunity to upgrade for some time.

You have any thoughts on the alt. build that DeadGraphics suggested versus mine?
a b 4 Gaming
July 25, 2014 6:27:08 AM

DeadGraphics said:
thesynapse said:
Hi,

I'm building a new PC for the first time in about a decade, and wanted to run my plans past you knowledgeable people first!

Current budget is roughly 500GBP. Used PCPartPicker (naturally!).

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor (£81.79 @ Ebuyer)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.25 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£29.77 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£39.18 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card (£109.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£29.99 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£35.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £350.96

I already have RAM (24GB!), power supply (525W) and 2 optical drives that I'm cannabilising from an old Dell Precision T3500 that I got given.

I'm presuming that the memory I have already will be compatible with the newer stuff - is that correct? They're in 4GB sticks (can't get them out of the case at the moment because it's a real faff taking that case apart, but there are 6 of them and there's 24GB, I just can't read the exact labels.).

Am I missing anything?
What else might I need (e.g. fans)?
Do I need to buy the aftermarket CPU cooler or is the bundled one with the CPU fine?

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions about this build I'd love to hear them.

Thanks for your time.


The OS is a recovery disc for dell computers so you need to get a full version of Windows 8.1 since Windows 7 is losing support quickly


windows 7 is not loosing support any time too soon? at least none that ive noticed?...
a b 4 Gaming
July 25, 2014 6:32:56 AM

Beezy said:
windows 7 is not loosing support any time too soon? at least none that ive noticed?...


This, vista has got support until 2017 ffs
a b 4 Gaming
July 25, 2014 9:10:44 PM

Beezy said:
DeadGraphics said:
thesynapse said:
Hi,

I'm building a new PC for the first time in about a decade, and wanted to run my plans past you knowledgeable people first!

Current budget is roughly 500GBP. Used PCPartPicker (naturally!).

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor (£81.79 @ Ebuyer)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.25 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: MSI H81M-P33 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£29.77 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£39.18 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card (£109.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case: BitFenix Merc Alpha (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case (£29.99 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£35.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £350.96

I already have RAM (24GB!), power supply (525W) and 2 optical drives that I'm cannabilising from an old Dell Precision T3500 that I got given.

I'm presuming that the memory I have already will be compatible with the newer stuff - is that correct? They're in 4GB sticks (can't get them out of the case at the moment because it's a real faff taking that case apart, but there are 6 of them and there's 24GB, I just can't read the exact labels.).

Am I missing anything?
What else might I need (e.g. fans)?
Do I need to buy the aftermarket CPU cooler or is the bundled one with the CPU fine?

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions about this build I'd love to hear them.

Thanks for your time.


The OS is a recovery disc for dell computers so you need to get a full version of Windows 8.1 since Windows 7 is losing support quickly


windows 7 is not loosing support any time too soon? at least none that ive noticed?...

It will lose support in the year 2020 or so... lol. It is also fine to use and I personally would just get Windows 7 if it means saving money.
a b 4 Gaming
July 26, 2014 1:30:30 AM

there is a specific reason why 8 is better - you can change mobo without losing the OS license
July 26, 2014 2:13:19 AM

That's interesting! Never knew that. Wonder why it's only now that they've started doing that?
a b 4 Gaming
July 26, 2014 6:48:59 AM

LucoTF said:
there is a specific reason why 8 is better - you can change mobo without losing the OS license


this and more dev support, Microsoft pushes HARD for you to upgrade. they really want everyone on 7 to move to 8, but statistically not many users want to
!