Less than £500 set-up. Another 2500k vs FX4170.....

Los Bandidos

Honorable
Nov 3, 2012
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10,510
I need a new computer, I don't really play FPS (more XB360 with friends online), but do like strategy games (Total War) and RPGs. I mainly use my desktop for Lightroom and Photoshop editing.

Trying to spend as little money as possible, but want to future proof Abobe products. So not too fussed at not running new games at ultra in 4 years time as long as I can still edit in LR and PS at a decent speed. I will be upgrading my camera gear in the nest year so will have to deal with larger (40mb) RAW files .

Two choices I have at present. I need/want add cheap 128gb SSD myself to these:

Comp 1:

AMD FX 4170 4.2GHZ FAST QUAD CORE BLACK EDITION
1TB SATA HARD DRIVE
ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3 MOTHERBOARD
8GB DDR3 1600MHZ
NVIDIA GTX 660 2GB
£470

Comp 2:
Intel I5 2500K Unlocked CPU
1TB Sata Hard Drive
Gigabyte GA-Z68AP-D3 Motherboard
8gb DDR3 1333
Nvidia Geforce GTX 550TI 1gb
£467.

It seems everyone says get a I5 2500k, but in this case isn't the 660 with FX4170 better than a 550TI with 2500k.

Which would you recommend? I'm not adverse to OC the CPU, but its something I prefer not to do.

My current rig which struggles with everything these days is:

Core2 6300 @ 1.86. :whistle:
3GB
HD3600

I have a half decent monitor and speakers, so don't have to budget these.
 

wr6133

Guest
Feb 10, 2012
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19,960
Or have it all (and a newer version of the i5)

Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Processor
http://www.cclonline.com/product/73989/BX80637I53570K/CPUs/Intel-Core-i5-3570K-3-4GHz-Processor-6MB-L3-Cache-5GT/s-Bus-Speed-Boxed-/CPU0102/

Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H Motherboard
http://www.cclonline.com/product/81539/GA-Z77-DS3H/Motherboards/Gigabyte-GA-Z77-DS3H-Motherboard/MBD0390/

Corsair CML8GX3M2A1600C9 LP Vengeance Memory 8GB 1600MHz CL9 DDR3 Two Module Kit
http://www.cclonline.com/product/61774/CML8GX3M2A1600C9/Desktop-Memory/Corsair-CML8GX3M2A1600C9-LP-Vengeance-Memory-8GB-1600MHz-CL9-DDR3-Two-Module-Kit/RAM0336/

1TB Western Digital Caviar Black 3.5" Hard Disk Drive
http://www.cclonline.com/product/6939/WD1001FALS/Hard-Drives/1TB-Western-Digital-Caviar-Black-3-5-Hard-Disk-Drive/HDD0363/

Palit GeForce GTX 660 Graphics Card
http://www.cclonline.com/product/88749/NE5X66001049-1060F/Graphics-Cards/Palit-GeForce-GTX-660-Graphics-Card-2GB-GDDR5-PCIe-3-0-2-x-DVI-DisplayPort-HDMI/VGA0731/

Total - £495.48

Better than both the above

Or if you can give up on overclcoking you could save a fair bit gettin this CPU and mobo

Gigabyte GA-H77M-D3H Motherboard
http://www.cclonline.com/product/78343/GA-H77M-D3H/Motherboards/Gigabyte-GA-H77M-D3H-Motherboard/MBD0362/

Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Processor
http://www.cclonline.com/product/73987/BX80637I53450/CPUs/Intel-Core-i5-3450-3-1GHz-Processor-6MB-L3-Cache-5GT/s-Bus-Speed-Boxed-/CPU0100/

That would bring you down to £463.04

OR if you want AMD this CPU and mobo

AMD FX-8320 Eight Core CPU
http://www.cclonline.com/product/93470/FD8320FRHKBOX/CPUs/AMD-FX-8320-Eight-Core-CPU/CPU0154/

Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 AMD 970A (Socket AM3+) DDR3 PCI-Express ATX Motherboard
http://www.cclonline.com/product/77029/GA-970A-DS3/Motherboards/Gigabyte-GA-970A-DS3-AMD-970A-Socket-AM3-DDR3-PCI-Express-ATX-Motherboard/MBD0350/

Total - £433.60

All the above options would do what you need and more

For a cheap SSD

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

Rammy

Honorable
Would I be right in assuming you are only looking at premade systems? Both of those options seem reasonably good value, but you can probably do better with a self build.

If that is an option, you could attempt to combine some of the best bits for perhaps a little over £500.
i5 processor (a non k-series if you don't want to overclock) - ~£140
H77 motherboard - ~£60
8Gb 1600 RAM - ~£30
decent 1gb HDD- ~£50
GTX660 - £170
PSU - £40

That brings you to about £490 which doesn't leave you much room for a case, but it's basically a nice balance for the price.

If you are solely considering premade systems, it's perhaps better to look for a non K-series i5 as you might find a cheaper version which frees up more money for the graphics card, GTX550ti isn't fantastic.

As for your specific question about which is best, my money would be on the AMD one, simply because the difference in graphics is quite significant.
 

Los Bandidos

Honorable
Nov 3, 2012
2
0
10,510
:) Thanks for the links and recommendations.


I should have added that those prices are for full systems. So I would need a case, DVD drive, wires and a PSU. I've never made a whole PC before, but I'm comfortable adding/changing RAM and GFX cards.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390445916296?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

and

http://www.freshtechsolutions.co.uk/custom-built-computers/new-computers-chosen-by-us-for-you/galaxy-z68-motherboard-i5-2500k-gaming-computer-pc-1tb-8gb-ddr3-gtx-550-ti-1gb.html

This is the same company, but they don't sell the same specs on Ebay and the website. :??:


The only thing I am worried about in both is the PSU, but I guess this is easy enough and cheap enough to change at a future date.


I have that SSD already saved....on PC World :ouch: First time they have been cheaper for anything. £65.

 

Rammy

Honorable
If you are solely looking at that company, try something like this http://www.freshtechsolutions.co.uk/custom-built-computers/new-computers-chosen-by-us-for-you/intel-ivy-bridge-i5-3450-gaming-pc-1tb-8gb-1600mhz-gtx-660-2gb-z77-computer.html
Bit more expensive but essentially the best of both worlds.

I think with premade systems the issue tends not to be cost (people accept paying a bit more if it removes the hassle) but that you can't always guarantee the quality of components. In those builds they don't state which PSUs and HDDs they use, which would concern me a little. Additionally, computer cases are predominantly aesthetic and a lack of choice isn't something I like (I know they offer choices, but they all look kinda cheap and nasty)
 

wr6133

Guest
Feb 10, 2012
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19,960
Ok my bad not realising they were prebuilts originally. If you are comfy too add SSD's and GPU's though really you can build it yourself its easy anyone can. I'd avoid freshtech they are using cheapo CiT cases and nasty PSU's "branded" is meaningless the tell is on sytems that need tops a 550W they are using 750W.... thye know the PSU is a lemon so are over doing it heavily.

Taking a little bit of a liberty with your budget I would add a PSU, case and DVD drive to the builds I listed you so the following

AMD FX-8320 Eight Core CPU (This is the new gerneration of FX it is leaps and bounds ahead of the older bulldozers)
http://www.cclonline.com/product/9 [...] U/CPU0154/

Gigabyte 970A-D3 Socket AM3 Motherboard
http://www.cclonline.com/product/65506/GA-970A-D3/Motherboards/Gigabyte-970A-D3-Socket-AM3-Motherboard/MBD0219/

Corsair CML8GX3M2A1600C9 LP Vengeance Memory 8GB 1600MHz CL9 DDR3 Two Module Kit
http://www.cclonline.com/product/6 [...] t/RAM0336/

1TB Western Digital Caviar Black 3.5" Hard Disk Drive
http://www.cclonline.com/product/6 [...] e/HDD0363/

Palit GeForce GTX 660 Graphics Card
http://www.cclonline.com/product/8 [...] I/VGA0731/

Xigmatek Asgard Pro Gaming Case
http://www.cclonline.com/product/79782/CCC-AE37BS-U02/Cases/Xigmatek-Asgard-Pro-Gaming-Case/CAS0584/

CCL Choice 22x DVD+/-RW Drive
http://www.cclonline.com/product/92980/CCL-DVDRW-BLK-525/Optical-Drives/CCL-Choice-22x-DVD-/-RW-Drive-/CDR0150/

OCZ ZS Series 550W 80+ Bronze Power Supply
http://www.cclonline.com/product/60911/OCZ-ZS550W-UK/Power-Supplies/OCZ-ZS-Series-550W-80-Bronze-Power-Supply/PSU0243/

Total £525

OR

Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz Processor
http://www.cclonline.com/product/7 [...] -/CPU0102/

Gigabyte GA-H77M-D3H Motherboard
http://www.cclonline.com/product/7 [...] d/MBD0362/

Corsair CML8GX3M2A1600C9 LP Vengeance Memory 8GB 1600MHz CL9 DDR3 Two Module Kit
http://www.cclonline.com/product/6 [...] t/RAM0336/

1TB Western Digital Caviar Black 3.5" Hard Disk Drive
http://www.cclonline.com/product/6 [...] e/HDD0363/

Palit GeForce GTX 660 Graphics Card
http://www.cclonline.com/product/8 [...] I/VGA0731/

Xigmatek Asgard Pro Gaming Case
http://www.cclonline.com/product/79782/CCC-AE37BS-U02/Cases/Xigmatek-Asgard-Pro-Gaming-Case/CAS0584/

CCL Choice 22x DVD+/-RW Drive
http://www.cclonline.com/product/92980/CCL-DVDRW-BLK-525/Optical-Drives/CCL-Choice-22x-DVD-/-RW-Drive-/CDR0150/

OCZ ZS Series 550W 80+ Bronze Power Supply
http://www.cclonline.com/product/60911/OCZ-ZS550W-UK/Power-Supplies/OCZ-ZS-Series-550W-80-Bronze-Power-Supply/PSU0243/

TOTAL - £554

Either is better than any prebuilt will manage. As this is not a hardcore gamers box I would take the AMD and save a few pennies as you can see here in PS it is only marginally behind Intel offerings http://www.anandtech.com/show/6396/the-vishera-review-amd-fx8350-fx8320-fx6300-and-fx4300-tested/4