New home build gaming PC for £1000

papaganoosh

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Oct 21, 2012
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I posted on the forums a week ago and got an amazing response for a build under £1000 (without tax).

Below is what I settled on, but I would love some input from more people as to any tweaks that could be made, or just telling me how good the last advice I got was!

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£168.61 @ CCL Computers)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£26.65 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£104.12 @ Scan.co.uk)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£29.76 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£58.78 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£74.99 @ Ebuyer)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card (£239.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case (£50.13 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: Corsair Enthusiast 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£83.99 @ Dabs)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£11.96 @ Scan.co.uk)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor (£147.30 @ Dabs)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) (£68.35 @ CCL Computers)
Total: £1064.63
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)


Bearing in mind I can purchase this without VAT, the total cost is around £830. There is some room to upgrade or futureproof if anyone has any ideas that will really really make a difference, however, at the moment this price makes me pretty happy.


For example, is:

http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/part/corsair-case-400r

worth spending an extra £25 on? Stuff like that.

 

JJ1217

Honorable
Get the low profile version of that Vengeance Ram.

That PSU is slightly overkill, its good if you choose to crossfire, however in a single GPU setup it is overkill.

Maybe get a 120hz monitor, I'm not sure whether the one you picked is. A BenQ XL2420T is always nice.

I always love cases with great cable routing, which is why I believe something like a 500R is nice, not too expensive, but great all round.

Everything else looks good. :D

Also, one thing to note, is the Asrock Z77 Extreme 4 doesn't use standard ATX screw holes, and it is 3 mm thinner. Its a little bit floppy, so take caution when you plug in your 24 pin. It can take it, but just make sure your board doesn't flop too much. Its a good board for the price. I have it, and I love it.
 

papaganoosh

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Oct 21, 2012
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Thanks for the quick reply JJ.

What do you mean by low profile? Is that just smaller? I can't find any link to it on PCPartPicker, or maybe I'm just being stupid!

Is the PSU too much even as a futureproofing measure?

Did you do anything to strengthen the AsRock board? The last thing I want is for it to break my new component!
 

wr6133

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Feb 10, 2012
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I would get this motherboard
http://www.cclonline.com/product/78336/GA-Z77X-UD3H/Motherboards/Gigabyte-GA-Z77X-UD3H-Motherboard/MBD0355/

I don't know why people cream their panties over that ASrock it is a turkey. To cut costs it's a stupid size, thin and floppy and it uses sub par cheap mofsets that mean you can suffer VRM heat issues when overclocking.

This is whats meant by low profile ram http://www.cclonline.com/product/61774/CML8GX3M2A1600C9/Desktop-Memory/Corsair-CML8GX3M2A1600C9-LP-Vengeance-Memory-8GB-1600MHz-CL9-DDR3-Two-Module-Kit/RAM0336/ the heatsinks don't get in the way of things performance is the same as the big heatsinks people use are pointless anyway

A 650W PSU would be more than enough unless you plan to crossfire in future.
 

papaganoosh

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Oct 21, 2012
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Ah thanks for the link to low profile. In a midi tower case the space saving will be ideal.

No plans to crossfire in the future, although I guess never say never.

Not sure how to decide between the Gigabyte MoBo or the ASrock now! Something to think about for me. I guess that is the beauty of this forum.
 

wr6133

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I'd cut it this way if you plan to OC get the Gigabyte and live with slightly less features (that you won't notice gone) but gain better quality. If you dont plan to OC get the ASrock.

I honestly think the fact they invented their own mobo size to use less PCB should be warning enough as to quality from that company
 

papaganoosh

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Oct 21, 2012
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I do plan to OC the system so maybe going for something a bit sturdier is the way forward.

Which specific features are lost from ASrock to Gigabyte?

I am 100% being put off by the numerous posts that it is smaller and thinner than a normal MoBo. Seems that spending the extra £20 might be worth it in this case.
 

wr6133

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Feb 10, 2012
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The Gbyte only has 2 SATA 6GB/s ports and 4 SATA 3GB/s (the ASrock has 2 more SATA 6GB/s) like I said not something to notice unless you plan to use alot of SSD's

I use that Gigabyte and have no complaints infact Gbyte ultra durable boards are almost always my recommendation
 

papaganoosh

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Oct 21, 2012
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I think I might be swinging that way now for the Gigabyte boards.

Two things that have been brought up by colleagues is:

Going for a more stable power source at 650W to enable better overclocking.

The Cooler Master CPU fan is bad, get something else.


Those are the two things he said. Any opinions from anyone?
 

williamjuly2003

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Mar 9, 2012
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OK First of all Asrock makes great Motherboards there isn't anything wrong with the one you picked. I own it too and its amazing price for features you get.

Second you picked a top nocth power supply made by corsair no reason to change it at all unless you want to save money by going with a lower Watts PSU.

Third I am pretty sure I found your Cooler master CPU fan on newegg and its 979 Reviews with 5 stars sounds like a pretty good cooler to me.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

 

papaganoosh

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Oct 21, 2012
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Thanks for the reply William.

As an ASrock owner, if you were offered the chance for the Gigabyte board at no extra cost would you still stick with the one you have?

As for the other two points I agree, I think there will always be someone that says there is something better around, regardless if they are right or not.
 

wr6133

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The 212 is a very very good budget air cooler it competes with the more expensive closed loop liquid coolers.

Your PSU is good it just is more than you need a 650 would be more than enough, though if you plan on adding another Graphics card in future the 750 is fine.

First of all Asrock makes great Motherboards there isn't anything wrong with the one you picked. I own it too and its amazing price for features you get.

Just because you own it doesn't make it the best thing since sliced bread it has cut corners to provide you those features (2 extra SATA 6GB/s ports.... big wow), now if you prefer features over quality thats fine for many yes it's a great board but to trumpet it as the all singing all dancing wonderboard like many do on these forums is wrong as for people that value quality £20 more gets you a whole lot more (quite literally in PCB weight). Shrinking and skinning down the PCB..... that really speaks volumes as to the ethics at ASrock, they started life as a budget arm of another company, they still are a budget maker trying to punch higher with questionable methods. Now I'm not discounting all their boards as cr@p but to a guy with room in his budget why buy the inferior product?
 

wr6133

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Just to be clear on your link the Gbyte board in that review is not the one recommended to the OP its the model below the one recommended
 

papaganoosh

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Oct 21, 2012
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I read that review. They both look decent.

I think I've made up my mind on everything except the power supply. I am thinking of getting a step up in quality (is professional above enthusiast?) but a step down in power from 750 to 650.
 

papaganoosh

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Oct 21, 2012
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So this is the final build:

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

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£168.61 @ CCL Computers)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£26.65 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£120.87 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£29.76 @ Scan.co.uk)
Storage: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£58.78 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Samsung 830 Series 128GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£74.99 @ Ebuyer)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card (£239.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Two ATX Mid Tower Case (£50.13 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: OCZ ZT 650W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply (£69.18 @ Scan.co.uk)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£11.96 @ Scan.co.uk)
Monitor: Asus VE247H 23.6" Monitor (£147.30 @ Dabs)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) (£68.35 @ CCL Computers)
Total: £1066.57
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
 

djscribbles

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Apr 6, 2012
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Very nice build. The PSU change, while splitting hairs a bit, is a change for the better.

If you've still got cash to throw, you could step up the GPU to a 7970; I'm not used to working in L's so I'm not quite sure where you stand. But 7950 is a great card, plenty for 1080p 60hz.

I would also second the monitor upgrade, 120Hz is pretty nice.
 

papaganoosh

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Oct 21, 2012
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Hi Guys,

I've bought all the parts now apart from the CPU

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

I am torn between the Intel i5 2500K and the 3570K.

There is no difference in price, so I need some help on deciding. I plan to Overclock whichever CPU I get to about 4.5ghz, I am a first time Overclocker so really don't want to push it too hard.

I have been told that the 2500K will run cooler in my (relatively) small case.

However, I have also been told that at 4.5ghz and using the CoolerMaster CPU cooler the 3570K won't have any overheating problems, as well as being more futureproof.

What do people think?
 

wr6133

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Feb 10, 2012
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Get the 3570k it's newer and enables newer features. The 2500k overclocks a little further but the 3570k is faster clock for clock so any extra OC you get on the 2500k is irrelevent.