First Build Gaming Computer £850

[aamukherjee]

Approximate Purchase Date: Early July, 2012

Budget Range: £850 before rebates.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Web Surfing, General Usage, Video Streaming, Photo-Editing

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: www.ebuyer.com

Country: England

Parts Preferences: Corsair is preferred for power supply and memory and an i5 for the CPU

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe Crossfire in the Future

Monitor Resolution: Preferably 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I have already created an initial build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/8xC1

which consists of

CPU: Intel Core i5-2500 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor (£155.94 @ CCL Computers)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3-B3 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£79.99 @ Ebuyer)

Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£38.76 @ Ebuyer)

Hard Drive: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£70.00 @ Ebuyer)

Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card (£118.42 @ Scan.co.uk)

Case: Cooler Master HAF 922 ATX Mid Tower Case (£78.14 @ Ebuyer)

Power Supply: Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply (£67.00 @ Ebuyer)

Optical Drive: Sony AD-7261S-0B DVD/CD Writer (£14.80 @ CCL Computers)

Monitor: Asus VE228H 21.5" Monitor (£107.39 @ Ebuyer)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) (£65.38 @ Ebuyer)

Total: £795.82

Any advice on changing parts, potential problems with the setup and better overall choices is greatly appreciated!

 

[fpoon]

You could still downgrade the CPU if you don't OC'. Get a 2400 instead of 2500, you will save more.

I don't know about UK (I live in California), but most high end builds have a SSD. Try this:
http://www.ebuyer.com/309799-64gb-crucial-m4-ssd-2-5-9-5mm-sata-6gbps-w-bracket-ct064m4ssd2baa

 

[aamukherjee]

Bump.

 

[WatchOut]

http://www.ebuyer.com/349022-intel-core-i5-3450-3-1ghz-socket-1155-6mb-cache-retail-boxed-processor-bx80637i53450
i5 3450 instead of i5 2500

As for GPU the xfx 6870 non dd is very loud DO NOT purchase that version.
Choose this PSU
http://www.ebuyer.com/327895-ocz-pc-power-cooling-silencer-mkiii-series-600w-80-bronze-psu-ppcmk3s600w-uk

Rest of build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/8GGn

 

[fpoon]

Bleh. 3450 is hotter and we don't need the HD Graphics 4000 anyway. Go for 2400.

 

[Why_Me]

http://www.ebuyer.com/349022-intel-core-i5-3450-3-1ghz-socket-1155-6mb-cache-retail-boxed-processor-bx80637i53450
i5 3450 instead of i5 2500

As for GPU the xfx 6870 non dd is very loud DO NOT purchase that version.
Choose this PSU
http://www.ebuyer.com/327895-ocz-pc-power-cooling-silencer-mkiii-series-600w-80-bronze-psu-ppcmk3s600w-uk

Rest of build:
http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/p/8GGn

+1 The 3450 beats the 2400 in benchmarks, offers native 3.0 USB and PCI-E 3.0.

 

[azeem40]

That is what I am getting for my Bro.

 

[Why_Me]

That is what I am getting for my Bro.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-3450+%40+3.10GHz <---- it kicked but on the Passmark bench. It's going for $190 atm on amazon.

 

[azeem40]

Yeah, I prefer IB to SB.

 

[kickme829]

switch to a i5 2500k. It's future proof.
i wouldn't go with a 6870, dish out an extra few £££ for a GTX 560 Ti.

 

[Why_Me]

switch to a i5 2500k. It's future proof.
i wouldn't go with a 6870, dish out an extra few £££ for a GTX 560 Ti.

First post on this board and you already trolled.

 

[kickme829]

First post on this board and you already trolled.

right, explain to me how that's a troll then oh wise one.

 

[aamukherjee]

Appreciate the advice, everyone! I'm pretty confident on every part now (changed to the i5 3450) apart from the graphics card and the mobo...

For the graphics card I'm looking between:

Gigabyte HD 6870
http://www.ebuyer.com/252602-gigabyte-hd-6870-oc-1gb-gddr5-dual-dvi-hdmi-dual-mini-displayport-gv-r687oc-1gd

and the Sapphire HD 6870
http://www.ebuyer.com/271292-sapphire-hd-6870-1gb-gddr5-dvi-hdmi-displayport-pci-e-graphics-card-includes-11179-09-20g

In terms of the motherboard I think a z77 would be optimal but not sure as to which one to get.

 

[kickme829]

Appreciate the advice, everyone! I'm pretty confident on every part now (changed to the i5 3450) apart from the graphics card and the mobo...

For the graphics card I'm looking between:

Gigabyte HD 6870
http://www.ebuyer.com/252602-gigabyte-hd-6870-oc-1gb-gddr5-dual-dvi-hdmi-dual-mini-displayport-gv-r687oc-1gd

and the Sapphire HD 6870
http://www.ebuyer.com/271292-sapphire-hd-6870-1gb-gddr5-dvi-hdmi-displayport-pci-e-graphics-card-includes-11179-09-20g

In terms of the motherboard I think a z77 would be optimal but not sure as to which one to get.

Stick to Gigabyte , try this:

http://pcpartpicker.com/uk/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz77d3h

 

[Why_Me]

right, explain to me how that's a troll then oh wise one.

Call me crazy but I'm pretty sure if the OP was going to future proof then he obviously would go for the Ivy Bridge cpu and not the Sandy Bridge cpu that you recommended. Am I correct or am I wrong?

 

[kickme829]

Call me crazy but I'm pretty sure if the OP was going to future proof then he obviously would go for the Ivy Bridge cpu and not the Sandy Bridge cpu that you recommended. Am I correct or am I wrong?

Pretty sure the Ivy bridge 3450 can't be overclocked which means that in the future it's limited.
The i5 2500k lets you overclock and so in the future he can, if he decides to do so, increase the clock speed.

Passmark is not accurate.

 

[Why_Me]

Pretty sure the Ivy bridge 3450 can't be overclocked which means that in the future it's limited.
The i5 2500k lets you overclock and so in the future he can, if he decides to do so, increase the clock speed.

Passmark is not accurate.

You don't get much more FPS in games with these 1155 cpu's when their o/c. That's for SB and IB cpu's. But like you pointed out the 560 ti would be a better card to go with and they o/c like a dream.

Sry about that last post of mine, we just had a IB vs SB debate on another thread and when I saw that was your first post....

 

[kickme829]

You don't get much more FPS in games with these 1155 cpu's when their o/c. That's for SB and IB cpu's. But like you pointed out the 560 ti would be a better card to go with and they o/c like a dream.

Sry about that last post of mine, we just had a IB vs SB debate on another thread and when I saw that was your first post....

no hard feelings eh?

The i5 2500k is faster stock as well,
a recent thread on this very same site discussed this:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/335278-10-3450-2500k

 

[aamukherjee]

Okay guys here is my current build:

Corsair Vengeance 8GB Ram

Seagate Barracuda 1TB Hard Drive

Corsair 650W PSU

CoolerMaster HAF 922 Mid Tower Case

Intel Core i5 2500K

MSI GTX 560ti Twin Frozr II OC

Asus P8Z68-V LX Motherboard

ACER S220HQLBBD LED 22" Monitor

LiteOn iHAS124 Optical Drive

Windows 7 Home Premium OS

with a Total Cost of £858.70

Any suggestions for a better motherboard (or places to cut costs)?

 

[kickme829]

use a Gigabyte Motherboard such as:

http://www.ebuyer.com/267504-gigabyte-ga-z68x-ud3h-b3-z68-socket-1155-7-1-channel-hd-audio-atx-motherboard-ga-z68x-ud3h-b3

But always stick to Z68.

Reduce your costs by switching the case or even looking for case + PSU bundles such as this:
http://www.ebuyer.com/246648-antec-sonata-iv-case-with-620w-psu-0-761345-08153-5

(80 PLUS certified + one 120mm fan)

 

[kickme829]

Actually i was wrong:

Which of these would actually be best?

7770 CF Vs 6870 CF vs 460 CF

 

[WatchOut]

Actually i was wrong:

Which of these would actually be best?

7770 CF Vs 6870 CF vs 460 CF

6870 CF is the best but i would reccomend the 7770 CF as it offers the best scaling and the smallest power consumption and it is better value than the 6870 CF the 460 SLI is about the same level as the 7770 CF but it is 2 years old and the power consumption, heat and noise levels is no where near the 7770CF. And keep in mind the 7770 has only been around 3 months so drivers and games have not fully utilised it.

 

[WatchOut]

use a Gigabyte Motherboard such as:

http://www.ebuyer.com/267504-gigabyte-ga-z68x-ud3h-b3-z68-socket-1155-7-1-channel-hd-audio-atx-motherboard-ga-z68x-ud3h-b3

But always stick to Z68.

Reduce your costs by switching the case or even looking for case + PSU bundles such as this:
http://www.ebuyer.com/246648-antec-sonata-iv-case-with-620w-psu-0-761345-08153-5

(80 PLUS certified + one 120mm fan)

Why should he always stick to z68 when you can get z77 bards for the same price such as
http://www.ebuyer.com/345350-msi-lga1155-intel-z77-4-ddr3-gbe-lan-4-usb3-0-atx-motherboard-z77a-g45

 

[WatchOut]

Okay guys here is my current build:

Corsair Vengeance 8GB Ram

Seagate Barracuda 1TB Hard Drive

Corsair 650W PSU

CoolerMaster HAF 922 Mid Tower Case

Intel Core i5 2500K

MSI GTX 560ti Twin Frozr II OC

Asus P8Z68-V LX Motherboard

ACER S220HQLBBD LED 22" Monitor

LiteOn iHAS124 Optical Drive

Windows 7 Home Premium OS

with a Total Cost of £858.70

Any suggestions for a better motherboard (or places to cut costs)?

Spend some extra money on getting a 7850 for about £170-180 it will benefit you in the long run.

 

[kickme829]

Why should he always stick to z68 when you can get z77 bards for the same price such as
http://www.ebuyer.com/345350-msi-lga1155-intel-z77-4-ddr3-gbe-lan-4-usb3-0-atx-motherboard-z77a-g45

Because hes using an i5 2500k for sandybridge and the z77 is for ivybridge.