£1000-1200 Gaming/Media PC

[dxai]

Approximate Purchase Date:
April 2012

Budget Range:
£1000-£1200

System Usage from Most to Least Important:
Gaming, Movies, Audio/Music, Browsing

Parts Not Required:
OS, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, HDD, SSD, Monitors

Preferred Website(s) for Parts:
http://scan.co.uk http://overclockers.co.uk http://amazon.co.uk

Country:
Scotland, UK

Parts Preferences:
CPU: Ivy Bridge i5 3570k or i7 3770k
GPU: Radeon HD7970
MOBO: Asus P8Z68 Pro Gen3
RAM: 8GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz
SOUNDCARD: ASUS Xonar DG 5.1

Overclocking:
Maybe

SLI or Crossfire:
Possible second HD7970 late-2012

Monitor Resolution:
1920x1080 OR 1920x1200

Additional Comments:

Currently using 1920x1200 monitor, will be swapping it for 2-3x 24" 1920x1080 later on, non-issue.

I dislike flashy cases but as long as I disable LED's, non-issue. Currently looking at:
1. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-075-SV
2. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-117-TT&groupid=701&catid=7&subcat=
3. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-237-CM

Due to possibility of second HD7970 cooling could be an issue, not interested in WC due to budget.

 

[rvilkman]

Considering the schedule, you should keep an eye out of Nvidia offering as well as the GTX6xx series should be coming out before that timeframe. And most likely you would do better with a Z77 based motherboard, which I assume will be released close to the same time as the Ivy bridge chips.

You'll should be getting a quality PSU in the 1000W range for the SLI/Crossfire and OC's.
For the best choices:
- Corsair AX1200 ~£240 Fully modular expensive but really good 80+Gold
- Corsair HX850 ~£140 Semi modular - a really solid choice 80+Silver(almost Gold)
- Corsair AX850 ~£170 Fully modular 80+Gold
- Cooler Master Silent Pro 1200 £170 Modular 80+Gold
- XFX 1050 Black Edition Pro £200

The Raven and HAF932 are both good cases with plenty of space and airflow, so they should house such a system well.

As for cooling probably at this budget some solid air cooling or possibly even a closed loop water system like Corsair H60/80/100 or then
high end air cooling like Noctua NH-D14.

Optical is pretty your pick if you want bluray or not, in any case DVD burners are cheap, Blurays a bit more.

 

[dxai]

Thanks rvilkman.

As it stands, I would preferably stick with AMD for GPU, hopefully prices will be much lower by April at GTX release. Will keep an eye out on newer motherboards as the time comes. Will invest in better cooling if I decide to purchase a second GPU.

Total £1135

PSU: Corsair 850HX - £125
Case: Silverstone Raven 3 RV03B - £110
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14 - £60
CPU: Ivy Bridge i5 3570k - £180
RAM: 8GB Corsair Vengeance 1600Mhz - £40
Soundcard: ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 - £20
GPU: AMD Radeon HD7970 - £450
MOBO: Asus P8Z68 Pro Gen3 - £150

 

[Brett928S2]

Hi DXAI

I onw computer shops in the UK ...

Just one thing on that build...I dont think your budget is quite enough...for that card....my suppliers tell me that at least one version of that card will be roughly £700 to £800....

All the best Brett

 

[dxai]

Hi DXAI

I onw computer shops in the UK ...

Just one thing on that build...I dont think your budget is quite enough...for that card....my suppliers tell me that at least one version of that card will be roughly £700 to £800....

All the best Brett

Card is currently retailing stock for £420-450 and after models ranging £450-650.

Edit: I assume you meant the HD7990.

 

[Brett928S2]

Hi

Oops...lol its my old eyes, yes you are correct I thought I read 7990....

By the way , we sell 7970 at over £450... (not trying to sell you one by the way lol)

Even the 7970 (3gb) is in extremely short supply, I would like to know where you can get one for £420 lol

All the best Brett

 

[dxai]

Switched case choice to the Haf X

PSU: Corsair 850HX
Case: Coolermaster Haf X
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14
CPU: Ivy Bridge i5 3570k
RAM: 8GB Corsair Vengeance
Soundcard: Asus Xonar DG 5.1
GPU: AMD Radeon HD7970
MOBO: Asus P8Z68 Pro Gen3

£1050-1120 Total
Mobo will possibly change in future depending on releases. Will also look at fans if considering SLI.

Thanks for the help!