New Gaming build (around £1000)

[Karribu]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (will have to wait for 1 more paycheck, so around 1 month, i'm patient though ) BUDGET RANGE: (around £1000)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: (Games - MMO (aion online) some FPS, Photoshop CS3, Sony Vegas & Fraps)

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: (Case, mouse, monitor, keyboard)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: (ebuyer, used them before, free delivery and decent prices)

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type (example: I would like to use an Intel CPU & ATI GPU)

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE:Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION: (1680 x 1050 wide)
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: (Quieter the better, although I think I might have messed that up already with the case I bought )

SOME COMMENTS---

Hello all,

This will be my second build after just about managing to put my 1st together about 2.5 years ago now. In my previous build I used a ASUS A8n sli-premium mobo, AMD 64x2 dual core 4200+ with 2 x 7900GTX in sli +700w psu with really disappointing results. I'm not sure if I picked the wrong cpu and bottle necked my system but my fps were not amazing with even minimal graphics settings. I'm still very much noob at this, so I decided to ask you guys/gals instead of rushing in this time...

This is the case I have already bought
Antec 1200 Twelve Hundred Full Tower Case - No PSU
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/143852

I would have preferred a quiet system, but I really liked the look of this case and with so many fans I guess that idea has gone out of the window

These are the other parts I was thinking of

Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz Socket 1366 8MB Cache OEM Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161171

Would consider OC'ing it. Never done it before and I would stay 'safe' but I would like to try it.

Gigabyte HD 4890 1GB GDDR5 Dual DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161672

(Im not sure about x-fire or to just go with 1 card. If I were to stay with 1 card would I need to change the CPU as I've heard that its usually i7 that are used for x-fire/sli and theres not much point in having one unless you are going to. Also, If I were to go x-fire Are those a little overkill?)

ASUS Rampage II GENE Republic of Gamers X58 Socket 1366 8 Channel Audio MATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/162039

Corsair 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz XMS3 Memory CL9(9-9-9-24) for i7 motherboards
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152640


Western Digital WD1001FALS 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm 32MB Cache - OEM Caviar Black
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146082

(really I'm just clicking sh!t with hard drives. Don't know much about them and still confused about raid. All i know is WD are supposed to be very reliable and good quality)

Cooler - Still undecided. Ive used zalman aeroflower in the past and really liked it, I hear good things about arctic cooling. Can anyone recommend a cooler for an i7 chip?

PSU - No idea what I need to keep it all running. On my old system I made the mistake of getting a basic psu and my system would crash. Then I got a tagen 700w sli compliant psu and that did the trick. I'm guessing for this i would need a 700 - 1000w psu?

Sorry for any mistakes, any help would be appreciated. If the cost could also be reduced that would be good, but can also increase if its really worth it.

Karri

 

[Helloworld_98]

wouldn't it make more sense to get an ATX motherboard since you're getting a full tower case?

 

[Karribu]

Yes sorry.

Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R iX58 Socket 1366 7.1 Channel Audio ATX Motherboard

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/156172

 

[astrodudepsu]

1. Cooling - Scythe Mugen 2, Coolermaster V8, Xigmatek S1283, TRUE all great i7 coolers.

2. Hard Drives - The one you picked is great.

3. PSU - for CF/SLI I'd pick up a 750W unit from Corsair, SeaSonic, PC Power and Cooling, Antec (not the basiq line)

4. The UD3R is fine for crossfire. As far as CF is concerned, there isn't much point, at 16x10 a 4890 will push just about any game to Ultra High with no problems.

5. RAM - You can *probably* find RAM with better timings for the same price. Make sure you look around.

 

[Karribu]

Cheers astrodudepsu (what a name lol)

My main concern is in mmo's like wow, when you get to a city where there are hundreds of characters on the screen at 1 time, i would love a pc that could handle it. Thats why i thought about x-fire or similar. What are your thoughts on that?

off to work now, will check in later, thanks.

 

[Yoosty]

Here are some alternate parts for your considerations'.

Would suggest you get the 920 with DO Stepping.
Intel Core i7 920 D0 2.66GHz Socket 1366 8MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/151477

Another very reliable X58 mobo from Asus is the P6T.
ASUS P6T iX58 Socket 1366 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159360

Would suggest you go with these Cas7 ram from Corsair.
Corsair 6GB (3x2GB) 1600MHz Triple Channel i7 XMS Memory Kit CL7 1.65V
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/164761

Best CPU HSF Cooler @ ebuyer for 1366 processor.
Scythe Mugen 2 Socket 478, 775, 1366, 754, 939, AM2+ Processor Cooler
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158603

Review below.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/core-i7-coolers-roundup_18.html

With the Antec 1200 case you are planning to get, you will need this 8-pin PSU Power Extension cable. It is needed for all cases with the PSU mounted at the Bottom. You might find it also on E-Bay.

Akasa 8 Pin (F) to 8 Pin (2x4 Pin) (M) Extension cable (30cm) (End to End) AK-CB8-8-EXT
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Akasa-8-Pin-(F)-to-8-Pin-(2x4-Pin)-(M)-Extension-cable-(30cm)-(End-to-End)-AK-CB8-8-EXT

Also i would suggest you look at this Graphic card from XFX, you would save about £45.00.
XFX HD 4890 XXX Edition 1GB DDR5 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169209

Another option would be to get this 4870 1gb from XFX or 2 of them in Crossfire, depending if you have the funds.
XFX HD 4870 1GB DDR5 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/169208

Hope this helps you out some.

 

[Helloworld_98]

a single 4890 can easily handle WoW.

 

[Karribu]

Hey thanks for the alternate items you linked Yoosty, looking at them now! Had no idea about the extension cable cheers.

Good to know Helloworld_98, i think I'm going to stick with 1 card for now then.

 

[Karribu]

Guys sorry to refresh this topic but I have 1 more question.

Would this psu be any good?

Antec CP-850 850W Modular PSU - *ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH ANTEC 1200 P183 AND P193 CASES*
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159859/show_product_reviews

It is 100w more than someone said I would need, but it says compatible with 1200 case so i'm hoping I wouldn't need the extender cable, and It's modular! no messy cables.

If not, I could just try and find a decent 750w, however im still unsure about going x-fire so mayebe the extra juice would be nice.

 

[Helloworld_98]

the CP850 is very good, out of the cases you can use with it, the P193 is better than the antec 1200 however so you might want to consider it.