Budget: £700 (including peripherals) Main uses of intended build: Gaming (CS:GO, GMOD, TF2, COD: Blackops 2, BF3, Skyrim, Dayz) This will be my first, self built gaming rig. I would love advice and suggestions on the parts listed below. My wish list so far is: CPU: Intel CPU Core i5 3450 Quad Core IvyBridge Processor OEM @ 3.1ghz - CPU fan and Heatsink: Arctic Cooling Freezer 13 CPU Cooler for All Intel & AMD CPU's GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Superclocked NVIDIA Graphics Card - 2GB PSU: Cooler Master GX RS650-ACAAD3-UK 650W Power Supply Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-B75-D3V Intel B75 Socket 1155 Case: Cooler Master Elite 430 Black Mid Tower Computer Case Front/Rear 120mm fans and Side Window No PSU HDD: Seagate 500Gb 3.5" Barracuda Hard Drive 7200rpm 16MB Cache RAM: Corsair Memory Vengeance Black 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz CAS 9 XMP Dual Channel Desktop DVD Drive: 24x DVD Writer Sony AD-5280S-0B Updated: CPU: Intel CPU Core i5 3450 Quad Core IvyBridge Processor Retail - CPU fan and Heatsink: Standard Retail Fan GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Superclocked NVIDIA Graphics Card - 2GB PSU: 550W Be Quiet Straight Power E8 BN156 Motherboard: MSI H77MA-G43, Intel H77 Case: Fractal Design Arc Mini microATX Tower Case Black w/o PSU HDD: Seagate 500Gb 3.5" Barracuda Hard Drive 7200rpm 16MB Cache RAM: Corsair Memory Vengeance Black 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz CAS 9 XMP Dual Channel Desktop DVD Drive: 24x DVD Writer Sony AD-5280S-0B Peripherals: Mouse: Cyborg R.A.T. 3 Keyboard: Sidewinder X4 Headset: Plantronics Gamecom 780 Any advice or corrections are very welcome. Thanks is advance, Elliot.
It all looks pretty solid to me. That 660 is overkill - though it doesn't hurt at all to be futureproof, especially if it fits your budget.
Mostly looks pretty good. You don't need 650w power supply, plus not too keen on CoolerMaster, for power supplies. Suggest Antec Basiq Plus BP550, good quality and value, more than enough and modular. Suggest H77 for motherboard. Better, and at least similar price. You don't NEED aftermarket cooler, as you are not overclocking. Only advantage is slightly quieter.
as malbluff said, I would get a diff branded psu, something from either antec, corsair, or enermax (maybe not the latter, too expensive probs). cooler master make fairly decent cases but not so good psu imo @harty, the 660 isn't overkill at all imo. My 670 is running 100% trying to keep bf3 going at 1440p so i'd imagine a 660 would be well suited for lower resolutions. and also @malbluff, whilst an aftermarket isn't essential, lower temps aren't just good for overclocking. they can extend the life of components too, albeit only slightly. and you never know op may start ocing one day as far as the keyboard goes, I have never seen the need for a 'gaming' keyboard. Gaming mice, i can understand. the high dpi coupled with the large amount of custom buttons, for mmo and stuff, ok. but keyboard? meh id just get a mechanical tbh. would be much more versatile. my filco is suiting me fine for gaming.
Build is solid, change the PSU Antec/Corsair Range, Mouse is good I am using one. Keyboard don't go for a gaming keyboard they are pointless come with extra buttons that you wont use. I have a Filco like J4mi3 and game on it daily.
Alright thankyou very much erveryone, Updates so far: PSU: Antec 520W Neo Eco Modular PSU 80Plus Bronze Motherboard: MSI H77MA-G43 Intel H77 Socket 1155 Motherboard Thanks everyone for the recommendations, I worry that the MSI brand motherboard may be a bad choice, and wether I should go for a gigabyte brand. However the price is atleast £15 extra. @malbluff I couldn't find the PSU you suggested on scan.co.uk, however I think the one I picked should be sufficient. @j4mi3/MrDomRocks The reason I picked the keyboard I did, is I am on quite a tight budget. The I would love to have a good quality Filco mechanical, but I just don't have the cash :/ The Sidewinder X4 is supposed to be a very highly rated keyboard at its price of arouund £33.30. @Parge My friend helped me pick this, Honestly it was quite cheap and i dont know much about motherboards myself as its my first build. @GeorgeK I will be using a Samsung 22" HDTV as my monitor, I know this is not a great option as there will be more display lag, but I am strapped for cash, and I will have to wait till I have more money to buy a dedicated monitor. Thanks in advance, Elliot
Please dont scrimp and scrape on a psu as you will regret it long term. http://www.scan.co.uk/products/550w...lver-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx-v23- or http://www.scan.co.uk/products/550w...us-bronze-sli-crossfire-quiet-fan-atx-v23-psu The latter is one of the best PSUs in the 550w Range and is highly recommended by nearly everyone on this forum. your new motherboard selection is fine. and you can boot the cpu cooler into touch as you will not require it. but if you do make sure you buy the retail CPU from intel not the oem. If you do buy the OEM cpu you will require a cooler. Im assuming you intend to build this yourself if so take out scansure insurance for peace of mind its worth the £20 or so that it costs for a first time builder like yourself.
@Blogins If I where to get the 3570K it would add £30+ to the price, if you really think the extra 0.3ghz is worth the money, I suppose I could stretch. However I would much rather spend an extra £30 elsewhere. Also to the general consensus, what do you think of this: Very cheap mechanical keyboard. Would it be okay to game with, is it better to get this than a Sidewinder X4. or should I get this and still save up for Filco or CMrapid/CMstorm? Thanks
@rollo: Ok, I will look into getting a better PSU just now, assuming the new updated one I put up will not be very good. About the CPU, I dont quite understand, I guess you are saying I should not buy the I5 from scan, and buy it directly from the Intel site instead and I shouldnt get a CPU fan as the I5 will come with one fully sufficient? I will aslo look into the insurance. Thanks
The 3570K can overclock beyond 0.3GHz, the difference you stated are only stock clocks. Only question is can the H77 motherboard you selected actually overclock an Ivy Bridge CPU. You'll have to pool knowledge from Bit Tech posters for the answer to that question as I'm a little behind the times with my 2500K Sandy Bridge! If the answer is yes, you'll be getting a shed load of extra performance out of that CPU for just £30 more!
On the CPU front, when it's described as 'OEM' the CPU doesn't come with a fan. Otherwise if it is a 'RETAIL' CPU then it does come with an Intel stock supplied cooler. It's not a particularly fantastic fan but it does the job of cooling the CPU!
Ahh I see, I wasn't origionally going to OC my CPU as I have no knowledge atall of how to do so, and I would probably end up frying it. and if I were to OC, Im pretty shure I would need a CPU fan, Wich I am debating getting rid of now. Thanks for the advice I will ponder over this all.
Well you still need a CPU fan! Just a question of stock Intel fan Vs Third party fan! Also it looks like the 3570K can turbo boost to 3.8GHz on the H77 but an outright overclock is a little trickier on this motherboard in comparison to the Z series of motherboards. If you're not keen on overclocking then a 3450 will do you fine on a H77. Just so you're aware extra power is available for a £30 outlay however!
Update! CPU: Intel CPU Core i5 3450 Quad Core IvyBridge Processor Retail Debating removal of the Arctic freezer 13, Multiple opinions needed please! @Blogins I don't think I will bother with the 3570K, unless I can get more money, still an option thiough, Thanks!
Treat yourself to a Fractal Design Arc Mini Tower Case? This case is much much easier to build in comparison to Coolermaster cases. Also has USB3.0 on the front I/O panel that the MSI motherboard appears to support from an internal header. Lacks a clear side panel window however but like I said it's the easiest case to assemble components in by a country mile!
Do you also need to budget in an OS? I had an X4 and whilst it works I couldn't switch from my mech keyboard now.
Update! Case: Fractal Design Arc Mini microATX Case no PSU No longer have the Arctic freezer 13!! Opinions on the update please, and wether the GTX 660 will fit in this (most probably will) Thanks again @Blogins Still need an opinion on the Very cheap mechanical keyboard. Thanks all
