Hi! I've just joined the site as I want to build a new pc but need some advice, I'm out of the loop when it comes to current specs. I'm sure that a lot of you out there really know your stuff, so thanks for any pointers. Please go easy if you think I should have researched something a bit more rather than posting. *EDIT* I have since read the hardware guide on this site written by Dae314, which is very good and has changed my mind about some parts. I've built a pc a few years ago, but it's really old now and has problems. I've posted some questions right at the bottom. Budget: Happy to spend over £1000, I think it will probably be closer to £1300. Main uses of intended build: General pc and internet use, but I'd like to be able to play brand new, top-end games. Parts required: I need everything, but I can use my current case and dvd drive. I would like a SSD boot drive. Will you be overclocking: yes/no (delete as required) No, I don't know how to do that, and am happy to buy a decent set up that I don't need to overclock. Any motherboard requirements (no. of USB, Xfire/SLI, fan headers): I find it confusing choosing which motherboard to go with, hopefully from the parts I list below someone will be kind enough to point me in the right direction. OK, so here are some parts that I have chosen with some help from a couple of friends. I have linked to overclockers.co.uk, as recommended, but I'd like to see what some of you think. Intel Core i7-2600K 3.40GHz (Sandybridge) Gigabyte Z68X-UD4 Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard OcUK ATI Radeon 6970 2048MB Crucial Ballistix Sport 12GB (3x4GB) DDR3 Antec TruePower New Modular 750W OCZ Agility 3 120GB 2.5" SATA-3 Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB CPU cooler Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Samsung S23A550H 23" So, the questions I have: Do these parts work together? Can you see any obvious conflicts between them? Have I gone over the top or not far enough with any of these parts? Is the motherboard ok? Or have I gone over the top as I don't plan to overclock or crossfire. Are there any parts I've listed which you would change in an instant if this was your new pc? Is an OcUK branded video card a bad idea? Will I need two SATA 3 cable or do these come with the motherboard? Is the PSU a suitable wattage? Finally, I hate to ask this, but should I ditch the AMD card and go Nvidia GeForce 570? I plan to use my case which I've had for a few years, it's a Chieftech Dragon, will that be ok in terms of space and ventilation, or have cases moved on in the past few years? Happy to get a newer case if need be. Many thanks for any input!
Hey, welcome to the forum... I would suggest you start with the monthly hardware guide. (Gaming Workhorse should do the trick) http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/buyers-guide/2011/07/11/pc-hardware-buyer-s-guide-july-2011/4 Then you can easily add or change anything you like to the list. If you have further questions feel free to ask... Sata 2 and Sata 3 are the same. Not sure about the PSU but the wattage is more than enough. Shah.
https://secure.scan.co.uk/aspnet/Shop/SavedBasket/Show.aspx?id=96f3104d6a6c4ba3ac07f991e24cba51 Thats the sort of system I'd be looking at personally. I'd drop the SSD or go down in size and get a much more powerful GPU instead. the 2500k is just as powerful in games as the 2600k. Plus the samsung F1's are faster than the WD blacks and ate £20 ish cheaper. If you really want an SSD you can still add one to your build and keep in budget plus you'll be able to get a beautiful Dell U2311H with the left over money Remember one you have 20 posts on here you get free next day delivery from Scan, and the above price includes Scan Sure, so if you don't want that you can save £30
You need dual channel memory, not triple channel. This should do you nicely: http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-...pc3-12800-(1600)-non-ecc-cas-9-9-9-24-xmp-15v As you are spending so much money already, I'm going to recommend you get a better cooler than that. The Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced is a very well reviewed cooler. Costs £40. Soon you will have people telling you to get a screen with an IPS panel. Up to you really! http://www.scan.co.uk/products/be-q...lga775-1155-1156-1366-am2-am2plus-am3-754-940
I would maybe go for this, slightly over budget, but a good spec I do believe Link By the way I put the GTX570 in purely because they had it in stock. Either that or the 6970 will work perfectly. Also got the awesome Dell U2311H in there. And a good case, which you can drop if you want to use your old case again. Oh and the motherboard has everything you'll ever need, including XFire and SLi. And if you knock scansure off and get your 20 posts, it's basically dead on your £1300 budget
See the builds are practically the same. I was thinking 570 too, but I'm a AMD boy at heart... But, yeh, those are the kinds of builds I'd go for, although I'd go for a ROG board personally...
OK, thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. It's made me look at my build again and I think perhaps I'm spending money in the wrong places. Just reviewing everything you've just posted.
I'd be tempted to go for Samsung drives instead of the WD Black. For the price of the single Black 1TB, you could almost get 2 x 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3s, which are fantastic drives. Look out in Scan's Today Only section, as they usually have F3s for £35 (most days) and once you get to 20 posts you can get free next day delivery. Hope this helps
Drop both the HD6970 for a HD6950 and the i7 2600k for a i5 2500k. Presto £160 in your pocket and no noticable difference in real world performance (note - clock the HD6950 to HD6970 clocks). I will look more closely at this build later on this evening
I must agree, if you can squeeze a ROG board in like this one, that'd be great. And I'm not a fanboy of either really. 6970/GTX570 very similar performance and price so it's down to personal preference. Literally only put the 570 in because they had it in stock
OK, I've taken on-board what you've all said and come up with a new system. Thanks for the advice, , and the heads-up with Scan (unless you all work for Scan of course), they seem a bit cheaper for the parts I was looking at. My posts are still being moderated, some it can take a while for my posts to appear. Wondering if I should keep my monitor to keep costs down, it's a 20inch Samsung 206BW. Here's the link to the new spec. Whadyathink?
That looks fine Plenty of scope for upgrades in the future and very speedy. The reason I said to get the Asus DirectCU2 was so the colours matched We don't want any clashing now, do we
