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Build Advice New build for a friend

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by mr.a2008, 11 Jan 2013.

  1. mr.a2008

    mr.a2008 What's a Dremel?

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    Hey all,

    Just wondering if you could all have a look at this and suggest any improvements on the spec at the moment. My budget is currently £750 and the build is anout £700 at the moment. So could you all have a look over and see if I have missed anything off?

    It will be used for gaming and a few other things. They just want it to last while really. I cant see anything wrong with it, they chose all the parts of the computer with a little guidance.

    CPU: AMD FX- 8350 4GHz
    Mobo: Gigabyte Motherboard GA-970A-D3
    RAM: Corsair Memory Vengeance Red 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz
    CPU Cooling: Arctic Cooling Freezer A30 CPU Cooler (AMD)
    GPU: Asus GTX 660 2GB OC
    Optical: DVD-RW
    HDD: Seagate 1TB SATA3
    PSU: 750W Corsair Enthusiast TX M CP-9020040-UK
    Networking: Edimax EW-7612PIn
    Case: CiT Vantage Type-R Gaming Case Black
    Thermal paste: MX-4 Thermal Paste 4g Tube from Arctic Cooling

    Thanks Mr.a
     
    Last edited: 11 Jan 2013
  2. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    At a glance, buy a better case and lower wattage PSU.

    Any particular reason for going AMD, and what resolution will he be gaming at?

    I'd look at Sandy/Ivy Bridge - worth it in the longer run if you consider power consumption, plus they offer more performance.
     
  3. jinq-sea

    jinq-sea 'write that down in your copy book' Super Moderator

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    +1 on the Case/PSU point.

    Also - why AMD per se? If you specced an Intel build, you might a) get more performance and b) have enough of the budget left for an SSD? Looks like you've got about £50 kicking about at the moment.
     
  4. TheDodoKiller

    TheDodoKiller Minimodder

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    Spreadie is right about the case and PSU.

    AMD is silly. Why bother with an 8 core for gaming. an i3 3220 will be fine for gaming, and it leaves a path for upgrade if you get a Z77 board as well- All for probably less money than a AMD processor.

    And you'll only need a 500W PSU :D
     
  5. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    CPU i3 3220
    Z77 mobo
    Corsair modular 500w PSU
    8GB Vengeance Red
    EVGA 660 Superclock
    Enermax Ostrog Case
    Arctic i30
    DVDRW
    1TB Seagate Barracuda
    256GB Samsung 830 SSD
    Edimax wifi card

    Didn't bother with the MX-4

    All on Scan for less than £740

    Is that all of it? Do you need an OS?

    You could drop the SSD to a 120GB model, buy an i5 3570 CPU instead of the i3 3220 and still remain on budget.
     
    Last edited: 11 Jan 2013
  6. mr.a2008

    mr.a2008 What's a Dremel?

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    They just thought that the Amd was a better processor with the more cores. What are the scan codes for the changes that you have made to the list?

    No we don't need an Os. So it is all good. I have a few licenses around the place. Would rather have an i5 instead. So which ssd would you recommend and i5 to stay on budget?
     
  7. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    If I was dropping the SSD to 120GB I'd go with the Crucial M4 at around £80 - it offers a better write speed than the 120GB Samsung 840 Basic. That knocks about £70 off the £740, plus the £90 for the i3 3220, which leaves you £170 for a i5 3570.

    Bish, bash, bosh... and Bob is your mother's brother ;)

    [edit] had a bit of a play around and came up with this:

    [​IMG]

    Changed the GPU for a EVGA 660 F T W, but you could stay with a superclock and add another fan to the case; or get a different case. I just think the Ostrog case is bloody good value.

    You can go cheaper still, if you're not overclocking i.e. slightly cheaper RAM and a 500w PSU - but it looks like a well balanced system for the money.
     
    Last edited: 11 Jan 2013
  8. mr.a2008

    mr.a2008 What's a Dremel?

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    What about thermal paste for the CPU?
     
  9. David

    David μoʍ ɼouმ qᴉq λon ƨbԍuq ϝʁλᴉuმ ϝo ʁԍɑq ϝμᴉƨ

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    Most new CPU coolers come with paste pre-applied, but it is worth having some spare. I always buy my MX-2 from a chap on ebay - he can usually do 8g for the price most people are doing 4g.

    Around £4 delivered, if I remember.

    ebay link
     
    mr.a2008 likes this.
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