Build Advice Spec me a gaming PC! (£600ish-updated)

I'm currently building this

AMD Phenom 550 Bundle Deal Including Phenom II X2 550 AM3 Retail Box Processor Asus M4A79XTD EVO Motherboard and Branded 2GB DDR3 1333 Memory 180537 27 in stock £189.93 £161.64 £189.93 £161.64

Crucial 2GB DDR3 1333MHz/PC3-10600 Memory CL9 1.5 V Unbuffered Non-ECC 159919 274 in stock £45.00

Samsung SH-S223 22X DVD±RW/RAM/DL Serial ATA Black Bare Drive - OEM 145450 > 200 in stock £14.99

Western Digital WD3200AAKS 320GB SATAII 7200rpm 16MB Cache - OEM Caviar Blue 124735 18 in stock £35.22

CM Storm Scout + Coolermaster Silent Pro 700W Modular PSU *Special Offer Bundle* 177749 144 in stock £124.99

All from ebuyer, then gonna buy a 5850 from overclockers at about 220 pounds so thats a 5850 system, with a great case, fantastic PSU, a unlockable processor.

This build is future proof for well over 3 years.

 

You don't know that!

 

Thanks for the help guys. Wow this is a tougher decision that I anticipated. I do like Moyo's build, but I just knocked together this build which is going to cost more but I think I can stretch to it:



How does that build look? Maybe I can stretch to the 1tb spinpoint F3, and I will probably drop the antec 300 for the case Moyo suggested, or spend more on a case overall. This build is 50 odd quid over my budget but for an i5 which I can overclock well is it worth it?

Also regarding the resolution deal, I definitely will be buying a new monitor in the future so maybe the 5770 is best?

Really appreciate the help so far guys!

SJ

 

The one I posted above you could take out the PSU / scout case and buy the scout case for 60 quid then also take out the dvd drive that saves a total of 75 ish pounds bringing my build to below yours money wise.

The 550 is unlockable to x4 and overclockable to 3.3ghz on standard cooler, 5850 also is a lot better than the 5770 and also overclockable to 5870 performance, proper budget 550 pound build there.

 

just to say the i5 750 is an amazing little overclocker. I have been sorting mine out for the last day and I am shocked how much you can get out of the little blighter. I am just trying for the lowest temp possible at the moment.

Building a computer to a budget is tough at least I always find I want a hell of a lot more than I can really afford, but I dont think you can go wrong with the 750. What I would say is that the 5770 is going to be good enough for your games most likely, but it does depend how big your screen is and how high settings you want to run

 

Yea thats what i figured about the i5 750. I am leaning slightly towards the i5 spec i posted above, but maybe buy a case and memory from another website? As scan's memory selection isnt amazing, and the Gskill memory from aria someone posted earlier looks good as I have been using G skill for the last 5 years.

More opinions needed for the i5 build

Cheers

 

Think you could push an extra 20 or so for the Fractal R2 (case)? I havnt used it but with just a few fans that is meant to be a beast cooling wise

 

Wow thats a sexy case. I want it. But its 80quid on OC? Thats like an extra 30quid at least? Unless its cheaper elsewhere?

Cheers

 

Yeah sorry, I thought I saw it as 60 somewhere, but all my normal sites dont have it that cheaply so I guess I misread it.

One thing I suggest is keeping an eye out on: http://www.scan.co.uk/TodayOnly/Index.aspx

On a good special day you can save over 100 easily, and that may allow you to push just that little more for a decent case.

 

I am totally getting that case, it's so sexy. Ill fit it in somehow! Do you know the cheapest place to get it?

I am still leaning towards the i5 build but is that memory any good? And is the motherboard ok?

Cheers

 

From a google search they all seem to be 79.99. do note that you need to get another fan or two to make it a beast. Check out the bit-tech review (there is one normal review and one with added fans) it will help a lot. Fans are relativly cheap though so that shouldnt add to much.

Memory: thats the same I have and its great, so no need to worry. Can get it cheaper elsewhere... scan arnt the cheapest about but scan do some amazing specials at times so watch out for the i5 750 + RAM specials as they generally save 40-100 each time.

Motherboard: I am not sure, it seems a decent(ish) one. I just bought a Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2 which is a bit more expensive at £82 when i bought it, but having said that its a great overclocker and its micro-ATX so will fit in almost every case (Make sure it does have the support though - I think the fractal does not 100% sure) and it has a great BIOS.

What I did for my build was get a base rig and then a few options of what I would like, and then on the day i ordered if the specials were good I would get the upgrades sort of thing. The specials were rubbish and I only saved £10 on my PSU but the day before (and the day after) I would have saved over £100...

 

You need a good mobo if you wan't to squeeze that chip past 4GHz, and I don't think the one above cuts it, try the one recommended by BT in it's buyers guide for a gaming workhorse, http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/buyers-guide/2010/03/09/pc-hardware-buyers-guide-march-2010/4

 

Humm the mobo in the buyers guide is £115 quid.. quite pricey. Are there any other motherboard recommendation thats decent to overclock an i5 750? And seeks I am gonna be keeping a close eye on that specials page, definitely some bargains to be had there.

Cheers again guys!

 

The Gigabyte GA-P55M-UD2 I told you about is £82 as I mentioned and managed to clock that 4.0 Ghz without a sweat. Having said that I have reduced the overclock to 3.92Ghz to get some lower temperatures

 

Ok, this is the build I want, but its 600quid! 100 over my budget, and I am not sure if I can afford it until I check my finances nearer to april the 20th (Im a student!). Do you think I should drop the i5 or is it really worth it to stretch to the 600quid. I definitely want the fractal r2, it looks sex.

Cheers!

 

I'd drop the case before you drop the i5 750, that's the lowest-price quad-core I'd buy.

 

Maybe your right, but the case is gonna last me along time. And CPU can easily be upgraded,,, most of the time, right?

 

Nope. What would you go to if you drop the i5 750? There's no cheaper P55 chip. You'd have to drop to a dual core H55 (Intel) or go to an AMD system - either would require a new motherboard and processor and neither could be 'well' upgraded to a Core i5 750 or better without replacing the motherboard as well as the processor. If I had to choose between two physical cores and a shiny case, I know where I'd put my money. If you need to free up cash, consider dropping to a cheaper 5770 - there are definitely £120 ones on Scan that are completely physically identical to the one you've specified. The issue, as you are discovering, is that £500 is dual-core Intel territory, and £550 is quad-core AMD territory - Intel quads don't start to be no-corners-cut until £650, really. (Your current pricelist doesn't have a PSU and has only 1333Mhz RAM, for examples of corners cut.)

Also I didn't check the beginning of the thread, but do you have a PSU? There isn't one listed there, is all.

 

Yea I already have a psu. What about dropping the cpu down to an i3? I would have to change the mobo obviously. Maybe you right. I would rather have hardware than aesthetics, and I can always change the case if i want to i guess...

Dropping the case to http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Silverstone-Precision-PS02B-Black-Mid-Tower-Case-w-o-PSU

Brings it to a more affordable 560, which I think I can stretch too. Im guessing that case will do the job?

Cheers

 

Just to say, maybe look at other websites than Scan, i just spec'd up a practically identicle system (+ F3 1TB) and inc next day delivery it comes to £590.99



Just thought you may what to poke other websites...