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

Humm I was going with scan because I have free delivery for life with them and wanted the scansure insurance. Also, not sure I would really want Ex-display stuff, would rather have brand new!

 

Oh yes, but i was just showing how other sites may be cheaper, i've always found scan to be more pricey personally. And if its Exdisplay, it works, its warrentied and its cheaper, surely that'd solve your price problem...

 

Humm I suppose. What website was that?

Also is it that hard to OC the i5? I have never OC'ed before but I figured it can't be that hard!

 

Scan are great, yes they do cost a little more on some thing (mainly RAM) but the service they provide is beyond approach. Updates about delivery almost instantly, brilliant RMA, amazing phone support/customer service. That is why for the most part I will go for scan for anything that can break easily. Something like a case, monitor or something that I think I am less likely to break I can go elsewhere but generally dont.

In terms of overclocking the i5 750 is VERY easy to overclock. There is a guide on bit-tech somewhere and can just plug in the numbers, and its easy to get a very high overclock. It was my first time overclocking too, although I have messed in server BIOSs but not actually overclocked. I started at 4.01Ghz easily and the stress test passed 2 hours however the room was a little hot and hence temps were getting hot on the CPU (~85 deg) - which I confirmed was too hot really. I could have spent some more time lowering the voltage and seeing if I could get it stable at a lower voltage (hence temp) but instead I lowered the clock initially to 3.88Ghz and now 3.94Ghz which is stable and has nice temps (<70 deg). Not only that but using the CPC benchmarking scores gives an increase of ~ 25% in performance

 

If you're _really_ pushing the budget, do you need the upgraded cooler? You _should_ be able to push the CPU a little on the stock cooler (just don't go whacky with voltages) and, if the noise levels are anything like the older core2 jobbies shouldn't be much of an issue.

 

Here we go again! The price just keeps creeping up.

If the budget is £500, you virtually nailed it on page 1 of the thread. You don't "need" an i5, but maybe you want one. Up to you.

 

Yea the price is creeping up It's too tempting! I can work out exactly how much I have to spend when I get home, and I am going to have me to make a decision based on that! Will keep you updated!

I could drop the after market cooler, but I figured its only £15quid and will allow me to squeeze the maximum juice from it.

Thanks alot for the help so far guys! Its been fantastic

SJ

 

The site posted above is ebuyer. I have ordered from them often and have never had a problem. My friend had a mobo DOA and they quickly sent him a replacment. They also offer free 5 day delivery if you can wait (however it is often faster than 5 days).

Have you tried ccl also - they are are also a good seller.

 

Ok, awesome news, after working out my finances I found out I can stretch to £600ish! This obviously changes things quite abit.

So this has turned my eyes back to this spec:



I can stretch to this spec. Now, a few questions. Is this the best spec I can get for that price range?

I like the fractal r2, its sexy, but I dont necessarily NEED it, I could cope with something like an antec 300. If i dropped the case for the antec 300, giving me another 40quid or so to work with, could make the hardware abit better? Maybe better memory?

Sorry for the faffing around with the budget!

Cheers!

SJ

 

£600 budget? Now we're talking! That is enough to get a serious PC.

The only change I'd make is to buy some 1600MHz DDR3 as this'll give you more headroom when overclocking. If necessary, switch back to the Antec 300 to save money.

Oh, and see if you can convince yourself to get a Titan Fenrir CPU cooler - go on, you know you want to!

 

Eeeek that fenrir is another 15! Is it realllly worth the stretch!?

Any recommendations on 1600mhz mem?

Also my DVD-RW literally just (conveniently?) died, so I need a new one of those too but that was an IDE one and don't know much about the sata ones you can get these days. I hope they arn't too much!

Cheers!

 

Just as a side, the Fenrir struggles to fit on the motherboard (it interfears with RAM from what I have read). It is possible to fit it but it really is a tight squeeze.

For RAM try get the Corsasir XM3 PC3 12800. With a decent special day at scan you really are going to get a great PC

 

Will i be ok with the freezer 7?

I think im gonna stretch to some 1600 mem for sure.
Besides from whats in the pic, is the anything else i need? Already got a psu, need to get a new dvdrw, im guessing ill need thermal paste too.

Cheers

 

Will i be ok with the freezer 7?

I think im gonna stretch to some 1600 mem for sure.
Besides from whats in the pic, is the anything else i need? Already got a psu, need to get a new dvdrw, im guessing ill need thermal paste too.

Cheers

 

Phone double posted -.-

 

The Freezer's nice, but I would go for the Gelid Tranquillo instead, which should only be a few more pounds but is much quieter. It's actually probably a better fit for this build than the Fenrir, and it shouldn't interfere with your RAM. It comes with the paste you'll need.

 

+1 For the Tranquillo. That thing is my next cooler with a decent fan.

 

This is why having a community like this is a good thing! Collective knowledge is useful!

I can only find the Gelid Tranquillo at Overclockers.

Try this 1600MHz DDR3.

 

Gelid Tranquillo is amazing. Got it for my build which is same MB as your planning and it doesnt intefere at all. It is available at scan as thats where I got it.

There is one thing you are potentially missing, depending how much you want to overclock it. This just comes from reading the BT review rather than owning the Fractal R2 but its the fact that it only becomes a great cooler with extra fans, so if you are looking to do quite a bit of overclocking you may want to get an extra fan or two. Having said that, thats something you can buy at a later stage as they are pretty cheap

 

Wasn't the Fenrir only a problem with Dominator RAM? Coz of the huge heatsinks? Can't remember for definite, it's just ringing a bell somewhere.

Aside from that, that's a great build.