N00b seeking advice

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Hello guys, I'm after a gaming spec PC and had contemplated building one myself...... however my experience of building a computer is non existent, I have only ever changed disk drives and increased RAM so I am pretty much guessing it's not wise for me to have a crack as yet.

What I am basically after is some advice, I am after a computer that is powerful enough to run games like Battlefield BC2, Crysis, Skyrim and Battlefield 3 (when they are released) and generally any gamers like Starcraft.

Is this setup I've specced through Mesh good enough? it is:

550W HEC Desktop Power Supply
Intel P67 Platform Mainboard - Intel 2nd Generation Core™ i - LGA 1155 / ATX
Intel® 2nd Generation Core™ i5-2500K Processor (6M Cache, 3.30 GHz) - LGA1155
*CPU Cooler, CPU Overclocking and Specialist Cabling Not Required*
4GB 1333MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM - (2x2GB)
1024MB NVIDIA Geforce GT520 Graphics Accelerator - DX11
1TB SATA3 6Gb/s 7200rpm 32MB Cache
22x SATA Dual Layer DVD-Rewritable Super Format ±R/±RW/RAM
7.1 High Definition onboard sound card - for 8 Channel Cinema sound
Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium pre-installed
ASUS WL-138g V2 internal PCI Wireless adapter

I've just literally copied and pasted the spec but any help you can offer me would be so helpful.
 
Other than the PSU that set up will be fine? Also any sort of updating like graphics card wouldn't be too much of an issue for this spec would it?
 
I'd go for a bigger PSU personally, but I always do. 550w seems quite small for that build

^^ +1 I would go for at least a 600-750W PSU it will allow you to upgrade later and save you having to buy another PSU at a later date, it will also help to provide system stability for the build. What sort of budget do you have perhaps we can spec something up for you?

Stoner81.
 
Ok, upgraded PSU to 750W and changed the graphics card to: 1024MB NVIDIA Geforce GTX550 Ti Graphics Accelerator.... whats everyones thoughts now?
 
Ok, upgraded PSU to 750W and changed the graphics card to: 1024MB NVIDIA Geforce GTX550 Ti Graphics Accelerator.... whats everyones thoughts now?

A GTX460 1GB is faster.

despite upgrading the PSU, if its still HEC its a crap make.
 
Well really looking as cheap as I can go but obviously is going to last me a little while to play the games I suggested in first post... Currently that set up is now at £704, is that reasonable?
 
Well really looking as cheap as I can go but obviously is going to last me a little while to play the games I suggested in first post... Currently that set up is now at £704, is that reasonable?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-179-OE&groupid=43&catid=1444&subcat=1712

Add win7 from the drop box, and it comes too,


Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
"Titan Triceratop" Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.40GHz DDR3 Sandybridge System £749.98
(£624.98) £749.98
(£624.98)
Options applied to the above product:
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £79.99
(£66.66) £79.99
(£66.66)
Options applied to the above product:
No Hard Drive Upgrade £0.00
(£0.00) £0.00
(£0.00)
Sub Total : £691.64
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £15.50
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £141.43
Total : £848.57
 
@ op

That pre-built is a waste of money. Have a look at some of the pre-builds on this site or build your own.

Btw, prior to building my first PC, I'd never added RAM to a PC or changed a DVD drive!
 
That set ups perfect, guys thank you so much for your advice... Hopefully I won't pester you guys too much with silly questions.
 
@ op

That pre-built is a waste of money. Have a look at some of the pre-builds on this site or build your own.

Btw, prior to building my first PC, I'd never added RAM to a PC or changed a DVD drive!

Is it easy to do? I've considered it but I don't want to get out of my depth.
 
you should be alright building it yourself as you mentioned earlier, as long as you dont force things in, bend them or lick them and take your time its not too hard. I've just finished my first total build and had no problems whatsoever, but I had a little over basic knowledge of what I was doing before hand and like you done odd bits and pieces to my old pc.
 
£150 over his £700 stulid but having said that it's awesome set up and pre-built to boot :D bonus!

@ OP - Building a system is not that difficult in all honesty the plugs will (generally speaking) only go in one way and there is lots of information on this forum to help you out, I do believe I saw a n00b guide to building round here somewhere just can't think where at the moment (will have a look shortly).

EDIT - Found it! ---> http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18046396

Stoner81.
 
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Is it easy to do? I've considered it but I don't want to get out of my depth.

Yep. Just work slowly and carefully. The only cables that can be put in the wrong way around are the case switches and LEDS.. And those won't be damaged if you get them wrong.

Oh, and you can always ask for help on this forum.
 
£150 over his £700 stulid but having said that it's awesome set up and pre-built to boot :D bonus!

was his £700 including the crummy GPU and PSU before he added a GTX550ti/GTX460 and upped the PSU, including VAT and delivery.;)
 
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