Spec me a PC to replace my Xbox please!

SSD question:
I am torn between 2 SSDs, I have found a Kingston V200 256GB SSD for £105, Or a crucial M4 128GB SSD for £80.

I have already been advised against the v200, but it seems like such a good deal!

I read the SSD Mega test thread on here which suggested that the m4 was better but that the v200 is a good budget choice.
What would you guys do in this situation?
 
Others can comment on technical aspects, but I'd say go with the d3h.
Why? The SATA ports are in much better locations and will help keep things tidy, plus it's a nicer looking board fwiw.

I know, they don't sound like great reasons :D
 
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Uncle Petey said:
Others can comment on technical aspects, but I'd say go with the d3h.
Why? The SATA ports are in much better locations and will help keep things tidy, plus it's a nicer looking board fwiw.

I know, they don't sound like great reasons :D
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They sound good enough for me.

which motherboards with built in wifi can you recommend that don't cost much more than the d3h?
 
Hey man welcome to PC gaming glad you decided to join the big boys, I'm just going to chip in and say a 670 gives almost equal value over a 7870 and 30% faster than a 7850. Also please please please don't use a TV as a monitor.
 
Uncle Petey said:
I dunno, this perhaps?
More than a bit extra cash though...
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done. if it turns out to be rubbish, i blame you!

Nate Silvers said:
Hey man welcome to PC gaming glad you decided to join the big boys, I'm just going to chip in and say a 670 gives almost equal value over a 7870 and 30% faster than a 7850. Also please please please don't use a TV as a monitor.
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the reason i didn't go for the 670 was price. i am just getting into pc gaming, so i didn't really see the need for such a high end card. even if it is better 'value' than the 7850, its price put it out of reach.
.....
that being said, in a moment of madness i have ordered the 7950 :D

about the tv/monitor situation - is it so bad that i would not enjoy gaming on it, or is it only so bad that i wouldn't want to go back to a TV after having a monitor?
 
Well basically you're going to have a powerful gaming PC now which means you also have quite a nice workstation. You will be at the computer a lot more once you go PC gaming. You might get into powerful applications or just chatting on steam/community. Starting at a big TV with pixels like golfballs sucks and detail is lost in games. Consoles are good for sitting back relaxed in a comfy sofa away from the TV and doing casual gaming. PC gaming you are sat close to your monitor upright and alert making fast accurate and precise moves. This is one of the better reasons to game on PC because you can sit close with a good screen, you can't sit close to TVs without seeing huge pixels.

You can't do this on a TV/console

2560x1440+ gaming
120Hz gaming

Like I say being sat upclose and personal to your screen you will notice subtle things like input lag, response times and text readability. Using a mouse instead of a controller magnifies the input you feel between input and the screen.

John Carmack recently pointed out that with a mouse, you are removed from the game by one degree (moving the mouse moves the game). Analog sticks are removed from the game by two degrees (moving your thumb moves the stick which moves the game). Being removed from the game by two degrees instead of one makes it extremely difficult for the brain to do movement naturally. What I'm saying is your reactions and reflexes will be too fast for a TV to handle. By using a monitor instead of a TV you get the real experience you want, otherwise you just have a next gen console, you're not PC gaming.

A monitor that can have crisp sharp text and good colour reproduction. For gaming a TV is just too laggy specially for FPS games when moving the mouse, you can even feel it in Windows desktop use.
 
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I'm not saying you're wrong, but the lag thing isn't always true and does vary.

I play on a 40" Bravia @1080p/60hz and obviously, I'm limited to 60fps.
Since my 5870 manages on *average* mid-high 50's fps on BF3 (Mostly ultra/AAoff/Vsync on), I just set the max fps to 59 and it's all rather lovely. I get no noticeable input lag or have any issues reading text, nor do I have to sit really close to it because it's 40" :)... Am I not PC gaming?

Yes, I agree that a monitor is at the end of the day, superior to a TV, but don't give me the whole 'If you're not sat bolt upright with your face in a screen, you're not doing it properly' stuff...
 
If you are sat far back from your TV then it becomes smaller anyways, so the 40" looks like a 24". You can only sit so far back when gaming at a desk. You lose detail on a TV and higher pixel density means you can spot enemies in the distance better.

If you really do have to use a TV then make sure it has low input lag and supports 4:4:4 chroma.
 
I can't speak for the OP (or whatever hdtv he may choose), but I sit about 5ft away and it definitely can't be mistaken for a 24", nor are there any resolution issues :D
I'm not saying he should go for an hdtv, I'm just saying it's can be a good compromise if he picks a decent one.

Depending on the price he's willing to pay for a tv, a pretty good, decently sized monitor could probably be had instead, and would obviously be the best way to game (excluding projectors n stuff). That's assuming his room setup allows for it.
 
Hey Martinoheat, just wanted to chime and say I built my first gaming PC to replace my Xbox about a month ago, best thing I ever did for gaming.

I was a bit worried about building but the advice I got on here was bang on, compared to Xbox gaming it's like being in a five star hotel instead of a Travel Lodge.

Good luck with it, it's well worth diving in and enjoying your first build!
 
Nate Silvers said:
Well basically you're going to have a powerful gaming PC now which means you also have quite a nice workstation. You will be at the computer a lot more once you go PC gaming. You might get into powerful applications or just chatting on steam/community. Starting at a big TV with pixels like golfballs sucks and detail is lost in games. Consoles are good for sitting back relaxed in a comfy sofa away from the TV and doing casual gaming. PC gaming you are sat close to your monitor upright and alert making fast accurate and precise moves. This is one of the better reasons to game on PC because you can sit close with a good screen, you can't sit close to TVs without seeing huge pixels.

You can't do this on a TV/console

2560x1440+ gaming
120Hz gaming

Like I say being sat upclose and personal to your screen you will notice subtle things like input lag, response times and text readability. Using a mouse instead of a controller magnifies the input you feel between input and the screen.

John Carmack recently pointed out that with a mouse, you are removed from the game by one degree (moving the mouse moves the game). Analog sticks are removed from the game by two degrees (moving your thumb moves the stick which moves the game). Being removed from the game by two degrees instead of one makes it extremely difficult for the brain to do movement naturally. What I'm saying is your reactions and reflexes will be too fast for a TV to handle. By using a monitor instead of a TV you get the real experience you want, otherwise you just have a next gen console, you're not PC gaming.

A monitor that can have crisp sharp text and good colour reproduction. For gaming a TV is just too laggy specially for FPS games when moving the mouse, you can even feel it in Windows desktop use.
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What you're saying does make sense tbh. And I could do with a new monitor whether or not I buy a TV. Ideally I would get one that is big enough to double up as a TV - 32inch would probably suffice, my room isn't so big.


Nate Silvers said:
If you are sat far back from your TV then it becomes smaller anyways, so the 40" looks like a 24". You can only sit so far back when gaming at a desk. You lose detail on a TV and higher pixel density means you can spot enemies in the distance better.

If you really do have to use a TV then make sure it has low input lag and supports 4:4:4 chroma.
Click to expand...

What is 4:4:4 chroma? What kind of input lad is considered low for a TV?
 
MireMare said:
Hey Martinoheat, just wanted to chime and say I built my first gaming PC to replace my Xbox about a month ago, best thing I ever did for gaming.

I was a bit worried about building but the advice I got on here was bang on, compared to Xbox gaming it's like being in a five star hotel instead of a Travel Lodge.

Good luck with it, it's well worth diving in and enjoying your first build!
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Cheers buddy. I am SO excited! I should have the parts by Wednesday.

One thing that i dont think the PC can replace though is forza 4. The graphics and physics are fantastic. Do you know of any racing Sims with good graphics for PC?
 
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