Pc Gaming Tower Under £900

[ScienceStamps]

This is my second build for myself

1. CPU
Intel i5-3570K 3.40ghz hope to overclock to atleast 4.4Ghz

2. Motherboard
MSI Z77A-G43 Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) - FREE Alpenföhn Civetta Cooler!!

3. (RAM)
Kingston HyperX Beast (2x4GB) PC3-12800C9 1600MHz (KHX16C9T3K2/8X)

4. Hard drive(s)
Western Digital Caviar Green 2TB 64MB Cache - OEM (WD20EZRX) HDD
OCZ Agility 4 128GB 2.5" Solid State Hard Drive (AGT4-25SAT3-128G)

5. Graphics card(s)
MSI HD 7870 Black Knight OC 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card

6. (PSU)
XFX Pro 550W Core Edition '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply

7. Case
Antec 902 Nine Hundred Two (V3) (with USB3.0 Support) - Black

8. CD/DVDRW drive(s)
Asus 24x DVD±RW DRW-24B5ST SATA ReWriter - Black (OEM)

9. Sound card
Asus Xonar DGX 5.1 PCI-Express Sound Card with built in Headphone Amp


The Solid State Drive and Case are a real luxury and I should probably have saved money there and bought a better graphics card but for some reason they have a nice little place in my heart and I have always wanted them.

If I really wanted to save money there I would have not got a SSD and bought an Antec One instead but I couldn't resist

This is an upgrade to a previous build so I didn't need any peripherals or case fans etc.

Destructive or constructive feedback is welcome

 

[snips86x]

 

[Doomedspeed]

I can't see snip's build, as Work Connection is Rubbish but...

Get the Z77 D3H, better board..

Get a Cooler, Maybe the Freeze i30 or the 612s, the Cooler free with that MSI board is awful..

The rest looks good, though not a fan of the case, i'd rather go for the BitFenix Shinobi.. Cheaper and more my style.. A case is personal though. The Antec one isn't a bad choice.

Looks good otherwise.

 

[Doomedspeed]

Sorry for DP, can't EDIT at work..

You don't need a sound card unless your music producing or something..

On-board sound has come on leaps and bounds.

 

[snips86x]

I can't see snip's build, as Work Connection is Rubbish but...

Get the Z77 D3H, better board..

Get a Cooler, Maybe the Freeze i30 or the 612s, the Cooler free with that MSI board is awful..

The rest looks good, though not a fan of the case, i'd rather go for the BitFenix Shinobi.. Cheaper and more my style.. A case is personal though. The Antec one isn't a bad choice.

Looks good otherwise.

I know that feeling! I'd already added just what you said, 612s and using the Shinobi.

Sorry for DP, can't EDIT at work..

You don't need a sound card unless your music producing or something..

On-board sound has come on leaps and bounds.

Yeah, agreed. But since he added it, I thought it's what he wants right?

 

[Doomedspeed]

I know that feeling! I'd already added just what you said, 612s and using the Shinobi.?

Great minds...

Yeah, agreed. But since he added it, I thought it's what he wants right?

True, But a few years ago sound cards were needed to hear....well.. Anything. Just though the OP should know (if he doesn't already) that that's not the case anymore.. Can save a bit of £ too.

 

[snips86x]

Great minds...



True, But a few years ago sound cards were needed to hear....well.. Anything. Just though the OP should know (if he doesn't already) that that's not the case anymore.. Can save a bit of £ too.

My onboard cannot be faulted when using SPDIF & 5.1 home theatre. Sound it crisp & clean. Would deffinatley be my choice over cheap sound card.

 

[ScienceStamps]

I really only want the sound card for the virtual 3D sound as most of the time I am just using my stereo headphones.

I will definitely consider the bitfenix and motherboard since it seems to be the general consensus.

The Plextor seems like an obvious choice not sure why I didn't think of that.

Also Do you think the extra £80 is worth upgrading the graphics card?
Thanks

 

[snips86x]

I really only want the sound card for the virtual 3D sound as most of the time I am just using my stereo headphones.

I will definitely consider the bitfenix and motherboard since it seems to be the general consensus.

The Plextor seems like an obvious choice not sure why I didn't think of that.

Also Do you think the extra £80 is worth upgrading the graphics card?
Thanks

You dont need a sound card for virtual 3D. If you get some decent headphones/headset, the software that comes with it will give you the ability to do this. I know my Creative SoundBlaster Tactic3D Wraith Wireless headphones do.

Not to the 7970. Wait for the 8xxx series and the prices of the 7970's may come down, just make sure it's not voltage locked if you are planning to o/c.