Advice for a Gaming PC

SemCee · 4 Dec 2013 at 04:03

So, I've been trawling this place for quite a while and Im starting to get annoyed with myself for not having a gaming pc already. Maybe 3 months ago I started thinking about upgrading from my old pc to something that would last me a few years and here I am now JUST posting about it. :eek:

I really like the black and white theme that Sgt Peppers Air 540 build began with.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18527343&page=3

Im thinking of using the same replacement fans, apart from maybe 3x120's in the front. Im not too sure about the Sabertooth motherboard and wondered whether a ROG board may be better.

I had decided on using the H100i cooler, with a 4770K, but it looks like Overclockers dont have any in stock.

Also I was considering a 780 ti, fan controller maybe and some led's to set it off. Maybe the NZXT Hue that Ive seen a few people use.

Ideas on exact spec from you guys would be very helpful, as I find myself going back and forth on components. A few good suggestions may help me stop faffing about and make my mind up.

Also, although I built my previous pc, I am always a little wary. How easy the H100i is to install correctly has me wondering, although I am sure its my tendency to over think things.

I started this with the idea of building the pc myself but, if I do finally come up with a exact spec, could Overclockers build that machine, (rather than one of the selection on the site)? How much of a cost over the price of the parts, (for build and support etc), would I be looking at paying?

The sooner I get this sorted and actually playing some games the better it will be for my sanity! sigh

Thanks for your help.

SemCee · 4 Dec 2013 at 13:42

Thanks guys. I haven't really got a budget, but I was wanting to keep it to a reasonable kinda cost. I seem to be pushing £2000 which is probably getting to the top of what I'm wanting to spend atm.

I was wanting a Gaming PC that would look kinda nice as well as perform for a good time to come, but its not really eye candy Im after - more like avoiding something hideous looking. lol

SemCee · 4 Dec 2013 at 20:32

My previous pc used a Cosmos case, Duo 8600 on a Maximus II board and a AMD 4770x2 gpu i believe, did okay at the time. I was thinking about donating it to someone in the family anyway.

I started off looking at the Define R4 case, (and a load of others tbh), but have been thinking of building around the Air 540 for a while.

ATM I would just be gaming on a 24" Samsung monitor, but I have plans to upgrade to a decent 27", (or even 3x24" but maybe no, lol). If my 2010 Thunderbolt iMac would allow me to use it as monitor I would be happy using that, but there seem to be issues with non apple hardware.

Somewhere I still have a boxed copy of Win7 that never got installed, so I could use that if Win8 is nothing but odd interface and no real benefit.

Its been some time since i've gamed really, but I want to get back into playing all sorts of games with the amazing graphics I see atm. Its also been some time since I did more than basic maintenance on a pc and Ive never done any overclocking so its all a bit daunting. Trying my hardest to stop myself from just jumping in, buying a load of gear and saying sod it! Lucky the cost is making me consider everything over and over again.

SemCee · 5 Dec 2013 at 12:10

tbh, im a little concerned about the Radeon cards. The heat/noise/power draw issues are completely putting me off. I know there are some real benefits to these cards, but at the moment it might be best to pay the extra for a 780.

Having said that, by the time I make any kind of decision all those issues might be smoothed out.

Tonight Im going to try and spec a build, so you can see where my head is. Then you can poke holes in it and tell me why I shouldn't be using certain parts.

That build is a lot lower than I was expecting to pay and has put all sorts of extra balls in the air. Love to see some more ideas.

thanks guys

SemCee · 16 Dec 2013 at 04:06

Im sorry its taken so long to get back to this, work and my inability to make a decision is to blame.

So here goes.

Corsair A540 Case - £129.95
Asus z87 Maximus VI formula Motherboard - £229.99
Corsair Vengeance LP 16GB - £139.99
Intel Core i7-4770K - £263.99
AF120 x3 fans (for front) -
AF140 x1 fan (for rear) -
SP120 x2 fans (for cooler) -
Hydro H100i - £99.95
Corsair AX760i Digital ATX '80 Plus Platinum" PSU - £179.99
Samsung 120 GB SSD 840 EVO for OS - £79.99
Samsung 500 GB SSD 840 EVO for Games - 274.99
780ti - £600ish (although Im not sure which 780ti to go for :/ )

So round about the £2000 i thought it was gonna end up.

Thoughts? ideas? problems? Its getting very close to christmas isn't it, so if I don't make a decision quickly it'll be next year before I get around to this. :eek:

Thanks

SemCee · 17 Dec 2013 at 01:35

Thanks for adding the custom loop builds, but thats a little too adventurous for me atm.

I have spent another evening dithering over the tiniest of choices and have managed to talk myself out of, and then back into some of the components!

tnx - I understand full well whats going on...

... it is made more difficult by the huge amount of options and my lack of indepth knowledge. At some point I'll have to throw my money at overclockers and get this damn pc build started. lol

Also, it had kind of escaped me how close to the holidays we are for delivery problems and as I was trawling the web I noticed that there is an Asus card on the horizon which may be worth waiting for, the GTX 780 Ti DirectCU II.

I suppose if I do wait until after the holidays it'll give me even more time to waste dithering over the build and give it a chance for the new card to be released and reviewed. sigh.