So i did as you suggested, and read loads i tried to eliminate things that i thought wern't compatible based on what i read.
(Juts added the hardware compatibility bits, not case/coolers etc)
Understood. Nice one. That spec is all compatible except for the RAM speed - H97 boards will run RAM at 1600MHz max (with extremely rare and unofficial exceptions). The RAM you chose would still work but would run at 1600MHz instead of its XMP (automatic setting) 1866MHz speed.
The i5-4670 CPU is an original Haswell designed for Z87/H87 etc boards, it will work fine but you could go for a newer Haswell refresh CPU released in conjunction with Z97 and H97 boards.
If you wanted to do a bit of overclocking, you'd need a Z board and a "K" CPU.
Motherboard: So with the MB, i linked 2 because i wasnt sure of the differences, like what is a PCI-e x16 to a PCI-e x1 and what would be each be used for? guessing x16 for Vcard?
Yes, the x16 is for the video card. The PCI slots are for stuff like sound cards, and the PCI-E x1 slots are the newer format of PCI. Some sound cards are for PCI, others for PCI-E x1, so you'd want a motherboard with the appropriate format for your sound card etc. Note that these days the onboard sound is good enough that most people don't need a sound card (I don't).
As for the socket, i read 1150 is the way to go because 2011v3 only has the x99 chipset, and is for like enthusiast.
Correct, 2011v3 is out of your budget and is unnecessary for gaming or if you will be using a maximum of two video cards. X99 can be helpful for running more than two video cards or for tasks like photo/video rendering (to speed it up, more cores etc).
In terms of chipset i went for the h97 because z97 is more aimed at OCing. Please correct me if any of this is wrong.
This is correct. However there is no problem with running a non-overclocking CPU on a Z97 motherboard, if you find one with slightly better features for the same prices. A Z97 board will also allow running RAM of faster speeds.
CPU: I went for the i5-4670. Only because the i5 dosn't have hyperthreading, whereas i7s do(i think??). Games wont take advantage of hyperthreading.
Correct, most games won't right now, and your budget doesn't suit an i7 anyway.
And 4670 was the highest number without getting a K version, which is for OCers? Which im obviously not going to be doing at this stage.
This one is the highest non-K i5:
YOUR BASKET
1 x
Intel Core i5-4690 3.50GHz (Haswell) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £169.99
It's a Haswell refresh, and the successor to/replacement of the i5-4670.
You may not want to O/C right now, but buying a "K" is always an option as you can leave it at stock without any trouble, and only O/C it when you're ready.
RAM: total confusion! what does PC3-14400+, 128000 mean?
Yes. You can safely ignore those distinctions (which are based on speed) and just focus on the stated speed itself. Also on the CAS timings. The tighter the timings the better. i.e. If you have to choose between 9-9-9-24 and 10-10-10-28 1600MHz, the former should be a bit faster.
Vcard: Went for a 960 cos it seems to do good on benchmarks and is a nice price.
They are nice enough cards and some of them have fans which don't spin at all when idling or light gaming, which is very nice as far as keeping noise down is concerned. They also don't require a lot of power compared to other cards. However, cards like the 280X outperform the 960s, for around the same price, and have an extra GB of VRAM (video memory) for those games that scrape 2GB usage @ 1080p.
Can i pick any? Are they compatible with any chipset and socket type?
Yes. Any single card is compatible. To run two of them you'd need a CrossFire motherboard (in case of AMD/Radeon cards) or an SLI motherboard (in case of Nvidia cards). You also need to make sure your power supply is up to the task of running your card/s.
Also the price differences i dont understand, other than slight differences in clock speed?
Certain brands are simply more expensive, whether the product is actually better or not. Sometimes certain models will have better coolers than others. Sometimes the chips will be better (binned) than others, allowing for a higher overclock. Some will have longer warranties (three instead of two years). Etc.
You chose a decent Gigabyte model. Can't go too wrong with those. But my choice (for a 960) right now would be:
YOUR BASKET
1 x
Inno3D GeForce GTX 960 iChill X3 Air Boss Ultra 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (C960-2SDN-E5CNX) £169.99
Total : £179.59 (includes shipping : £8.00).
Faster. Cheaper. Fans that only spin when serious gaming. Quiet and very effective cooler overall. And nice backplate. Inno3D's iChill models are fast obtaining a great reputation.
I tried my best and did a few hours of reading before choosing, so if any of this is wrong please be patient with me.
Thanks to anyone who can answer my wall o questions!
You did well. What you picked would have worked. Just commented on some finer details and hopefully addressed the questions you had.
You need to identify all the items you need for your build. i.e. PSU, Operating System... everything. It may be that an AMD based build will end up being more adequate for your budget, depending on everything you require.
thanks again guys
