Expert advice required

Mawders · 31 Jul 2013 at 16:45

Hi everyone,

Right then, I'm currently in the market to get a gaming PC after being away from computers for about 5 years. I've made do with ps3's and 360's during this time. I have contemplated buying the new ps4 when it comes out but in reality I want to get back into PC gaming. I know how to build PC's so will be doing this myself.

What I need is your expert help and time to piece me together a build with some stipulations I require.

The system has to have windows included in build.
The system has to use the bitfenix prodigy black case.
I would prefer nvidia graphics over AMD purely based on the fact 5 years ago and before I only ever built systems with their cards. However if things have moved on these days please list the AMD card.
The build has to include a monitor.
The system must be built for gaming and nothing else apart from surfing the tinternet.
System needs to be geared up to handle BF4 multiplayer as that's the game this system is needed for to be played at high to ultra settings smoothly. Now I know we don't know what specs will be required but if its only marginally better than BF3 then this system needs to be geared to play BF3 on ultra settings.

Can't wait to see what you guys come back with, oh forgot to mention: the challenge is to build all this round the £1000 to £1200 region and not a penny more.

All the best

Mawders

Marine-RX179 · 31 Jul 2013 at 17:59

My advise would be you best wait till around BF4's launch time. As for why, have a read on the following article:
http://hexus.net/gaming/news/pc/53873-battlefield-4-feature-next-gen-amd-never-settle-bundle/
http://techreport.com/news/24976/re...e-3-games-to-be-optimized-exclusively-for-amd

A new build around that time with the next gen AMD graphic card would seem to be the best bet.

Alternately, you could build the system first, and then either a) using the onboard graphic and just play nothing more intensive than Source games for now or b) grab a graphic card for cheap (may be second hand) and sell it when you upgrade to the AMD's next gen card.

Mawders · 31 Jul 2013 at 18:18

Hi,

Thanks for answering but based on what we know about BF3 requirements please can some builds be put together. I'm not in any particular camp so would like to see some build ideas and can use the machine for bf3 for now till bf4 comes out.

Marine-RX179 · 31 Jul 2013 at 19:18

Do you need monitor, keyboard, mouse, windows etc?

Assuming you do, there following is just to give you a rough idea how much each parts are gonna cost, rather saying you should get those components specifically:

It is overpriced at the moment, but can be drop to £1200 range by dropping the motherboard from the £150 down to the £105-£115 range, CPU cooler from £60 down to £40 range, mouse from £40 down to £20 ish, and SSD from 256GB down to 120/128GB from £140 down to £75 (but in my own experience, 120GB SSD is not enough and restricted, therefore I strongly recommend getting at least a 250/256GB SSD).

In my opinion, you should wait for and get the Prodigy M (Micro-ATX) instead. It's physically the same size as the Mini-itx Prodigy, but it traded the internal spaces that was reserved for the gazillion drive bays (which not everyone need) for space to fix a Micro-ATX board, plus much better GPU cooling. I got the Mini-itx Prodigy...and let me tell you, by swapping original panel with ventilation holes for the window panel, the temp of the graphic card increase quite a lot. Having a BitFenix Spectre Pro 230mm fan as front intake doesn't help with the graphic card's temp, as the card is simple to close to the edge...so while the window panel looks great, it comes with at the cost of much higher GPU temp. You can have a preview of the Prodigy M here in this thread:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18529799

Mawders · 31 Jul 2013 at 19:49

Need windows, mouse keyboard and gaming headset. Wired mice and keyboard

Marine-RX179 · 31 Jul 2013 at 20:09

Mawders said:
Need windows, mouse keyboard and gaming headset. Wired mice and keyboard

What about monitor? Or you'd be gaming on TV?

In my opinion, you should wait for and get the Prodigy M (Micro-ATX) instead. It's physically the same size as the Mini-itx Prodigy, but it traded the internal spaces that was reserved for the gazillion drive bays (which not everyone need) for space to fix a Micro-ATX board, plus much better GPU cooling. I got the Mini-itx Prodigy...and let me tell you, by swapping original panel with ventilation holes for the window panel, the temp of the graphic card increase quite a lot. Having a BitFenix Spectre Pro 230mm fan as front intake doesn't help with the graphic card's temp, as the card is simple to close to the edge...so while the window panel looks great, it comes with at the cost of much higher GPU temp. You can have a preview of the Prodigy M here in this thread:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18529799

The benefit of Micro-ATX board is that it can have the same overclocking capability as the Mini-ITX, but without the price premium. There's also the benefit of having additional slots, which you could add a soundcard in the future if you wish.

Mawders · 1 Aug 2013 at 02:34

That looks like a solid build. I hear what you say about waiting for the matx version for better graphics card airflow. Anyone else got any variations on the build above? It is over budget but see what your saying about down grading a few items. Thanks for putting the time and effort in to spec me a build,much appreciated.

Mawders

Doomedspeed · 1 Aug 2013 at 06:25

Mawders said:
That looks like a solid build. I hear what you say about waiting for the matx version for better graphics card airflow. Anyone else got any variations on the build above? It is over budget but see what your saying about down grading a few items. Thanks for putting the time and effort in to spec me a build,much appreciated.

Mawders

You won't be able to fit the silver arrow in the prodigy. The d14 just fits and the silver arrow is 10-13mm higher...

Marine-RX179 · 1 Aug 2013 at 09:01

Doomedspeed said:
You won't be able to fit the silver arrow in the prodigy. The d14 just fits and the silver arrow is 10-13mm higher...

Yea as I said before, I'm not telling the OP to get specifically those parts. The list is more serve as the purpose of giving him an idea on how much each parts gonna cost.

Obviously with him needing wireless keyboard and mice and headset, the budget would need to move around a bit on how much can be spend on each parts.

I'll do the list again when I have time.

Mawders said:
That looks like a solid build. I hear what you say about waiting for the matx version for better graphics card airflow. Anyone else got any variations on the build above? It is over budget but see what your saying about down grading a few items. Thanks for putting the time and effort in to spec me a build,much appreciated.

Mawders

Don't get the build exactly as above. As I said it is just to give you an idea. With your requirements, I think there would only be enough budget for a £200 graphic card rather than £250, so you'd best wait for next gen AMD card which comes with BF4 for free as I mentioned before. I'll rework the list sometime.

Doomedspeed · 1 Aug 2013 at 09:03

Marine-RX179 said:
Yea as I said before, I'm not telling the OP to get specifically those parts. The list is more serve as the purpose of giving him an idea on how much each parts gonna cost.

Obviously with him needing wireless keyboard and mice and headset, the budget would need to move around a bit on how much can be spend on each parts.

Great,

It fulfills that purpose.

Mawders · 1 Aug 2013 at 09:14

Sorry you miss read my post, I need wired peripherals not wireless!

Doomedspeed · 1 Aug 2013 at 09:40

Mawders said:
Sorry you miss read my post, I need wired peripherals not wireless!

Marine-RX179 said:
I'll do the list again when I have time.

Don't get the build exactly as above. As I said it is just to give you an idea. With your requirements, I think there would only be enough budget for a £200 graphic card rather than £250, so you'd best wait for next gen AMD card which comes with BF4 for free as I mentioned before. I'll rework the list sometime.

It seems like he wants a definitive list now.

Mawders · 1 Aug 2013 at 10:47

If possible I would love to see a nvidia gtx770 in the mix, don't mind losing an ssd for a good Sata drive such as the wd cavier black or similar.

Haha thanks

Mawders

Marine-RX179 · 1 Aug 2013 at 13:58

Mawders said:
If possible I would love to see a nvidia gtx770 in the mix, don't mind losing an ssd for a good Sata drive such as the wd cavier black or similar.

Haha thanks

Mawders

Personally I wouldn't go for a 770 since BF4 is gonna be optimised for AMD card (and the game comes free with the next gen AMD cards) and the GTX770 has less vram and lower memory bandwidth (because of the 256-bit memory bus instead of 384-bit), but since you insist, here's a new list with cost cut down and a GTX770 in it. It's still over-budget, and you'd still need to find another £100 budget for headset, mice and keyboard (less if you are not going for the more expensive ones):

I still think you would be better off not getting the 770 right now and wait for the AMD next gen cards with BF4 comes free, unless you seriously can't wait and need to do some heavy gaming asap

And even if that is the case, the current Sapphire 7970 GHz Edition is a better deal than the GTX770:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-303-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

One thing you need to note is that that Corsair H100 cooler is a manufacturer refurbished unit...but at half the normal retail price, can't really complain

And also, that's only on pre-order at the moment at the moment, stock are said to land on the 2nd Aug (at which point the price will rise if not pre-ordered). If you failed to get that cooler at the right time, then just look for another £40 range CPU cooler to replace it.