First build

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budgets £700, want it to play most games on high or highest settings but with a £700 budget if that's just not possible then fair enough. Here are the specs:

Screenshot2011-11-09at085502.png


I plan on upgrading with another GPU with crossfireX, then a SSD as and when the money comes. Mainly looking for advice and opinions on the build, any changes within reason are greatly appreciated!
 
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the prices are ones I've found, if you see something cheaper then you think it should be and want to know where I found it just ask. I've been shopping around for these parts for a while now.

No, don't ask.

Discussion of competitors prices is not allowed.

Unless it's from OcUK keep it to yourself.
 
As above but also you should note that by shopping round, you often end up paying 3/4 lots of shipping which will outweigh any actual savings, youre best getting from one place.

The HDD youve included is not a very good one for your main drive, the green versions arent particuarly quick and are meant as storage drives, get something like this instead

These are better PSUs than anything Coolermaster has to offer

I'd really look at getting a more midrange case and spending more on your gfx now, eg Zalman Z9 case £50 which allows you to get a 6950 gfx card
 
As above but also you should note that by shopping round, you often end up paying 3/4 lots of shipping which will outweigh any actual savings, youre best getting from one place.

The HDD youve included is not a very good one for your main drive, the green versions arent particuarly quick and are meant as storage drives, get something like this instead

These are better PSUs than anything Coolermaster has to offer

I'd really look at getting a more midrange case and spending more on your gfx now, eg Zalman Z9 case £50 which allows you to get a 6950 gfx card

Thanks for the advice, respec'd - how does this look? its coming to £720 at the moment

Screenshot2011-11-10at141040.png


The processor I want is OEM, meaning it has no heat fan right? So the arctic cooling fan can just sits on top of it?
 
go with the 2gb version of the 6950 instead of the 1gb

if you plan on going xfire get a motherboard that does x8/x8 on the pci-e in xfire/sli(like the z68xp-ud3 if sticking to gigabte) rather than the z68ap-d3 which only does x4/x4, from what I've read it effects the performance quite a bit especially if you're going with the 6950.

also regarding the xfire situation the 6950 will prob be enough to handle it but you may want some 'head room' so a 750w might be better.

gelid tranquilo for ~£10 more over the af7pro rev2.
 
go with the 2gb version of the 6950 instead of the 1gb

if you plan on going xfire get a motherboard that does x8/x8 on the pci-e in xfire/sli(like the z68xp-ud3 if sticking to gigabte) rather than the z68ap-d3 which only does x4/x4, from what I've read it effects the performance quite a bit especially if you're going with the 6950.

also regarding the xfire situation the 6950 will prob be enough to handle it but you may want some 'head room' so a 750w might be better.

gelid tranquilo for ~£10 more over the af7pro rev2.

Budgets already being pushed here, I won't be playing heavy games so I think the 1GB is enough for now, regarding the issue with the mother board, will there be issues if I just put in two 2 1GB GPU?
 
well if you can recycle old sata hard disk from somewhere you can use the money saved to improve other bits, or as already adviced(but ignored by you) buy a cheaper case
 
what res do you play at? it may not be too big a deal at the moment but if you don't plan on upgrading the card for a 2/3 years then the 2gb will be a bit more future proof.

I still suggest upping the cooler to the gelid tranquilo, you also have the corsair a50 or coolermaster hyper 212+ all of which are similar priced and perform similarly.
 
what res do you play at? it may not be too big a deal at the moment but if you don't plan on upgrading the card for a 2/3 years then the 2gb will be a bit more future proof.

I still suggest upping the cooler to the gelid tranquilo, you also have the corsair a50 or coolermaster hyper 212+ all of which are similar priced and perform similarly.

Having looked at other peoples builds I was worried 650 was a little low. What's your opinion on the motherboard? If I'm gonna switch to a ud3 is it woth going with a completely different mother board? I went with the gigbyte cause of its value really.
 
as I said from what I've read the 650w should be able to handle xfire(as long as you don't highly oc the graphics card) but for that extra piece of mind get the 750w.

the z68xp-ud3 should be perfectly fine, could look at the z68xp-ud3p wich is ~£20 more and black rather than blue. also have the asus p8z68-v.

oh and forgot to mention the fins on the ram you've chosen may interfer with the air cooler, go for low profile one such as corsair xm3, corsair vengence lp(the lowprofile ones without the fins) or kingston hyperx genesis grey(or others dependent on where you're buying from).
 
as I said from what I've read the 650w should be able to handle xfire(as long as you don't highly oc the graphics card) but for that extra piece of mind get the 750w.

the z68xp-ud3 should be perfectly fine, could look at the z68xp-ud3p wich is ~£20 more and black rather than blue. also have the asus p8z68-v.

oh and forgot to mention the fins on the ram you've chosen may interfer with the air cooler, go for low profile one such as corsair xm3, corsair vengence lp(the lowprofile ones without the fins) or kingston hyperx genesis grey(or others dependent on where you're buying from).

I think I'll play it safe and get a 750w if I'm honest. I'll have a look soon at PSUs, thanks.

Reading reviews the ud3p didn't seem too great, but they are just internet reviews. Whats your opinion on ATI vs GeForce?

I thought the fins might get in the way, to solve this I might get an incorporated water cooling system like this. Only if the performance is good?
 
Screenshot2011-11-11at103102.png


bit over bugdet at £775, is the mother board okay for crossfire and are the parts compatible?

I chose the water cooler as I thought it would be a better then an air cooling system, any ideas or suggestions?
 
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