Future Proof Gaming Build

ConnorBCFC · 27 Jun 2020 at 19:00

Hi all.

I need parts list ideas - I'm doing a build for a friend who has a big budget for a new gaming pc. The budget is £2500-3000.

I know the newgen GPUs are out soon, but they're insistent on having this build asap, with a view to upgrading to one of the new GPUs in the future, so if you could account for that, that'd be great.

Please also include case fans in the lists - cooling is going to be quite important as this budget.

Thank you.

ConnorBCFC · 27 Jun 2020 at 19:41

Gray2233 said:
Does he need a new monitor or a keyboard/mouse?

If he already has a monitor what are the specifications of it?

What sorts of games does he play?

Nope, tower only. Not sure on monitor but been given a description of wanting 'the best parts possible'.

ConnorBCFC · 28 Jun 2020 at 12:32

Journey said:
What is the use-case for the machine? Just gaming?

If you don't know the monitor specs and he's running 2560x1440 at 60Hz, it seems utterly pointless to spend £3000 on a gaming PC, unless he plans on spending big on a monitor upgrade.

Is he one of the people it has to be the best or don't bother, or all the gear and no idea?

Having spoken to them, they are going to want to look at 1440p 144Hz monitors, with a view to moving to 4k.

You could put it that way, yes, lol.

ConnorBCFC · 28 Jun 2020 at 12:37

EsaT said:
Can't call 8 core/16 thread CPU any future proof.
That's going to be mainstream for next-gen games with new consoles coming with non-boosting variant of Ryzen 3700X.
And Intel is bad in upgrade path with actually no higher core count improved CPUs coming and also prices of outdated models staying high.
More cores are coming with Alder Lake on new LGA 1700 socket and with big.little design instead of high number of full size cores...
While AMD goes to 16 full size cores on current AM4 platform and on current Zen 2 and coming improved Zen 3 giving nice upgradability, if taking very well priced 3700X for now.

Also looking into future needs it isn't sure when Intel actually brings out PCIe v4.
Knowing Intel's greedyness they might decide to force another platform/socket change for getting it just for the fun of screwing consumers into rear.
While AMD has PCIe v4 already.
This year it propably won't make much different in GPU performance, but in couple years GPUs should get powerfull enough.
Also there's possibility of changes in GPU use needing faster CPU-GPU communication.
Next-gen consoles having such powerfull integrated APUs no doubt gives game developers new things to consider.

For RAM 2x16GB is definite choise for that budget to make sure there's no need to close background web browsers etc.
Next-gen consoles are actually comnig with special techniques for streaming data from SSD just before use to compensate for small memory increase.

With that budget would definitely aim for 2TB SSD to have good amount of space.
Bigger games start hogging like 100GB or so.
Though availability/prices of 2TB NVMes aren't greatest at the moment.

For PSU this would be nicely priced 10 year warranty 80+ Platinum:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/frac...ted-fully-modular-power-supply-ca-08t-fd.html

For case we would need to know, if there's preference for clean look or if RGB is wanted.

Thanks for the detailed response. Are you suggesting I go down the Ryzen route? Any suggestions for coolers on the R9 3900/50X?

Thanks in advance.