Gaming Build Check

odeexs · 27 Aug 2012 at 21:56

Hi, this is my first time builing a computer so i'm a bit paranoid that the hardware isn't compatable or won't do what I want it to do. I'm building a mid range gaming PC, budget is about £1000 (Including peripherals) and these are the parts I've chosen:

Case: NZXT Phantom Full Tower (Comes with 4 fans, is this enough?) - £99.99

PSU: Be Quiet Pure Power 730W Modular - £67.71

Processor: Intel core i5 2500K 3.3Ghz - £174.79

RAM:Corsair 8GB DDR3 1333Mhz 2x4GB stick - £34 (£35 for 1x8GB stick)

Graphics Card: PowerColor HD 7850 2GB GDDR5 - £191.40

HDD: Seagate 2TB Barracuda - £79.99

Optical Drive: Samsung SH-222BB SATA DVD Write - £12.99

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-z68X-UD3-B3 Z68 Socket 1155 - £70.20

+ £80 for windows 7 home premium

Total - £812.21
With peripherals it comes to £966.71.

My main concerns are the case, motherboard and PSU. Will it all fit in the case and will it have enough power? Will the parts all be able to connect to the motherboard?

Also I need advice on RAM, should I get 2 4GB sticks or 1 8GB stick? They're the same price so I thought having an 8GB one would future-proof it a little, but will 2 4GB sticks be faster with Dual channel?
Finally, what would you recommend in terms of wireless network adapters? I've always used laptops with built-in wireless so I don't have much experience in this.

Thanks!

RJC · 27 Aug 2012 at 22:03

Hello and welcome to the forum, your linking to a competitor which is against the rules, remove the links before mod see's and the cryptic clue

RJC · 27 Aug 2012 at 22:08

Ivy Bridge & Z77 board, Hard drive only 5900 RPM, not sure if you want a 7200 drive, also included a SSD for the operating system.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £184.99
1 x Sapphire HD 7850 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card w/ Nexuiz & Dirt Showdown PC Games £155.99
1 x NZXT Phantom Enthusiast USB3.0 Full Tower Case - Black £109.99
1 x Samsung 128GB SSD 830 Series SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive - (MZ-7PC128B/WW) £89.99
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02050) £83.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Samsung SpinPoint F4 EcoGreen 2TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD204UI / ST2000DL004) £79.99
1 x Cooler Master Silent Pro Modular 500W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £54.98
1 x OcUK Value 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit £29.99
1 x LG GH24NS90 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
Total : £901.39 (includes shipping : £13.75).

Edit:

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £184.99
1 x Sapphire HD 7850 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card w/ Nexuiz & Dirt Showdown PC Games £155.99
1 x NZXT Phantom Enthusiast USB3.0 Full Tower Case - Black £109.99
1 x Samsung 128GB SSD 830 Series SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive - (MZ-7PC128B/WW) £89.99
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02050) £83.99
1 x Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £79.99
1 x Samsung SpinPoint F4 EcoGreen 2TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD204UI / ST2000DL004) £79.99
1 x OCZ ZT 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Modular Power Supply £63.98
1 x OcUK Value 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit £29.99
1 x Thermalright True Spirit 120 CPU Cooler (Socket LGA775/1155/1156/AM2/AM3/FM1) £24.98
1 x LG GH24NS90 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £14.99
1 x OcUK Value 300Mbps NWP300E Wireless-N PCI Express Adapter £13.98
Total : £949.36 (includes shipping : £13.75).

odeexs · 27 Aug 2012 at 22:57

Thanks, but I was looking more for conirmation on whether all the parts I chose would work together and whether they were good enough to run mid to high range games at good settings.

RJC · 27 Aug 2012 at 23:04

All parts will work together, the 7850 is a reasonable gpu, alternative is look at the 7950.

odeexs · 27 Aug 2012 at 23:20

Thanks, that's set my mind at rest.

Idleman · 27 Aug 2012 at 23:25

odeexs said:
Thanks, but I was looking more for conirmation on whether all the parts I chose would work together and whether they were good enough to run mid to high range games at good settings.

They will, but you would be better spending a little extra for the i5 3570k and Z77 mobo.

odeexs · 28 Aug 2012 at 00:27

Ok, I've updated the processor as it's only a few pounds more but the motherboard would go over the budget a bit.
The case comes with 2 side fans (120mm), a top fan (200mm) and a rear fan (120mm), is this enough to cool everything to a safe temperature?

Idleman · 28 Aug 2012 at 01:11

odeexs said:
Ok, I've updated the processor as it's only a few pounds more but the motherboard would go over the budget a bit.
The case comes with 2 side fans (120mm), a top fan (200mm) and a rear fan (120mm), is this enough to cool everything to a safe temperature?

If you are sticking with the GB UD3 mobo, make sure it has the latest bios update for IB CPUs, other wise it will not work.

honosuseri · 28 Aug 2012 at 01:39

If you want 8GB, get matched pairs (2x4gb) then you are running in dual channel and have better performance. 1600mhz would be better than 1333mhz

Oh windows 8 is released in october. You could use the developers copy for now (free and legal) and use the £80 to improve the mobo now and the rest of the spec perhaps, a small SSD even? Once windows 8 is released officially you could choose between buying windows 7 or 8 then

Doctor McNinja · 28 Aug 2012 at 04:10

Unless you plan to SLI/Crossfire and overclock, an 730 watt PSU for that spec is overkill.

odeexs · 28 Aug 2012 at 09:52

Ok, so the z77 motherboard i was looking at was the wrong one and the one RJC suggested is on offer and only a bit more expensive, so i'll go with that one.

Would I be saving much getting a less powerful PSU? I don't mind spending a little more than it needs if it won't need changing so soon.

RJC · 28 Aug 2012 at 10:01

Your system will get away with a 500w ~ PSU, but the PSU would only pull whats needed from the mains.

You will save around £15 on total build cost, if you look at the Cooler master PSU in my log in post 3.

mato · 28 Aug 2012 at 10:09

Get 1600MHz RAM as opposed to the 1333MHz ones you linked - it's no more expensive.
This is a popular choice.

As for the PSU, get the one you suggested. You won't get a decent modular PSU much cheaper than that anyway.

Idleman · 28 Aug 2012 at 10:18

odeexs said:
Ok, so the z77 motherboard i was looking at was the wrong one and the one RJC suggested is on offer and only a bit more expensive, so i'll go with that one

Actually, the one you linked was a Z68, that was why i mentioned the bios update.

odeexs · 28 Aug 2012 at 10:32

No I meant that when you suggested upgrading the motherboard I searched for the z77 but the one I found was over-budget. The one that RJC linked was in budget so i'm going to upgrade it after all.