Gaming PC - £800 - BF3

Based on excellent feedback below is what I think I will settle on, I do want a level of future-proofing.
Hence feedback would be appreciated, note my comment below the list.

EVGA GeForce GTX 670 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card (02G-P4-2670-KR) £299.99
Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40GHz (Ivybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor (77W) - Retail £179.99
Gigabyte Z77-DS3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £74.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB SATA 6Gb/s 32MB Cache - OEM (ST31000524AS) £65.99
OCZ ZS Series 550W '80 Plus Bronze' Power Supply £49.99
Zalman Z9 Plus Tower Case with Fan Controller - Black £44.99
Corsair Vengeance Blue Low Profile 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit £44.99 (CML8GX3M2A1600C9B)
Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/ £25.99
LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366)
Sony Optiarc AD-7280S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £19.99

Shipping £25.00

TOTAL £821.91

Questions / points:
I picked this GFX as good price at moment, and branded with 3 year warranty - good choice?. I play a lot of BF3 and as such understand Nvidea cards (today) favour this.

Is the motherboard fairly future-proof?, or is it over the top for the choices I have made. My momo knowledge is really week!.

Should I go with a branded and more powerful PSU?, with future in mind.

I plan to look at an SSD later, but need saving today.

The biggest thing I want to get right is cooling, the PC will be on the floor of a cabinet.
There is some circulation around it - the cabinet has no back but is fairly close to a wall. So you will understand I want to be clear on cooling.
Most of my use will be gaming, specifically demanding ones which might get GPU / CPU hot, hence I must get the build right.

Thanks again - as ever all advice appreciated - sorry to drag this out.
 
Looks like a decent system, my setup is pretty much the same but im using a GTX 460 and that plays BF3 just fine so you should have no problems with your setup.

A SSD makes quite a bit of difference in load times on BF3 so definitely some thing you should be looking at in the future but yep looks good.
 
Not sure if youve mentioned it before but what case have you got ?, that can make a huge difference in temps, the CPU cooler you have chosen if fine but you need to be getting good airflow through the case.
 
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Attu90 said:
Not sure if youve mentioned it before but what case have you got ?, that can make a huge difference in temps, the CPU cooler you have chosen if fine but you need to be getting good airflow through the case.
Click to expand...

This is listed: Zalman Z9 Plus Tower Case with Fan Controller - Black £44.99

A few people have suggested it, but need to be clear all components fit and it is not too cost.

Tks
 
I wouldn't go with that case, you going to be putting it inside a cabinet. Your going to need a case with good front fans, That case you can fit one in the front but it dont come with it included.
Does this PC have to go inside a cabinet? Apart from that the rest is very good, I wouldn't pick a OCZ PSU Tho but thats because I rate Corsair very high.
 
shankly1985 said:
I wouldn't go with that case, you going to be putting it inside a cabinet. Your going to need a case with good front fans, That case you can fit one in the front but it dont come with it included.
Does this PC have to go inside a cabinet? Apart from that the rest is very good, I wouldn't pick a OCZ PSU Tho but thats because I rate Corsair very high.
Click to expand...

It does have to go into a case, as space is limited - no floor room. So need ideas for better case.....?
 
olivier renault said:
I wouldn't take either the DS3H and G43. At least the D3H.
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Thanks Olivier - I rate your advise, as was previous help appreciated.
For a similar price or maybe £10 to £20 would you suggest a link to a more suitable card? any reason why the D3H over the DS3H or G43 ???

Also need best case and cooling option for cosy fit in cabinet.
 
G43 has had poor reviews and 4+1 VRMs. The DS3H has limited overclocking (VRMs, and no VCORE voltage control in bios apparently). D3H looks adequate for some overclocking, and has had good reviews. So that would be the board I'd go for in the low range. Even if you go with mild overclocking, imo it's worth forking out £10 for a better board.

The Z77X-D3H is a popular board as well. The MSI GD55 would be decent, but then I'd rather have a Z77X-UD3H. The GD65 looks good and is on offer with some RAM, would be a toss between that one and the Z77X-D3H. and I have no complains about my AsRock Z68 Extreme 4.

MSI and Gigabyte have UK RMA, so I'd pick either.

I'm going from what I see on the net btw, having no direct experience (apart from the AsRock, which is similar to mine).
 
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As well as suggestion on alternaitve case (I selected Zalman Z9 Plus Tower Case with Fan Controller - Black £44.99). But have explained not perfect airflow area.
Any pointers towards better option.

Also will cooler be Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366) £25.99 be ok?.


Finally - also need final idea for Mobo. This is my weekest area spec wise. REALLY NEED HELP.
Can see Olivier has suggested I avoid:
Gigabyte Z77-DS3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £74.99 - and go at least for a D3H board. Willing to go up to go over £100 for this is need be, not sure I will do overclocking / SLI or Crossfire today - but might like option in future.
What about boards :
Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - £82.99 OR
Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - £112.99...

Once case, cooling and Mobo are sorted I think I can push the button.

thanks again.
 
philmo said:
As well as suggestion on alternaitve case (I selected Zalman Z9 Plus Tower Case with Fan Controller - Black £44.99). But have explained not perfect airflow area.
Any pointers towards better option.

Also will cooler be Gelid Tranquillo CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM2+/AM3/LGA775/LGA1155/LGA1156/LGA1366) £25.99 be ok?.


Finally - also need final idea for Mobo. This is my weekest area spec wise. REALLY NEED HELP.
Can see Olivier has suggested I avoid:
Gigabyte Z77-DS3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard £74.99 - and go at least for a D3H board. Willing to go up to go over £100 for this is need be, not sure I will do overclocking / SLI or Crossfire today - but might like option in future.
What about boards :
Gigabyte Z77-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - £82.99 OR
Gigabyte Z77X-D3H Intel Z77 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - £112.99...

Once case, cooling and Mobo are sorted I think I can push the button.

thanks again.
Click to expand...

Bump - anyone please?. Tks
 
Either really. £30 for more SATA3, USB3s and SLI / Crossfire, more VRMs (imo a moot point since D3H is powerful enough), cleaner looks. Lots of things you don't need, but I can't really argue since I like mid-range motherboards.

BTW the Z77X-D3H is overpriced at the moment. Victim of its popularity. The Z77-D3H is a no frills version of the Z77X-D3H.
 
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