Gaming Spec Advise

Bremc · 14 Nov 2010 at 18:45

Hi,

I'm looking to put together a machine for gaming, already have monitor/keyboard/mouse. Reading through this board I've decided to go the i5 route and also want to try a SSD.

I'm not quite decided between a GTX 470 and the HD 6870. I would want to have the option of going SLI or Crossfire depending on this choice at a later date.

My build below is what I'm looking at but could do with some suggestions on cooling and a PSU or anything else that you would change. The CPU is the only thing I'm set on.

HIS ATI Radeon HD 6870 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with FREE CODMW2 PC-Game £189.99
(£161.69) £189.99
(£161.69)
Intel Core i5 760 2.80GHz (Lynnfield) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail Intel Core i5 760 2.80GHz (Lynnfield) (Socket LGA1156) - Retail £144.98
(£123.39) £144.98
(£123.39)
Gigabyte GA-P55-USB3 Intel P55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-P55-USB3 Intel P55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 Motherboard £99.99
(£85.10) £99.99
(£85.10)
OCZ Vertex 2E 60GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G) OCZ Vertex 2E 60GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G) £96.34
(£81.99) £96.34
(£81.99)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £82.24
(£69.99) £82.24
(£69.99)
Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black £62.99
(£53.61) £62.99
(£53.61)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £61.09
(£51.99) £61.09
(£51.99)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £33.98
(£28.92) £33.98
(£28.92)
Sub Total : £656.68
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £116.76
Total : £783.94

stulid · 14 Nov 2010 at 18:47

for SLI or Crossfire you need this motherboard or the slightly cheaper UD5 which is currently out of stock - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-226-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1495

or these - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-124-MS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1495 or the bigger GD80 which also includes SLI support - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-121-MS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1495 but are lacking SATA and USB3.0

rest of the spec is spot on.

PSU choices are,

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-116-AN&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1088

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-001-XF&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1497

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-018-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1084

Jony27 · 14 Nov 2010 at 18:54

cooling= akasa venom or titan fenrir evo or thermaltake frio

Aretenon · 14 Nov 2010 at 19:36

A fourth option: XFX Pro 750W Core Edition 80Plus Bronze £83. Altho personally I would have the XFX 750W Black Edition as it has higher efficiency and is modular and cheaper than all of the others.

Bremc · 14 Nov 2010 at 20:13

Thanks for the suggestions. As for the motherboard I didn't mean I would want both SLI and Crossfire just the one depending on the gfx card I pick now. If I go for Crossfire only which motherboard would you recommend?

stulid · 14 Nov 2010 at 20:17

it depends if you want SATA and USB3.0? the Gigabyte boards linked too have it, the MSI don't for less money.

Jony27 · 14 Nov 2010 at 20:40

am i being noob for asking why not go for the ud5 which is £5 cheaper or the ud6 for £5 more.
is there much difference between the 3, as i thought the ud6 would be the newest.

Cookeh · 14 Nov 2010 at 20:49

Jony27 said:
cooling= akasa venom or titan fenrir evo or thermaltake frio

I seem to remember me saying that and listing them as the best three air coolers around in another Sub-Forum

You are ofc correct.

One issue with the Frio is that it is unbelievably loud! Hits 43dBa!
One issue with the Fenrir - aside from the fact that imo its FUGLY, is that for really large over clocks with high wattage pumping through them it doesn't seem to be able to cut it as well as others :eek: