Looking for a gaming PC - good spec with good budget..

iv-tecman

iv-tecman

iv-tecman

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Joined
12 May 2005
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ok guys...

I've been on the fence for about a year regarding a new more powerful machine to replace my aging Alienware M17x r4 (which TBH is the first and last alienware I ever buy - long story) but its not cutting the mustard any longer so would like to run both a PS4 and good gaming system.

I've recently been made redundant, and my severance package is sizable. I've got another job already (and I'm debt free), so I'm happy enough to drop £1500 - £1800 on a new rig, ideally I'd like a screen included but its not 100% important right now , the base machine is. Keyboard and mouse also not needed.

Its a complete head mess on the OCUK webstore, self build, pre build, everything.. So much selection, but knowing what is good, what runs well with each other, wow so much choice.

What I want is something like this -

Window tower case that shows all blue lighting (looks are important I'm a bit OCD and it all has to match into a blue lighting scheme)
16GB memory
980 GPU (I want the system to last a good few years no AMD as had a lot of driver issues with the AMD GPU in my laptop)
good size SSD to boot from
2TB HD for storage - good performance
I'll use onboard sound, so I need a good capable motherboard (wifi not important)
Good cooling (water cooling kit maybe)
Good solid PSU with plenty of addtional Wattage for potential upgrades in the furture
Dont need an OS (company I worked for had loads of Windows 7 keys which I can convert to Windows 10 which was provided when we was laid off)

Games I want to run at solid 60fps at 1080p or 1440 60fps but at this res happy to cap to 30fps if need be are going to be -

Wtcher 3
Fallout 4
Battlefront 3
GTA V
Project Cars (this one I've put over 200 hours into via my laptop and its not once ran smoothly but I capped it to 30fps which sorta helped but its meant to run at 60fps so I really want to run this one at 60fps)

So, what do you all recommend? I would actually prefer maybe to have it pre built for me, but I would consider building it myself if OC don't do custom builds etc...

Ok OCUK forum members, I know a lot of you are very clued up on PC hardware, what can I get for my money?
 
OcUK do custom builds. Just have to post the spec in the Customer Service forum and ask for a quote.

You're likely to get some specs in this thread. I'll have a go too.
 
Danny75 said:
OcUK do custom builds. Just have to post the spec in the Customer Service forum and ask for a quote.

You're likely to get some specs in this thread. I'll have a go too.
Click to expand...

Ah wicked, so OCUK will build whatever I ask them, I take it they will also advise on what works well and what doesnt etc?

I'll be honest, I "can" build PCs but I'm 42, with kids, I just want to pull it out the box, install an OS and install steam and off I go... I know, lazy but there you go..
 
How about blue and white themed? Got a similar looking system upstairs with the same case and AIO - looks great in my opinion :D

I've spec'd in replacement fans for the AIO as the stock ones are a little loud.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £1,655.65
(includes shipping: £15.90)
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ExRayTed

I never thought about blue n white, which is a good idea as I have all white furniture in the office I currently use.

Didn’t expect to get a 980ti into my budget – so that would certainly run all the games I want at 60fps, I take it you’ve just used the same components you use in your system if you say you have the same setup. So means all this kit is tried and tested and works well.

Many thanks.. it’s a start and helps me out a lot…
 
Case and AIO is the same. I've got a 4790K with a Sabranco motherboard and one of the first reference 980tis. Little bit older than my suggested build
 
My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £1,794.05
(includes shipping: £14.70)
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OJY5uIT.jpg
 
Fantastic guys, its looking good I can get a 980ti, 500GB SSD and everything else within my budget - as when I sell my laptop and I get a better monitor (1440) the 980 ti will be able to run the games at fantastic res, and with a 500GB SSD I should get epic load times..

Quite excited to get this, I've been looking for a new rig for over a year but always put it off... Be nice to get back into some PC gaming and not worry about using tweak tools to cap fps to 30fps at 1080 due to lack of power..

If for whatever reason further down the line, would a 650w PSU power a second 980 ti, or will one 980 ti be more then enough in say two years time?

Might go look at benchmarks for 980ti cards, as not quite sure how powerful they really are..
 
Last edited:
I've had a little go, mixing bits here and there, changed to 32GB but is that really required?

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £1,746.66
(includes shipping: £15.90)
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iv-tecman said:
I've had a little go, mixing bits here and there, changed to 32GB but is that really required?
Click to expand...

Not if main use is gaming. The 16GB is really just to cover occasions when usage creeps slightly past 8GB (a few modern games, in combination with normal OS/programs load and browser etc are starting to result in that), and to allow more multi-tasking if desired.


iv-tecman said:
Oh, erm I just put a build up with a 750W PSU but that wouldn't be enough then so my build I posted is maybe not correct.
Click to expand...

If you ran everything at stock, then a 5820K and 2 x 980Ti + a little wattage requirement for other bits would only approach 750W (roughly) in worst case load scenarios. But you want to leave some room ideally for any OC'ing and deterioration over time. Some 980Tis can pull more than others as well. If you decide nah just the one 980Ti then 650W is more than enough.

If you're going to replace the fans on the CPU cooler, you can get the slightly cheaper fanless "Core" version, whether it's the 240 or 280mm model you go for. £5 to play with. ;)


My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £155.48
(includes shipping: £10.50)
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The CableMod cables are lovely, and expensive. Bear in mind the only cables you are going to see (given the PSU shroud hides the rest) are the following four:

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £25.12
(includes shipping: £3.48)
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24-pin, 8-pin EPS and the two VGA cables.

So the rest of the cables in view (I/O, Audio, USB, Sata data) would be the case and motherboard defaults (usually black). If that's fine, then dandy. No, I'm not calling you one.

Rest of the spec looks good to me. I'd probably find an excuse to have a second SSD, like "it will split the writes between boot drive and games drive so they'll last longer", or "easier to reinstall OS if needed without deleting games". But really it'd be just for looks. Two SSDs look nicer on top of the PSU shroud than just the one. No, I'm not really OCD. Am I? Anyway, 250GB SSDs are cheap these days.
 
ok made these changes -

reduced memory to 16GB
Removed cable kit but added the cable ext instead
Added 850W PSU
Change 500GB SSD to 2 x 250GB SSD

Came out cheaper then my first go, what do you think -

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £1,642.14
(includes shipping: £15.90)
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Danny75 said:
Matching fan for the rear, maybe.

And 4x4 RAM instead of 2x8, to take advantage of Quad Channel.
Click to expand...

See thats the bit I missed, so that is a quick simple change. And I can also get a rear fan, but other then this is this looking ok?

I really wanted the OCUK build team to assemble this, so if I send them this spec would they then quote me on building it, or do OCUK charge a stupid fee to build custom PC's?

It can't be that hard to assemble. I haven't built a gaming rig in like , well over 6 or so years..
 
iv-tecman said:
See thats the bit I missed, so that is a quick simple change. And I can also get a rear fan, but other then this is this looking ok?
Click to expand...

Yes. Get a second opinion here or from the OcUK team.


iv-tecman said:
I really wanted the OCUK build team to assemble this, so if I send them this spec would they then quote me on building it, or do OCUK charge a stupid fee to build custom PC's?

It can't be that hard to assemble. I haven't built a gaming rig in like , well over 6 or so years..
Click to expand...

I've only ever asked them to build one (for family member living elsewhere) and I was very pleasantly surprised by the quote. The quote varies from build to build, though.

If you're not happy with the quote then build it yourself. Since you've built before, it'll all come back to you I imagine. Watch a few modern build vids on youtube.
 
Danny75 said:
Yes. Get a second opinion here or from the OcUK team.




I've only ever asked them to build one (for family member living elsewhere) and I was very pleasantly surprised by the quote. The quote varies from build to build, though.

If you're not happy with the quote then build it yourself. Since you've built before, it'll all come back to you I imagine. Watch a few modern build vids on youtube.
Click to expand...

Cool, its the water cooling block and the BIOS settings I haven't the faintest idea how they all set up, last PC I built there was no such thing as UEFI etc... Thats that problem when I moved to a gaming laptop, which TBH didn't work out that well. Gaming laptops are too costly for the lack off if I'm honest total power... This new rig costs the same as my laptop did new, but its going to blow the socks off my laptop.... And blow the socks off any new Alienware I can buy today for the same price..
 
Well, today got my final severance payment figure and as I've got another job lined up looks likely I can afford a new gaming PC, in fact £1800 is going cheap going on the severance package I have just been told I'd get, I knew it would be good, but had no idea it'd be quite as much, and I'm already debt free, so after I've invested a large chunk got plenty of spending money..

So looking for a suitable screen to match up with this..

21.9 or stick with a good size 27" 1440 screen? Recommendations to go with this rig?
 
A single GTX 980 ti will run 1440p very well. If you play a lot of FPS then the Asus ROG Swift is probably the best option. There is also an IPS panel but that will set you back another £190.


My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £1,323.18
(includes shipping: £13.20)
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lee32uk said:
A single GTX 980 ti will run 1440p very well. If you play a lot of FPS then the Asus ROG Swift is probably the best option. There is also an IPS panel but that will set you back another £190.

*Snip*
Click to expand...

These monitors are both amazing! Asus really out did themselves.
 
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