New gaming build - help please

morphz

morphz

morphz

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Joined
17 Dec 2009
Posts
23
Hey guys

I am looking to build a new gaming computer for about £1000 to last me at least 2 years and am willing to go higher if needed or if there are some decent upgrades to be had or even lower if you think its too much for what I will need! :eek:

Here goes:
My current 22" monitor, which I wont be changing can only go to 1680x1050 so I will be looking to play current gen games on high settings at that resolution.

I have a creative xtremegamer sound card which I will reuse and a 1TB slow/green hard drive for media, so will probably need another but faster 500gb - 1TB hard drive and will be definately looking to get a SSD for OS + game/s however may need some guidance on how that works exactly.

I haven't overclocked before and would be looking to get a pre-built system rather than OC myself, however a OC'd bundle and the other parts seperate is possible too as I can build it myself.

Will get windows7 if total cost allows too and don't need mouse, keyboard etc.

Thanks for taking the time to read and I hope you can help me! :)
 
Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 460 OC 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £173.89
(£147.99) £173.89
(£147.99)
OCZ Vertex 2E 60GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G) £114.99
(£97.86) £114.99
(£97.86)
AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition "125W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £111.61
(£94.99) £111.61
(£94.99)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium - Retail (Full Version)(GFC-00025) £105.74
(£89.99) £105.74
(£89.99)
Asus M4A87TD/USB3 AMD 870 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £86.99
(£74.03) £86.99
(£74.03)
Corsair Dominator 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMD4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black £62.99
(£53.61) £62.99
(£53.61)
Be Quiet! Straight Power E7 600W Power Supply £58.99
(£50.20) £58.99
(£50.20)
Sub Total : £673.66
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £119.73
Total : £803.89

nice case to last years.

SSD for win7 and games.
 
So you also think the OP shouldn't be scared to build and OC himself? I agree :).

I'm turning off AA and/or turning down detail from max in some titles already with my i5 and 5850, albeit at 1920x1200. That situation isn't going to improve over the next two years! Therefore I think a 460 is borderline adequate for the OP's requirements. So also consider 5850 or 470, either of which is worth its respective price increase for the performance gain imho.

edit: Oh no cooler at all - well that's one way of dealing with the OPs fear of overclocking :). Personally I think you're missing out on an (almost) free lunch if you dont.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the replies and spec stulid, is there better graphics card you would recommend as your spec is below my budget so I could go for better?

I can build it myself but just not so sure on the OCing, might give it a go this time around so would it be the same spec + a cooler?

Thanks again!
 
morphz said:
Thanks for the replies and spec stulid, is there better graphics card you would recommend as your spec is below my budget so I could go for better?

I can build it myself but just not so sure on the OCing, might give it a go this time around so would it be the same spec + a cooler?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

I still stand by that spec, only gpu worth considering other than that is a GTX470 - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-135-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1810
 
morphz said:
  • I am looking to build a new gaming computer for about £1000 to last me at least 2 years
  • 1680x1050 so I will be looking to play current gen games on high settings at that resolution.
  • definately looking to get a SSD for OS + game/s however may need some guidance on how that works exactly
  • I haven't overclocked before and would be looking to get a pre-built system rather than OC myself
  • Will get windows7 if total cost allows too
Click to expand...
 
for morphz

this is the same spec but now with revised pricing

Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
Asus GeForce GTX 460 1024MB DirectCU GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card £172.71
(£146.99) £172.71
(£146.99)
AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition "125W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £117.49
(£99.99) £117.49
(£99.99)
OCZ Vertex 2E 60GB 2.5" SATA-II Solid State Hard Drive (OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G) £111.61
(£94.99) £111.61
(£94.99)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £81.06
(£68.99) £81.06
(£68.99)
MSI 870A-G54 AMD 870 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £77.98
(£66.37) £77.98
(£66.37)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
Be Quiet! Straight Power E7 600W Power Supply £58.99
(£50.20) £58.99
(£50.20)
Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black £58.99
(£50.20) £58.99
(£50.20)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Sub Total : £654.63
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £116.40
Total : £781.53

slight change of motherboard and OEM win7.

its a simple build to put together, and the black edition cpu has a unlocked multiplier making overclocking simple.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Big.Wayne, looks pretty similar to what we have but pre-built and OC'd, although I might give OCing a go though and save myself some dollar!

Hows this? I have upgraded gpu and added a hard drive. Would you suggest a CPU cooler and case fans if I was to have a go at overclocking?

Thanks for all the help!


Product Name Qty Price Line Total
OcUK Value GeForce GTX 470 1280MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with MAFIA 2 OcUK Value GeForce GTX 470 1280MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with MAFIA 2 £223.24
(£189.99) £223.24
(£189.99)
AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition "125W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition "125W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £117.49
(£99.99) £117.49
(£99.99)
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) £111.61
(£94.99) £111.61
(£94.99)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £81.06
(£68.99) £81.06
(£68.99)
MSI 870A-G54 AMD 870 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard MSI 870A-G54 AMD 870 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £77.98
(£66.37) £77.98
(£66.37)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
Be Quiet! Straight Power E7 600W Power Supply Be Quiet! Straight Power E7 600W Power Supply £58.99
(£50.20) £58.99
(£50.20)
Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black £58.99
(£50.20) £58.99
(£50.20)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Sub Total : £725.71
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £128.84
Total : £865.05
 
morphz said:
Thanks Big.Wayne, looks pretty similar to what we have but pre-built and OC'd, although I might give OCing a go though and save myself some dollar!

Hows this? I have upgraded gpu and added a hard drive. Would you suggest a CPU cooler and case fans if I was to have a go at overclocking?

Thanks for all the help!


Product Name Qty Price Line Total
OcUK Value GeForce GTX 470 1280MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with MAFIA 2 OcUK Value GeForce GTX 470 1280MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with MAFIA 2 £223.24
(£189.99) £223.24
(£189.99)
AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition "125W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition "125W Edition" 3.20GHz (Socket AM3) - Retail £117.49
(£99.99) £117.49
(£99.99)
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) £111.61
(£94.99) £111.61
(£94.99)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-00599) £81.06
(£68.99) £81.06
(£68.99)
MSI 870A-G54 AMD 870 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard MSI 870A-G54 AMD 870 (Socket AM3) DDR3 Motherboard £77.98
(£66.37) £77.98
(£66.37)
Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX4GX3M2A1600C9) £76.36
(£64.99) £76.36
(£64.99)
Be Quiet! Straight Power E7 600W Power Supply Be Quiet! Straight Power E7 600W Power Supply £58.99
(£50.20) £58.99
(£50.20)
Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black £58.99
(£50.20) £58.99
(£50.20)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £32.99
(£28.08) £32.99
(£28.08)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £13.99
(£11.91)
Sub Total : £725.71
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £128.84
Total : £865.05
Click to expand...


get that, its perfect.

as for coolers, this is a good one- http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-010-TI i fitted the normal one in the summer, easy to install and some good temp drops.
 
Last edited:
morphz said:
Would you suggest a CPU cooler and case fans if I was to have a go at overclocking?
Click to expand...
Yup if you want to keep everything nice and stable a 3rd party heatsink would be nice! . . . you don't have to go crazy ££! :D

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus

£19.99 inc

As your adding another hard-drive why not plump for a 1TB model? . . . also the Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator case is quite pricey? . . . if you like the looks fair enough . . . and lastly do you think a modular PSU would be nicer?
 
Last edited:
Big.Wayne said:
Yup if you want to keep everything nice and stable a 3rd party heatsink would be nice! . . . you don't have to go crazy ££! :D

Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus

£19.99 inc

As your adding another hard-drive why not plump for a 1TB model? . . . also the Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator case is quite pricey? . . . if you like the looks fair enough . . . and lastly do you think a modular PSU would be nicer?
Click to expand...

Added the heatsink. I probably won't fill another 1tb but will keep it in mind as its not much more £.

Just took the suggestion of the case from stulid so open to other options and I don't know what difference a modular PSU is so maybe! ;)
 
that case is fantastic value for money, you want a case thats big enough and last years, not worry if your future gpu upgrade will fit or not, some of the top end cards are rather long.
 
A modular PSU has detatchable cables so you can plug in only what you need, as opposed to the spaghetti nightmare sprouting out of a normal PSU that you have to coil up and hide most of. More expensive but good if you're into super tidy cable management. I might get one one day and tidy up my mess.
 
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