New PC required to last

MDian

MDian

MDian

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Joined
20 Aug 2013
Posts
112
Hi all, been a while. So I need a new gaming PC but haven't built for a few years, so a little rusty on specific hardware to choose that compliments it.

Budget it around £1,000 which doesn't sound a lot, but I already have the GPU (Evga 1080 - I'll upgrade this down the line when it no longer can handle max settings), plus peripherals, monitors (Asus Pred 2k), and 500GB Samsung 850 ssd.

I'm sold on the Intel 7700K with the Corsair 100i v2, with a possibility of a small overclock though that really isn't my thing.

I'm considering Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB ram at 3200mhz simply because of value versus slower ram. I'm told not to consider 32GB, it just isn't worth it yet.

What I'm mostly unsure on is motherboard (I'd like to stick with Asus where possible for this) and have been told to 'future proof', get m.2 and u.2 built-in, though for now, I'll use my current SSD. Thinking Asus Z270F or Z270E (though I don't really need the wifi which seems to be the difference).

Also need a PSU, again, told up to around 700-800w is fine and again, would like to stick with Corsair as I've always used them. Fully modular, but can never under the difference between MX, CX, RM etc etc.

Finally, a suitable case with cooling fans. I'm attracted to NZXT cases, as well as Corsair though not for any logical reason. I'm not overly fussed by RBG, just want to ensure it can breath with the 2 cpu fans and 3 additional fans (excluding psu fan).

Opinions appreciated, especially on the motherboard to match the cpu and ram, plus psu and case.
 
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Thanks so far. This is my basket so far (though I appreciate bundles and dare I say it alternative suppliers might be cheaper)

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £957.05
(includes shipping: £11.10)



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Bear in mind I already have the 1080 GPU and monitors. Quite happy with CPU and MOBO choice, though mainly because of being brand specific. Trying to determine the best case to suit the H115i rad at the top, with fans to suit.
 
Danny75 said:
How come 7700K?
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Rightly or wrongly, isn't it generally considered the best bang for your buck in a gaming rig at present? I know the 8th generation CPU's from Intel possibly offer more long term gains, but cost much more too and need more overclocking to get them up to a similar speed as the 7700k (assuming slower because of the additional 2 cores).
 
Thanks for the replies. Is that cooler (air) capable of running the 8700k, with or without overclocking? I though water cooled was the only way to go now! Ok, this was the planned purchase, but given the information above, I'll do some more research on mobo's, so just posting this here for my own reference:

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £1,056.05
(includes shipping: £11.10)



​
 
I'm being steered towards 8700k with a Z270 @CyberScy so all good there, I hadn't realised that the newer chips were soon to be released and have more cores.

I'm sold on the Noctua as I personally prefer air cooled anyway, plus I'd like to keep the PC as quiet as possible, but I must say, who thought brown was a good idea! I'd perhaps need to find a rival air cooled unit, maybe BeQuiet Dark Rock Pro 3???

Will consider the Seasonic PSU too, though I should add that whilst I may run a stock or overclocked 8700K initially, plus the 1080 GPU, I may add a further 1080 at some point, or even swap it out for a 1080TI or TitanX, and don't fancy swapping out the power supply, even though modular!
 
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I've pretty much decided upon the 8700k now, with the Kraken X62 cpu cooler (preferred to air cooled), 16gb of 3600mhz Corsair vengeance ram (my preference), RM750x PSU (for if I add a second 1080 GPU in future). Possibly with the NZXT S340 Elite case (fine with Kraken in the front). I just can't decide on which Z370 mobo as there is so little opinion out on them, plus I'm not really one for all the RGB which most seem to come littered with these days. I do want highish end though with in-built graphics for my transition over from another PC, plus high quality audio.
 
I'd rather a better board than a promotional one to be honest, the vouchers mean little to me. That isn't to say the Gigabyte boards are any worse than others, I don't know, but it isn't a deciding factor for me.
 
southernorth said:
What would your budget be for a motherboard?
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Nothing set, but £200 ish, or anything in the top range up to £250, just not that 'godlike' board! I've had a quick look and need 5 USB's on the back which from what I can tell, some of the mid range Asus ROG don't have!!!
 
southernorth said:
To narrow the wide selection down, do you need 10/5gbit ethernet, built in AC wifi, loads of SATA ports etc?
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To be honest, don't need a lot, only need 1gbit ethernet, don't need wifi (though of course nice to have a back up but useless for gaming), will only be running 1 or 2 SATA's for my SSD's as I operate a NAS. I need plenty of rear USB's (5 at the moment, all basic standard) and would envisage using maybe 4 internal fans aside from the cpu cooling. Ideally don't need much in the way of RGB as the PC will sit under a desk pretty much out of sight. It will need to be suitable for overclocking though as I tweak the 8700k up a little, and needs to run 3600mhz ram, though suspect most do anyway. Ultimately though £50 difference in them is nothing in the big scheme of things, just about getting one that suits.
 
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Ok so this is likely to be my build. 8700k because why not, Asus ROG Hero because it offers everything and more and have used them in the past (and I can't be bothered trying to compare them all anymore LUL). Corsair H115i instead of the Kraken because reading reviews, there are a significant number of reports of failed pumps on the Kraken which is disappointing and concerning. Ram 3600mhz as I'm told that works nicely with the 8700k, 750watt PSU because I may add a second 1080 at some point, and finally case, S340 for now, but might review this some more.

Next is the debate over fan orientation. I had planned to put the H115i on the front, with the fans against the case, pushing air into the rad, but I'm told that is a nightmare for dust, but is best for cooling. Some thoughts welcome; the case won't allow top mounting and I'd ideally like to use the top and rear for exhausting GPU heat.

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £1,233.54
(includes shipping: £12.60)



​
 
mistersprinkles said:
8XXX don't work on Z270. Electrically, they could, but Intel is evil necessitating a Z370 board.
There are a lot of people on this forum who don't know their arse from their elbow and they give bad advice. It's quite infuriating.
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Just a typo, all my specs since have cleared this up, you just didn't read them ;)

southernorth said:
I already explained the pros and cons on air v liquid cooling on a previous page, then he said that he prefers air cooling anyway. But now he's getting an AIO, I am confused.
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Indeed, I said contradicting things on the previous page as my decision has been changing. I've always used air cooled CPU coolers and like them, but for this build, I quite fancied the change, plus with the possibility that the PC will be dragged around with me a few times, I felt the weight of a air cooler would put unnecessary strain on the mobo. Water cooling fills me with dread, but as long as I'm careful, I'm hoping it will be fine, and not too loud!!!
 
Pretty much yes, I'm just waiting for stock of the 8700k before I commit to the motherboard also. The rest is as good as in place waiting now. I've replaced case fans with be quiet! fans as I'm familiar with the brand and really like how efficient they are; I might do similar with the H115i fans too, but will wait and see how audible they are first. I could get something of similar mm/h20 pressure at half the dbA, but wonder whether increasing the mm/h20 for a similar dbA might offer better cooling, not sure yet.
 
hehe, I have a silent wings 3 140mm going in the top, and a 120mm going in the back. Granted they are more pressure flow than air flow, but their figures suggest they are equally as good at both. Have PWM of course so hopefully the motherboard will be able to manage through Corsair Link.
 
orbitalwalsh said:
they do push a lot of air , specially the high speed ones- think i can take them at 70% before i can hear it when gaming- and i game with no sound or head phones on :D

which board you going for , Gigabyte I just wack them in Asus I tend to use 3rd part controller
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Probably the Asus Maximus X Hero as I'm familiar with the Hero boards and never let me down, but I've zero experience with controlling fans, they've always been powered by the board using 2 or 3 pin, so just maximum at all times.

Am tempted by some high speed's for my H115i cpu cooler, though I'd have to throttle them back otherwise they'll push too much air through (if that is even possible!).
 
GinG said:
Just to add I went from Aircooling > Custom Water > AIO cooler > Air Cooling

Even though I am currently using the standard Spire cooler which comes with the Ryzen 1600 it is still quieter and simpler than the H100 AIO I was using.

Also if you plan on carting the machine about abit there will be increased chance of leakage although still pretty low risk.
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Good points and I may have returned the AIO and gone for air cooling if it wasn't for already setting up the majority of the case, which won't fit one (a few mm too short). I'll see how it goes with the H115i; just got to wait for the damn 8700k to be released (again), dates elsewhere are suggesting another week or two delay.
 
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