New System Build - Advice Needed

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Joined
28 Feb 2011
Posts
289
Location
Essex
Hi guys,

Firstly a bit about me. Am an avid PC gamer and until recently was happy to buy 'off the shelf' machines. I've always liked the idea of building my system to run processor intensive games such as Microsoft's Flight Simulator X etc.
As a result of some searching on the web, I've landed here and would love some advise from existing members who can point me in the right direction with components and building.
I've just read the guide on this forum for new builders and feel like it's time to get going.

My only 'must have' item is the Corsair 800D case. Other than that, I'm open to guidance. I like the idea of buying an already overclocked CPU as I don't think my skills extend to overclocking myself just yet.

My first problem is processor. I have always tended to stick with Intel but recent reading sugests that AMD may be better value for money. I already have a nVidia GTX 260 card from my current machine and would like to keep the cost of this down.

Any guidance from experts would be welcomed! I'm wanting to get a shopping list together and get things ordered sooner rather than later.

Kind Regards,

Adam.

UPDATE: This is just for a base unit. Nothing else needed. Looking at £500-600 without the tower case (as I don't need a graphics card either). A little less would be good.
 
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Is there a budget?

do you need just a base unit with an operating system? monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers etc?
 
Cheers for the update, makes it simpler:)

Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - OEM £165.59
(£137.99) £165.59
(£137.99)
Asus P8P67 PRO Intel P67 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard - (Sandybridge) £143.99
(£119.99) £143.99
(£119.99)
Antec TruePower New Modular 750W Power Supply - With FREE 3D Mark 2011 Advance £86.99
(£72.49) £86.99
(£72.49)
Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (CMX8GX3M2A1600C9) £81.59
(£67.99) £81.59
(£67.99)
Titan Fenrir Evo CPU Cooler (Socket LGA775/LGA1156//LGA1366/AMD K8/AM2/AM2+/AM3) £36.76
(£30.63) £36.76
(£30.63)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £30.98
(£25.82) £30.98
(£25.82)
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Ultra Low Voltage Dual Channel Kit (OCZ3P1600C9ELV4GK) £29.99
(£24.99) £29.99
(£24.99)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.66) £13.99
(£11.66)
Sub Total : £491.56
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.00
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £100.31
Total : £601.87

As you may know FSX needs all the CPU and RAM it can get.

So 8GB and a 2500K cpu is a great combo.
The motherboard supports SLI/Crossfire, and has extra SATA3.0 ports to avoid the sandybridge SATA2.0 port issue.
The PSU is modular, with very long cables, and is actaully a Seasonic design, Seasonic do some of the best psu's.

So add this lot to a 800D, use your GTX260, then upgrade the GPU to almost anything in the future, and even add a second GPU for more.
 
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You wouldn't suggest an AMD? And also, can the CPU be purchased pre-OC'd?
Trying to get FSX running smooth has been the bain of my life ever since it came out!
 
You wouldn't suggest an AMD? And also, can the CPU be purchased pre-OC'd?
Trying to get FSX running smooth has been the bain of my life ever since it came out!

Basically a 2500K dumps on all AMD cpus, theres nothing even close.

See how a 2500K destroys AMD's Hex core 1100T cpu - http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/288?vs=203


Your basketProduct Name Qty Price Line Total
"Radon Allosaur" Intel Core i5 2500K 3.30GHz @ 4.40GHz Overclocked Bundle - Asus £449.99
(£374.99) £449.99
(£374.99)
Antec TruePower New Modular 750W Power Supply - With FREE 3D Mark 2011 Advance £86.99
(£72.49) £86.99
(£72.49)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD502HJ) £30.98
(£25.82) £30.98
(£25.82)
Samsung SH-S223C/BEBE 22x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.66) £13.99
(£11.66)
Sub Total : £484.96
Shipping cost assumes delivery to UK Mainland with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.00
VAT is being charged at 20.00% VAT : £98.99
Total : £593.95

Now includes a 2500K @4.4GHZ bundle
 
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Does the i5 bundle come pre-assembled? i.e. just drop the board into the tower and off we go (for want of a better expression)...
 
Does the i5 bundle come pre-assembled? i.e. just drop the board into the tower and off we go (for want of a better expression)...

Not to sure about that, you can ask in the customer support section.

The cpu is definitely placed in the socket for you, the ram may come in there slots, but its hard to fit ram wrong.

i would imagine the heatsink will need attaching.
 
Sounds like a plan. Thanks for your help with this. I recall seeing great things in the forum about this i5 bundle come to think of it.
 
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