Out of loop - gaming build advice appreciated...

[jarvis82]

Hi guys,

Current system is in my sig, and has developed some significant issues - whether its the graphics card or the mobo, or even the memory, I am not sure....either way, I have decided its time to start from scratch and build a new gaming rig.

I have been out of the loop for way too long, so not up to speed on anything really. Was thinking i7 930, currently at £211 quid this week only. However, given that the graphics card will arguably be +200 quid, the i7 may be restrictive on my budget - looking to spend 700 - 800. Budget could move a little (in either direction!).

I would like to stick to nvidia, its just my personal preference (GTX465 perhaps - I literally have no idea as am so out of the loop on hardware?!) About the only thing I know I'd like is the case, a Coolermaster CM-690 II lite/dom/black, at 62.99. That said I love my Antec 300, so could prob just have another of these - current one is a bit tired.

What I DON'T need - OS, PSU (assuming the be quiet 650 will do for a non-SLI setup?), monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and in theory DVD drives (although my two are IDE - is this a bit archaeic?).

I would like to incorporate a SSD, just for the OS, and prob buy a new 1TB standard drive to replace the two standard's I currently have.

So, CPU, mobo, GPU, SSD, memory?

Any help is most appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[jarvis82]

Thanks for the input gents.

Oh the agony of choice. Would the drop to an i5 but a better graphics card (e.g. 470) be best given that this is going to be a gaming rig?

I am not sure that I really need 6GB RAM, but is this proof of how out of the loop with hardware I am?

For the motherboard, I don't overclock (although maybe I should!), if this makes any difference.

The SSD only needs to be big enough for Windows 7, I assume 40GB would be enough?

Definitely going to get new drives, but at less than 20 quid that isn't an issue. If I slip over 800 quid I can live with it, its just the agony of choice! Plainly I am going to anyway, as the case isn't in any of the above price examples. So if I get to 900 quid but have a nice rig I won't be that bothered!

Problem is I am off to Jersey for a week, so won't be ordering until Friday for delivery Saturday - I bet the i7 deal of 211 quid is gone by then.

EDIT - I've three weeks off before I start a new job, so should be watching my money, but sod it - if I have to go to 950 quid so be it! :-0

 

[jarvis82]

Think this is what I will be going with. £150 over original budget, but am happy with that. Any glaringly obvious mistakes or oversights that anyone can see?

Intel Core i7 930 2.80GHz (Bloomfield) (Socket LGA1366) - Retail £211.49
(£179.99) £211.49
(£179.99)
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 460 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with Prince of Persia PC-Game ZOTAC GeForce GTX 460 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card with Prince of Persia PC-Game £189.99
(£161.69) £189.99
(£161.69)
Asus P6X58D-E Intel X58 (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard Asus P6X58D-E Intel X58 (Socket 1366) DDR3 Motherboard £149.99
(£127.65) £149.99
(£127.65)
G.Skill Ripjaw 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Triple Channel Kit G.Skill Ripjaw 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Triple Channel Kit £129.24
(£109.99) £129.24
(£109.99)
Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive (CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1) Crucial RealSSD C300 64GB 2.5" SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Hard Drive (CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1) £117.49
(£99.99) £117.49
(£99.99)
Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black Coolermaster CM-690 II Lite Dominator Case - Black £62.99
(£53.61) £62.99
(£53.61)
Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103SJ) Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB SATA-II 32MB Cache - OEM (HD103SJ) £45.99
(£39.14) £45.99
(£39.14)
Sony Optiarc AD-7260S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM Sony Optiarc AD-7260S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter (Black) - OEM £13.99
(£11.91) £27.98
(£23.82)
Sub Total : £795.88
Shipping cost based on delivery to Work Address, GU24 8HX with:
DPD Next Day Parcel
(This can be changed during checkout) Shipping : £10.50
VAT is being charged at 17.50% VAT : £141.12
Total : £947.50

The case is winding me up a bit - so many versions of the CM690 to choose from! Maybe I should just go with another Antec 300. Also, only chose the Zotac version of the 460 as read a review in this months PC Format raving about it, but think it was more a rave about 1 gig versions of the 460 in general - so what is generally regarded as most reliable manufacterer at the moment? Had an XFX 260 go t*ts up on me last year, and currently running a Gainward 260 with no complaints. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[jarvis82]

Doesn't muddle it up at all, it brings it to a satisfactoy conclusion - I'll definitely go with the Lancool, thanks for highlighting it!

A question - the mobo has support for USB 3.0, but can the case's front USB ports utilise this?

 

[jarvis82]

Yet another question, regarding SATA connections - I would guess my current SATA cables are standard ones. Given that the Asus P6X58D has support for two SATA 6gb connections, and the Crucial SSD has 6gb transfer rate, do I need SATA 3 cables?

The Samsung F3 is SATA 2, so assume SATA 3 cables would be backwards compatible, but could someone clarify about the SSD and which cable it requires!

Thanks yet again.

 

[jarvis82]

Just a word of thanks for everyone's advice last week - Overclocker's Saturday delivery meant that by late yesterday evening I had built an awesome i7 rig that posted first time. Just need to change my sig now...

Thanks again!

Couple of pics:-

 

[jarvis82]

What did you do with all your old kit? If you still got it, try swapping things round in your new pc, see what works and what don't. What works, sell...get some money back.

Already did! Before I dismantled the old system to get the PSU out, I put the new GTX460 in and just powered it up. The problems the old system was having were gone, so the old GTX260 was plainly to blame. Fortunately it still has 177 days on its 1 year warranty, so already got an RMA sorted and will be sending it back this week.

 

[jarvis82]

Thanks for the comments.

Hoping it does last me a while!

Good to have it just in time for the release of Mafia II next week too...