Returning gamer need advice, £1k(ish) build advice.

JAW_Jontain

JAW_Jontain

JAW_Jontain

Associate
Joined
5 Aug 2018
Posts
132
Evening gents,

Has been a while since I've been on the forum, so long that I needed to recreate my account! As such I'm not very up to speed with what's what in the latest hardware race or even that familiar with the new types of tech such as m.2/ssd HD etc (SATA was relatively new when I last built a rig).

I'm wanting to spend about £1k, give or take a hundred, on a gaming rig for a mix of games. Mainly looking for stable fps on the more recent games but something that will be as future proof as can be. I have no restrictions to do with monitor setup as mine is about as basic as it gets and will need updating in the future along with the possibility of a HTC Vive.

So what would be your preference with that kind of budget? Intel or AMD? I'm guessing Nvida over ATI? I would prefer a Corsair case and PSU if possible, always had confidence in ASUS, Gigabyte and Corsair for hardware but can be dissuaded if there is a much better bang for buck option.

Sorry to rattle on, my last questions to finish on would be:-

1. Can I reuse my current windows 10 key I bought for my current machine?

2. Is watercooling necessary these days for a decent mid/high range gaming rig?

3. Am I looking to buy just before any know tech releases that could shake up prices in he next couple of months?

I think that's it for now. I know it's a long post and a £1k machine isn't at the pinnacle for most on here but I've always had really solid advice from this forum in the past.

Any help or advice you can offer is much appreciated.
 
While Intel has slight advantage in most games AMD is going to use current AM4 socket to 2020.
That gives upgrade path to improved architecture CPUs made on new manufacturing process.
So you could keep AMD platform current longer.
When ever it actually comes you can be sure Intel is going to demand buying new motherboard for actually improved architecture CPU.
(Intel's 10nm node seems to be total mess)

For PSU Seasonic Focus Plus serie has others beaten in quality/performance per price.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/seas...plus-gold-modular-power-supply-ca-05p-ss.html
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/seas...plus-gold-modular-power-supply-ca-05q-ss.html


Water cooling has never been necessary.
In fact for getting same cooling per noise than in good heat pipe cooler you need to pay many times more from water (pipe) cooler.
Compact/slim radiators simply don't have any more surface area to dissipate heat to air while having pump as additional noise source.
Sure biggest heat pipe coolers have issues with DIMM/PCI-e slot clearance.
But something like Scythe Mugen 5 avoids those issues while still beating lots of water coolers in cooling per noise.
And is very affordably priced unlike big hype brands:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/scythe-scmg-5100-mugen-5-cpu-cooler-hs-046-sy.html
 
EsaT said:
While Intel has slight advantage in most games AMD is going to use current AM4 socket to 2020.
That gives upgrade path to improved architecture CPUs made on new manufacturing process.
So you could keep AMD platform current longer.
When ever it actually comes you can be sure Intel is going to demand buying new motherboard for actually improved architecture CPU.
(Intel's 10nm node seems to be total mess)

For PSU Seasonic Focus Plus serie has others beaten in quality/performance per price.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/seas...plus-gold-modular-power-supply-ca-05p-ss.html
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/seas...plus-gold-modular-power-supply-ca-05q-ss.html


Water cooling has never been necessary.
In fact for getting same cooling per noise than in good heat pipe cooler you need to pay many times more from water (pipe) cooler.
Compact/slim radiators simply don't have any more surface area to dissipate heat to air while having pump as additional noise source.
Sure biggest heat pipe coolers have issues with DIMM/PCI-e slot clearance.
But something like Scythe Mugen 5 avoids those issues while still beating lots of water coolers in cooling per noise.
And is very affordably priced unlike big hype brands:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/scythe-scmg-5100-mugen-5-cpu-cooler-hs-046-sy.html
Click to expand...

The is for the reply, for some reason I couldn't get the PSU's linked in the spec, overclockers doesn't list them I'm the options?

Good to hear about the water cooling, fan and heat sink it is.

Many thanks for your reply.
 
@JAW_Jontain

should be £1000 if you want OCUK to build it without Windows licence key (£20 online)
Comes with free 240GB SSD and gtx 1070 will cover you for VR gaming as well as being a little overkill for 1080p 60hz gaming

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £928.03 (includes shipping: £14.10)


able to build yourself, comes with 480gb ssd

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £1,032.49 (includes shipping: £12.60)


intel version

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £992.47 (includes shipping: £12.60)
​
 
Last edited:
Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies and sorry for going quiet, life got in the way but looking to get back to planning.

The budget has crept up to 1.5k whilst I've been playing around but would really like to keep it under that. Also I'm leaning toward assembling the rig myself as it's been quiet a few years since I last built one, I'm no expert mind!

Based on that I have been looking at the Ryzen 7 bundle with the 16gb team force RAM, 1080 card, m2 drive for os.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/checkout/deleteArticle/sDelete/19653586/sTargetAction/cart

Not sure if the above link works but that is what I have been looking at, any advise on the build? Things to be aware of? Or any changes you would make?

As always your help is greatly apprichiated.
 
That link to shopping cart would work only from your PC.
When in shopping cart there's bbcode button, which gives you content to copy&paste into message.
 
EsaT said:
That link to shopping cart would work only from your PC.
When in shopping cart there's bbcode button, which gives you content to copy&paste into message.
Click to expand...

Ah many thanks for the tip, let's try this again:-

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £1,453.98 (includes shipping: £14.10)​
​
 
Here's at least equal performance fully modular PSU for £4 less:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/seas...plus-gold-modular-power-supply-ca-05r-ss.html

Though really 650W would be enough.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/seas...plus-gold-modular-power-supply-ca-05q-ss.html
There's no real sense in trying manual overclocking of Ryzen for gaming and changing CPU in couple years would give lot more usage life extension.
Also GTX 1080 has very reasonable power consumption.


Do you want PC to be quiet?
AMD's boxed cooler is lot better than those of Intel, but it's still average size and needing high fan speed for higher cooling efficiency.


For storage with that SSD in bundle you would have quite decent total space if you don't have anything else than games needing space.
 
Thanks for the reply, I think your right the 650 should be ample and will save a bit off the total.

In terms of quiet I don't mind but planned to use the standard cooler to begin with and then maybe fit an all in one cpu cooler system further down the line.

I have a 1tb mechanical drive in my current build that I would be moving over purely for media. The m2 would be os and ssd for games.
 
EsaT said:
While Intel has slight advantage in most games AMD is going to use current AM4 socket to 2020.
That gives upgrade path to improved architecture CPUs made on new manufacturing process.
So you could keep AMD platform current longer.
When ever it actually comes you can be sure Intel is going to demand buying new motherboard for actually improved architecture CPU.
(Intel's 10nm node seems to be total mess)

For PSU Seasonic Focus Plus serie has others beaten in quality/performance per price.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/seas...plus-gold-modular-power-supply-ca-05p-ss.html
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/seas...plus-gold-modular-power-supply-ca-05q-ss.html


Water cooling has never been necessary.
In fact for getting same cooling per noise than in good heat pipe cooler you need to pay many times more from water (pipe) cooler.
Compact/slim radiators simply don't have any more surface area to dissipate heat to air while having pump as additional noise source.
Sure biggest heat pipe coolers have issues with DIMM/PCI-e slot clearance.
But something like Scythe Mugen 5 avoids those issues while still beating lots of water coolers in cooling per noise.
And is very affordably priced unlike big hype brands:
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/scythe-scmg-5100-mugen-5-cpu-cooler-hs-046-sy.html
Click to expand...

^^^ Pretty much what this guy said. I'd only add that if you want to be able to take advantage of the AM4 longevity, that you get a mobo with really good VRM's, as I believe some have been caught out with boards with weaker VRM's going from Ryzen 1 to Ryzen 2 and effectively needed a new board to take advantage of the increase in clock speeds.
 
KungFuSpaghetti said:
^^^ Pretty much what this guy said. I'd only add that if you want to be able to take advantage of the AM4 longevity, that you get a mobo with really good VRM's, as I believe some have been caught out with boards with weaker VRM's going from Ryzen 1 to Ryzen 2 and effectively needed a new board to take advantage of the increase in clock speeds.
Click to expand...
Lower models of Zen2 and its tweaks certainly won't have increased consumption, but high end models likely have power draw similar to current ones.
It simply makes no sense for AMD to leave "spare room" by leaving clocks lower than they can reasonably make those.

Anyway problem is mostly in average/low end motherboards, especially in B450 boards.
Marketing BS named Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming and and Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro have pretty much the cheapest possible VRM.
And then marketroids even sabotaged VRM cooling with those harmfull plastic covers to make sure VRMs run extra hot!
(Strix X470-F again has nearly top level VRM)

Buildzoid has general video about X470 mobos and then some individual thorough analyses.
From some individual anylyses Asus X470 Prime Pro has good VRM and especially for price MSI X470 Gaming Plus is good.

Here's overlook of X370 and B350 mobos:

Those are from overclocking perspective, so anything deemed OK will certainly do with stock clocks.
 
JAW_Jontain said:
Ah many thanks for the tip, let's try this again:-

My basket at Overclockers UK:
Total: £1,453.98 (includes shipping: £14.10)
​
Click to expand...

the 1080 windforce is down to £458.99 atm so could lower your overal budget a little.. https://www.overclockers.co.uk/giga...raphics-card-gv-n1080wf3oc-8gd-gx-18t-gi.html
 
EsaT said:
Lower models of Zen2 and its tweaks certainly won't have increased consumption, but high end models likely have power draw similar to current ones.
It simply makes no sense for AMD to leave "spare room" by leaving clocks lower than they can reasonably make those.

Anyway problem is mostly in average/low end motherboards, especially in B450 boards.
Marketing BS named Asus ROG Strix B450-F Gaming and and Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro have pretty much the cheapest possible VRM.
And then marketroids even sabotaged VRM cooling with those harmfull plastic covers to make sure VRMs run extra hot!
(Strix X470-F again has nearly top level VRM)

Buildzoid has general video about X470 mobos and then some individual thorough analyses.
From some individual anylyses Asus X470 Prime Pro has good VRM and especially for price MSI X470 Gaming Plus is good.

Here's overlook of X370 and B350 mobos:

Those are from overclocking perspective, so anything deemed OK will certainly do with stock clocks.
Click to expand...

This is brilliant :)

I'm still not 100% on what direction I go, be it AMD or Intel for my new build. I'm waiting for the new Intels to drop before I decide. I was firmly Intel, however I'm now leaning more towards Ryzen.
 
KungFuSpaghetti said:
I'm still not 100% on what direction I go, be it AMD or Intel for my new build. I'm waiting for the new Intels to drop before I decide. I was firmly Intel, however I'm now leaning more towards Ryzen.
Click to expand...
Well, any performance difference to current Intels will be from clock speeds.
But they'll certainly consume lots of power under full load and with soldered heatspreader Intel is certainly going to price them as high as they can...
After loosing ability to milk buyers with same four cores and being forced to soldering heatspreader instead of using cheap toothpaste under it.

Likely 6 cores is what you get before price jumps.
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-9000-series-cpu-faq,37743.html

Though with Intel being unable to move any production to still broken 10nm node production capacity of 14nm seems to be becoming real problem:
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/14nm-processor-intel-shortage-9000-series,37746.html
If they start to struggle in deliveries of 14nm chips to their prioritized high volume customers then availability in retail markets is certainly going to decrease.
Also those huge monolithic dies to compete AMD's EPYC and Threadripper must be eating lots of wafers per sale volumes.

Myself remember well how it took many months after release to have actual real availability of Core 2 here in Finland.
 
9700/9900k will be expensive going by increase in 8700k or just like Nvidia, they are smart and rising prices to allow older products to stay on the market and make them money !
 
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