Software development & gaming machine with ancillaries (monitor, keyboard) ~800-1000

[RF89]

Hi,

I am interested in building a new PC primarily for software development/data analysis, but also for some casual gaming from time to time. I would also use it to watch films/sport so a decent monitor is a required (~few hundred quid range).

A few things I generally would prefer: intel processor (something like the i5 4690k), nvidia geforce graphics card, some SSD (120 or 250gb), 8+gb ram, windows 7 rather than 8 (I believe all buyers are entitled to an upgrade to windows 10 - can you confirm this please?)

I may be over-specing for what it will primarily be used but I would prefer to spend a bit more (within reason) to have a multi-functioning system capable of running games and codes relatively quickly. Of course please advise on what you guys think would be the best compromise.

I saw this pre-built package (Asus ROG GR8 Console PC - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-098-AS) & that seemed to be fairly close to what I would be after subject to a few tweaks. I would prefer to build myself so I can spend a bit more on components.

Many thanks for your time; I look forward to your response!

RF

 

[stulid]

Are you sure you want Nvidia as there are a few great AMD options.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Dell UltraSharp U2515H 25" QHD IPS Professional Widescreen LED Monitor - Midnight Grey £249.95
1 x Intel Core i5-4690K 3.50GHz (Devil's Canyon) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £187.99
1 x **B Grade** Asus Radeon R9 280X DirectCUII OC 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express G (GX-333-AS) £129.95
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02733) £84.95
1 x Gigabyte Z97P-D3 Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £62.99
1 x SuperFlower Golden Green HX 550W "80 Plus Gold" Power Supply - Black £52.99
1 x TeamGroup Vulcan RED 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-19200C11 2400MHz Dual Channel Kit (TLRED38G2400HC11CDC01) £44.99
1 x SK Hynix 128GB SSD SH910A SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive (HFS128G32MNB-2201A) £44.99
1 x Antec VSP5000 Silenced Tower Case - Black £39.95
1 x CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle - USB Keyboard & Mouse £34.99
1 x Raijintek Themis Black Heatpipe CPU Cooler PWM - 120mm £19.99
Total : £977.84 (includes shipping : £20.10).





YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-4690K 3.50GHz (Devil's Canyon) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £187.99
1 x KFA2 GeForce GTX 960 EX OC "Black Edition" 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card - Retail (96NPH8DVD9XX) £161.99
1 x AOC E2460SH 24" Widescreen 1ms Gaming LED Monitor - Black £113.99
1 x Kingston HyperX Savage Red 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-19200C11 2400MHz Dual Channel Kit (HX324C11SRK2/16) £95.99
1 x SK Hynix 256GB SSD SH910A SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive (HFS256G32MNB-2201A) £84.98
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02733) £84.95
1 x Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (ST2000DM001) HDD £66.98
1 x Gigabyte Z97P-D3 Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £62.99
1 x SuperFlower Golden Green HX 550W "80 Plus Gold" Power Supply - Black £52.99
1 x Antec VSP5000 Silenced Tower Case - Black £39.95
1 x CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle - USB Keyboard & Mouse £34.99
1 x Raijintek Themis Black Heatpipe CPU Cooler PWM - 120mm £19.99
Total : £1,031.90 (includes shipping : £20.10).



i5+16Gb RAM.

Or a 8GB RAM kit - www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-061-TG



YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-4690K 3.50GHz (Devil's Canyon) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £187.99
1 x Dell Studio S2440L 24" Widescreen LED Monitor - Black £167.99
1 x KFA2 GeForce GTX 960 EX OC "Black Edition" 2048MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card - Retail (96NPH8DVD9XX) £161.99
1 x SK Hynix 256GB SSD SH910A SATA 6Gb/s Solid State Drive (HFS256G32MNB-2201A) £84.98
1 x Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-Bit - OEM (GFC-02733) £84.95
1 x Gigabyte Z97P-D3 Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £62.99
1 x Toshiba 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6GB/s 64MB Cache - OEM (DT01ACA200) HDD £57.98
1 x SuperFlower Golden Green HX 550W "80 Plus Gold" Power Supply - Black £52.99
1 x TeamGroup Vulcan RED 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-19200C11 2400MHz Dual Channel Kit (TLRED38G2400HC11CDC01) £44.99
1 x Antec VSP5000 Silenced Tower Case - Black £39.95
1 x CM Storm Devastator Gaming Bundle - USB Keyboard & Mouse £34.99
1 x Raijintek Themis Black Heatpipe CPU Cooler PWM - 120mm £19.99
Total : £1,019.48 (includes shipping : £14.75).



VA panel monitor.

 

[RF89]

Thank you very much for your response stulid, a very comprehensive list!

I maybe naively presumed that the nvidia's were generally the best option (they seem to pop up on most gaming builds e.g. the 750Ti or the 960 series). How do the AMD ones compare - the GTX 960 looks pretty good if I'm honest - it would certainly suffice.

Out of the options I like the second one the most, just one comment, is the monitor a good standard or would it be worth spending a tad more to get something a bit better?

Many thanks again,
RF

 

[stulid]

The monitor is just a TN panel so the common standard, not sure exactly about that monitors quality but if you've not experienced an IPS or PLS type screen then you wouldn't know what your missing.

I have an AOC TN panel 144Hz monitor which I use for gaming and its along side an ASUS 27" 1440P PLS panel, the PLS dumps on it in terms of colours, contrast etc but it does cost twice the price of the 144Hz.

Its 24", 1ms response and i'm sure will do you fine

 

[David Bisset]

Thank you very much for your response stulid, a very comprehensive list!

I maybe naively presumed that the nvidia's were generally the best option (they seem to pop up on most gaming builds e.g. the 750Ti or the 960 series). How do the AMD ones compare - the GTX 960 looks pretty good if I'm honest - it would certainly suffice.

Out of the options I like the second one the most, just one comment, is the monitor a good standard or would it be worth spending a tad more to get something a bit better?

Many thanks again,
RF

Marketing wins again

When looking at new cards at the moment in my opinion the AMD ones are better for the money up to about £220 (prices change though, this isn't a general rule - and not all prices have a corresponding card that's worth getting), above that nVidia have the advantage for single GPU setups. There are some special cases where one vendor gives particular advantages over another but both sides have advantages here, hard to separate them.

For development you won't need all that fast a machine, but depending on what you're going to be working on you may have lots of stuff running so it may be worth considering 16GB of RAM - though if you're a student the kinds of stuff you'll likely be doing won't require it (though it'll buy you some more time when you write your first memory leak! )

 

[cats_five]

IMHO quality monitor, keyboard & mouse are greatly overlooked especially for a PC that will be used for several hours a day. A big monitor helps a lot for software development. As to keyboard & mouse they are very individual, but I suspect most people prefer a wireless mouse.

 

[Admetos]

IMHO quality monitor, keyboard & mouse are greatly overlooked especially for a PC that will be used for several hours a day. A big monitor helps a lot for software development. As to keyboard & mouse they are very individual, but I suspect most people prefer a wireless mouse.

I'm a software developer, I totally agree environment is very important, my preference is smaller multi-monitors for development, as you can position different code on each screen.

I run older AG Neovo glass fronted monitors, the glass reduces glare and improves contrast reducing eye strain. I run them on tipple Ergotron LX lift stands. I then have height adjustable Ikea Galant desks, Microsoft split keyboards, and Logitech left handed mice.

 

[mrbazmondo]

Marketing wins again

For development you won't need all that fast a machine....

You must be the only one with that opinion. I'm a developer and I can never have a fast enough machine.

 

[cats_five]

I'm a software developer, I totally agree environment is very important, my preference is smaller multi-monitors for development, as you can position different code on each screen.

I run older AG Neovo glass fronted monitors, the glass reduces glare and improves contrast reducing eye strain. I run them on tipple Ergotron LX lift stands. I then have height adjustable Ikea Galant desks, Microsoft split keyboards, and Logitech left handed mice.

As well as the physical things to arrange a workplace, placement matters as well. Having a window behind a screen is a very bad idea.

Ikea have replaced Galant.

One day I might be able to afford a 34" curved screen suitable for photo work, then I will only need (and have room on my desk for!) one screen.

I've used those MS keyboards out at customers, it's very hard as I touch type and it throws it all to pot, it's so hard not to swear in front of them.

My mice are symmetrical Microsoft rodents. Years ago I had a wonderful mug which had a PC booting with the message 'mouse not found' on the screen. On the end of the mouse cable was a small skeleton, and there was a satisfied plump cat grinning at the scene. Sadly the cleaner broke it.