Spec Me a new PC

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Hi,

I am looking to up my PC and will only be keeping the Tagan 550 watt PSU and Antec 190P case.
I am looking at having a CPU i7 and 12 GB of RAM running on a 120 SSD loaded with MS Windows 7. I would love to have water cooling on the CPU as well.

What I need so help on is the motherboard, CPU, and RAM

As for usage I will be using the rig for gaming, photo& video rendering

I know the spec request is some what non specific as I am opened minded at the moment on the hard ware, suggestions please.
 
These days the typical format is 4GB (light tasks), 8GB (gaming) or 16GB (photo/video rendering). You can still do 12GB but it's better to have two (or four) identical sticks, and 6GB sticks are rare.

The most powerful i7 on the 1150 socket is the new i7-4790K. There are also Ivybridge i7's for the 2011 socket but they are expensive and not much point in them for the average user.

This motherboard brings 8GB of RAM free already, but is out of stock (that could change any moment, you'd have to talk to OcUK):

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i7-4790K 4.00GHz (Devil's Canyon) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £269.99
1 x Gigabyte Z97X-Gaming 7 Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £139.99
1 x Kingston HyperX 8GB (2x4GB) PC3-17100C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black/Red (HX21C11BRK2/8-OC) £61.99
Total : £481.57 (includes shipping : £8.00).




As for watercooling the CPU, note that decent air coolers will outperform 120/140mm watercooling AIOs, and quality air coolers are on a par with larger 240/280mm watercooling AIOs.

The Antec P190 brings 2 x 140mm fans on the top and I'm not sure if it has holes for 2 x 120mm instead. You might have to mod (if possible), or go for a 280mm AIO like a H110 or Kraken X60. You won't be able to get a really thick rad at the top (unless you place it above the case), so watch out for rad thickness. I have seen at least one owner of the P190 report that they couldn't fit in a H100i either. But that will depend on motherboard and RAM.
 
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YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI Z97 Gaming 5 Intel Core i5 DIY ATX Motherboard Upgrade Kit £320.98
1 x Kingston HyperX 8GB (2x4GB) PC3-17100C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black/Red (HX21C11BRK2/8-OC) £61.99
1 x Corsair Hydro H75 Performance Liquid CPU Cooler £61.99
Total : £454.56 (includes shipping : £8.00).




With an i5-4670K instead of the newer i5-4690K (which is only 100MHz faster and with a K you'd overclock anyway) and 16GB RAM for your photo/video rendering, and water cooler.


YOUR BASKET
1 x MSI Z97 Gaming 5 Intel Core i5 DIY ATX Motherboard Upgrade Kit £320.98
1 x Corsair Hydro H75 Performance Liquid CPU Cooler £61.99
Total : £392.57 (includes shipping : £8.00).




With 8GB of RAM to bring it below £400 and you can add more RAM later if needed.
 
All under £400.

YOUR BASKET
1 x Intel Core i5-4690K 3.50GHz (Devil's Canyon) Socket LGA1150 Processor - Retail £167.99
1 x TeamGroup Vulcan ORANGE 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-17100C11 2133MHz Dual Channel Kit (TLAD316G2133HC11ADC01) £107.99
1 x Gigabyte Z97P-D3 Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard £68.99
1 x Raijintek Themis Direct Contact CPU Cooler £19.99
Total : £374.56 (includes shipping : £8.00).



Positives:

- Cheap
- Overclockable
- Fast RAM
- Cooler capable of a small/med OC


Negitives:

- No SLI capabilities.

I think its Ideal. :)
 
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