Advice on new (and first) Gaming rig

thebestbev

New Member
Hi All

I'm currently planning a new gaming rig. I'm new to building from scratch but I'm finding it really fun. I was wondering if I could get some opinions on what Ive chosen so far. Whether it's the right component to get, whether I can get something similar for cheaper, whether its compatible with everything else.

Also am I missing anything obvious? Will I need to buy many seperate cables for the installation?

Ive set myself a budget of about £800 and am looking to build a really good gaming rig, with potential for upgrade in the future.

So Far I have this

CPU - AMD FX-6100 Zambezi 3.3GHz Socket AM3+ 95W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6100WMGUSBX – £78.33 - HERE

Video Card - Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 - £225.17 - HERE

Motherboard - ASUS AM3+ CROSSHAIR V FORMULA S/L – £165.34 - HERE


RAM – 2X - SAMSUNG 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM – £51.99 - HERE


Power Supply - OCZ OCZ750FTY-UN Fatal1ty Series High-Performance 750W PSU – £75.97 - HERE


Case - Fractal Design Define XL Full Tower Computer Case - Black Pearl - £103 - HERE

Monitor - Dell U2312HM – £130 - HERE (I know its EBay and refurb, still contemplating buying new)


HDD - Samsung F3 HD103SJ 1TB internal Hard Drive SATAII 32MB Cache 7200RPM - £69.90 - HERE


BD Drive – LG BD RW Drive – £60 - HERE

I'm already well over my £800 budget and would like to come down bit. Can anybody help?

Thanks in advance!!!

Alex
 
Kind of agree with strangle here, with a few exceptions.

the samsung RAM you (OP) choose is some of the best. But it is not worth that much. You are paying as much for that one kit as I paid for 2 sets.
Looking at amazon it is cheaper. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/..._t=301&pf_rd_p=240112507&pf_rd_i=MV-3V4G3D/US
I highly recommend Samsung RAM over anything else on the market. You can easily hit 1866 speeds, and if your memory controller is strong enough, 2133 is a cinch also. Plus it is TRUE low profile. There is literally no way on earth for it to get in the way of anything. It barely sticks above the DIMMs themselves. Like less than 1/2" above.

Graphics, the 7950 is stronger, but if you can put the money into it to get a 660ti/670, go that route if you plan to do anything other than game. AMD is hit or miss with everything else. Does wonders gaming though.

Rest of it, go with what strangle suggested.
 
Because you have to pay for quality. That aside, it is the 30nm shrink of DDR3, and ultra low voltage. That does not mean much in desktops, but it nets out to a very small, very cool (temp), and very overclockable memory. It will run better than anything out on the market, and do 2133 @ 1.355V @ cas 10.

Don't know what is up with the prices overthere though. Here it runs $79.98 for 16GB of it, which was cheaper than any other 16GB kit when I bought.
 
All good advice! Thanks very much.

Switching for the better processor, and changing the PSU, Motherboard and video card. As well as getting the same RAM for cheaper means we're down to £787.52. Much more affordable. Im not too fussed about running CF atm, but when ive got a bit more experience I might go out and try it.

How will the change of components affect the performance of the machine?
 
processor performance is 15% better if I recall right. PSU performance, I don't know. I assume it was changed to have a more reliable brand, which just means that your computer is better insulated from failure. Motherboard is about the same quality, just less expensive. Either will do fine. Graphics, you have a decent upgrade there. The 660 is competing with the 7850. You're getting the 7950, which trades blows with the 670. For the price it is good, assuming all you're doing is gaming.
 
because its ddr3 2133 (snakeoil) go get something in the 1600 range and you will have less headaches, clocker ram is just...something id avoid, your asking for trouble running overclocked modules.
 
because its ddr3 2133 (snakeoil)
Depends on what you are using it for. There are real gains with FAH (and other distributed computing), CAD (and other highly memory intensive applications, as well as 10 or so frames in game (at least when I looked at it).

clocker ram is just...something id avoid, your asking for trouble running overclocked modules.
How is it back in 2008? Overclocked modules (assuming your OC is stable) is no worse than any stock RAM, except it is cheaper, and more energy efficient (unless there are 1.3-1.4V 2133's out there. Not sure as it never really mattered when I was looking at it).
I run my RAM OCd daily to 2133 and it has given my no issues that i did not already have (GPU driver related) with the 1600 Patriot that I was running.
 
the samsung RAM you (OP) choose is some of the best. But it is not worth that much. You are paying as much for that one kit as I paid for 2 sets.
Looking at amazon it is cheaper. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006HGD224/ref=s9_bbs_se_d0_g23_ir03?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=auto-no-results-center-1&pf_rd_r=7F0001AFCAED4B5BA528&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_p=240112507&pf_rd_i=MV-3V4G3D%2FUS

Hope he doesnt get that. Its not even the right memory. Thats 204 pin SODIMM memory.

There is nothing wrong with the GSkill memory at all, used it for years with no problem at all. I bought 100s of sets and never had to RMA one stick. If you dont want the high spreaders you can go with GSkill Snipers or Ares or ECO or memory. Your looking a 1333, the GSkill ECO 1333 does 7-7-7-21 with only 1.35V. Would not at this time suggest 1333 at all, dont care how well it overclocks
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231403
All three lines has low heatspreaders.
 
Last edited:
Can anybody give me some ideas on whether this RAM would be suitable?

HERE
Well, it's value ram. Would it work? Yes. Suitable? Not really. Plus you'd want to get 2 so it would be dual chanel. The 6300's memory controller is better than speed 1600.

RipJaws aren't as tall as a pic might look. Most any aftermarket cooler installation will clear them.

If your trying to save money somewhere, consider a single gpu setup [diff mb/ps] and keep the GSkill 2133.
 
Back
Top