Need advice regarding PC build

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ElBurroSiniestro

New Member
Hello all,

I was hoping you would be able to help me choose the best components available to me within my budget for a decent gaming rig.

My budget $950 to $1,050 in US dollars (that is according to an online currency calculator, I'm dealing with british pounds)
My aim would be to run games such as Empire Total War and Battlefield 3 in high settings or better at a comfortable FPS. I'd also like to be able to have a future proof rig that I can update to eventually run the latest games on max settings.

I do not need to buy a monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers etc. I can also recycle my hard drives from my previous computer.

I've been looking around in some online stores, but my lack of expertice prevents me from knowing if I'm in the right ballpark or not.

For instance- https://www.arbico.co.uk/product_customize.php?pid=100020

Using that basic setup, I've selected a few upgrades:

For the processor I've selected an Intel i7 960 Quad Core
For the video card I've selected the Nvidia GT430 1GB
And a power supply of 800 watts.

The default motherboard that is included is an Asus P6t-SE, ATX
The default case is a CIT 1008
It says "standard heatsink and CPU fan included"

Windows 7 is included.

The overall price is £754, which translates into $1,117, That's just over the edge of my budget.
Is this worth it? Would all components work with each other? Will the cooling system be adequate?
I'm assuming the GPU will need to be upgraded. Is it practical to upgrade the video card later on, when I can afford it, or would it be easier to start with a higher end GPU and upgrade the processor later on instead?
Is the motherboard going to provide me with enough upgrade options for the future?

An alternative I am considering is this:
http://www.ukgamingcomputers.co.uk/enforcer-battlefield-gaming-pc-p-147.html

It costs roughly the same as my previous option, but the processor is an Intel i5 2500k and it comes with 2gb less of RAM. However the GPU is a much better (I'm assuming) Nvidia GTX 560 t1 1GB.
The motherboard is an Asus P8P6T REV3.0
An operating system is not included, but it comes with 3 years of warranty.
The benefits I can see from this rig is that I'm guaranteed all components will be fully compatible, that cooling and stability will not be a problem, and of course that it will run Battlefield 3 without a problem.

Is this a better deal? Would it be cheaper to upgrade the i5 processor to an i7 later on in life? Is an i7 quad core even that important?

Any help at all is appreciated.
 
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Both seems expensive.
try overclockers/ dinopc

dinopc with similar set up as ukgamingcomputers at £765 (i5 2500K, GTX 560Ti, SATA III 1TB, 700W PSU), but that include Windows 7.
http://www.dinopc.com/shop/pc/configurePrd.asp?idproduct=1006

Or overclockers with i5 2500K, 4 GB RAM and GTX 560 for £700 is another good choice
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-195-OE&groupid=43&catid=2040&subcat=

I suggest these purely based on price. I have not bought any pre-built machine from them previously.
 
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Thanks for the quick reply.
Both the builds you are suggesting for me have inferior power supplies to my previous options. At a different forum, I am being told that the power supply on the "Enforcer" Battlefield 3 build of 650watts is not sufficient despite ukgamingcomputer's claims.
Is this true?
DinoPC limits me to a 650watt supply too. With an i72600 and a GTX 560ti, will that be enough power?
 
I did a quick price search on google for every component listed on the overclockers build and added it all up. It sums up to around 650 pounds if I were to buy each component individually and assemble it myself. This would leave me some room for improvement.

Would you consider the i7 960 quad core to be significantly superior to the i5 2500k? Is the gap in performance big enough to justify the upgrade?

In other words, am I better off starting with an i7 960 quad core processor but a low/mid range graphics card and then upgrading the card in the future or am I better off getting a PC with an i5 2500k processor and a high end graphics card and then upgrading the processor later on in the future?
i7 processor + low end GPU or i5 processor + high end GPU?
 
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ElBurroSiniestro said:
I did a quick price search on google for every component listed on the overclockers build and added it all up. It sums up to around 650 pounds if I were to buy each component individually and assemble it myself. This would leave me some room for improvement.

Would you consider the i7 960 quad core to be significantly superior to the i5 2500k? Is the gap in performance big enough to justify the upgrade?

In other words, am I better off starting with an i7 960 quad core processor but a low/mid range graphics card and then upgrading the card in the future or am I better off getting a PC with an i5 2500k processor and a high end graphics card and then upgrading the processor later on in the future?
i7 processor + low end GPU or i5 processor + high end GPU?
Click to expand...

i5 2500K is better than i7 960 in gaming. i7 960 is out of the consideration.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/...core-i7-2600k-i5-2500k-core-i3-2100-tested/20
 
I am currently running the i5 2500k and a 550ti and i run Starcraft 2 on ultra. I also plan on playing BF3 when it comes out... (Ill pm you a vid when I get done recording it)
 
Alright, so the i5 is the one for me. I'm either going to buy the BF3 build or by each component seperately. If I do, here is what I have planned. Let me know what you think. Will it run recent games on high/medium high settings? Is it realistic considering my budget?

CPU
i5-2500K

Motherboard
Asus P8Z68-V PRO

GPU
Nvidia GTX 560ti

PSU
Corsair 850watt TX v2

Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy

Case
I still need to do some looking around. I like the Enforcer from the Bf3 build because I have the guarantee that everything will be adequately cooled in it, but I don't know if it's just an overpriced case with flashy lights for those who can afford the flamboyance, or if it's really a good case for value.

OS
Windows 7 Home 64bit

Cooling system
I don't know! What do you suggest?

Regarding the prebuilt unit from ukgamingcomputers.co.uk, the one thing that is still very tempting is that I can ask them to do a "moderate overclocking" for 10 pounds. They can assure me that the end result will be stable, safe, tested and under a 3 year warranty. If I buy each component separately and build myself, I wouldn't trust myself to overclock successfully.
Is a moderate overclocking worth it, or is it unnecessary?
 
Cooler master has some awesome cases, and that motherboard has a built in sound card. Other than that i think you should be good to run BF3 on high.
 
the 850 is pure overkill, the 560ti only needs like a quality 600w really, the tx650 is actually perfect and gives you a ton of head room, the 850 is overkill for even 2 560ti's. take the 650w or 600w or something then take the savings for either a 6950 or if you can then go up to like a gtx570. and agreed on the sound card, only even considerable if you have over $100 speakers and then i still don't think it's really worth it.
 
Thank you all for the replies. You've all helped a lot.
I've decided to go with the BF3 build. I did consider buying each component seperately and building it myself, but the amount of money I would be saving wouldn't justify sacrificing the 3 year warranty and a lifetime of post delivery support. I'll leave the PSU as it is. Regarding the soundcard, I do actually own speakers and headphones well over $100, I'm a bit of an audiophile, but for now I'll stick with the onboard and upgrade later on if I need to.

Now I only have one problem... I can't decide what colour I want my fans and lights! :D
I'm thinking red lights and clear green fans. Or green lights with red fans. Or blue lights with green fans. Hmm, darn.
 
well buying separately actually will get you better support than any company offers, and we are the support pretty much. all the comps we rec provide good to great support majoritarily, and will be much better than a oem warranty.
 
I should mention that the 3 year warranty is for build and assembly. The warranties offered by the manfucaturers of each individual component are also included.
 
jonnyp11 said:
well buying separately actually will get you better support than any company offers, and we are the support pretty much. all the comps we rec provide good to great support majoritarily, and will be much better than a oem warranty.
Click to expand...

Coming from the guys that hasn't purchased a single bit of hardware... well ever.
 
love how when you can't argue with what i say you find something else to argue with me about, and also you're forgetting that i bought a psu and a case, so you're wrong and pointlessly saying bs. and also do you buy from places that are reviewed for having bad service/support, and these companies don't have the best support now do they, especially compared to the ones we generally recommend.
 
A 3 year assembly warranty AND each individual warranty for each part provided by the manufacturer AND free customer service at all working hours isn't good support?

When was ukgamingcomputers.co.uk reviewed for having bad support?
 
actually apparently this is like the only company that does offer good support on their stuff after you get it and they have their money. just generally these kinds of companies don't do that good.
 
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