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Building a 2010 Mid-Range Gaming Rig - Suggestions?

  • 07-05-2010 7:28pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭


    EDITED

    Hi everyone,

    I'm building my first PC, mostly for gaming and (hopefully will handle games like Crysis, BF:BC 2 and MW2 fairly well) the other usual things like multi-tasking, I have a good monitor and 5.1 speakers already in the house but my 5 year old Dell is slowly fading away, with blue screens left, right, and center! :rolleyes:

    I'm only learning when it comes to bus speeds and other random crap, but it looks like Building a PC is like LEGO, except with a lot of cable management. I've made up a list of parts that I feel would work together, and please tell me if something conflicts or needs reconsidering or anything! I need all the help I can. :)

    Anything with the :confused: emoticon beside it means I'm not sure if it will work well with other components.

    @Solitaire
    @farna boy
    @Hornd

    Okay, here's my new list of components: EDITED

    :confused: CASE: Thermaltake V3 Black Edition - 120MM Fan installed inside. GFX Card fit in case?

    :) CASE MOD: Nexus 120mm Real Silent Case Fan - Extra fan for cooling.

    :) DVD DRIVE: LG GH22NS40/NS30 SATA II

    :) RAM: Crucial 4GB kit DRR3 PC1333 CL9 - edited in.

    :confused: GRAPHICS CARD: XFX HD5850 - Will it fit in case?

    :) HARD DRIVE: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

    :) MOTHERBOARD: Gigabyte GA-P255A-UD3 - (rev. 1.0) edited mobo.

    :) PROCESSOR: Intel Core i5 750 - this looks sweet. Intel any day for me...

    :) CPU COOLER: Freezer 7 Pro Rev.2 - Didn't know this worked on 1156.

    :) POWER SUPPLY:
    Corsair TX650W - edited back into list.

    :confused: OS:
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - Wait for service pack?

    New Total Price: 967.17 Euro including shipping costs from Hardwareversand.de

    :D Well there it is, If anyone has any suggestions please tell me, I'm only learning and it's a big help cause this is the first time I've ever done this (apart from installing RAM which in the end was not compatible BECAUSE DELL ARE ...... lovely.....).

    Thanks for any comments,

    Kevin F.


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 1,764 ✭✭✭farna_boy


    That doesn't look like an altogether bad build but just a few comments!

    First of all you seem to have forgotten to add a power supply which might cause one or two problems along the way. :)
    I would recommend something along the lines of a Corsair TX650 (€85) which will be a lot more than you need to be honest, but it will give you a lot of headroom for upgrading.

    Case is nice and cheap but personally I would probably go for something along the lines of a Coolermaster HAF 922 (€90). It gives good cooling and also there is a lot of room for expansion, big/long graphics cards and a lot of room for building your first computer.

    I reckon you don't need the audio card as the onboard sound is usually good enough and I doubt you will notice the difference. Likewise , the cooler and fan aren't really needed but if you have the money it probably won't do any harm and could be useful for overclocking but I really don't know if either of them are good.

    Finally, the graphics card. While there is not a whole lot wrong with the one you have chosen, it is essentially old tech. While you won't seee much difference between a GTX 260 and an ATI 5830, the ATI card allows you to use Directx11 whereas the 260 doesn't. That being said, I don't think the 5830 is a great card and if you could afford it a 5850 is a much better card but there is a big price difference there. Maybe someone else can think of a better card.

    Best of luck with the build anyway!


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    When you say "lovely monitor" what size amd max resolution are we talking here? It has a huge effect on graphics card.

    Also, Komplett are messed up right now. Look at Pixmania, HWVS or eBuyer instead for now.

    As for the list...

    PSU: You forgot it! :p Get a Corsair VX550 or similar.

    Case: Meh. Much better cases in the €35-45 range - good enough to pay the extra tenner or so on them. Thermaltake V3 and Antec 200 are nice, while the NZXT Gamma has some very nice mod cons like cable routing.

    Fans: We'll cross that bridge when we come to it :p The Gamma can take another 120mm fan like the Saphira, but it can also take two top-mounted 140mm exhausts as well!

    DVD: I tend to steer clear of Sony optics, so many bad experiences with their products over the years :(

    RAM: Very pricey. Just stick with 2x2GB of some baic 1333MHz RAM for now, unless you can find low-voltage 1600MHz kits for under €110.

    Graphics Card: JUST. NO. That thing is old hat and has an 80% markup on it, yet a €135 HD5770 would be just as good! :o Also think of a cheap HD5830 (€180 and up) if you want good settings in more demanding games at 1080p. Of course, it all depends on what monitor you already have...

    Sound Card: Unless you have specialist needs there's precious little reason for this at all.

    HDD: Just get Samsung F3 1TB units. Plural, if 1TB somehow isn't enough for you.

    Motherboard: Don't be silly. You can get perfectly servicable LGA1156 mobos with USB3 and SATA3 compatibility for under €120.

    Processor: At last, a good pick! :)

    CPU Cooler: Okay, but pricey for what it is. If you want to spend a bit on high performance hunt down a (still cheaper) Scythe Mugen 2 Rev2 or if you want good cooling without paying for it just cheat and get a Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus ;)

    OS: Does it really need to be? :p




    EDIT: Beaten to it! :o


  • Registered Users Posts: 172 ✭✭Hornd


    Something like this from hardwareversand would suit the bill nicely.

    b8kz.png

    Doesn't include OS so add a 100 on top again.

    No need for a 40 CPU cooler unless your doing some serios overclocking but the AC one here for 15 quid is about 72 million times better than the stock one:p

    Case is basic but will fit everything inside nicely. If you want to get something better/better at cable management your talking 80 quid so. Only one fan but my one runs super cool with just the one and its fairly quiet too.

    MOBO saves you a bomb compared to the other one - pretty much fits the bill in what Solitare descibed.

    The GPU is the 5830 will handle everthing nicely at 1080. I have the 5770 but all I play is CSS!


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Kevinf63


    farna_boy wrote: »
    That doesn't look like an altogether bad build but just a few comments!

    First of all you seem to have forgotten to add a power supply which might cause one or two problems along the way. :)
    I would recommend something along the lines of a Corsair TX650 (€85) which will be a lot more than you need to be honest, but it will give you a lot of headroom for upgrading.

    Funny enough, thats the exact power supply I was looking at, I had put all my products into the basket of Komplett so I'd remember them and then post them on this site, something disappeared on the list and couldn't find/ remember what it was. Thanks for pointing that out.


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Kevinf63


    Solitaire wrote: »
    When you say "lovely monitor" what size amd max resolution are we talking here? It has a huge effect on graphics card.

    The Monitor is too bad, with 1280 x 1024 resolution native, but the internals are disgusting ( Pentium 4 which is considered a dual-core with a ATI x300 graphic card 1GB of PC3200 RAM Finds it hard to run BF2 with 16 players!! YEH!)


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  • Registered Users Posts: 6,937 ✭✭✭witnessmenow


    :eek:

    That PC playing games at 1280 x 1024 is like shooting a fly with a Nuke!

    If your budget is fairly set, scale back a small bit and add a 22" montitor


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Kevinf63


    :eek:

    That PC playing games at 1280 x 1024 is like shooting a fly with a Nuke!

    If your budget is fairly set, scale back a small bit and add a 22" montitor

    Its alright anyway, I've got a 1080p 22" Samsung TV/Monitor that has multiple HDMI slots so do you think that will work? Its for my 360 but I can use it for PC as well.


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    That would be far more appropriate :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Kevinf63


    Solitaire wrote: »
    That would be far more appropriate :)

    Are talking about the Rig or the monitor? 'Cause I changed it around a bit. I kind of nicked Hornd's setup hahaha...

    Thanks for suggestions @Hornd , @Solitaire ,@Farna and @witnessmenow. Please if anyone else spots something tell me cause I'm as blind as a bat when it comes to compatibility!! Leaving out the most vital part.. The PSU! :rolleyes:

    I suppose I should get a Windows 7 for DirectX 11 support to get the most of the GFX card? Plus will that HD5850 fit in my case? 'Cause it looks pretty big. suppose not as big as some cards (nearly 1 Metre long!)


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    I was talking about the monitor, although I can include the build in that statement too if you really want... :p

    Couple of issues:
    Reference HD5850 should fit the case, as its roughly the same width as a full ATX mobo :)
    PSU is probably overspecified; if you're not overclocking you could easily get away with a Corsair VX550 or Antec Basiq Plus 550D.
    Yup, the AC7 Pro fits LGA1156 since Rev2 ;) Hyper 212 is better, but HWVS lists a lead time of at least six weeks! :(
    And if buying it from HWVS make doubly sure that you're getting the English version of Win7!!! :eek:


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  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Kevinf63


    Solitaire wrote: »
    I was talking about the monitor, although I can include the build in that statement too if you really want... :p

    Couple of issues:
    Reference HD5850 should fit the case, as its roughly the same width as a full ATX mobo :)
    PSU is probably overspecified; if you're not overclocking you could easily get away with a Corsair VX550 or Antec Basiq Plus 550D.
    Yup, the AC7 Pro fits LGA1156 since Rev2 ;) Hyper 212 is better, but HWVS lists a lead time of at least six weeks! :(
    And if buying it from HWVS make doubly sure that you're getting the English version of Win7!!! :eek:

    If.........And thats a very big IF... I overclock my system would anyone have any idea what kind of increased performance would I get with that Rig? 'Cause I was looking at that overclockers website and apparently that GFX card when OC'd can fork out an extra 10-15 fps in most games by itself which is not bad! What the i5 750 can do is a mystery to me as well as the other components when OC'd. And If I overclock, I'm guessing that's the warranty voided yeah?

    Also, If I overclock it, and I want to upgrade in the future (example the graphics card), what happens then? Do I have to reset the system or something? Plus..:rolleyes:... If I did absolutely nothing...:p... And didn't get a lower wattage PSU.. What would happen? Or is just a case of saving money? Sorry for all the Questions, I just have to make it clear with myself that everything will work, that it will upgradable in the future etc..etc..

    Thanks for everything so far,

    Kevin F.

    P.S. :D Don't worry! I got the "Englisch" version!


  • Registered Users Posts: 172 ✭✭Hornd


    This mobo is the p55A-ud3. Think its the one you meant to link to?
    It has USB3 and SATA3 so offers a little more future proofing.

    http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?agid=1305&aid=29308&lid=2

    No, overclocking wont void your warranty. TBH you probably wont need to at least until a bit down the line when games become graphically intensive. Any game you throw at it the system will eat up and spit out.:p

    Overclocking is done through software and BIOS, its not a permanent thing and you can change the settings when ever you want.

    Only disadvantage of the 650W is a slightly higher electricity bill but it allows you some head room in the future to upgrade!


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Kevinf63


    Hornd wrote: »
    This mobo is the p55A-ud3. Think its the one you meant to link to?
    It has USB3 and SATA3 so offers a little more future proofing.

    http://www4.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?agid=1305&aid=29308&lid=2

    Good man just spotted that now! Jesus... I'm so clueless. :o
    Hornd wrote: »
    No, overclocking wont void your warranty. TBH you probably wont need to at least until a bit down the line when games become graphically intensive. Any game you throw at it the system will eat up and spit out.:p

    Fair enough, I leave overclocking for a while, I think my graphic card is actually a Black Edition XFX card so its pre-overclocked any way...(not OC'd to its max potential though) :rolleyes:
    Hornd wrote: »
    Overclocking is done through software and BIOS, its not a permanent thing and you can change the settings when ever you want.

    Grand! :cool: So if I do it I can reset it if I'm upgrading. Thanks.
    Hornd wrote: »
    Only disadvantage of the 650W is a slightly higher electricity bill but it allows you some head room in the future to upgrade!

    eh eh eh eh.... Its not me paying the bills anyway... ;) Nah, I'm not that bad! But yeah I'm going to keep that power supply even though its carrying extra wattage thats not needed (until later.....;))


  • Registered Users Posts: 172 ✭✭Hornd


    Heres a pic of my one which is real similar.

    25jl1c8.jpg
    t8vgc7.jpg


    I only have one fan in it cause i found that the second one really increased the noise quite a lot. Also I added some dust filters on the top and bottom from ebay - http://cgi.ebay.ie/3-Dustproof-120mm-Case-Fan-Dust-Filter-PC-Computer-/360260463499?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Computing_ComputerComponents_Fans_Heatsinks_SR&hash=item53e1326b8b - cause the case is quite "open" so it just stops any dust settling on top and into it. Just make sure you paint the screws black! Don't want to see any silver on her;)

    Otherwise it went together nicely!

    http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=64692894&postcount=305


  • Registered Users Posts: 169 ✭✭Kevinf63


    Hornd wrote: »
    Heres a pic of my one which is real similar.

    25jl1c8.jpg

    Hopefully this is the last question but do you have any ideas on cable management. i.e. does the case/PSU etc. come with something to tie the lot up and make airflow better. Or could I get an aftermarket cable tie for PC internals?


  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,377 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    You can get whatever cable ties you want (Euro2 do some rather fetching multicoloured velcro ones for €2 per dozen :D) but finding solid locations to attach them to is another matter. And you'll need them, as unlike the Gamma the V3 doesn't have any cable routing! :o


  • Registered Users Posts: 172 ✭✭Hornd


    ^^What he said

    The PSU comes with maybe 15 cable ties but tbh theres not a massive amount of room to put things. All of my cables have been shoved in behind the 3.5" bays as much as possible. I could probably do a bit of a better job but as long as the mess doesn't bother you visually, it won't effect the pc's performance. The CPU idles at 40 and below and the case is rarely above 35 degrees usually 29ish.


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