Gaming Rig (COD: BO2 / FC3 / BF3)

HotSwap

Hi Guys,

Looking to get back into gaming with a dedicated rig, this computer will have no other use, all my work is done on my MacBook Pro.

My Requirements:

1. Budget: €800 -1000
2. Purpose of computer: Games (COD: BO2 / FC3 / BF3)
3. Windows? Yes
4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? No
5. Do you need a monitor? Yes - 24 Inch, but I could be convinced to go for 27, but I have been told these can feel too big.
6. Resolution? 1080, but I can take advise on this.
7. Peripherals needed: Wireless Card
8. Overclocking? No
9. How can you pay? Bank Transfer, Laser, VISA, PayPal
10. When are you purchasing? ASAP

My Configuration:

CPU: Advice Please, but it seems i5 will be enough.
PSU: Dont Mind, Quiet would be nice.
Harddisk: Already have an SSD. No need to include in budget.
Optical Drive: DVD Burner
USB Controller: None needed.

Item|Price
Fatal1ty Z77 Performance, Sockel 1155, ATX|€125.99
Cooler Master Storm Scout II Midi-Tower - Gunmetal|€101.11
HIS HD 7950 IceQ 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card|€284.00
8GB-Kit Corsair Vengeance Low Profile schwarz PC3-12800U CL9|€35.69
Intel Core i5-3570K Box, LGA1155|€208.05
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€799.19



How much better would that second Graphics card be?? Is it the best?

Amirani

I'd change the CPU to a Ivy Bridge 3570k for a start. 16GB of RAM is probably overkill for a gaming build too so you could consider cutting that to 8GB. GTX 680 would have a much lower price/performance ratio than the 7950. If you're using 1 monitor and gaming at 1080p, then just go with the 7950 I reckon.

Case and mobo are fine but may be worth downgrading in order to spend more in other areas.

HotSwap

I have upgraded to the 3rd gen processor as you suggested and will go for the 7950. Thanks.

Can you recommend 8GB of ram that will work well with this MB / CPU?
Can you recommend a good PSU, i'm not sure what to look for here?
Do I need any additional fans, etc...?

Thanks,

HS.

ShadowHearth

Some low profile 1600mhz will do. Corsair ram is good enough this time around, so no point avoiding it.

Get yourself CPU cooler too for overclocking

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ShadowHearth wrote: »

Some low profile 1600mhz will do. Corsair ram is good enough this time around, so no point avoiding it.

Get yourself CPU cooler too for overclocking

Will the speed of the RAM affect anything?

HS.

Monotype

RAM of higher speeds will only really make differences after you start to overclock. 1600MHz is a good balance of price vs speed to go for.

HotSwap

Would you have a recommendation for a PSU, I was looking at this:

http://www1.hardwareversand.de/600+-+700+Watts/46158/Corsair+Enthusiast+Series+TX650+V2.article

Perhaps its total overkill, if so, can you advise on some alternative. I would prefer to go slightly over budget with quality parts, while still not spending unnecessarily.

Thanks for all the help so far guys!

HS.

HotSwap

Would I be better served getting this card:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-287-AS

as opposed to:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-054-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1673

In order to feed something like this via Dual Link DVI:

Samsung SyncMaster 27IN 2560x1440 LED PLS LCD

Or would the card not have the power to play the game at this resolution?

Thanks,

HS.

marco_polo

They are both essentially the same card, the Asus would also be dual link DVI (just not explicitly stated on the specs page).

The IceQ seems to do quiet well against the Asus in noise and temprature reviews (in fact they rate it the best in that review) so to me it appears pretty hard to justify an extra 30 pounds on the Asus.

Monotype

A 550W PSU would be plenty of room.

ShadowHearth

i would not go with directCU2 cooler.

i had gtx 570 with same cooler and its a pain in a hole. Its 3 slot fat bastard and it is always in the way of everything. Good luck if you will want to go CF with that fatboy too. One of the reasons i got wrid of my 570.

HotSwap

The 7950 arrived today. No free games though, I suppose I have to provide proof of purchase somewhere and download them? Whats the usual process with things like this?

Can you recommend one of these:

http://www2.hardwareversand.de/1628/500+-+600+Watts.search

Cheers!

HotSwap

Just read the T&C:

You will recieve your gamecode from 2nd November onwards in the email address you provided when placing your order!

Monotype

550W Superflower amazon is a good one. If you want something slightly better, maybe the Antec HCG (if it's in stock) or the golden green which is dearer again. There's a few modular ones there as well which are good but expensive. The amazon's a good PSU though.

HotSwap

Ok, I like the idea of modular. And since its payday, lets go for it. Can you recommend one?

HS.

Monotype

Cheapest decent looking one on that range is the TX550M. 4 modular cables isn't really that modular, so it's more of a hybrid.
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/500+-+600+Watts/50912/Corsair+Enthusiast+Series+Modular+TX550M%2C+550Watt.article

The original Silent Pro Ms from Coolermaster were pretty good. These are actually made by a different manufacturer and there's not as many reviews as yet but hopefully they're reasonable.
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/500+-+600+Watts/59384/Cooler+Master+Silent+Pro+MII+520W.article

This superflower is considerably more expensive as it's a 600W PSU and it is rated gold efficiency. Only one left in stock. There's a 700W one for ~€15 more.
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/500+-+600+Watts/33060/Super-Flower+SF600P14XE+Golden+Green+80plus+gold+Modular.article

This BeQuiet looks good as well, but you're touching €100.
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/500+-+600+Watts/51154/be+quiet!+STRAIGHT+POWER+CM+BQT+E9-CM-580W+80%2BGold.article

HotSwap

Final Configuration:


Item|Price
16GB-Kit Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 MHz CL9|€70.34
ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77, Sockel 1155, ATX, DDR3|€203.03
2 x Be Quiet Silentwings2 120 x 120|€34.44
be quiet! DARK POWER PRO 10 550W|€127.16
be quiet!Dark Rock 2|€56.38
Cooler Master Storm Scout II Midi-Tower - Gunmetal|€97.15
Intel Core i5-3570K Box, LGA1155|€208.05
LG GH24NS bare schwarz|€19.12
HIS HD 7950 IceQ 3072MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card|€284


Shipping|€18.99
Total|€1118.66


Slightly over budget. Opps

Monotype

I don't really see that much point in going for the dark power over the straight power. If I was going all out, I'd probably go for the platinum PSU myself.
http://www1.hardwareversand.de/500+-+600+Watts/43762/Super-Flower+SF550P14PE+Golden+King+Modular+80plus+Platinum+550W.article

Some of the top end one corsairs (AX) are completely modular so you can even change the 24-pin cable, which is handy if you were to pick different colour sleeving. They're 650W+ though.

Also, maybe 2x8GB RAM instead?
http://www2.hardwareversand.de/1600+Low+Voltage/56816/16GB-Kit+G.Skill+Ares+PC3-12800U+CL10-10-10-30.article

Edit: Wait - where did that motherboard come from? Are you thinking of crossfire?

Edit 2: What about storage? I think you should be investing some of that money spent on the motherboard and 16GB of RAM into a good SSD.

marco_polo

€270 is alot to be spending on a motherboard and ram, it could certainly be near halved without losing out on much.

Even if you need crossfire support something like the ASRock Z77 Extreme4 for €130 can do x8/x8 would be just fine. If it isn't a requirement at all can go cheaper again like the Pro3/4 versions etc.

And seriously if this is just a gaming PC stick to 8GB RAM tops, It will be a long time before 16GB is a requirement for any gaming PC.

HotSwap

Motherboard came from reviews, plus 5 year warrantee, plus it seems to be the best. Understood about the cost, but its done now. RAM is listed in the supported configurations in the documentation of the MB, probably not important but its nice to use something that has been reviewed.

I went for this PSU as it seemed to have really good reviews and recommendations when I checked. Looks to have been really well though out / designed by the guys in be quite, I also like the idea of a high efficiency PSU so I went for this one.

Related to Cross Fire, yes, I will likely get a second card next month and some additional displays.

SSD is already sorted.

I would like some recommendations for a display, what is good? 24 - 27, not sure which yet.

I will post pics of the build when done, thanks for help guys.

HS.

Monotype

If I knew that you were thinking of a second card, I would have suggested a higher rated PSU!
You'd be cutting it tight with 550W.

HotSwap

Monotype wrote: »

If I knew that you were thinking of a second card, I would have suggested a higher rated PSU!
You'd be cutting it tight with 550W.

Apparently this PSU can deliver almost all of the 550W. It has options for running 2 x GPU's.

HS.

HotSwap

In the following review the GPU is pulling an average of 139W while gaming.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7950-review-benchmark,3207-9.html

So with two cards that would be 278W average, leaving 272W headroom.

Monotype

Yes, it has sufficient connectors, but all the same, you'd be talking about the most of 200W for each 7950, leaving little room for expansion or overclocks. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but I would have gone with the 600W superflower or a 650W PSU.


Edit: Regard tomshardware - that's average. You should be considering the maximums. You want the average draw to be around the middle of your PSU, where it's more efficient.

HotSwap

Monotype wrote: »

Yes, it has sufficient connectors, but all the same, you'd be talking about the most of 200W for each 7950, leaving little room for expansion or overclocks. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but I would have gone with the 600W superflower or a 650W PSU.


Edit: Regard tomshardware - that's average. You should be considering the maximums. You want the average draw to be around the middle of your PSU, where it's more efficient.

I upgraded to the 650W PSU before the order had shipped. Thanks for the advice guys.

HS.

HotSwap

Some pics of the finished build:












Also link directly to album: http://imgur.com/a/sknQY


Thanks for the help guys