New Build Help

Potential-Monke

Hello all. After getting me some tax back, so have €580 and willing to put another €150 to €200 towards a new machine.

Basically want the following:

• For gaming - doesn't need to be a monster
• 500G HDD - Option to upgrade
• Ability to connect to LCD preferably though HDMI - won't have/want a monitor
• Be able to run smoothly Ableton Live 8
• Ability to be left on for hours at a time without over-heating - Maybe days
• No accessories needed - Have the basics, can upgrade later

It would be nice to have a soundcard with 2 outputs (ie: DJ'ing), but it's not necessary and i can always upgrade down the line. If it fits into the budget, great, but if i'm sacrificing anything above, i don't need it right now.

I can build it myself, just might need to chuck in an anti-static strap.

Cheers in advance people!

Tij da feen

Item|Price
Intel Core i5-3570K Box, LGA1155|€205.99
ASRock Z77 Pro3, Sockel 1155, ATX|€85.04
8GB G.Skill RipJaws-X PC3-12800U CL10|€36.34
BitFenix Shinobi Midi-Tower USB 3.0 black, ohne Netzteil|€53.03
Crucial M4 128GB SSD 6,4cm (2,5")|€97.64
WD Caviar Blue 1TB 6Gb's|€62.99
PowerColor Radeon HD 7850 V2, 2GB GDDR5|€172.29
Super-Flower Amazon 80Plus 450W|€45.92
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€778.23

Build for the upper end of the budget. If the PC is going to be left on for lengthy periods of time then consider getting this PSU instead as it's more efficient.

Potential-Monke

If i was to look at something a bit better for gaming (ie: dedicated graphics card rather than the built in on the i5), what would i be looking at?

It will be primarily for gaming, so was hoping to get something with a bit more oomph graphics-wise.

Edit: Never-mind, just saw the GPU.

BloodBath

That's a good build.

The graphics card is pretty much the entry model though.

If you want better graphics performance ditch the ssd and upgrade the card to a 7950.

The SSD will make windows boot a lot faster and give an overall more responsive windows experience.

What resolution is the lcd you are using though?

If it's less than 1080p then the 7950 is overkill.

Potential-Monke

It's an old enough Bravia so only supports 1024 x 764, HD Ready so not full 1080p, thus not needing something with crazy resolution (yet, tv is the next upgrade at some stage this year). TBH, i've gone from using an XPS M1710 to an old P4 (which i have because the laptop is fooked (again)), so i reckon even without the SSD i'll have a far greater experience!

BloodBath

Don't bother with the 7950 then. It would be completely wasted at that resolution.

Go with the ssd. If you want to save some money you could get a 64gb one just for windows and your main programs.

Potential-Monke

BloodBath wrote: »

Don't bother with the 7950 then. It would be completely wasted at that resolution.

Go with the ssd. If you want to save some money you could get a 64gb one just for windows and your main programs.

Would it make a difference for the sake of €40?

BloodBath

Nope I'd go with the 120. You won't be long filling a 64gb if you use many programs.

You can use your 500gb HDD for games and the 1TB for storage.

Sephiroth_dude

No advice to add I'm Afraid just wondering where your ordering from?

Nody

I'd consider going down the processor and can buy a monitor for the difference basically; same with the SSD, nice to have but not worth it at that level. You can take something like this and add a decent graphic card and come in a lot cheaper.

Genghiz Cohen

Just for what it's worth, as long as I have breath in my lungs and money in my pocket, I am never booting off a HDD again.

SSD4Lyfe

Potential-Monke

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

No advice to add I'm Afraid just wondering where your ordering from?

Waterford. If that's what you meant...

Nody wrote: »

I'd consider going down the processor and can buy a monitor for the difference basically; same with the SSD, nice to have but not worth it at that level. You can take something like this and add a decent graphic card and come in a lot cheaper.

As my German is shocking (ie: non-existant), is it much less powerful than the recommended one by Tid da feen? Don't need a monitor yet, it will be hooked up to my TV 24/7.

Genghiz Cohen wrote: »

Just for what it's worth, as long as I have breath in my lungs and money in my pocket, I am never booting off a HDD again.

SSD4Lyfe

Kinda makes the decision a lot easier really!

marco_polo

Just wondering if something like a fairly cheap second hand 5750/6750 mightn't be a bad option for the time being, if you could pick one up for around €50 quid or so, to tide you over @720p until you upgrade to Full HD.

If it is going to be a good few months there should be a new generation of graphics cards out by then, and you will still be able to flog the older one third hand for a small €20-odd loss at worst.

You could then divert some funds to pick up a good sound card like an Asus Xonar or something like that now. A dedicated card is probably justifiable if you will be connecting to some very high quality audio equipment.

Potential-Monke

marco_polo wrote: »

You could then divert some funds to pick up a good sound card like an Asus Xonar or something like that now. A dedicated card is probably justifiable if you will be connecting to some very high quality audio equipment.

Won't be using it with high end audio equipment at all. It'll be for home mixes and eventually getting a dedicated laptop if i ever go live DJ'ing. All well into the future.

Potential-Monke

Just after realising that they do monthly payments...

Are they easy enough to get credit with? Because with the build mentioned above, going by their rough calculator, it's €69 a month. I can go to €100 a month so can afford a better rig...

If it's easy enough to get approval with them, could someone was to recommend a rig for €1000?

BloodBath

You could but it would be pointless since you are gaming at 720p.

Upgrade your tv first or add a 1080p monitor to the build.

Potential-Monke

BloodBath wrote: »

You could but it would be pointless since you are gaming at 720p.

Upgrade your tv first or add a 1080p monitor to the build.

THB, not too bothered about having the best graphics there, and i've to work with what i have at the moment, so it's 40" 720p for now!

BloodBath

Well if you can get it I'd maybe upgrade the case and power supply and get an after market cooler for that i5.

The coolermaster hyper 212 evo is the best bang for buck and will let you overclock it to 4.6 - 4.9ghz.

A good case and psu will do you for all future upgrades and builds.

You could also go from 1tb to 2tb for the HDD. The 2's don't cost much more than the 1's anyway and they have faster transfer speeds.

Sephiroth_dude

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Waterford. If that's what you meant...



As my German is shocking (ie: non-existant), is it much less powerful than the recommended one by Tid da feen? Don't need a monitor yet, it will be hooked up to my TV 24/7.



Kinda makes the decision a lot easier really!

no lol,I meant what company you ordering the parts off of ?

Potential-Monke

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

no lol,I meant what company you ordering the parts off of ?

Ah, my bad. Directly from hardwareversand from the recommended build.

Sephiroth_dude

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Ah, my bad. Directly from hardwareversand from the recommended build.

they seem to be recommended by everyone around here....hmmm may have to order off them when the time comes

Potential-Monke

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

they seem to be recommended by everyone around here

Exactly why i'm using them! From what i've read, the cheapest around!

Nody

Sephiroth_dude wrote: »

they seem to be recommended by everyone around here....hmmm may have to order off them when the time comes

They are very good; only be aware that you'll need to pay by bank transfer or similar to avoid a credit card fee.

Returns are also very simple; I've RMAed a graphic card (GTX 670 died after 2 days ) and they gave me a reference number and asked me to arrange for UPS to pick it up (door or deposit depending on choice) and I had a new card with in a week.

Potential-Monke

And it's ordered. Exact same as the recommended build with the better PSU. Hopefully i done everything right with the transfer, used Open24 and followed another thread exactly, so fingers crossed it gets received tomorrow and dispatched tomorrow also, would love to have it before i go back to Limerick Saturday week!