First time build, Gaming computer €800 - €1200

stphn_olin

1. What is your budget? [€800-€1200]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming/Video editing/CAD] (If gaming include which games ARMA II, Battlefield 3, Arkham City etc.)

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [No]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [Case] (If possible state brand and model of the parts to ensure compatibility Packard Bell iPower X9810 )

5. Do you need a monitor? [No]

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [22'/24'/etc.]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [640×480] [Defiantly]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Mouse/Wireless Card/Card Reader/Speakers]

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Yes]

8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Credit Card/Laser]

9. When are you purchasing? [Over the Summer]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? Dublin

stphn_olin

Here's a build I've put together myself as I was looking through HV, I'm not confident on any of this so it could be useless.

Item|Price
MSI Z77A-GD65, Intel Z77, ATX, DDR3|€144.80
8GB-Kit G.Skill RipJaws-X PC3-10667U CL7|€58.65
Gainward GeForce GTX 770, 2GB DDR5|€399.00
Intel Core i5-3570K Box, LGA1155|€205.99
Samsung SSD 840 120GB SATA 6Gb/s|€81.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200 3000GB, SATA 6Gb/s|€112.34
Samsung SH-118AB schwarz|€12.89
be quiet! SYSTEM POWER 7 500W|€53.77
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - Intel/AMD|€28.37
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€1116.79

Monotype

Is your monitor really 640x480? I'd be inclined to upgrade that immediately!

Also, just to be sure if you want to re-use your case, can you make sure that it's an ATX case?
With your computer facing forwards towards you, ATX cases open on the left hand side with motherboard mounted on the righthand side.
BTX cases open on the right hand side, with the motherboard mounted on the left.

Cases start at €30 anyway, so you can fit in an upgrade if you need it.

Edit: Just having a quick scan over your build, I'd consider a 4670K and a matching socket 1150 motherboard to match up. New CPUs, just released in the past two days.
http://www.hardwareversand.de/Socket+1150/78033/Intel+Core+i5-4670K+Box%2C+ohne+Lüfter%2C+LGA1150.article

stphn_olin

Yes it is as far as I know, it only has a VGA output anyway. I got the computer sometime ago, graphics card failed a year and a half into it and I never bordered fixing it till now. Oh and the case opens on the left, thanks for the reply and help

BloodBath

You should really upgrade that monitor with the build. I wouldn't even try using some old oem case either.

Something like this would be better I think.

Item|Price
AMD FX-8320 Prozessor, Boxed, Sockel AM3+|€142.13
Thermalright HR-02 Macho Rev.A (BW)|€40.48
Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3, AMD 990X, AM3+, ATX|€93.22
2 x Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 Windforce 2X, 2GB GDDR5, 2x DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort|€329.98
16GB-Kit G.Skill Sniper PC3-14900U CL9-10-9-28|€117.73
Samsung SSD 840 120GB SATA 6Gb/s|€81.99
2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200 1000GB, SATA 6Gb/s|€113.48
Cooltek Antiphon Black, ohne Netzteil|€63.00
be quiet! SYSTEM POWER 7 600W|€66.91
LG 22EA53VQ-P|€129.56
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€1197.47

stphn_olin

Thanks for the build. I noticed you have two 1TB HDDs in your build, is there a reason for this because a single 3TB HDD is roughly the same. As for SLI, I've heard mixed reviews so I am unsure, why do people have a problem with it? Would it be more beneficial than say a single high end GPU?

mad turnip

stphn_olin wrote: »

Thanks for the build. I noticed you have two 1TB HDDs in your build, is there a reason for this because a single 3TB HDD is roughly the same. As for SLI, I've heard mixed reviews so I am unsure, why do people have a problem with it? Would it be more beneficial than say a single high end GPU?

You cannot use a 3TB drive to boot windows on using the current partitioning options without losing 1TB of space.

tuxy

The two possible problems with SLI is compatibility and microstutter.

Compatibility is not a major problem as just about every big release has good support for SLI now. Some smaller indie games may still have problems though.

Microstutter can be very subjective between different people where it will bother some people but not others.

If you do not encounter either of these problems SLI can offer better value for money over a single card.

Here's a report from one user that you may find helpful

http://techreport.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=87407

BloodBath

With video editing you may need multiple drives for better performance. I would have went with 2 x 2tb but it was just outside of the budget.

For example if you are running video from 1 drive, while rendering and saving the new video to another you would want separate drives for each. You don't want the same drive trying to read and write at the same time. I'm no video editor though but I think you will need at least 2.

As for sli there is some micro stutter with some games but for most it's perfect and the odd frame stutter will barely be noticeable.

Monotype

mad turnip wrote: »

You cannot use a 3TB drive to boot windows on using the current partitioning options without losing 1TB of space.

There's an SSD in there so you wouldn't need to worry. Anyhow, I think you're fine if you have a motherboard with UEFI/newer BIOSs and if you partition it with GPT.

stphn_olin

mad turnip wrote: »

You cannot use a 3TB drive to boot windows on using the current partitioning options without losing 1TB of space.

Could I not use the ssd for that? Sorry if its a stupid question, I am clueless

stphn_olin

I forgot to mention that I am planing to use a triple monitor setup in the future if anyone has advise on that

Monotype

Both current generation AMD and nVidia cards will support 3 monitors. If you want to game with three monitors, you'll need to pour as much money as you can into the graphics cards. Two 660s is quite a bit of power, above the needs for one monitor really and would be grand for two really. For 3, it could be done alright for most games, but if you want the resolution high, you'd most likely end up lowering everything else.

You might be as well off getting one powerful card. Then when the time comes to get your three monitors, buy a second card?

BloodBath

It might struggle running some games on 3 x 1080p monitors alright. Most rigs would.

You would get around 30fps in bf3 on max settings, probably less on 64 man multiplayer, but forget about the likes of crysis 3.

2 x titans can barely cope with it at that res.

mad turnip

stphn_olin wrote: »

Could I not use the ssd for that? Sorry if its a stupid question, I am clueless

Sorry your right, I was drunk and didn't really read it, my bad!

Gumbi

BloodBath wrote: »

It might struggle running some games on 3 x 1080p monitors alright. Most rigs would.

You would get around 30fps in bf3 on max settings, probably much on 64 man multiplayer, but forget about the likes of crysis 3.

2 x titans can barely cope with it at that res.

If you're clever with tweaking the settings it's not bad - but in general, I agree :P I wish Crysis had some more rain levels. The water effects blew me away in the first level. Also the game sucked.

stphn_olin

Been enjoying the sun so I haven't been this in awhile, anyways I'm pretty keen on the 770gtx and the HD7970 but cant decide between both. I like the HD7970 because you can get a nice colour scheme going. I hope to get another 770gtx/HD7970 down the line and I can stretch my budget a bit if needs be oh and if you could include a monitor in the build would be great, thanks in advance

Monotype

The monitor in Bloodbath's build is a good one to go for. There's also a 23'' version of it for not much dearer. Just search for "LG IPS" on hardwareversand and you'll see it.

Edit: Out of stock.
http://www.hardwareversand.de/60+cm+(24)+/74649/LG+24EA53VQ.article

stphn_olin

Complete Revamp any sugesstions?

Item|Price
MSI Z77A-G45, Intel Z77, ATX, DDR3|€100.53
16GB-Kit G.Skill RipJaws-X PC3-12800U CL9|€112.51
Zalman Z11 Plus Midi Tower - schwarz, ohne Netzteil|€57.46
Corsair Air Series SP120 Quiet Edition|€12.31
Corsair Hydro Series H100i|€109.01
Intel SSD 520Series 180GB Reseller|€182.69
Seagate Barracuda 7200 3000GB, SATA 6Gb/s|€112.34
Corsair Gaming Series GS700 2013 Edition 700W|€83.15
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660Ti OC, 2GB GDDR5, 2x DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort|€264.62
LG 24EA53VQ|€159.00
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€1212.61

Lu Tze

stphn_olin wrote: »

Complete Revamp any sugesstions?

Item|Price
MSI Z77A-G45, Intel Z77, ATX, DDR3|€100.53
16GB-Kit G.Skill RipJaws-X PC3-12800U CL9|€112.51
Zalman Z11 Plus Midi Tower - schwarz, ohne Netzteil|€57.46
Corsair Air Series SP120 Quiet Edition|€12.31
Corsair Hydro Series H100i|€109.01
Intel SSD 520Series 180GB Reseller|€182.69
Seagate Barracuda 7200 3000GB, SATA 6Gb/s|€112.34
Corsair Gaming Series GS700 2013 Edition 700W|€83.15
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660Ti OC, 2GB GDDR5, 2x DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort|€264.62
LG 24EA53VQ|€159.00
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€1212.61

Processor?

Monotype

Is 16GB of RAM really necessary? How complex is the CAD stuff and video editing?


Are you thinking of SLI? You might want a PSU with 4 PCI-E connectors.

You could do better with the SSD... That's a high end sandforce one which is not bad, but for that price you could get a 256GB Samsung Pro, which is about the best drive there is.
http://www.hardwareversand.de/Solid-State-Disk/67799/Samsung+SSD+840+Pro+256GB+SATA+6Gb+s.article

Or you could save a bit and get the cheaper, not as good but still good 840 or another half dozen drives which are better value than the Intel.

Also, was there some reason why you didn't want to go with the 4670K? I know they're not fantastic overclockers, but the motherboards are good and you're in a better position for upgrades.

tuxy

If the OP is using After Effect then there is a good chance he would make full use of the ram. Very demanding program on RAM when you have layered a few effects in videos.

BloodBath

Also, was there some reason why you didn't want to go with the 4670K? I know they're not fantastic overclockers, but the motherboards are good and you're in a better position for upgrades.

Upgrading is not really an option. I seriously doubt anybody will use that socket to upgrade if they buy something like a 4670k. Do you really think the die shrink on Broadwell is going to yield processors worth upgrading to? A good processor like a 2500k, 3570k, 4670k have very little between them. If you bought any of them around their time of release you would not be using the same socket to upgrade within their lifetime. You would easily get 4-5 years out of those processors. There would be 1 - 2 socket revisions by then.

Anyway op I think that build is significantly worse and will bring you at least €300 over budget since you don't have a processor listed.

Monotype

I like the option to upgrade anyway. I agree that we don't expect any massive leaps forward, but they might be a bit cooler or if you needed a new board, it might be easier to buy a 1150 board. You'd be surprised how quickly support for a dead socket disappears.