Gaming pc build help needed!

IKnowNowt

Hi all, I'm looking to get myself a gaming pc and was checking out pcspecialist for their costs. I've never put a pc together before but I figure it would be better value to buy the parts myself and just have a go at it. Is the saving worthwhile or should I just stick with pcspecialist?

In any case, here's the questionnaire bit just in case you guys think it is a worthwhile saving. I think my budget is pretty decent but I know it won't get the best system possible, so bang for buck is what I'm after really.

1. What is your budget? [€1200 or so, I can go a little over if necessary]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming] (Dragon Age Inquisition is what I'm looking to)

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [No]

5. Do you need a monitor? [Yes]

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [19+, I'm used to an 18.4' laptop screen so even 19' would be ok. Quality:price balance is more important]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Keyboard/Mouse]

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

8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Laser(preferred)]

9. When are you purchasing? [ASAP basically, my current laptop is giving me problems so time to trade up]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [Galway]

Any help you guys can provide would be greatly appreciated, I'm a newbie to this whole thing to be honest so I defo need the feedback. Cheers!

BloodBath

Something like this should do nicely. That leaves enough to get a decent keyboard from Amazon.

Prices were got using geizhals.de

Item|Price
Intel Core i5-4670K Box, LGA1150|€196.98
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - Intel/AMD|€27.88
ASRock Z87M Pro4, Sockel 1150, mATX|€76.65
Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X Rev 2.0 Battlefield 4 Edition, 3GB DDR5, PCI- Express|€262.83
8GB-Kit Team Group Elite Series, DDR3-1600, CL11|€62.98
WD Blue 1TB 6Gb's|€48.47
Samsung SSD 840 EVO Basic 120GB SATA 6Gb/s|€74.98
FRACTAL DESIGN Gehäuse Define Mini|€77.89
Corsair CX Series Modular CX500M, 500W|€53.41
Samsung SH-224DB schwarz|€13.68
Windows 8.1 64Bit Eng Intl (SB-Version) DVD|€82.48
LG Flatron 22EA53VQ-P|€115.99
3 x FRACTAL DESIGN Lüfter FD Silent Series R2 FD-FAN-SSR2-120, 120mm|€23.67
Sharkoon Drakonia Gaming Laser Mouse|€22.68
Sharkoon Fire Glider Gaming Mat|€8.08
LogiLink SATA Anschlusskabel mit Sicherungslasche, 0.5m|€0.74
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€1168.38

IKnowNowt

BloodBath wrote: »

Something like this should do nicely. That leaves enough to get a decent keyboard from Amazon.

Prices were got using geizhals.de

Item|Price
Intel Core i5-4670K Box, LGA1150|€196.98
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - Intel/AMD|€27.88
ASRock Z87M Pro4, Sockel 1150, mATX|€76.65
Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X Rev 2.0 Battlefield 4 Edition, 3GB DDR5, PCI- Express|€262.83
8GB-Kit Team Group Elite Series, DDR3-1600, CL11|€62.98
WD Blue 1TB 6Gb's|€48.47
Samsung SSD 840 EVO Basic 120GB SATA 6Gb/s|€74.98
FRACTAL DESIGN Gehäuse Define Mini|€77.89
Corsair CX Series Modular CX500M, 500W|€53.41
Samsung SH-224DB schwarz|€13.68
Windows 8.1 64Bit Eng Intl (SB-Version) DVD|€82.48
LG Flatron 22EA53VQ-P|€115.99
3 x FRACTAL DESIGN Lüfter FD Silent Series R2 FD-FAN-SSR2-120, 120mm|€23.67
Sharkoon Drakonia Gaming Laser Mouse|€22.68
Sharkoon Fire Glider Gaming Mat|€8.08
LogiLink SATA Anschlusskabel mit Sicherungslasche, 0.5m|€0.74
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€1168.38

Thanks a million for this mate, appreciate you taking the time. Can I ask one more thing though, just outta curiosity, what would you say is a comparable nvidia/geforce graphics card?

Luck100

IKnowNowt wrote: »

Thanks a million for this mate, appreciate you taking the time. Can I ask one more thing though, just outta curiosity, what would you say is a comparable nvidia/geforce graphics card?

GTX 770 would be roughly the same price / peformance level

BloodBath

I'd go with the 280x though. Free copy of BF4 and if more games adopt mantle, which they should since the consoles will use it, then you will get better performance on the 280x.

BF4 is the first game to make use of it.

IKnowNowt

Thanks a ton lads, gonna look at putting that together this week.
Anything else I should know or consider?

Hal1

A 500w psu be able for all that?

IKnowNowt

You think it wouldn't do? You think maybe I would need to get a 650W or so? Do you see any other compatibility issues?

Hal1

It just seems like the weak link out of that build. I would be aiming for at least 700w.

Serephucus

A 500W PSU is loads for that. 700W would only be needed if he was adding a second 280X.

BloodBath

Ya that rig would only use about 350w under load while overclocked. PSU's run most efficiently at 40-60% range of their capacity.

Make sure all parts are in stock before ordering if you don't want delays. A lot were out of stock in my list.

yawhat!

Sorry to hijack but talking about power consumption here.

Would a be quiet 700Watt be enough for R9-290 in crossfire. I think I would be pushing it. Plan on adding another one soon. I see a lot of places on the internet recommending at least 850 watts. I wouldn't plan on overclocking them in crossfire and have the 4670K overclocked to 4.4 ghz. Was looking at this.

http://www.techspot.com/review/736-amd-radeon-r9-290/page8.html

BloodBath

It would be pushing it tight. It would run I'd say but would push a 700w psu close to it's limits and not efficiently at all.

I'd be looking to get at least a gold or plat rated 850w psu for that.

Something like this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMPSU-850HX-Professional-Series-Supply/dp/B002FJ6954/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1391536970&sr=8-11&keywords=corsair+850w&tag=fczbkkcom04-21

or this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Professional-Series-Modular-Platinum/dp/B00A74X9RU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1391537137&sr=8-4&keywords=corsair+850w&tag=fczbkkcom04-21

IKnowNowt

BloodBath wrote: »

Something like this should do nicely. That leaves enough to get a decent keyboard from Amazon.

Prices were got using geizhals.de

Item|Price
Intel Core i5-4670K Box, LGA1150|€196.98
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - Intel/AMD|€27.88
ASRock Z87M Pro4, Sockel 1150, mATX|€76.65
Gigabyte Radeon R9 280X Rev 2.0 Battlefield 4 Edition, 3GB DDR5, PCI- Express|€262.83
8GB-Kit Team Group Elite Series, DDR3-1600, CL11|€62.98
WD Blue 1TB 6Gb's|€48.47
Samsung SSD 840 EVO Basic 120GB SATA 6Gb/s|€74.98
FRACTAL DESIGN Gehäuse Define Mini|€77.89
Corsair CX Series Modular CX500M, 500W|€53.41
Samsung SH-224DB schwarz|€13.68
Windows 8.1 64Bit Eng Intl (SB-Version) DVD|€82.48
LG Flatron 22EA53VQ-P|€115.99
3 x FRACTAL DESIGN Lüfter FD Silent Series R2 FD-FAN-SSR2-120, 120mm|€23.67
Sharkoon Drakonia Gaming Laser Mouse|€22.68
Sharkoon Fire Glider Gaming Mat|€8.08
LogiLink SATA Anschlusskabel mit Sicherungslasche, 0.5m|€0.74
Shipping|€18.99
Total|€1168.38

Thanks a lot for your help BloodBath, I went with pretty much all your recommendations. I made a few changes here and there due to a lack of availability of ones you chose, hopefully the changes are not detrimental to your overall idea. Really, very hopeful in fact!

The main changes I had to make were:
Different RAM (8GB-Kit G-Skill RipJaws PC3-12800U CL9)
Same monitor but had to take a different size (23")
Different case fans, I looked for Fractal ones but all out (Noiseblocker BlackSilent Fan XLP - 120mm)
Had to go for a different version of the GPU (Sapphire R9 280X Dual-X OC Lite Retail, AMD Radeon R9 280X, 3GB DDR5)

I have to say, I was a little nervous ordering without running it by you first as I have no idea if this stuff (especially the GPU) is of any use to the build! I'm not really in a position to wait tho, knowing from other posts that the order can take some time to complete, because my current laptop is nigh on unusable lately. But please let me know if you spot something is off and I can try to do something about it.

Cheers mate!

BloodBath

Looks fine to me. Let us know how you get on. Best of luck.

IKnowNowt

Just finished building the PC, please tell me that this inability to connect to internet wirelessly is a software issue...

BloodBath

Nope, you never asked for a wireless card. It was in the list of peripheral options and you only listed keyboard and mouse.

Get homeplugs if you have a decent connection.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-PA411KIT-AV500-Powerline-Adapter/dp/B0084Y9N3O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1392365014&sr=8-2&keywords=homeplugs&tag=fczbkkcom04-21

IKnowNowt

Oops, sorry for not getting back to you Bloodbath! Yeah, was annoyed with myself for forgetting the wireless adapter. Forgetting is probably the wrong word actually cos, being us to laptops with their integrated wireless adapters (& everything else!), I just didn't think of it.

I got some powerline adapters and they are excellent. Had never heard of them before so well impressed with the connection speeds. As for the PC itself, it is a beauty! So fast! Went together quite easy, for a first time! Very happy with it mate, no problems that I've noticed really. There are 2 fans that aren't running and I dunno why, I read that 4 pin fans should still work on 3 pin ports but maybe that's not the case? In any event, the heat is staying low so I'm not that worried right now but if you have an idea then do let me know.

So thanks for the help man, tis a great machine!

BloodBath

No problem man. Glad you like it.

Which fans have the 4 pin connections?

4 pin connections will work in 3 pin headers if the header doesn't have some sort of plastic locking mechanism that will only fit a 3 pin fan connection. Are you sure you have the correct 3 pins in place. The only difference between 3 and 4 pin is the 4 pins have an extra pin that allows power/speed control. You can still control 3 pin fan speeds connected to the board through the bios.

You can buy adapters that will give you more if you need them or a fan controller. Doesn't that case come with a fan controller already?

Post some pics if you can.