Help With A Gaming Build

[Lunawolfy]

I am looking to build a gaming PC for the first time and I have been saving a considerable mound of dosh, I am looking for something really good that can play high end games (Crysis 2, Battlefield, COD etc) and I am wanting to know if this will do and if any of you know any issues I may have building this or if certain components are not sufficient.

I welcome all feedback,

Thanks :)

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/840/buildy.png (http://img838.imageshack.us/i/buildy.png/)

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[randommagik6]

It's all good buut why not drop the ssd & hdd to get a hybrid?

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/harddrives-internal/solidstate/2.5inchsolidstate/ST95005620AS.html

And 550w to power all of that? hmm I don't know lol

If you have the money get the 750w powerstation

[Lunawolfy]

Is the performance good with a hybrid drive? I have never really heard anything about them, I just wanted an SSD for booting OS quickly and for loading popular games on.

Any PSU you can recommend? I hear things all the time about unreliable ones cutting and blowing up :p

[LiamJ]

I'd keep the SSD tbh. However I'd swap the mechanical HDD for a cheaper one, as it's not really worth the >50% premium over a Samsung F3 or Seagate Barracuda.

I'd also swap the case out for something else, but that is mostly personal preference. The NZXT doesn't really offer anything special for it's price in my opinion, and neither do I appreciate the looks, so I would get something like the CM 690-II (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/cases/cases/Coolermaster/RC-692-KKN3.html) that is great value. It cools as well as the NZXT, arguably looks better, has a better tool-less system AFAIK, and is half the price.

The saved funds will get you a much better PSU and motherboard that allow you to use Crossfire in the future. The Corsair TX750 (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/powersupplies/Corsair/CMPSU-750TXUK.html) is what I would go for, as it has 4 PCI-E power connectors, along with the Asus P8P67-M PRO (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/motherboards/intel1155p67chipsetmotherboards/asus/90-mibela-g0eay0dz.html).

The only other thing I might change is the cooler, but that depends on whether you want to pay less, but have a slightly noisier cooler at the same performance.

[Lunawolfy]

Thanks Liam :)

I swapped the cases and I've gone for the Corsair 750 PSU, also I've added the PRO motherboard (didn't realise there was a 1-up model that was SLI/Crossfire ready)

I dunno what kind of internal drive to get in addition to the SSD, as I would like it to be as fast as possible but I realise there is a pointlessness as all it does is hold games I am currently not playing.

As for SLI/Crossfire, am I better to stick two "Gigabyte ATI Radeon 5770 Super OC 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express" or will the one larger card be just as good?

What was your alternative with the cooling?

[randommagik6]

Two of these: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/atiradeongraphicscards/atihd5700series/xfx/hd-577a-zndc.html

Heavily overclocked, I imagine they run like a beast alone let alone XFire :)

[Lunawolfy]

Two of these: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/atiradeongraphicscards/atihd5700series/xfx/hd-577a-zndc.html

Heavily overclocked, I imagine they run like a beast alone let alone XFire :)

I thought that but you look at review sites they suddenly don't look that good :/

http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_pages/ati_radeon_hd_5770_crossfire_performance,5.html

[LiamJ]

Xfire 5770 performance really isn't that good when you can get a 6950 and unlock/overclock it. Furthermore, it'll use less power and be more future-proof.

Get a 6950.

As for cooling, you could get a Titan Fenrir Evo or Thermaltake Frio for quite a bit less and the performance difference is minimal. However, they will be a bit louder. Noise does depend on fans you choose, but if you decide to change the fans, the price will increase to that of the H-50 anyway.

[Lunawolfy]

Yeah Liam I have read that with a BIOS flash you can unlock a 6950 to think it is a 6970! :P

The main reason I am getting the water cooling is mainly experience, I have never installed one before, plus if I overclock the 2500K I want to be certain that it won't die on me (I am aware that there are high-end fans that would do the job, but water cooling is so cool)

I will post up a second revision and see what you all think :)

[randommagik6]

5770XFire are pretty outdated but I only posted what you seemed you wanted :)

[Lunawolfy]

Hey all thanks for the awesome help so far, this is what I now have, it doesn't seem hugely different however I think there have been some good improvements:

1 - A just as, if not more efficient case for half the price.

2 - The SLI/XFire compatable motherboard,

3 - 750W PSU

4 - Better SSD and cheaper HDD for data.

Tell me if you guys have any thought :)

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/8892/build2s.png (http://img811.imageshack.us/i/build2s.png/)

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[LiamJ]

Perfect.

You may want to drop the thermal paste though. Corsair's pre-applied paste is one of the best around (presume they still use Shin-Etsu).

[Peeej]

I don't think Nova stock em but its wotth taking a look at the Antec Kuhler H20 620, it cheaper than the H50 and the reviews have had it close to H70 performance. It certinaly out performs the H50.....

[Lunawolfy]

I don't think Nova stock em but its wotth taking a look at the Antec Kuhler H20 620, it cheaper than the H50 and the reviews have had it close to H70 performance. It certinaly out performs the H50.....

I tried looking at other sites for a cheap one, but P+P included it's the same cost as an H50 and I've heard good reviews about Corsair.

@Liam, if it comes with good paste that would be nice, however neither the product description nor the reviews even mention it.

EDIT: Does anyone know anything about the HAF 912 (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/cases/cases/coolermaster/rc-912p-kkn1.html)?

I am aware that the CM 690 II (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/cases/cases/coolermaster/rc-692-kkn3.html) is a good case, however the HAF is more aesthetically pleasing.

[LiamJ]

...however the HAF is more aesthetically pleasing.

:eek:

You really think so? I think it looks horrible.

Either way, the HAF is smaller inside and has less room for cable management. Cooling performance will be almost exactly the same and they are similar for features (although the 690-II comes with a better tool-less system for the 3.5" bays).

[randommagik6]

Perfect.

You may want to drop the thermal paste though. Corsair's pre-applied paste is one of the best around (presume they still use Shin-Etsu).

Doesn't hurt to have it at the ready :)

[LiamJ]

Doesn't hurt to have it at the ready :)

That is true. I suppose not ordering some will inevitably lead to an incident requiring you to re-apply. :rolleye:

[randommagik6]

That is true. I suppose not ordering some will inevitably lead to an incident requiring you to re-apply. :rolleye:

I ended up using my a quarter of my tube on the family pc :D

[Butterz]

I don't think Nova stock em but its wotth taking a look at the Antec Kuhler H20 620, it cheaper than the H50 and the reviews have had it close to H70 performance. It certinaly out performs the H50.....

I wouldn't suggest these, the build quality is less than that of corsair!

[LiamJ]

I wouldn't suggest these, the build quality is less than that of corsair!

You think so? I have heard nothing to suggest anything below par.

[Butterz]

Lower quality tubing and the actual block done to a lower standard.

[Lunawolfy]

Yeah I wanna go with a name I can trust, and I wanna just buy it all off Novatech (given the SSD and the 6950 are in stock!)

I'm wanting the 2500k to hit 4.5GHz so it would be nice to be able to rely on the cooling

EDIT: Am I right in saying this motherboard is designed for dual channel memory, would I be better buying 2x4GB sticks (the model up from what I currently have seleted) or would 4x2 pull the same weight as an eventual upgrade?

[Lunawolfy]

Bump :D

[LiamJ]

I would go with 1 or 2 4Gb sticks depending on whether you can afford it now. TBH, you probably won't use more than 3.5Gb with games at the moment anyway.

[Lunawolfy]

The problem is good ram only comes in sets, the motherboard allows 4 slots of ram and I could either buy 2x2GB (which I would eventually upgrade with another pack of 2x2GB) or just do straight to 2x4GB (which I was under the presumption would work better in dual channel config)

[randommagik6]

I suppose it's better to go 2x4 rather than 4x2 less power and more upgrade-ability for the future :)

I recommend G.Skill RipJaw 4GB sticks, get two of 'em

Won't regret that I tell ya :D

[Lunawolfy]

I suppose it's better to go 2x4 rather than 4x2 less power and more upgrade-ability for the future :)

I recommend G.Skill RipJaw 4GB sticks, get two of 'em

Won't regret that I tell ya :D

I know :D I've upgraded the RAM in my basket to that very model, things of beauty :) And they run at 1600MHz :):):)

[Butterz]

Personally I would choose corsair memory. The vengeance series offers fantastic performance. (yes g-skill are still very good). The design of the heat-spreaders used on corsair is much more sophisticated. They have a better heat transfer design, thus improving cooling/lifespan (contrary to a review that bit-tech/custom pc said that they were made out of plastic!!!??.....they are not! Obviously they didn't go to spec savers :')) .

[Lunawolfy]

Personally I would choose corsair memory. The vengeance series offers fantastic performance. (yes g-skill are still very good). The design of the heat-spreaders used on corsair is much more sophisticated. They have a better heat transfer design, thus improving cooling/lifespan (contrary to a review that bit-tech/custom pc said that they were made out of plastic!!!??.....they are not! Obviously they didn't go to spec savers :')) .

Nice one mate! I had a look at the Vengeance series and found Corsair Blue (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/memory-pc/ddr3-pc3-12800/1600mhz/Corsair/CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B.html), note the last picture is the RAM in the motherboard I have selected, colour co-ordinated yummyness!

I've also selected the CM 690 II (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/cases/cases/Coolermaster/RC-692-KKN3.html) to keep the blue going ;)

[Asce]

Are you sticking with the all in one Corsair liquid cooliong kits? If not and your going for air cooling, then the Vengance ram will interfer with tall tower heatsinks.

[Lunawolfy]

Defo keeping the H20 :P

[Peeej]

me neither, same manufacturers...all the reviews I have read praise them highly and put them closer to the H70 than the H50....TBH I'm not convinced about the H50 vs a same value air cooler....

[Lunawolfy]

I've heard nothing but good things about the H50. All reviews show excellent results, and the CPU gets even cooler when you invest in another 120mm for push-pull config.

[Lunawolfy]

Bump :)