Scrutinise my build

[covent.gardens]

So after my 'power surge' catastrophe I need a new computer.

I already own and wish to keep my Antec 900 case, and already have monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, DVD drive, cpu cooler, and hopefully my SSD & HD is still working.

Usage: I only play World of Tanks at the mo but intend to play some newer games soon so want a decent gaming rig. Budget about £800 tops if it's really worth it for cpu, motherboard, ram and video card.

I will overclock when the need arises

I was thinking:

Motherboard: The P8Z77-V Deluxe https://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-Motherboard-Bluetooth-CrossFireX-LudicLogix/dp/B007KZQE5I £179

CPU: Torn, but I think the i5 3570k would do me, since it's supposed to be as good in games as the i7, and I don't do anything (like video editing) to warrant the i7? £170.

RAM:still researching but 8Gb will be fine, I had 8gb in my old machine and doubt I ever used half of it. Cost about £60 I guess

Graphics card: MSI GeForce GTX 660 1033MHz 2GB PCI-Express 3.0 HDMI OC - £168 (Perhaps I should try and make do with i5's integrated graphics for World of Tanks until the 700 series comes out?)

PSU: XFX 850W Black Edition 80+ Gold PSU - £125

Total: £702

Open for ideas to save money
As well as spending extra if it's worth it

Thanks

[Seb]

The Geforce 700 series isn't likely to hit until to the end of the year.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[covent.gardens]

Scratch that idea then

Does the rest look reasonable?

[The Artist]

Buy a coolermaster 212 EVO heatsink and fan for your i5 AND some proper thermal paste made by a brand name. Cooler might come with some actually but I used some Akasa stuff I bought.

Then you can OC your CPU in the bios so easily to 4ghz or more. I got to 4.5 and it BSOD so went back down to 4.35 or something.

[The Wobbly Orange]

I recommend going for an AMD FX cpu...you lose perhaps 5% on what you are planning on getting CPU wise, but it pretty much frees up another £50 to drop on your GFX card which would give you more bang for buck when it comes to games.
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People tell me I am lovely. How wrong they are!

[Casper]

https://www.tesco.com/direct/belkin-8-socket-surge-protection-pc-cew-gbp/207-6777.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=207-6777&kpid=207-6777&sc_cmp=ppc_g__&gclid=CMvTwfbV_bUCFcbKtAod7hcAEg

[Jayy]

If it weren't for web design and graphics editing, I would've got an i5 instead of an i7. I just wanted the CPU to cope with having several graphics programs open at the same time, working with large files.

The 660 Ti card, put a set of them in SLi and you have a force to be reckoned with. You're looking at outperforming a card like my GTX680 4GB beast with 2 x 660 ti's.

[CaNsA]

[Jayy]

Also, 1600mhz is fine.

I've tested 2,400mhz ram and it really doesn't make any difference in gaming at all.

[covent.gardens]

Cheers.

I received my Corsair AX860W Fully Modular Platinum PSU today. This is the first step of the new build. It's currently running a cheap second-hand bundle I bought off eBay just so I have a working half-decent PC for the time being, so now I don't have to rush my new build. And I'm very impressed with it. Fan only comes on at 60% load or when it's hot, and so far, hasn't even come on once even when gaming.

I've been putting some hours in trying to get up to speed with everything. A lot of people say I should wait until Haswell now. But it's mainly an inbuilt graphics improvement and energy saving changes? Anmd then there's that USB3.0 bug. I'm not sure I will benefit hugely from waiting. If I bought an i5 or i7 that would probably do me for my needs for 4 or more years. So I will probably press ahead now. I like the P8Z77-V Deluxe and might order it in the next couple of days although the Sabertooth Z77 is a much nicer looking board which I'm tempted by.

I'd definitely get 2x 4Gb sticks.

Where do you guys go to keep ahead of things? So you know what's out there and what's coming out soon?
I'm checking Tomshardware and Anandtech.

[CaNsA]

I look on the forums.
forums.Overclockers.co.uk << they are all wankers though and it is run by Nazis
and
overclockers.com << US based but not full of retards nor is it run by Nazis

[Jayy]

Linus Tech Tips is a great channel to sub to on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/user/LinusTechTips

Get the Z77 if you can! Had mine for about 6 months now. Photo was taken a good while back, have replaced the GPU and re-added my ASUS Xonar D2X sound card, few more HDDs and SSDs.

https://i.imgur.com/AIQyFBQ.jpg

Also has a very cool thermal radar with all the sensors dotted around the board (as well as 2 mini fans push/pulling air down the tunnels), it really is a brilliant board.

https://i.imgur.com/1SqIA5U.png

[Scotsman37]

I would suggest the following;

a) SSD - Solid State Drive for your main operating system and the benefits of that there is no spin up/down due to everything being on computer chips instead. This will give a very responsive system with extremely fast boot-up/shutdown time and especially for games, plus the benefit if you ever have to move your system a bad knock/bump to the system will not effect it at all due to no moving parts inside!

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2025402/ssds-vs-hard-drives-vs-hybrids-which-storage-tech-is-right-for-you-.html

b) i7 will always be better than an i5 due to the improved core clock times and the greater number of threads allowing more data through put. Like i3, i5 & i7 3rd generation processors they both have integrated graphics Intel graphics chips which are both Directx11 compatible. Your choice of graphics card is a good one and I know there is better ones out there except, but you should be fine with your choice Geforce Ti card for now unless you're wanting to the absolutely the extreme!!!

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404674,00.asp

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Intel/Core_i5_3570K_and_i7_3770K_Comparison/

c) An excellent monitor with the lowest refresh rate as possible for all those explosive scenes to look absolutely smooth, plus if it's an IPS type for greater picture quality then that is an excellent option too, plus if it's 3D capable even better. Alternatively connect it to your large screen TV via HDMI.

https://reviews.cnet.com/monitor-buying-guide/

d) Internet connection being hardwired is always the best option to reduce your lag time to the lowest possible for better response because if it's to high no matter how good your system the lag time will always be your Achilles heel for online hardcore gaming. So, either connect it directly with the ethernet cable or if your system has no choice but wireless then another option is to use mains power line of your home to transmit the internet signal where a special mains in plug is nearby your router/modem connected by an ethernet cable and the other special plug is located in the same room as your system which you connected with an ethernet cable, and what this does is you eliminate the problem where the walls of your home reduces the signal strength plus it's a faster response time too to reduce your lag time with a continuous strong signal going through the cable.


https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/power-line-networking/321_3076_30123_xx_xx/xx-criteria.html

e) Memory is another key component especially if it's a name brand one to be sure of quality and especially if its designed for gaming!

f) Cooling is very important indeed because the automatic overclocking of an Intel processor for when a program may need it will NOT happen if the processor is already close to it's designed maximum heat limit due to the processor's built safety feature to prevent it from possibly crashing your system or being cooked!

g) Get a good Gaming mouse because with the added buttons and better response with higher DPI scrolling will cut your time down scrolling through weapons rather than just pressing the correct option on the keyboard and you'll get quicker movement with the mouse due to the higher DPI. Plus, those move forward/backward option buttons on the mouse is also good for browsing the internet, as you don't have to move your mouse on screen to click on the back/forward button either for the browser.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=702&catid=23&subid=1257

[Seb]

[Scotsman37]

Yes, Response Time and I posted that one a little bit to early before I had my morning coffee!! lol

[Jayy]