Gaming PC, need your thoughts/advice

sogoboy · Sep 28, 2011, 02:39 AM

Approximate Purchase Date: October/early November
Budget Range: ~£700 or ~1100$ After Rebates
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (long gaming sessions in demanding games), browsing, movies, streaming
Parts Not Required:Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: aria.co.uk (cheapest I found) or any UK website, but if possible want to buy everything from 1 place
Country of Origin: UK
Parts Preferences: only preference - Intel CPU I guess
Overclocking: Yes. CPU stable @ ~4.5GHz, GPU @ ~950/1400 core/memory
SLI or Crossfire: Maybe. But at the moment not bothering to buy a PSU suitable for CF
Monitor Resolution: 2x1920x1080 monitors, gaming on one of them, browsing, chatting etc on the other
Additional Comments: Would like to hear about component compatibility and suggestions regarding those, overall cost effectiveness of this system, weak points, etc.
Also more specific questions:
- How to setup a good Airflow in HAF
- Is second fan on 212+ necessary ?
- Thermal compound - supplied with 212+ is ok or should I go with something specific
__________________________________________________ ___

Components I am considering so far:

1. i5-2500K (I would want to oc and run it stable at approx. 4.5)
https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...roductId=43216
£160
2. HAF 912 (don't know if I will be fine with stock fans provided or will need to buy additional ones ?)
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=42044
£65
3. 8GB RipJawsX 12800 CL9
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=46060
£48
4. Hyper 212+ (would I need a second fan for it given my conditions? stock thermal compound is enough or i should buy AS5 or something?)
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=39577
£25
5. Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3 (cheapest Z68, is it a good choice?)
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=45463
£78
6. MSI ATI Radeon HD 6950 OC Twin FrozR III PE (probably won't mess with BIOS flashing, but would want to oc it further to something like 950/1400 core/memory)
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=44455
£220
7. 650W Corsair TX650M
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=45688
£72
8. Spinpoint F3
https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=37726
£45
__________
£713 = ~1110$

Well, that's about it. Sorry for a lengthy post and thank you for your time.

Takaharu · Sep 28, 2011, 08:21 AM

Short answer: hold off.

It's around October-November when new technology is due for release. AMD has its Bulldozer architecture and Intel is not unlikely to release its Socket 2011 series.
I would also recommend only choosing one high-spec monitor rather than two as you will not have a particularly good gaming experience using one screen for gaming and another screen for work; I've tried it before, not that nice to work with. In full-screen mode you can't use the second screen without the game minimising on you and in windowed mode (which not all games can achieve, I might add) the gaming seems a little lacking. This is, of course, my personal opinion/experience and you may very have a different experience.
Either way, you haven't included a monitor at all in your budget there.

I'd also like to add that you should avoid a factory-overclocked graphics card if you want to overclock it yourself. It's kind of pointless.
Get a SATA-3 harddrive as well. You've chosen a SATA-2 drive for a SATA-3 system.

One more thing that I might add is that I wholeheartedly distrust Aria; very bad experience with them in the past. I would recommend eBuyer (no affiliation to eBay and my personal favourite), Scan UK or OC UK as prime choices, each with very good prices and dependability.

sogoboy · Sep 28, 2011, 11:40 AM

Thanks for your insightful reply Takaharu!
Didn't realize Bulldozer is coming out in a month and would have a severe impact on the market. Was too much focused on Intel and from what I've heard, Ivy Bridge won't arrive until 2-3 month into 2012.
The reason I chose expensive Twin Frozr III is because of the custom cooling solution already installed (wouldn't want to mess with it myself) - it's quiet, efficient and allowed several people (from review websites and forums) to get to desired frequencies w/o any problems. But that's just my impression. As you stated, no real point to pay for a factory o/c. Guess I'll have to keep an eye for a custom cooled card with stock frequencies.
Thanks.

blibbax · Sep 28, 2011, 11:56 AM

I'd also add Novatech to that list of trustworthy UK suppliers. They've always treated me well.

Sep 28, 2011, 02:39 AM	#1
sogoboy HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Gaming PC, need your thoughts/advice Approximate Purchase Date: October/early November Budget Range: ~£700 or ~1100$ After Rebates System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming (long gaming sessions in demanding games), browsing, movies, streaming Parts Not Required:Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS Preferred Website(s) for Parts: aria.co.uk (cheapest I found) or any UK website, but if possible want to buy everything from 1 place Country of Origin: UK Parts Preferences: only preference - Intel CPU I guess Overclocking: Yes. CPU stable @ ~4.5GHz, GPU @ ~950/1400 core/memory SLI or Crossfire: Maybe. But at the moment not bothering to buy a PSU suitable for CF Monitor Resolution: 2x1920x1080 monitors, gaming on one of them, browsing, chatting etc on the other Additional Comments: Would like to hear about component compatibility and suggestions regarding those, overall cost effectiveness of this system, weak points, etc. Also more specific questions: - How to setup a good Airflow in HAF - Is second fan on 212+ necessary ? - Thermal compound - supplied with 212+ is ok or should I go with something specific __________________________________________________ ___ Components I am considering so far: 1. i5-2500K (I would want to oc and run it stable at approx. 4.5) https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...roductId=43216 £160 2. HAF 912 (don't know if I will be fine with stock fans provided or will need to buy additional ones ?) https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=42044 £65 3. 8GB RipJawsX 12800 CL9 https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=46060 £48 4. Hyper 212+ (would I need a second fan for it given my conditions? stock thermal compound is enough or i should buy AS5 or something?) https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=39577 £25 5. Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3 (cheapest Z68, is it a good choice?) https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=45463 £78 6. MSI ATI Radeon HD 6950 OC Twin FrozR III PE (probably won't mess with BIOS flashing, but would want to oc it further to something like 950/1400 core/memory) https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=44455 £220 7. 650W Corsair TX650M https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=45688 £72 8. Spinpoint F3 https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=37726 £45 __________ £713 = ~1110$ Well, that's about it. Sorry for a lengthy post and thank you for your time.

Sep 28, 2011, 08:21 AM	#2
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,850 Rep Power: 113 System Specs	Re: Gaming PC, need your thoughts/advice Short answer: hold off. It's around October-November when new technology is due for release. AMD has its Bulldozer architecture and Intel is not unlikely to release its Socket 2011 series. I would also recommend only choosing one high-spec monitor rather than two as you will not have a particularly good gaming experience using one screen for gaming and another screen for work; I've tried it before, not that nice to work with. In full-screen mode you can't use the second screen without the game minimising on you and in windowed mode (which not all games can achieve, I might add) the gaming seems a little lacking. This is, of course, my personal opinion/experience and you may very have a different experience. Either way, you haven't included a monitor at all in your budget there. I'd also like to add that you should avoid a factory-overclocked graphics card if you want to overclock it yourself. It's kind of pointless. Get a SATA-3 harddrive as well. You've chosen a SATA-2 drive for a SATA-3 system. One more thing that I might add is that I wholeheartedly distrust Aria; very bad experience with them in the past. I would recommend eBuyer (no affiliation to eBay and my personal favourite), Scan UK or OC UK as prime choices, each with very good prices and dependability. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

Sep 28, 2011, 11:40 AM	Thread Starter #3
sogoboy HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0	Re: Gaming PC, need your thoughts/advice Thanks for your insightful reply Takaharu! Didn't realize Bulldozer is coming out in a month and would have a severe impact on the market. Was too much focused on Intel and from what I've heard, Ivy Bridge won't arrive until 2-3 month into 2012. The reason I chose expensive Twin Frozr III is because of the custom cooling solution already installed (wouldn't want to mess with it myself) - it's quiet, efficient and allowed several people (from review websites and forums) to get to desired frequencies w/o any problems. But that's just my impression. As you stated, no real point to pay for a factory o/c. Guess I'll have to keep an eye for a custom cooled card with stock frequencies. Thanks.

Sep 28, 2011, 11:56 AM	#4
blibbax What does this do? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 4,231 Rep Power: 254 System Specs	Re: Gaming PC, need your thoughts/advice I'd also add Novatech to that list of trustworthy UK suppliers. They've always treated me well. __________________ Donate the spare computing power of your PC to help to cure Alzheimer's, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease and cancer: Fold for HH!