Gaming rig ftw.

I'm in the process of configuring my gaming PC's final specs before I purchase it just after christmas and was wondering if you guys would know the best parts I could get with the following specs:

Quad core 3.0GHz+ 64 bit
8GB DDR2 ram
250gb+ hard drive (500+ preferred)
Graphics card 512Mb+ (ATi preferred, GDDR3+)
Antec 1200 case (Are fans included??)
600W PSU

The monitor, mouse and keyboard are already sorted and my budget for this is about £800 willing to push if there is a good enough reason! I already have the OS sorted, software isn't an issue for me.

Any prices or recommendations are welcome, thanks for the help guys!

Razer

P.S My mate said "You have to" so:

CPU: I would recommend a Duel core CPU rather than a Quad for gaming, as you will have better performance from a duel, I would recommend the Intel E8400, or the E8500 depending on the prices where you are purchasing from, if the E8500 isn't much more than the E8400, go for the E8500, otherwise the E8400 will be fine.

RAM: it depends on if your wanting to OC your CPU, if you are, go for 2 sets of 2x2GB sticks at PC2-8500 (1066MHz) RAM, if your not wanting to overclock, go for PC2-6400 (800MHz) sticks.

HDD: go for the WD caviar black 640GB drive, it's duel platter so is faster than most other drives (which are 3+platters)

GFX: It depends, what resolution you are working at?

Case: Some fans are included, it includes: the 3 LED fans at the front, the large LED fan at the top, and the two rear LED fan, however if you want a fan on the side panel, you will have to purchase one seperatly.

PSU: Go for the Corsair 650W if you don't want modular and want to save some cash, however if you want a modular PSU, and don't mind spending the extra, go for the 620W unit.

Thanks mate has helped quite a bit. The only reason I'm looking for quad core is because this is going to be the main computer in my house, my laptop's hardly a fandabbytastic machine and my old crummy PC is about at its lifes end. This computer has to see me through about 10 years or so depending on circumstances and I know quad core will allow me to keep the same processor for a longer period of time. I'm not interested in over clocking, It doesnt really appeal to me since everything I do in that respect seems to go badly haha so I'd say the slower RAM will be more than enough.
As much as this is a gaming rig, I dont want it to be the best gaming rig the lands have ever seen, so a modular PSU isnt necessary since the side of my case wont ever come off bar cleaning it and I'm not worried about cable management too much. I'm also looking into having this machine on Windows 7 when that comes out and lacking any definitive specs I want to be quite sure it will run it. If the rig I'm looking at wont run it then it can naf off
As far as pixel ratios go Im looking into having 1440x900 on the desktop but I'm not a graphics freak and will happily go to lower resolutions for the sake of some extra frames. The monitor I'm getting is a 16:10 aspect ratio so something that can display in those dimensions and play games on about high will be more than enough for me =)
Rest of the specs you have posted seem to be pretty clear and very good choices so thank you very much for that! Any other advice on which version of Windows I should get, for the sake of DX10.1 I'm looking at Vista I know but theres 168753965 versions and I'm not sure if ultimate is the best choice?

Thanks for the help!

Razer

Hi there.

thingie has given you a good start.

The point he was making about a quad core is correct. 8 times out of 10, you are better off with a dual core.

Basically because more programs can use them effectively than a quad core. Very few programs can utilise a quad core to any advantage over a dual core. However, a dual core normally has a higher clock speed, so the program can make more use of a faster dual core than a slower quad core.

This is especially true for gaming, and almost all gaming machines are better off with a dual core.

The only times I think a quad core are really worth while is when you use things like graphics rendering software or like to run many virtual machines on a mainly development.

However, as you say, if you want future proof and are not that fussed about gaming, then maybe a quad is the way to go. Only you can decide that. Just don't even consider a Q6600 though, but maybe the Q8200, which is newly released, would be worth a look. Or alternatively the Q9300 for a bit more money.

For the graphics, I would suggest a ATI 4850 or ATI 4870. 512MB of VRAM will be fine at your resolution.

Good choice going with 8GB of system RAM. It makes sense when it is so cheap.

As far as Vista is concerned, Home Premium is the way to go.

I have a beta build of Windows 7 running on my computer at the moment (its too buggy to actually use though) and it is humming along nicely on the system in my signature.

Saying all that, how bang up to date do you want to go. You may be able to squeeze out a Core I7 system, I hear it is possible for around £800 to a £1K...

It's not that I'm not fussed about gaming, I quite like it but if my PC cannot run it I'll usually get it on my dearly beloved PS3. At £40-£50 a pop though it can be quite expensive and I have noticed PC games can be a few pounds cheaper which over 10 games or so may be another game for free essentially so I'm looking for playing games primarily on PC where possible.

The graphics cards are the same ones I had in mind, anything that causes problems by any chance?

8GB will make the most of 64-bit as I'm really not interested in going to 2TB because as future proof as it may be, it wont live ot the point of TB RAM minimums. Should I be worried about RAM speed and timings and such?

I've clicked the link in Thingie's signature and the differences at the moment for a Core i7 system are too small for me to properly want one. As nice as it would be I think quad core will be quite enough. If the price is right I might have a look into it but the Quads you suggested look pretty good to me. As I say, its not designed to be the best gaming rig in the world, just good enough to get decent frames on all the games I play and it's CS:S at the moment haha, not a particularly difficult game to run!

Thanks for the info mate, will have a check on some core i7 system price tags in a short while. +1!

No problems really with the graphics cards. Just don't try crossfire (two of them together) with the 4870 at the moment as the drivers are not good yet.

RAM timings are all much of a likeness, just look for something like 8-8-8-12 or 8-8-8-15. Personally I like OCZ ram, but Corsair and Crucuial G.Skill and GeIL are very good as well. Go for four 2GB sticks obviously.

Can I perhaps tempt you into overclocking? There really are no down sides, you get a free performance boost (can be quite a massive one), and I'll offer to walk you through it. Yep, I'll tell you exactly what to do if you want me to until you get an excellent overclock.

Make sure you post a final parts list before you buy so we can run a final eye over them.

Will do and I'll consider an overclock. Just a little cautious over overclocking a piece I've spent near a thousand quid on lol. Last time I was walked through it I ended walking into a PC shop and ordering an Intel P4.. didnt go well haha.

Not sure when parts will be finalised, I'm ordering on January though so probably around 1st Jan I'll have the very bits I'll be ordering but I'll put a mock up list soon as I'm done with college work haha =P

I'll just mention, for the graphics card, at that resolution, the 4870 is a huge overkill, go for the 4850, I run a 3850 on a 1280x1024 monitor on Supreme commander with a secondary monitor at the same res on desktop, and I get 10+ fps (it's playable, just) with every setting on max.

Overclocking is well worth doing, and infact, I bought the components for my current build for precisely that reason, I wanted something cheap but good performance, and I get about the same CPU performance than my brother who has an E7200 (which cost about 3-4 times the price when I bought mine)

As for the Core i7, I'm not so sure it's possible to get a full build for £800, when the new components came out I had a go at making myself a core i7 build (only in web baskets unfortunatly ) and I wasn't being silly, getting the most powerfull stuff or anything, and the build cost me over £1600. If you get the cheapest Core i7 components, you could probably get a CPU, Motherboard, and RAM for about £800, but you wouldn't get HDD, Case, PSU etc for that price, and you definatly won't get a good GFX card with that price. Sorry if this has broken a bubble or anything, but I'm afraid it's true, the stuff is all just insanly expensive because it's the current best on the market.

Well if you exclude VAT, you can do a full build for £800 :)

Admittedly with VAT it comes to a grand, but I did say that in my original post.



As for the graphics card, maybe the 4870 is overkill for the resolution, but if you have the money and considering he said he wants a really future proof build, may replace the monitor etc I think it is a good insurance.

But then again you could always just get another 4850 at a later date if you have the right motherboard.

I have to admit that Core I7 build would be tempting if I had the cash but surely I could get something with roughly the same power and not have to spend £150 on the RAM! still a good build there!

I know that processors rarely get used to 100% of their maximum potential since they are bogged down usually by RAM and HDD speeds (short of 3D design software) so I doubt a Core I7 system would give me a great benefit?

The system I configured looked like: (Im sure something's wrong here by the way..)

That build is pretty good apart from the power supply. Get a Corsair 620 or similar. Something from the Corsair range around 500 - 700W.

Also, that is one hell of a processor. It is almost certainly overkill.

The benefits of a Core I7 system are basically the memory bandwidth ( much faster communication between the RAM making things seem faster) and the way that it can scale two graphics cards. Supposedly dual / tri graphics cards perform up to 50 pecent better on the X58 motherboards.

Oh, and it is the most up to date kit available.

As good as things appearing faster may be, an I7 still is a bit much for me. Both cost and usefulness. Could save money and get adequate performance no?

I'll have a look into getting a corsair PSU, any reccomendations on the wattage? I dont wanna buy a kilowatt one when 500 watt is more than enough haha

Yea, Core i7 isn't worth it at the moment.

As for the PSU, I would recommend the Corsair 650W if you don't want modular, and the 620W if you do.

We don't know what is going to happen to Core I7 prices by January.

I suppose getting a core i7 in January might be OK, but at this exact point in time, it's not worth it.