I'm looking to buy replacement tech, since my PC is getting creaky and it's about time I got on this SSD thing anyway.
Currently using: Q9550 in a Striker II Extreme, 8GB RAM
Will be keeping from that machine: Fractal R4 case, GTX650Ti, 1TB SSHD, 2X WD Velociraptor, a crappy but serviceable PSU
Mainly used for: Professional audio sequencing, graphics, some games from time to time but nothing major on that front.
Want: A quiet system! New motherboard with USB3, CPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Win 8.1 64-bit OEM (c. £58) and a CPU cooler (ideally BeQuiet's Dark Rock Advanced or similar). Do not want SLi/Crossfire, will consider a small form factor motherboard since my R4 will accept mini boards.
I have about £500 to spend on this, but could go higher if I wait. My current machine is really suffering though, and I've got work to do, so ideally I'd like to buy ASAP within this budget. If I can bring it in sufficiently within budget, I'd love to get a new, quiet PSU as well.
So far, I've been considering:
http://www.scan.co.uk/3xs-overclocked-bundles
3XS FM2 OC10
AMD A8 6600K Black
(4.2GHz overclock is probably my maximum, since I'd like the PC to be near-silent if possible)
Gigabyte GA-F2A85X-D3H
BeQuiet Dark Rock Advanced
16GB 1600MHz Corsair Vengeance RAM
Win 8.1
£407.62
+ £100-ish for 256GB SSD
£508
3XS AM3 OC5
AMD FX 6300 Black (second option)
(4.2GHz overclock is probably my maximum, since I'd like the PC to be near-silent if possible)
Gigabyte GA78-LMT
Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro V2
16GB 1600MHz Corsair Vengeance RAM
Win 8.1
£368.16
+ £100-ish for 256GB SSD
£468
The overclocked Intels are all out of my price range if I am to get an SSD, and I really want that SSD. So instead I'd be going to the Value range for the only one I can sensibly consider...
http://3xs.scan.co.uk/configurator/vb20i
VB20i
i5 4440, no overclock possible
Asus H81M-Plus
be quiet! Shadow Rock Performance Cooler
16GB Corsair Vengeance LP - 1600MHz
Win 8.1
£427
+ £100-ish for 256GB SSD
£527
... but I can make almost the same thing for less at Overclockers:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=43&catid=2512
"Xenon H81M" Configurable Intel Pentium / Core i3 / i5 Micro ATX Home PC Bundle
i5 4440 (no overclock possible)
accept Intel stock cooler but replace with Be Quiet! Shadow Rock Topflow SR1 CPU Cooler
16GB 1600MHz mystery RAM
£294
+ £58 for Win8.1 OEM
+ £40 for BeQuiet cooler
+ £100-ish for 256GB SSD
£492
So, what would you advise I do? Thanks!