Building my gaming PC

[Dareos]

I knew Cat couldnt resist this thread and thats a pretty nice build too. Everything I have been pricing for myself for the next machine appears to be running to £1k without a monitor, will post it before long :0

Just 1 thing Cat, why that SSD, is the agility from OCZ not a faster drive?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I knew Cat couldnt resist this thread and thats a pretty nice build too. Everything I have been pricing for myself for the next machine appears to be running to £1k without a monitor, will post it before long :0

Just 1 thing Cat, why that SSD, is the agility from OCZ not a faster drive?

Indeed,the OCZ Agility is faster.

However,I would check this out:

http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...34nm-test.html

[Dareos]

That makes for some interesting reading, without hijacking the thread too much, how badly does the slower speed affect boot times, as this would be the main function in my onw build?

[akifh]

CAT-THE-FIFTH, I've talked to my friend that basically designed this whole setup for me, he said your take on the build is pretty good, however he added "I would've chosen that cpu cooler too but i didn't think that it would support the 1155 socket sandy bridge cpu?"

So would the cooler do its job of supporting the 1155 socket sandy bridge cpu?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

AFAIK,the cooler mounting holes for socket 1155 and 1156 are identical. You could check with Scan just in case.

One, more thing I listed a non-Crossfire capable motherboard as it was cheaper.

Also,check the following web-pages for offers:

http://www.scan.co.uk/todayonly/inde..._icmp=AkaIX3H4

http://www.scan.co.uk/shops/homepage..._icmp=7Uz238zS

[akifh]

AFAIK,the cooler mounting holes for socket 1155 and 1156 are identical. You could check with Scan just in case.

One, more thing I listed a non-Crossfire capable motherboard as it was cheaper.

Also,check the following web-pages for offers:

http://www.scan.co.uk/todayonly/inde..._icmp=AkaIX3H4

http://www.scan.co.uk/shops/homepage..._icmp=7Uz238zS

I checked the specs for the cooler and it says it supports 1156 but it doesn't list 1155? although you and my friend say that it probably would as their pretty much identical..but I don't want to really take a risk and find out it doesn't fit when it arrives, Im not sure how else I can check if it would fit?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I checked the specs for the cooler and it says it supports 1156 but it doesn't list 1155? although you and my friend say that it probably would as their pretty much identical..but I don't want to really take a risk and find out it doesn't fit when it arrives, Im not sure how else I can check if it would fit?

It seems Scan uses the cooler themselves for their overclocked Core i5 2500k bundles:

http://3xs.scan.co.uk/Category.asp?S...rCategoryID=38

BTW,if you don't intend to overclock I would get the standard Core i5 2500,a cheaper motherboard and use the stock cooler.

[akifh]

It seems Scan uses the cooler themselves for their overclocked Core i5 2500k bundles:

http://3xs.scan.co.uk/Category.asp?S...rCategoryID=38

BTW,if you don't intend to overclock I would get the standard Core i5 2500,a cheaper motherboard and use the stock cooler.

ok thanks, my friend just told me the "K" stands for better overclocking, well I wouldn't really need to overclock it, so I guess i'll opt for the standard i5 2500.

Would you mind recommending a motherboard and the cooler for me?

also I haven't really gotten a clear answer from a third party if the setup that you provided + the standard i5 2500+cheaper motherboard+stock cooler, would play the games I mentioned (Call of duty, brink, team fortress 2 etc) at max settings with max fps/ no fps drops etc.

thanks again

[revol68]

ok thanks, my friend just told me the "K" stands for better overclocking, well I wouldn't really need to overclock it, so I guess i'll opt for the standard i5 2500.

Would you mind recommending a motherboard and the cooler for me?

also I haven't really gotten a clear answer from a third party if the setup that you provided + the standard i5 2500+cheaper motherboard+stock cooler, would play the games I mentioned (Call of duty, brink, team fortress 2 etc) at max settings with max fps/ no fps drops etc.

thanks again

A 570 and 2500 would wipe the floor with any of those games. My 5770 with e5200 can do CoD and TF2 maxed out no problem.

[akifh]

A 570 and 2500 would wipe the floor with any of those games. My 5770 with e5200 can do CoD and TF2 maxed out no problem.

haha sweeeet!!!!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

This motherboard would do the job but has not been in stock for a while:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...s-raid-atx-vga

It lacks overclocking options but has USB3.0 and SATA3.0 ports.

This motherboard is around £80 but lacks USB3.0 ports and overclocking options:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigab...6gb-s-raid-atx

TBH,I would stick with the motherboard I suggested as the ATX H67 motherboards don't seem much cheaper.

I would also stick with the supplied stock cooler.

[akifh]

This motherboard would do the job but has not been in stock for a while:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...s-raid-atx-vga

It lacks overclocking options but has USB3.0 and SATA3.0 ports.

This motherboard is around £80 but lacks USB3.0 ports and overclocking options:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigab...6gb-s-raid-atx

TBH,I would stick with the motherboard I suggested as the ATX H67 motherboards don't seem much cheaper.

I would also stick with the supplied stock cooler.

Would you know any good motherboards with the USB 3.0? I'm not bothered about overclocking tbh.
Regarding the cooler, is it supplied or do I have to buy it separately? I'm getting confused bout the cooler

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The stock cooler comes with the retail CPU which I listed in the build I suggested. The OEM CPUs lack a CPU cooler. The MSI motherboard I suggested has USB3.0 and SATA3.0 ports.

This mATX motherboard has USB3.0 and SATA3.0 ports:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-h...-raid-matx-vga

This ATX motherboard also has USB3.0 and SATA3.0 ports:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigab...3gb-s-raid-atx

However,it has a lower number of audio outputs on the backplate and lacks the monitor outputs normally seen on a Z68 motherboard.

[akifh]

Ok many thanks,

I will do a final build and post it here and wait for the thumbs up from
you professionals

[akifh]

Ok! I've added a wireless adapter card as im using wireless.
-I will use the free p&p deal.

Is everything in this build good to go? will it all fit together with no problems?
Any advice left to say before I buy it later today?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

You will need to follow the instructions for the free postage in post 15. It might take a day or so to get activated although I cannot remember who long it took me (might be less TBH).

Also,look at the links in post 21 to see if any of the parts are on special offer today.

The RAM is pre-order so your order will be delayed until it is in stock. Since you are not overclocking this RAM will be fine:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/8gb-%...-9-9-9-24-150v

Edit!!

Having said that I am uncertain whether Sandy Bordge even takes adavntage of faster RAM fully when overclocked. The important thing is to have the RAM rate at 1.5V or thereabouts.