New PC Build

[ConnorLowe]

Hi,

I'm looking on building a new PC. I have a budget of around £650 for the base unit. I already have a monitor, keyboard, mouse and headset. Although I'll buy a new keyboard separately anyway. I don't mind using either Windows 7 or Windows 8. I'm also interested in investing in a mini-PC but they can often have limitations! I can also use my existing system (specs below) and upgrade certain components if that is an easier option.

I've been looking through different websites such as computerplanet and pcspecialist to get my head around what are the better components and whats more suited to my needs. I am looking to generally use the system for gaming. The games that I play are:

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Dota 2
League of Legends

These aren't the most demanding of games but my current set up, combined with my lousy internet connection doesn't help the performance.

This is my current set up is this:

CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 850 4 x 3.3GHz 2MB
Mobo: Asus M5A78L-M LX AMD 760G
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 6450 - 1 GB - XFX
400GB SATA-II HDD 7200 RPM 8MB
450W PSU
Corsair 4GB XMS3 PC3-10666 1333MHz 1x4GB
Black ATX Tower Case (computerplanet)

I have put together a few different builds on different websites and I am unsure on which builds are better compared to others. I am leaning towards a Intel based PC this time around, although depending on price and performance, I don't mind stick with an AMD machine.

The main CPU that I have been looking at is the Intel i5 4670 or Intel i5 4760k. I would prefer a Z87 Mobo (not sure on which one) and a good enough graphics card to run the games listed above smoothly. As for the PSU, I don't know what the power consumption may be so in any builds I have created, I have generally used a Cooler Master 500W or 650W PSU. Case wise, I really don't mind.

If anyone could put forward any suggestions or advice, I'd be very grateful!

Thanks

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

What company makes your PSU??

I have played all of those games and know people who played them with Athlon II X3 and X4 CPUs. I would say a new graphics card and probably a new PSU would do the job.

You are also running the RAM in single channel which is degrading the performance of your CPU. So I would get another 4GB stick of RAM too.

Can you measure what length graphics cards you can use in your case??

You might need to get a new case.

An SSD will also be useful I suspect for quicker loading of Dota 2 and LoL,which means you can get onto the map quicker.

DOTA CPU benchmarks




League of Legends



CS:GO should run fine too.

I would spend the rest of your budget on a decent internet connection. In the case of CS:GO this will probably make the biggest difference!!

Edit!!

What resolution is your monitor BTW??

[ConnorLowe]

Thank you for the advice!

I have been expecting a few comments on the RAM. I was looking to change it so that it is at least 8GB RAM.

The monitor's max resolution is: 1366x768

Card length is: 168mm

For any peripherals, I will buy separately.

My PSU I believe is manufactured by Colours. Not sure on the exact model, will have to check when I am home.

I am waiting for fibre optics to be added in my area. Unfortunately I'm using TalkTalk with a maximum speed of 2.2Mb!

[DanceswithUnix]

I take it 168mm is the length of the card, not the amount of space a card could go into?

I tend not to buy entire systems from scratch, have had my case for years and update bits over time. If that is a Colours IT PSU, they are usually exceedingly cheap and would worry me having one.

Your monitor is not very high resolution, so shouldn't need that much grunt to drive it. Your graphics card is very underpowered for the rest of the system though.

So I would look to get a new graphics card because that is where the main weakness is, and a new PSU to keep the box stable with a decent graphics card.

Benchies for the 6450 are hard to find, but try this:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4263/a...3-meets-htpc/8

The 6450 is the one in green, on the top graph the one at the bottom.

A 7850 or 7870 with 2GB of ram seem a good deal atm, and will get you about 7 times the graphics power.

Choosing one at random, the MSI 7850 seems to be 202mm long (http://uk.msi.com/product/vga/R7850-...=Specification) hence Cat's question about space available for a card.

[DanceswithUnix]

Oh I would agree with Cat about getting a second stick of ram.

Your motherboard is limited to a 95W CPU, you *could* upgrade to an FX-6300 if need be but I would honestly try ram+video+psu first as that will feel like a new machine.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would get the following parts:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BitFenix-Mer...rds=merc+alpha
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/c...550s-xxb9.html
http://www.ebuyer.com/235776-corsair...v4gx3m1a1333c9

This card comes with a great game bundle too:

http://www.ebuyer.com/390921-sapphir...-11200-14-20g?

If you don't want the games you can sell the codes on Ebay.

TBH,you could probably get away with a GTX650TI,HD7770 or HD7790 for under £100 anyway especially running games at the resolution of your monitor.

I would get this SSD:

http://www.ebuyer.com/452495-plextor...-ssd-px-256m5s

Install Dota 2 and LoL on it and this help with loading times.

[ConnorLowe]

Thank you for the links you have given

I will look in to buying the parts very soon (not been paid yet!)

Just added the parts together and it seems fair to say, that for £390~ it will save me from buying a complete new PC!

Cheers

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

That HD7850 2GB I linked too has gone up in price!

There is this GTX660TI for around £161:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/zota...livery-1605452

However,it probably is overkill for the games you are playing though,but is a low price for such a card.

This HD7850 1GB comes with some decent games:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/msi-...8-dabs-1580585

Graphics card prices fluctuate quite a bit so when you are ready to order,just tell us!!

If you do want to save some more money you can get the following parts:
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/hd-7...-94-29-1606524
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/c...450s-x2b9.html

[ConnorLowe]

I think I'll go with the GTX660Ti instead if they're at similar prices.

Might take a few weeks before I even order my first part, all depends on what I can afford at the time.

Thanks for the help

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The HD7790 will give you good framerates with LoL,Dota 2 and CS:GO at 1080P,and will save you nearly £70. OTH,the GTX660TI would do better with more a graphical intensive game,and if you do decide to plonk in a better CPU and motherboard later down the line.

[melon]

That HD7850 2GB I linked too has gone up in price!

There is this GTX660TI for around £161:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/zota...livery-1605452

However,it probably is overkill for the games you are playing though,but is a low price for such a card.

This HD7850 1GB comes with some decent games:

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/msi-...8-dabs-1580585

Graphics card prices fluctuate quite a bit so when you are ready to order,just tell us!!

If you do want to save some more money you can get the following parts:
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/hd-7...-94-29-1606524
http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/c...450s-x2b9.html

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/gra...0-1gb-review/8

looks like one of the better cards for power consumption ( what Im looking at ) but even idle thats 75w...

Montiors wattage has reduced 50% since my DL19 in 2008 but GPUs keep going up.... no wonder laptops are knocking at the door

[AETAaAS]

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/gra...0-1gb-review/8

looks like one of the better cards for power consumption ( what Im looking at ) but even idle thats 75w...

Montiors wattage has reduced 50% since my DL19 in 2008 but GPUs keep going up.... no wonder laptops are knocking at the door

It is worth noting that the 75W they quote is system power which includes CPU, RAM, drives, fans, etc. since most sites test at the wall socket. And indeed 75W is one of the lowest numbers on their chart. AMD cards generally idle well thanks to ZeroCore.

[ConnorLowe]

Thanks for the info

I'll be looking to upgrade my PC in the upcoming months and buying components individually as I can't afford to splash the cash all at once

I appreciate the help!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Keep us informed as then we can point you to any good deals or new developments.

Anyway you are not alone,as not everyone can buy a PC in one big go, as there are also other priorities a lot of us have too.

[melon]

It is worth noting that the 75W they quote is system power which includes CPU, RAM, drives, fans, etc. since most sites test at the wall socket. And indeed 75W is one of the lowest numbers on their chart. AMD cards generally idle well thanks to ZeroCore.

that is even better then, but if its only using 145 load then whats the other 300 w for then ( future upgrades I assume ) and to help it run smoother / quieter rather being run at full capacity ?