Someone please help with my computer build. :(

[WhyHelloThere]

Can't be overclocked but if you're looking to game the savings you're having on the chip can be put towards a better GPU. Google for some reviews you'll see for current gen games you're not CPU limited. However if it's for BF3 you might be better off with a quad. The game comes down to how many threads it can process though. I've been on the alpha of the game and my Q6600 managed it fine. The i3 2100 is comparable in speed when it comes to gaming from what I've seen.

Okay, thanks. I was looking at some similar priced CPU's that are able to be overclocked. What do you think of this:-

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...-733mhz-retail

and overclocking it to 4GHz+ ? I don't know.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Overclocking is useful but not guaranteed.

You might be able to get a Core i5 and an HD6870 or GTX560 into the build if overclocking is not much of a concern.

[WhyHelloThere]

Overclocking is useful but not guaranteed.

You might be able to get a Core i5 and an HD6870 or GTX560 into the build if overclocking is not much of a concern.

Hmmm, I don't know. Do you think it will be better than the build I just posted? Also what do you think of the monitor?

Even my laptop runs on a core i5. ;L

[dbh]

If you do decide to overclock you'll be needing an aftermarket cooler. The stock one would probably do but it won't keep it as cool. To be honest the i3 should have enough grunt to play the games you want. It still comes down to GPU performance unless there's some heavy physic based mechanics that rely on the CPU. Then think about it jumping from an i3 to an i5 (extra £60 odd quid) to gain what 10 fps when you're already on 60-70fps+ with a decent GPU... I don't think it's worth it! The extra money can go towards RAM or a better PSU which imo are more valued in the long run.

You have to be careful with all these benchmarks and graphs where they make one CPU look super faster than another in reality for everyday performance you probably won't even notice it.

See image below:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...k,2833-18.html



See the i3 is at the 62.3 fps yep fine but the next tier up the i5 2400 is at 74 fps. Yep wow it's faster but for £60... meh! Up to you though...

[WhyHelloThere]

X

Ahhh I see. The reason I feel that I should get an overclock one is that you can get a higher speed for less. If I was going to overclock that other i3 I suggested would it top the i3 2100? If I wasn't going to overclock do I still need a custom cooler?

Also how good is the 6870? I've been going by this chart...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/best-g...w-32183-7.html

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The OP can get free postage from Scan:

http://forums.hexus.net/scan-care-he...-delivery.html

Using parts from Scan I came up with the following build.



Many of the parts are on special offer this weekend:

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

The motherboard is not the best for overclocking, and lacks the full audio outputs and monitor outputs of normal Z68 motherboards but will do the job.

At stock speeds a Core i5 2500K is very fast.

I would try and get an HD6950 2GB though into the build. For FSX you could run multiple monitors off it unlike the GTX560TI.

Ahhh I see. The reason I feel that I should get an overclock one is that you can get a higher speed for less. If I was going to overclock that other i3 I suggested would it top the i3 2100? If I wasn't going to overclock do I still need a custom cooler?

Also how good is the 6870? I've been going by this chart...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/best-g...w-32183-7.html

I have a Core i3 2100 myself and it is a good processor. A socket 1156 Core i3 at around 3.7GHZ should match it AFAIK. The Phenom II X4 is also another option and has better multi-threaded performance than a Core i3. A Core i5 is faster than a Core i3 or Phenom II X4.

The HD6870 1GB is around the same speed as the GTX560 1GB.

[WhyHelloThere]

X

Well this question may have been asked a lot, but I do have a 1377by768 HD LCD TV. How will gaming look on it? This is a just for now option, allowing me to get a much better build. What do you think?

I thought I would just leave it out because I've heard a lot of bad stuff about using TV's for PC, especially if they are not 1080p...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Well this question may have been asked a lot, but I do have a 1377by768 HD LCD TV. How will gaming look on it? This is a just for now option, allowing me to get a much better build. What do you think?

I thought I would just leave it out because I've heard a lot of bad stuff about using TV's for PC, especially if they are not 1080p...

I am not sure TBH!! The pixel pitch might be quite large if it is anything above 19" and if so it won't be particularly comfortable playing games close to such monitors.

The GTX560TI is around the same power as a GTX470 or an HD5870 AFAIK.

[WhyHelloThere]

I am not sure TBH!! The pixel pitch might be quite large if it is anything above 19" and if so it won't be particularly comfortable playing games close to such monitors.

Well its a 19inch LCD TV. Do you reckon it's worth giving it a shot rather than getting a build for nearly ~100 quid less?

Am I annoying you? Sorry.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Well its a 19inch LCD TV. Do you reckon it's worth giving it a shot rather than getting a build for nearly ~100 quid less?

Am I annoying you? Sorry.

You could give it a try.

OTH,the build I suggested is pretty fast. Even at stock speeds the Core i5 2500K should be fine for yonks. The GTX560TI 1GB or HD6950 2GB are decent cards too.

[WhyHelloThere]

You could give it a try.

OTH,the build I suggested is pretty fast. Even at stock speeds the Core i5 2500K should be fine for yonks. The GTX560TI 1GB or HD6950 2GB are decent cards too.

I know. Wasn't some of the parts on special off for today though? I can't buy my build until earliest next Friday.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I know. Wasn't some of the parts on special off for today though? I can't buy my build until earliest next Friday.

There should be some new offers then.

You can request parts to be on offer too from Scan by e-mailing them at the themanwhocan@scan.co.uk the day before or thereabouts. You might get them on special offer.

Also,you can your free postage activated too in the meantime.

[WhyHelloThere]

There should be some new offers then.

You can request parts to be on offer too from Scan by e-mailing them at the themanwhocan@scan.co.uk the day before or thereabouts. You might get them on special offer.

Also,you can your free postage activated too in the meantime.

That build does look pretty awesome. Seeing as there is a core i5 and gtx560ti in there, do all the other parts suffer that much?

Also with this build, will I be able to overclock CPU and GPU? Is there support for SLI etc in the future?
As well as this, does the monitor have speakers? I don't think it does.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

That build does look pretty awesome. Seeing as there is a core i5 and gtx560ti in there, do all the other parts suffer that much?

Also with this build, will I be able to overclock CPU and GPU? Is there support for SLI etc in the future?
As well as this, does the monitor have speakers? I don't think it does.

The motherboard is not that greatest for overclocking as I mentioned before. However,the Core i5 2500K is very fast so it won't be a bottleneck for years IMHO even at stock speeds. The GTX560TI already is pre-overclocked.

The motherboard does not support symmetrical Crossfire or SLI. TBH,just replace the GTX560TI with a faster single card when required.

[MSIC]

I will also vouch for CAT's build there, it's a good machine all round, and worth the money easily.


However.

( ).

I'd like to throw a spanner in the works, to at least ask the OP to consider my thoughts before spending hard-earned reddies.

How important to you is the whole 'look and feel' of a computer? Whilst getting high frame rates is all very nice, actually this year's fastest Mhz CPU is next year's dog-slow old thing; whereas a decent quality case, a beautiful keyboard and mouse.... high end audio coming out of sculptured speakers (i'm overblowing my case, but indulge me).... these are pieces of design that like a classic car such as an E-Type are not the latest things, but stand the test of time.

My point therefore is that maybe you could consider the size of the case that you want, rather than the cost. Consider the colours, and the textures of how everything will integrate together. Spend a greater proportion of the budget on the external stuff, the peripherals, the devices that you actually look at and touch, with the remainder on the internals, and sure you'll have to run games at a somewhat lower quality setting, but you'll have a PC to be proud of that can be internally upgraded in time.

Right.... did I go over the top there?

[dbh]

Not being over the top at all MSIC. I agree as well! I wouldn't buy overclocking parts if you have no serious intent on overclocking. To get the most out of those parts you'll have to spend extra money on a better cooler, psu and mobo, but as it is CAT's spec is more than decent enough for a few years. My Q6600 and HD4850 is still going strong 3 years on and the Q6600 is a chip from 2007!