First time gaming build

[Immy]

Hey guys!

 

This isn't strictly a new build, more of an upgrade to my existing rig (sorry if it's in the wrong place). I'm looking to see what you guys think of my choices and welcome any feedback (including saying I'm silly for picking one/the other).

I use the PC mostly for gaming (Rome:2, WoW, LoL, CS:GO, Civ 5, Crysis 3, FarCry 2 plus more [would like to be able to run Watch_Dogs/AC4 on reasonably high]) and do some work, general browsing etc... on it as well.

 

Current rig:

Motherboard:  ASUSTeK p8p67 

Processor: Intel i7 2600K @ 4.4 GHz

RAM: OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800 4GB (2x2GB) 1600MHz

Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX260 (originally had a GTX 560 but that burnt out)

HDD: 1TB Samsung of some sort

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium SP1

Soundcard: Xonar DG something

Powersupply: Thermaltake Toughpower XT 775W (partially modular)

Monitor: Iiyama Prolite E2210HDS

Peripherals: Plantronics GameCom 780, Logitech G19 and G500

 

What I am thinking of doing:

Motherboard: Keeping it, I've not had any problems with it so far and don't think it needs an upgrade yet.

 

Processor: Keeping it, same as the motherboard.

 

RAM: Ideally looking at something like Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz kit (£59.99) to replace my current ram, or if money is looking a little tight then another 4GB kit (would need to be low profile for the CPU fan/heatsink).

 

Graphics card: Currently looking at an MSI R9 280X Gaming Edition OC 3072MB (~£229.99) or an MSI GeForce GTX 770 Gaming Edition 2048MB (~£319.99) . The 770 is about £100 more at the time of writing (supposedly an NVIDIA price drop coming next week?) for not a huge increase in performance, but it is likely that in the future I will upgrade this rig by SLI/Crosfire so from what I've read the 770 would be better? Also from what I've read the improvements from G-sync will be more tangible, and available to all games compared to Mantle, as well as Mantle not actually being closed to AMD cards only. I'm open to other cards as well, these are just the two that jumped out at me.

 

HDD: I'd like to get an SSD for my OS and a few key programs to run on. I don't know a huge amount about SSDs but think that 128GB is probably the right size for me, and looks like it will be about £100 or so mark?

 

OS: I have been considering upgrading to Windows 8.1, and since I will be doing a fresh install anyway thought this might be a good time.

 

 

I'm not overly fussed about an internal colour scheme/aesthetics so wouldn't pay a premium for it to fit with everything else/look a bit nicer.

 

I have used www.overclockers.co.uk/ as a price guide, but would shop around a bit more before actually buying anything.

 

Any thoughts/helpful tips you have would be much appreciated!

 

Thanks,

Immy

[KamiKatze]

@Immy

 

Your plans are actually really good. 2x4 GB corsair vengeance would be the sweet spot for a gaming rig and allow for future upgrades to 16 GB

 

For the GPU i can really recommend the GTX 770 but not for that price. I got a nice deal on it (-50€) 2 weeks after launch so it's actually worth getting, but with the 280X in stores there's not point why to get the nvidia.

 

An SSD should boost your experience tenfold, a Samsung EVO 120GB should fall into your price range.

 

For OS you can upgrade to 8.1. You are already screwed since you have windows 8, so why not?

[wng_kingsley7]

Hey Immy,
Seems like you already have everything written down already. A 120 gigabyte SSD is more then enough for a single individual + more. Helps to make everything super snappy.

Also since your keeping some things from your current build obviously keep your 1TB HHD for mass storage.

 

GTX 770 is quite great for a modern gaming machine if you can find on overclockers a great deal or somewhere in the UK for a bit cheaper you've totally found yourself a bargain...I would say wait if you can till either coming november which is only around the corner. Once the GTX 780Ti is out all of the graphics cards in the 700 series will probably drop by maybe 5-10% in the UK PC market.

If your not set on getting a Geforce card grab a r9 280x or Radeon HD 7970 which is basically a re-brand of the same card.

 

Windows 8.1

[lufihengr]

And if you buy the 2x4 gb kit of Corsair ram, you could use it with your existing ram, as they both seem to be PC3- 12800 for a total of 12 gb of ram. That's what i did with my 16 gb corsair kit and 8gb kingston kit

[ShadyHost]

I would argue that 8gb might not be enough for games for much longer. 

 

New consoles will push games further and minimum requirements might skyrocket. 

[Immy]

For the GPU i can really recommend the GTX 770 but not for that price. I got a nice deal on it (-50€) 2 weeks after launch so it's actually worth getting, but with the 280X in stores there's not point why to get the nvidia.

I am planing on waiting until next week to see if the NVIDIA price drop happens or not. If they were closer in price would you recommend the 770 then?

 

For OS you can upgrade to 8.1. You are already screwed since you have windows 8, so why not?

I currently have Windows 7 but am thinking about upgrading to 8.1 (edited in the OP)

[XzzDSA]

@Immy

 

For OS you can upgrade to 8.1. You are already screwed since you have windows 8, so why not?

He's got windows 7 though.

for the ram. If you feel a tight budget, wait with the ram, your current ones will do fine until you decide you have the money to upgrade them. You could use extra money from the ram you are not buying towards an even better gpu.. As for SLI your PSU should do just fine. So no worries there

If you can get the 770 like 10% off or something, go with that, else wait till the 290x comes out and see what happens to the prices on both sides.

[TheSLSAMG]

My recommendation on the subject of graphics:

 

Get the GTX 770. I love AMD, believe me I do. But, they are not the best for multi card support. There will be more issues with Crossfire than SLI, which I guess is one of the reasons people (including myself) are willing to pay a premium for better performance in that respect. This is why I chose a GTX 770. Also, I guess this is the reason why there is a premium with motherboards that support SLI.

[Immy]

Also since your keeping some things from your current build obviously keep your 1TB HHD for mass storage.

 

I would say wait if you can till either coming november which is only around the corner. Once the GTX 780Ti is out all of the graphics cards in the 700 series will probably drop by maybe 5-10% in the UK PC market.

If your not set on getting a Geforce card grab a r9 280x or Radeon HD 7970 which is basically a re-brand of the same card.

I'm going to keep the HDD for mass storage.

 

That was my thought process. Currently waiting for the R9 290X and GTX 780Ti which as you say will hopefully drop the prices of everything else a bit

 

I would argue that 8gb might not be enough for games for much longer. 

I think you're probably right, but I don't want to go for 16GB yet as I don't need that much and would probably just upgrade when that becomes a problem 

[TEDWARDS]

Defiantly go for the Nvidia one if you want AC4

[Kiwiandapple]

I'm going to keep the HDD for mass storage.

 

That was my thought process. Currently waiting for the R9 290X and GTX 780Ti which as you say will hopefully drop the prices of everything else a bit

 

I think you're probably right, but I don't want to go for 16GB yet as I don't need that much and would probably just upgrade when that becomes a problem 

 

I doubt that the R9 290x will make the other R9/7 cards drop in price. The 780Ti will most likely drop the other though. 

Perfect! Good job, no need for 16gb off ram when you don't use more then 8 yet. 

[ShadyHost]

I'm going to keep the HDD for mass storage.

 

That was my thought process. Currently waiting for the R9 290X and GTX 780Ti which as you say will hopefully drop the prices of everything else a bit

 

I think you're probably right, but I don't want to go for 16GB yet as I don't need that much and would probably just upgrade when that becomes a problem 

Well yeah but I think AC4 and Watch Dogs said they would use 6gb or something like that. 

 

I know that just when my computer boots I use 5gb from the beginning. I have 32gb that was on sale on Amazon last year. 

[WoodenMarker]

Budget?

[Immy]

Budget?

I'd like to spend under £450, £500 at a push.

[WoodenMarker]

I'd like to spend under £450, £500 at a push.

How's this look? http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/1RbzK

[Immy]

How's this look? http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/1RbzK

What's the advantage/disadvantage of getting the HD 7970 over the R9 280X?

[WoodenMarker]

What's the advantage/disadvantage of getting the HD 7970 over the R9 280X?

They're pretty much the same card. It's just a rebranding. The 7970 should come with more bundled games though.

[Immy]

Thanks for all the feedback so far guys, I've picked a Samsung 840 EVO 128GB @ £72.48 for my SSD, and am going to wait for more news on GPU prices etc before I make that decision, and will probably bump the thread at the time.

 

Thanks again for all of your help!