Advice on gaming computer

jaydeeuk1

What sort of monitor are you getting? Just seems a bit of waste blowing all that cash and then up gaming at 1920x1080 when a slower CPU and GPU will do nearly as good a job.

For a laugh, have priced something up for you. All sourced from different places, can give links if interested.

i5 4670k
8gb vengeance pro black ram
asus z87-k mobo (£329 bundle with code BTS20)
Hydro liquid CPU cooler (£55)
256gb sandisk ultra plus (£125)
Fractal Design Define R4 PC Case (£69)
3tb Toshiba HD (£85)
corsair 750w modular PSU (£79)
Radeon 7990 (£479)

Total: £1221

Comes with a ton of games too, and will play everything at top whack at 1920x1080 for the next 24 to 36 months (won't even break sweat at the moment, even with something like far cry 3). Could put in 16gb ram, but you won't notice any benefit for the next year or so.
If you have a budget of £1500 you're left with nearly £300 to buy a cracking monitor(s), or mechanical keyboard and gaming mouse, or decent headphones etc

Johnmcl7

WelshPaul wrote: »

Stay away from HP gaming machines, and alienware!

I don't know why you're recommending against Alienware, aside from garish cases they're just Dell machines which means you get access to onsite next day warranties which is relatively rare these days. I bought an outlet Aurora R4 as it was one of the few cheap ways to get an X79 system and hex core processor, I couldn't build a machine of the same spec anywhere near the price I bought the unit for and no on-site warranty for the parts either when bought separately.

John

Blackjack_Davy

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Radeon 7990 (£479)

7990 is overkill IMO, I havn't found anything my 7950 (£250) will won't play at max settings. It overclocks very well too I hear, up to 7990 @ stock, although I havn't found any need too yet.

Sparhawke

I like the way they charge £1,739.98 and then give you a saving of 98p

Money saving at its best

I would just go to scan.co.uk, type in those specs and get yourself the components yourself and then take them to a computer shop for them to put together. You will save yourself hundreds.

notakid

Thank you all its been interesting reading.

I'd love my son to build his own computer as with the specs he is looking for I realise he could save a lot of money. But to be honest he has learning difficulties with his ASD so I don't think he would be able to source the parts so I know he would prefer to get it all from on site.

However the link for the dinopc was very interesting I have shown him that, he has his heart set on the i7. I've shown him he can upgrade and he could get all the equip from the site.

Many thanks again.

WelshPaul

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

I don't know why you're recommending against Alienware, aside from garish cases they're just Dell machines which means you get access to onsite next day warranties which is relatively rare these days. I bought an outlet Aurora R4 as it was one of the few cheap ways to get an X79 system and hex core processor, I couldn't build a machine of the same spec anywhere near the price I bought the unit for and no on-site warranty for the parts either when bought separately.

John

Exactly, they used to be good until dell got there hands on them!

Just google them lol

Mat_Lock

Go here http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=43

Best after care support and customer service by far. True gaming machine built by gamers.

Retrogamer

Mat_Lock wrote: »

Go here http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=43

Best after care support and customer service by far. True gaming machine built by gamers.

Agreed

I've used them for PC parts in the past and always had a good experience when i built my own PC's

2 years ago i used their system configurator and built myself a system for around the 1.5k marker as well. When it arrived i checked all the built quality and stuff and was pretty impressed. Couldn't have done it better myself. After sales support is great as well.
2 years on and zero issues so far

Weird_Nev

i7 really is expensive overkill for most games - very very few properly use the additional cores, and if you look at the clock speeds i7's tend to run their individual cores at lower speeds!

He will get far, far better value for money getting an i5, and spending a bit extra on the Graphics cards. It is the graphics card that will limit games quality/speed in almost all cases, not the CPU.

Try a local computer shop: Tell them your spec and ask them for a quote. They may have trade accounts allowing them to pass some savings on to you.

IMO you need spend no more than £1200 to get a top line gaming PC, all in.
That's unless you decide you want multiple graphics cards or monitors, or very expensive peripherals- but they're beyond the scope of what your son wants or needs, from what you've said.

Lum

Late to the party but wow that HP machine is a rip off.

Seconding overclockers.co.uk or alternatively pcspecialist.co.uk both will let you configure the PC exactly how you want it, build it for you, test it and provide a guarantee.

You really don't want to go with the big name brands (Dell, HP, Crappard Bell etc.) for a gaming PC. Go for someone who assembles them from standardised components that can be replaced and upgraded as and when necessary. A good gaming PC will evolve over time as your requirements change.

The big names also have a tendency to cut corners on the parts of a PC that most folk don't think about. Yes you'll get the latest Intel processor and nVidia graphics card, but the power supply will be some no-name junk slapped together in China and the RAM will be bottom of the barrel crap after the quality manufacturers have paid for first dibs on the good stuff.