Help! Don't know which Gaming PC to choose - Please compare + Give parts feedback!

[keynes]

The spec looks quite similar however before I purchase the computer I'd find out more about the "standard warranty" and try to find in forums other users who has purchased from them. I'd still recommend PCspecialist from my experience, I couldn't find many reviews of UK gaming computer online.

 

[Grinder]

The other rig only has a stock cooler so I would not advise overclocking .the titan cooler costs £39 so take that off PCs quotes.
The cases come with led fans anyway and look great check the show off your pc section.

I've had 2 rig's from PCs with no problems .

Also the i7 is not better than the i5 for gaming .its only better at video editing and 3d modelling because it has hyperthreading.

If you want to overclock get the i5 3570k with a good cooler .I got a Coolit liquid cooler which looks ace imo.

Otherwise you have had some very good advice and you will have a rig will play anything for years to come.

 

[Wolvo7]

I agree that the one thing that PCS is lacking is a case mod option, hopefully they'll add it in the future

 

[Jackogeddes]

The spec looks quite similar however before I purchase the computer I'd find out more about the "standard warranty" and try to find in forums other users who has purchased from them. I'd still recommend PCspecialist from my experience, I couldn't find many reviews of UK gaming computer online.

i've did a bit of further delving into the CPU choice and yeah, i've found for me the I7 will give absalutely no advantage in the things i want to do. supposedly there is 0 difference in running and games if your not using the likes of photoshop heavily? - may aswell just get the i5 then. and since i don't think i'll be overclocking (first gaming rig and i'd be distraught if the thing blew up, mabye in the future when i'm a bit more confident in PCs after this one)

is there any difference in the i5-3550 and i5-3770k overall?


right, i'll continue delving and take a look at the 'my pc' page to see, as fair enough PCS has tons more reviews.

 

[keynes]

i've did a bit of further delving into the CPU choice and yeah, i've found for me the I7 will give absalutely no advantage in the things i want to do. supposedly there is 0 difference in running and games if your not using the likes of photoshop heavily? - may aswell just get the i5 then. and since i don't think i'll be overclocking (first gaming rig and i'd be distraught if the thing blew up, mabye in the future when i'm a bit more confident in PCs after this one)

is there any difference in the i5-3550 and i5-3770k overall?


right, i'll continue delving and take a look at the 'my pc' page to see, as fair enough PCS has tons more reviews.

You are spending quite a lot so I'd try to find comments from someone that have purchased from them (how good technical support is, pre and after sales support, warranty coverage, do they allow you to do upgrades/open the case? PCS does )

 

[Jackogeddes]

so what do you think mate? i probably wont ever be using the machine for anything other than gaming and surfing the internet, so is the i5 a sure thing?

also can you point me in the direction of the case itself on the show off your pc page?

 

[keynes]

Regarding retailer? PCS all the way, best company I have dealt with as well as excellent technical support/customer service.
Most adequate cpu for you? i5-3550 , no need to OC for gaming. If you planning to OC then I'd get the i5-3570k + coolit liquid cooler
Case? Depends on how much you wish to spend, If I want toget a new rig I'd go with the coolermaster storm trooper, excellent for cable management, good airflow and cooling.

 

[Jackogeddes]

Regarding retailer? PCS all the way, best company I have dealt with as well as excellent technical support/customer service.
Most adequate cpu for you? i5-3550 , no need to OC for gaming. If you planning to OC then I'd get the i5-3570k + coolit liquid cooler
Case? Depends on how much you wish to spend, If I want toget a new rig I'd go with the coolermaster storm trooper, excellent for cable management, good airflow and cooling.

whats the difference between the i5-3550 and i5-3570k overall performance wise?

so if i'm not overclocking, the inferno fan thing (£39) one?

 

[keynes]

whats the difference between the i5-3550 and i5-3570k overall performance wise?

so if i'm not overclocking, the inferno fan thing (£39) one?

core frequency (i5-3550 is 3.30GHz and i5-3570k is 3.4GHz), the i5-3570k offers the ability to overclock. If you don't overclock you can chose the triple copper heatpipe or the titan fenrir cpu cooler.

 

[Jackogeddes]

core frequency (i5-3550 is 3.30GHz and i5-3570k is 3.4GHz), the i5-3570k offers the ability to overclock. If you don't overclock you can chose the triple copper heatpipe or the titan fenrir cpu cooler.

good stuff, i'll take the titan fenrir and the i5-3570k, for a £14 difference in CPU i'd rather know i have the overclockablity if need be.


can i just again say you've been a massive help through this and looks like i'm finally settled on my choice - would never have opted for a SSD or even the 670 over the 7950 before speaking to you even though it is better in all games i want to play (i still am confused over how it possibly can be better but yeah)

SG2:TW on tom (performance test)

GTX 670: 120.8 fps
7950: 94.1 fps

 

[keynes]

Good! you can get the overclock sorted by PCS for free (as opposed to UK gaming computers that charge you for that) you only need to pay for the thermal paste. If you are going for the OC cpu choose a pre-OC system.

 

[Jackogeddes]

Good! you can get the overclock sorted by PCS for free (as opposed to UK gaming computers that charge you for that) you only need to pay for the thermal paste. If you are going for the OC cpu choose a pre-OC system.

just being my first PC and all i really don't think i'm going to overclock from the offset, it'll probably be fast enough at 3.4 right ?

its just so a few months down the line i could have the option atleast

so is there anything else you recommend i change or upgrade, the motherboard, ram, power supply anything or am i all set?

 

[keynes]

what is your final spec?

 

[Jackogeddes]

i'm thinking this? Ultra sets gaming + every day online use (honestly don't think i do anything warranting the i7 like movie making etc)


Case
PCS MAELSTROM T900 BLACK GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-3570K (3.4GHz) 6MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® P8Z77-V PRO: PCI-E 3.0 READY,WIFI, SLI, CROSSFIREX
Memory (RAM)
8GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz, X.M.P (2 x 4GB KIT)
Graphics Card
2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 670 - 2 DVI, HDMI, DP - 3D Vision Ready
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
120GB INTEL® 520 SERIES SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk
1TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD1002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (XD, MS, CF, SD, etc) + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Power Supply
CORSAIR 750W PRO SERIES™ HX750-80 PLUS® SILVER MODULAR (£114)
Processor Cooling
TITAN FENRIR EVO EXTREME HEATPIPE CPU COOLER (£39)
Fan Controller
NZXT Sentry 2 Fan Controller with upto 5 Fitted Case Fans
Sound Card
Asus Xonar DG 5.1 SoundCard & Headphone AMP (Award Winner) (£24)
Network Facilities
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs
USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit w/SP1 - inc DVD & Licence
Office Software
FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days
Quantity
1

Price: £1,401.00 including VAT and delivery.


any changes or thoughts?

 

[keynes]

Looks good :yes:

 

[Jackogeddes]

Looks good :yes:

thanks alot mate, no advised changes to anything?
don't want to overspend, so if the mobo is overkill or anything give me a heads up

 

[keynes]

thanks alot mate, no advised changes to anything?

No mate, that looks ace.

 

[Jackogeddes]

brilliantio i'm really excited now, going to finance and mabye order tonight

you've been so so helpful honestly mate can't thank you enough in helping me pick the optimum spec for my money! - this should do me in high end gaming performance for the next 2 years or so atleast? hoping now atleast it will chew up Total war and WoW on ultra easy peezy

 

[Jackogeddes]

OH and one last thing, you wouldn't advise a difference case for the £50-80 mark would yah?

 

[keynes]

I like the coolermaster storm trooper but it depends on what you like. The storm trooper does have better cooling and cable management than the one you have chosen.