Hope you'll find this easy and you can help and advise....

[CaseSensitive]

Here we go... Silver surfer, never really gamed and this is probably my last buy/build (It will go to my son when I no longer need it) but I want to try gaming. I'm looking for a pc that will play ones that I discover at around 1080, maybe 1440, a pc that will load Youtube vids, Word docs and other webpages instantly and will generally keep me happy in my 70+ life. Not a lot huh... I really am relying on you good people to advise this oldie as best you can and will be so grateful for any and all help.

I've done a bit of research and have come up with this for around £2k.

CORSAIR FRAME 4000D RS ARGB MODULAR
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.0GHz/104MB w/3D V-CACHE/AM5)
ASUS® TUF GAMING X870-PLUS WIFI (AM5, DDR5, M.2 PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 6000MHz CL30 (2 x 16GB)
16GB GIGABYTE RADEON™ RX 9070 XT GAMING OC - 2 x HDMI, 2 x DP
2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ ATX 3.1, MODULAR, CYBENETICS GOLD
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
PCS FrostFlow 240 Series ARGB High Performance Liquid Cooler
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
ONBOARD 2.5Gbe LAN PORT
ONBOARD Wi-Fi (MOTHERBOARD DEPENDENT)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence

I will need sufficient fans to cool the machine but am happy to have no lighting or maybe just a cool pale blue throughout. I will look at monitors afterwards but it will probably be a 1440 capable model.

I really am in your hands. Games suggestions I leave with you too. I don't mind first person shooter sort of thing and/or sort of problem solving type of games.


At present I check the news, Youtube vids, emails and generally browse but I'd like to start gaming, nothing too demanding at first but I hold out hope that I might manage to improve. Budget is flexible 10% or so up or down.

You have a semi blank canvas my friends and I hope you can help.

Thanks Paul

 

[Ekans2011]

Here we go... Silver surfer, never really gamed and this is probably my last buy/build (It will go to my son) but I am ambitious ! I'm looking for a pc that will play games that I discover at around 1080, maybe 1440, a pc that will load Youtube vids, Word docs and other webpages instantly and will generally keep me happy in my 70+ life. Not a lot huh... I really am relying on you good people to advise this oldie as best you can and will be so grateful for any and all help.

I've done a bit of research and have come up with this for around £2k.

CORSAIR FRAME 4000D RS ARGB MODULAR
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.0GHz/104MB w/3D V-CACHE/AM5)
ASUS® TUF GAMING X870-PLUS WIFI (AM5, DDR5, M.2 PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 6000MHz CL30 (2 x 16GB)
16GB GIGABYTE RADEON™ RX 9070 XT GAMING OC - 2 x HDMI, 2 x DP
2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ ATX 3.1, MODULAR, CYBENETICS GOLD
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
PCS FrostFlow 240 Series ARGB High Performance Liquid Cooler
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
ONBOARD 2.5Gbe LAN PORT
ONBOARD Wi-Fi (MOTHERBOARD DEPENDENT)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence

I will need sufficient fans to cool the machine but am happy to have no lighting of maybe just a cool pale blue throughout. I will look at monitors afterwards.

I really am in your hands. Games suggestions I leave with you too. I don't mind first person shooter sort of thing and/or sort of problem solving type of games.


At present I check the news, Youtube vids, emails and generally browse but I'd like to start gaming, nothing too demanding at first but I hold out hope that I might manage to improve. Budget is flexible 10% or so up or down.

You have a semi blank canvas my friends and I hope you can help.

Thanks Paul

Hi, what's your max budget? What monitor will you pair with it?

Please read before posting:- Collaboration of Helpful Hints

NB: These forums are not an official support channel. None of us work for PCS, we're all either customers or techies who just like to help out where possible. For any official support, you need to contact PCS directly either through your PCS account, or via the contact details on the main...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

 

[CaseSensitive]

Top budget would be circa £2.5k​

​

I hadn't looked closely at monitors but saw that the MSI 27" PRO MP275Q might fit the bill. Thanks for replying. May I also add that I want to have a shot at editing DGI Pocket 3 videos.​

 

[Ekans2011]

Top budget would be circa £2.5k​

​

I hadn't looked closely at monitors but saw that the MSI 27" PRO MP275Q might fit the bill. Thanks for replying. May I also add that I want to have a shot at editing DGI Pocket 3 videos.​

Here's my suggestion for your 1440p gaming system

N.B. The 7800X3D is only a placeholder; the 9800X3D is currently out of stock until the end of April.

Regarding the monitor, the MSI will most certainly bottleneck this PC because it's an office panel with a 100Hz refresh rate.
What is your budget for a suitbale gaming monitor?

I would recommend one of these two monitors:

1) AOC Q27G3XMN - £299

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CNRPGQBG?

2) AOC AG276QZD2 - £540

AOC AGON AG276QZD2 27" QHD QD-OLED 240Hz 0.03ms Gaming Monitor - Laptops Direct

Buy AOC AGON AG276QZD2 27" QHD QD-OLED 240Hz 0.03ms Gaming Monitor from LaptopsDirect

www.laptopsdirect.co.uk

Case
CORSAIR FRAME 4000D RS ARGB MODULAR
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Eight Core CPU (4.2GHz-5.0GHz/104MB w/3D V-CACHE/AM5)
Motherboard
GIGABYTE X870E AORUS ELITE WIFI7 (AM5, DDR5, M.2 PCIe 5.0, Wi-Fi 7)
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB DDR5 6000MHz CL30 (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
16GB GIGABYTE RADEON™ RX 9070 XT GAMING OC - 2 x HDMI, 2 x DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB CORSAIR ELITE MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 7000 MB/R, 6200 MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB CORSAIR CORE XT MP600 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD (up to 5000 MB/R, 4400 MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1000W RMx SERIES™ ATX 3.1, MODULAR, CYBENETICS GOLD
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead, 1.0mm Core)
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR ICUE LINK TITAN 280 RX RGB HIGH PERFORMANCE CPU COOLER
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
ONBOARD 2.5Gbe LAN PORT
Wireless Network Card
NONE OR ONBOARD Wi-Fi (MOTHERBOARD DEPENDENT)
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Firefox™
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 7 to 9 working days
Price: £2,286.00 including VAT and Delivery
Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/amd-am5-pc/Vnv2x8TDUw/

 

[CaseSensitive]

You're absolutely right about the refresh rate on that monitor. How could I have been so stupid !
I'm not sure I can stretch to the AOC aG27 but the Q27 would be within budget.

Could you explain the two SSD's please ? I've always found that my HDD's have been way too high but, as I explained, I'm not currently a gamer. Finally, would you tell me what you think about case fans and colours please. I'm not at all bothered about cool pale blue but I don't particularly want multi-coloured fans. Whether you can use just one colour or not or even if I need them in this build I really don't know. You'll be helping me no end with all this my friend.

Many thanks.

 

[Ekans2011]

Could you explain the two SSD's please ?

Whenever feasible, keep the operating system separated from the rest; in the link below, you'll find a fantastic explanation of that, which will be much easier to understand than my non-native language explanation

Why more than one storage drive?

I've been meaning to put something like this together for a while. In recent weeks I've found myself writing this more and more so thought I would just post my thoughts in a thread that I could link to. So the reason for this thread is to try and give insight as to the reasoning behind having...

www.pcspecialist.co.uk

Finally, would you tell me what you think about case fans and colours please. I'm not at all bothered about cool pale blue but I don't particularly want multi-coloured fans. Whether you can use just one colour or not or even if I need them in this build I really don't know. You'll be helping me no end with all this my friend.

The installed controller software allows you to customise the lights or turn them off easily.

 

[CaseSensitive]

Thanks Ekans2011

I read the post you highlighted and it made perfect sense and, given the relatively small price of SSDs today it's a reasonable solution (and you put it perfectly eloquently yourself by the way) so your suggestion is great and I'll follow it.

Thanks for the info about the fans and their software. I had no idea how they were controlled..

My final problem is how I will hide this increased expenditure from my dear wife

Again, thanks so much for taking the time to educate this fairly uninformed buyer. It was greatly appreciated.

 

[Ekans2011]

My final problem is how I will hide this increased expenditure from my dear wife

This is a common problem for many people (including myself).

 

[SpyderTracks]

My final problem is how I will hide this increased expenditure from my dear wife

What age are you? If you're hitting the dreaded 40's just blame it on a mid-life crisis, quick and painless.

 

[CaseSensitive]

I'll blame it (if she finds out) on a final life crisis

 

[CaseSensitive]

The same amount in clothes 😳😳😳. I’m struggling to buy the computer never mind clothes!

 

[CaseSensitive]

She knows I’m getting a new machine but thinks it’s going to be around £1500. She has no idea that I’m getting a new monitor too. I’m also considering a new mouse and keyboard. My current set are wirelessl Logitech. I’m going to have to shake that money tree pretty hard.