Custom PC

Polygone · Jan 15, 2015

So, I need a new PC since mine is a potato.
I need suggestions as to what I should buy.
Things I need:
-A reliable CPU with quad core processors, decent clock speed. I don't need anything overkill but good for gaming.
-GPU, very best I guess?
-A motherboard with good RAM support.
-Fast hard drive.

And if you got noteworthy stuff for Gaming I would be glad to hear.
Any help will be appreciated since I don't know a lot.
Thanks!

Sky · Jan 15, 2015

Nickston said: ↑

Depends on your price class. I'd say save up to around €1000 so you can afford yourself a nice processor, a decent graphics card and the most basic HDD SSD combo you can find.

Suggested to pick

CPU

In order of preference:
Core i5 Haswell
Core i7 Haswell (If price allows for it)
FX 8XXX series
FX 6XXX series (I have it, and I wish I did have an i5 instead. It's not bad.)

GPU

In order of preference:
Geforce GTX 770
Geforce GTX 780 (If price allows for it)
R9 290
R9 290X
R9 280
Geforce GTX 760ti

HARD DISK DRIVE

These are in order of availability more or less. If you can find a black, don't get a blue.
Western Digital Black
Western Digital Blue
Western Digital Green

SSD
No order of preference.
Samsung
Intel
Corsair

The reason I am not noting any other brands is because I have heard stories of them switching controllers in the SSD, causing for slow read/writes. I am one of the unlucky with a Kingston with switched controller, causing for a SSD that has 150 read / 80 write instead of 300 read / 150 write.

PROFESSIONAL ICE PACKS

No order of preference.
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
Corsair H100i
Corsair H80i

All three based on if you have the money for the 100i, are okay with water cooling for both the 100i and 80i or if you are planning to not push your CPU's limits with the EVO. You can use the stock cooler for your CPU just fine, but it's not recommended, as even stock coolers can get thermal issues in a case with bad airflow.

PLATE OF PLASTIC AND IRON CIRCUITRY

In no specific order. I prefer Gigabyte over others.
Gigabyte
MSI, any board oriented to gamers
ASUS oriented to either gamers or heavy work

Do not cheap out on the motherboard. That's a mistake I've learned the hard way aswell, getting a miniature MSI motherboard for an APU back then.

THING THAT TRANSFORMS ELECTRICITY INTO A STEAM GAME

Your PSU should use about 80% of its wattage when your system is completely loaded. This leaves room for voltage spiking and for overclocking while keeping your PSU nice. Do not get a 1200 watt brick just because it is 1200 watt. Suggested brands are Corsair, NZXT if you can find them, Cooler Master, Seasonic, Antec, XFX. No order of preference.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

Intel second generation processors or earlier
AMD APU's
Any brand besides Intel or AMD
Reasoning is that the intel processors just aren't strong enough anymore and the APU's are focused on their graphics chip, not on their performance. AMD's graphicless chips will outperform. DO NOT PICK THIS, NOT EVEN WHEN YOU'RE JUST DELAYING YOUR GRAPHICS CARD. As for other processors you might ever find in your way; they're not worth it. They either have a specific purpose or they just lack the instruction sets required by most applications nowadays to run smooth enough.

Any cheap graphics card is automatically rubbish. Also, a key to getting your graphics cards; less is more. When trying to decide betwee two GTX 760's or a GTX 780, pick the 780. It's just so much better. Plus, if there are games which do not utilize SLI / Crossfire at all, you lose half your performance.

There are no other options than the ones I listed for hard drives above. Do not even TRY to get any other brand because it will kick you the shins. Especially Seagate. Their drive failure rate has gone up from 3% to 20% over the last four-five years.

Kingston in particular has been creating a pisstake in the SSD market, by switching the controllers of their SSD's for whatever reason making their speeds half. I have heard bad things about OCZ, but their speeds are not to throw around for.

Do NOT get a passive heatsink. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE ON THE AMD PLATFORM. Also, read reviews on whatever you picked. bequiet!, Cooler Master and Corsair are all excellent brands. NZXT is a possibility, but they do not seem to be active in the European countries.

Do not, I repeat, do NOT, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

DO NOT.
GET A 1200 WATT PSU.

You will fry something, ripple your PSU or just heftily pay overprice.

DO NOT GET A 1200 WATT PSU.
IF YOU ARE AFRAID YOUR PSU WILL BE CRAPPY, GET ONE WITH AT LEAST 80+ SILVER RATING AND 500 ISH WATT. THIS IS ENOUGH FOR MOST THINGS.

If you need additional information, feel free to ask.
Click to expand...

Don't mind me, just droppin it here

Tio José das Vacas · Jan 15, 2015

In terms of money how much do you want to spend?

Polygone · Jan 15, 2015

Tio JosÃ© das Vacas said: ↑

In terms of money how much do you want to spend?
Click to expand...

Around 700-900 €

Tio José das Vacas · Jan 15, 2015

.rapbite said: ↑

Around 700-900 €
Click to expand...

1300 euros here, but you can take out the SSD and the monitor around 900:
http://i.imgur.com/gsTkBAu.png
Edit: This is the best you can do with your range. I can assure you that you have a great PC for a while.

Tomorsomething · Jan 15, 2015

Gaming isn't impacted much by CPU's.

Ninja Otter · Jan 15, 2015

Also: Pick Parts, Build Your PC, Compare and Share - PCPartPicker United Kingdom great site to see if it's compatible.

Wandolf · Jan 15, 2015

What's wrong with the toaster that I'm gonna bring from Antarctica? Sure, I melted a live ice sculpture in it, but it still works.

cheatnow · Jan 15, 2015

Tomorsomething said: ↑

Gaming isn't impacted much by CPU's.
Click to expand...

Don't be too sure about that

Tomorsomething · Jan 15, 2015

cheatnow said: ↑

Don't be too sure about that
Click to expand...

Well, you can play (most) games fine with an i5, even an i3, but other things like video editing and rendering ARE affected a lot more by CPUs.

F7are · Jan 15, 2015

Tio JosÃ© das Vacas said: ↑

1300 euros here, but you can take out the SSD and the monitor around 900:
http://i.imgur.com/gsTkBAu.png
Edit: This is the best you can do with your range. I can assure you that you have a great PC for a while.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't suggest a 200 euro motherboard like that. Get a €100,- ish Gigabyte mobo. You can put that money in getting a 4770k processor or even a GTX980 GPU instead.

Tomorsomething said: ↑

Well, you can play (most) games fine with an i5, even an i3, but other things like video editing and rendering ARE affected a lot more by CPUs.
Click to expand...

This has changed quite a bit with current trends. Sure, AMD Mantle wants to push everything to GPU workload, but currently i3 processors also show frame drops when playing games.

Processors right now don't seem to affect average and max FPS a lot though, only frame freezing.

Tio José das Vacas · Jan 15, 2015

Nickston said: ↑

I wouldn't suggest a 200 euro motherboard like that. Get a €100,- ish Gigabyte mobo. You can put that money in getting a 4770k processor or even a GTX980 GPU instead.

This has changed quite a bit with current trends. Sure, AMD Mantle wants to push everything to GPU workload, but currently i3 processors also show frame drops when playing games.

Processors right now don't seem to affect average and max FPS a lot though, only frame freezing.
Click to expand...

I don't agree. I think the way I presented the PC is perfect, price-specs. Opinions are opinions

F7are · Jan 15, 2015

Tio JosÃ© das Vacas said: ↑

I don't agree. I think the way I presented the PC is perfect, price-specs. Opinions are opinions
Click to expand...

Why do you suggest that mobo? What does it have over, for example, the Gigabyte GA-Z97X-UD3H-BK ?

Pruu · Jan 16, 2015

Tomorsomething said: ↑

Well, you can play (most) games fine with an i5, even an i3, but other things like video editing and rendering ARE affected a lot more by CPUs.
Click to expand...

I use an i3, 8 gig of corsair ram and an nvidia 550ti for rendering and playing games, they have served me well so far.

You'll want something better than this, obviously - Nickston has a pretty solid guide for you there so I'd go off that.

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