Making a Custom Gaming Computer

[_Ghozt]

Hello,

Now, I've been doing a bit of studying and I was looking to create my own custom gaming computer, with an average sort of budget I was looking for your help.

So after doing a bit of research, I wanted to know your verdict on the parts I have chosen, and if they would even work together. The only thing I don't have yet is a SSD and a graphics card.

CPU: http://goo.gl/A9ulx
RAM: http://goo.gl/YAAeH (Lower profile RAM)
Motherboard: http://goo.gl/BF7fw (So I need to get a cheaper board)
Hard-Drive: http://goo.gl/MVzbe
DVD: http://goo.gl/6S3Wq
Case: http://goo.gl/pPXta (Get a newer case, this one is outdated)
(Around a 600 watt PSU)
Thanks. 🙂

 

[tiny voices]

Get a WAY cheaper z77 motherboard.
Get low profile RAM. Get 8gb.
Get a hd7870/gtx660
Get a 500-600 watt PSU from Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic.

 

[dudewitbow]

1. avoid intel branded boards. bad price to performance ratio in general.
2. might want a cpu cooler of a sort to take advantage of k series processor,(if its a HSF, pick a low profile ram)
3. Antec 900 original is outdated. cable management is limited. terrible price to what you are getting as of the current moment
4. you dont have a power supply

 

[_Ghozt]

Get a WAY cheaper z77 motherboard.
Get low profile RAM. Get 8gb.
Get a hd7870/gtx660
Get a 500-600 watt PSU from Antec, XFX, Corsair, Seasonic.

Would you be able to tell me the reasons for this?

Cheaper does sound better, but I don't want to cut corners, I want it a bit future proof.

So any reasons?

 

[_Ghozt]

Also I forgot to add this, are these any good? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Gaming-Series-80PLUS-Bronze/dp/B008HVGMN8

 

[tiny voices]

There is no such thing as future proofing.
A cheaper z77 board will actually be better than the board you listed.
8gb RAM saves money. Games only use 4gb anyways. 8gb is normal for gaming rigs.
Those PSUs are good brands. They will be reliable.

 

[tiny voices]

That PSU is overkill. A 550w unit will run your system no problem.

 

[Chairman Ray]

Would you be able to tell me the reasons for this?

Cheaper does sound better, but I don't want to cut corners, I want it a bit future proof.

So any reasons?

For motherboards, you want to pay for features rather than performance. A motherboard upgrade gives the worst price/performance ratio out of any upgrade, so people usually just go for the cheapest motherboard and use the money somewhere else. Right now, a z77 motherboard carries all the latest features that you need, so it's the most futureproof that you can get. If you need some special ports like thunderbolt or something, then it might be worth it to shell out more for a motherboard, but for a gaming computer, a cheapest z77 is usually the best choice.

 

[_Ghozt]

Could you maybe give me a couple of links?

 

[tiny voices]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157293 Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313344 RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207013 PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161404 GPU

 

[dudewitbow]

basically when purchasing motherboard the questions to ask are:

1. overclocking? if so how much
2. sli/crossfire? how many cards max
3. form factor(size)
4. # of sata ports needed(important for multiple ssds)
5. other features?(thunderbolt, wifi, more usb ports)

1 and 2 are generally the gaming ones.

low end z77 mobos are generally crossfire ready, but not sli ready. they also have less powerphases and lower quality capacitors and parts for pushing cpu clocks to its limits. giving it a more limited clocking but its perfectly fine for someone pushing a bit above what turbo is limiting the user to.

 

[_Ghozt]

basically when purchasing motherboard the questions to ask are:

1. overclocking? if so how much
2. sli/crossfire? how many cards max
3. form factor(size)
4. # of sata ports needed(important for multiple ssds)
5. other features?(thunderbolt, wifi, more usb ports)

1 and 2 are generally the gaming ones.

low end z77 mobos are generally crossfire ready, but not sli ready. they also have less powerphases and lower quality capacitors and parts for pushing cpu clocks to its limits. giving it a more limited clocking but its perfectly fine for someone pushing a bit above what turbo is limiting the user to.

I'm completely new to this, so when would I actually need these things?

Also, guessing from your comments the DVD player, CPU and harddrive are all fine.

Also, are there any recommendations for SSD's?

 

[tiny voices]

Overclocking is by no means necessary. Its kind of a way to show off. It can have performance gains, but nothing really all that needed. Its fun.

Form factor is all about what size case you want.

Every board will have all the sata ports you need. hey are used to connect DVD and HDD drives.

SLI/Crossife is more than one GPU used at the same time. Generally you buy one good GPU and then in 2 years or so buy another identical card and use them together o boost performance.

 

[tiny voices]

For SSD's get only 120gb or more

Good ones are:
Crucial M4
Samsung 840 PRO

 

[_Ghozt]

So a new revised version:

Case: http://goo.gl/KrztG
CPU: http://goo.gl/A9ulx
Hard-Drive: http://goo.gl/MVzbe
DVD: http://goo.gl/6S3Wq
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157293 Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820313344 RAM (Sorry for the broken links)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817207013 PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161404 GPU
SSD: http://www.amazon.com/Crucial-128GB-2-5-Inch-Solid-CT128M4SSD2/dp/B004W2JKZI

 

[tiny voices]

Looks good to me. If you don't plan to overclock, you don't need a k series CPU or a z77 motherboard.

An i5 3470 and an h77 motherboard will work great.

 

[DarkSable]

Your newegg links aren't working.

You can get a better SSD for less - look for a Samsung 830 or an OCZ Vertex 4. (The M4 is a good drive, but for about $85-90, not 115.)

 

[_Ghozt]

I'm really just planning to play steam games (Like TF2, COD and that) with good graphics and high FPS.

Also could i have some links to some of those?

 

[tiny voices]

CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115234
motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128550

 

[dudewitbow]

For tf2, i can tell you that anything at or better than a 7850 is good for tf2 at 1080p max everything 4x AA. with a 7850, youd get occasional hiccups on ridiculously large customs maps, but other than that, tis entirely playable.

if you want my recommendation on gpu:
Sapphire 7870 XT(tahiti LE) currently backordered
or Powercolor 7870 Myst.

nearly all major sites have them sold out/backordered. reason why is $ to performance ratio. Its priced like a 7870, but performs close to a 7950 as these cards are basically gimped tahiti(7900 architecture) cards rather than picairn. they sell out because of the high demand for them.


If you can wait patiently or catch one, its arguably best $/performance on single card.

 

[_Ghozt]

So here we go: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/_Ghozt/saved/#savedbuild_294963

 

[tiny voices]

Get an i5 3470. not a 3570k. Its basically the same because you aren't overclocking and will save you money. There is not point to get a "k" CPU if you aren't overclocking.

 

[_Ghozt]

Get an i5 3470. not a 3570k. Its basically the same because you aren't overclocking and will save you money. There is not point to get a "k" CPU if you aren't overclocking.

Awesome!

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/HzOh

 

[tiny voices]

You still have an i5 3570k and a z77 motherboard. This is a waste if you don't want to overclock.

You still have non-low profile RAM.

 

[_Ghozt]

Ok, well you recommended that motherboard, I'll change the 'K' why does the RAM not being low profile matter so much?