Time for a new PC, opinions?

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  1. whs
    Posts : 26,210
    Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
       #11

    Sealed water seems to become the next standard. I like it. And some of those 8 core and 220W AMD processors cannot live without it.
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  2. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #12

    Ditto the positive comments on an ASUS motherboard but I think their lower cost cousin ASROCK are good value for money. Check out the I/O options you need as well. Also ditto spending the $ on a reputable name brand PSU. I have personally used Seasonic and Antec and find them good. Modular PSUs cost more but a decent case can tidy up the cabling so I don't think it's a big deal.
    Check out your PSU power requirements using
    http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp
    then maybe add a margin if you plan upgrades particularly the graphics card.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 Professional x64
    Thread Starter
       #13

    Wow, so many replies, you guys are awesome.

    paulpicks21 said:
    How old is your current PSU? Maybe I got unlucky but I would also suggest buying a new one with a higher voltage. The 780 requires 2 x 8 Pin PCI-e cables.
    My current PSU is about 4 years old now, I originally had an enermax 1000w PSU that died after a couple of months My current GTX 280 has 1 PCI-e 6 Pin and 1x 8Pin

    paulpicks21 said:
    Regarding the SSD, I would recommend you get as big as you can, I have a 128GB one and I am forever running out of space and having to clear stuff off it, 250/256GB seems to be the sweet spot right now.
    I am happy to go lower on the SSD, I will only be using it for windows install and 1-2 games I am currently playing, when I finish the game I will be uninstalling it before I install something else.

    I already have 3 Tb of external HDD's and 1Tb of internal for other space requirements.

    paulpicks21 said:
    I agree with Noober on the motherboard, but only because I have always had a good experience with ASUS boards, I have to admit I have never owned an MSI board, there are a couple of members on here with one, Dude has one the gaming Z77 and he loves it, so it's up to you on that one.
    I always heard the MSI components where very good, was this mis-information?

    paulpicks21 said:
    What is the maximum budget you have set aside for your upgrades? Maybe I can look around and see what I can come up with.
    My budget is between £900-1000, I really can't afford any more.

    whs said:
    But seriously - did you investigate an AMD option. They have some real nice Vishera CPUs for adorable prices - at least in the US. And the boards are cheaper too. Intel is pricey.
    I am open to anything, I chose Intel because that is what I have always had.

    Solarstarshines said:
    Anyone ask the op if he is Overclocking ?

    I wouldn't suggest Haswell chips if he is
    I have always been a fan of OCing, I have my current Core2Duo up from 2.66Ghz to 3.2 so I do like to tinker.

    linnemeyerhere said:
    Will01,
    Welcome to SF and it looks to be a great beginning to your build. That MSI board is getting mad prop's. Regarding the PSU I would go Seasonic Gold or Platinum and at least 850w or push it some and get a 1000w the PSU won't sweat one thing and it will run cool and quiet. Either way you'll need to think about cooling and I would do Noctua air if left stock or very modest OC and sealed water as it's become the norm.
    I liked the look of the motherboard as well. I will definately be getting a new PSU following your guys advice.

    Can you explain a bit more about Noctua Air and Sealed water? I have always just went with regular cooling.

    I have a new Heatsink I bought a few months ago for my core2duo when I broke my old one being a bit too rough with it. I was gunna re-use it. It's an Artic Cooling Freezer, how would this fare?

    mjf said:
    Check out the I/O options you need as well.
    Sorry, I am not sure what you mean be this, can you elaborate?

    mjf said:
    Check out your PSU power requirements using
    eXtreme Power Supply Calculator
    then maybe add a margin if you plan upgrades particularly the graphics card.
    When I buy a new PC, I tend to stick with it until I upgrade again, so adding more components later is unlikely.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,075
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
       #14

    This is the best I can come up with for that kind of money. Of course this does not include a new cooler for the CPU but it does include a PSU which looks OK but you might want to look around for others that you prefer.

    CPU - https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...roductId=55828

    Motherboard - https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=58377

    Graphics card - https://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...roductId=56400

    Ram (dam it's expensive at the moment) - https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=55956

    SSD - https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Stor...roductId=56764

    PSU - https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Comp...roductId=53996
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Time for a new PC, opinions?-build.png  
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  5. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #15

    Welcome Will01, anytime someone puts "opinion" in a thread title, things explode around here.

    You have gotten very good advice especially concerning the PSU and ASUS boards. I wouldn't recommend a lot of install/uninstall on a SSD it will wear it our faster if you do a lot of gaming. The 840EVO Paul listed is a great one, I have one and it's fast.

    You could save a bob or two if you went with an ASUS Sabertooth Z87 board, lots of high end features too. Overall an Intel system will be more responsive I think, although the gamers report some games are better with AMD systems and GPUs, I'm an NVidia guy.

    The air cooling referred to is one with a fan(s) and a finned radiator with heat pipes in it. The closed loop liquid cooling is really nice and makes the case more roomy. A new case would be nice but would add perhaps another £60-£90 to the build I suspect. I may be way off on that, I didn't check the exchange rate first.
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  6. Posts : 6,075
    Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
       #16

    Britton30 said:
    Welcome Will01, anytime someone puts "opinion" in a thread title, things explode around here.

    You have gotten very good advice especially concerning the PSU and ASUS boards. I wouldn't recommend a lot of install/uninstall on a SSD it will wear it our faster if you do a lot of gaming. The 840EVO Paul listed is a great one, I have one and it's fast.

    You could save a bob or two if you went with an ASUS Sabertooth Z87 board, lots of high end features too. Overall an Intel system will be more responsive I think, although the gamers report some games are better with AMD systems and GPUs, I'm an NVidia guy.

    The air cooling referred to is one with a fan(s) and a finned radiator with heat pipes in it. The closed loop liquid cooling is really nice and makes the case more roomy. A new case would be nice but would add perhaps another £60-£90 to the build I suspect. I may be way off on that, I didn't check the exchange rate first.
    Believe it or not Gary, the Z87 Sabertooth is actually £20 more expensive than the board I listed.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #17

    paulpicks21 said:

    Believe it or not Gary, the Z87 Sabertooth is actually £20 more expensive than the board I listed.
    wow, never mind that part them.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7,466
    Windows 10 Home Premium 64bit sp1
       #18

    @Will01 Reason why i mentioned Overclocking is those chips are very hard to get stable at a decent overclock

    Some went as mild as 4.2 and had major problems or major BSOD's I would do lots of reading on this type of chip before attempting to OC it

    Many have claimed it's too many new settings that has to be manipulated as well other then that the chip packs a punch
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  9. Posts : 11,424
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #19

    Will01,
    Sealed water cooling has become almost a standard for enthusiasts and a interim platform to jump later into the full water loop cooling. Air cooling as well has gone into very large and multi fan coolers and some can do an amazing job such as the Noctua range. I'll post two idea's but you need to research just what your target case can handle. With water you must have a opening and mounting points for the radiator and fan(s) they can come in 120/140/240/280mm sizes.

    Dual 120mm fans total 240mm rad.
    Corsair Hydro Series CW-9060009-WW H100i Extreme Liquid/Water CPU Cooler - 2 x 120mm Fan, Multi-socket Support, built-in Corsair Link at TigerDirect.com

    Single 120mm fan total 120mm rad.
    Corsair Hydro Series CW-9060008-WW H80i Extreme Liquid/Water CPU Cooler - 2 x 120mm Fan, Multi-socket Support, built-in Corsair Link at TigerDirect.com

    Single 140mm fan total 140mm rad.
    NZXT Kraken X40 RL-KRX40-01 All-In-One CPU Liquid Cooler - 140mm Cooler, Copper, Interactive Digital Fan Control, Hue Controlled Color Changing Lights at TigerDirect.com

    Dual 140mm fans total 280mm rad
    NZXT Kraken X60 RL-KRX60-01 280mm Ultra Performance Liquid CPU Cooler - Newegg.com

    Air Cooling runs an even wider gambit:

    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...4316&CatId=493

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835608018
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  10. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #20

    By I/O I mean number and type of sata ports, usb ports, bluetooth (if needed) etc.
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