Solved Planning to get desktop - £1500 budget

[spongebot64]

Planning to get desktop - £1500 budget

I'm planning on getting a desktop built with custom parts, with a budget of £1500 (or about $2300).

What I'm wanting to know are:

1. What would be a good website for custom-built desktops? Preferably one that can deal within the UK.
2. What CPU and GPU would be good for serious gaming, as well as editing and rendering videos?

The case should be no wider than 27cm, and no longer than 42cm.

 

[kbrady1979]

Can you tell us a little more about what you are going to use this PC for?

 

[spongebot64]

Sorry for the late reply, my internet went down.

But anyway, I plan to use this PC to play mostly source games, GTA IV and probably GTA V if I still have money remaining. As well as this, I intend to also edit videos with Sony Vegas, use Photoshop, and multi-task quite a bit.

 

[Solarstarshines]

I assume you are overclocking as well ?

Or do you want them to overclock for you ?

 

[kbrady1979]

What, if any, parts are you starting out with? Monitors? I assume if you can get two monitors, and stay under budget, you wouldn't be against that? I ask because most that do rendering/editing of any kind find dual monitors pretty much a must.

 

[spongebot64]

I'd prefer not to overclock it myself since I don't want to risk damaging my CPU. I know that it can push it further, but I'm not THAT technically minded. So it would be nice if who ever I'm going with would OC it, as long as it fits in the budget.

 

[kbrady1979]

There are 2 schools of thought on this: You can get something like an Intel i7-3770K, which is a quad core CPU with hyperthreading. That means you have 4 physical cores and 8 threads to work with. The other direction is Intels 6 core CPU, which has 12 threads. It is about $200 more than the 3770K but for editing/rendering this is one of the best CPU's available...hands down. The question is how much editing/rendering are you going to be doing?

 

[spongebot64]

For editing, it'll vary. Sometimes I'll be doing a couple of video layers+audio tracks at one time at a rather high resolution, or just a fairly light project with a few layers. Maybe once or twice a week.

*EDIT*

Even if it is a must to have two monitors, I don't have space for two monitors where I'm planning to set my PC up. I'm just wanting a tower itself since I already have a monitor I can rely on.

 

[Boozad]

What would be a good website for custom-built desktops? Preferably one that can deal within the UK.

PC Specialist. I've bought my last three rigs from them and can't recommend them highly enough mate.

 

[spongebot64]

Ah, yes, I've been seeing them in the adverts recently. I'll give them a look.

 

[Boozad]

Here is a review of my latest rig with my reasoning of arriving at my final spec, plus some photos of the delivery service and build qualilty from post #63.

Their customer service is excellent too with great aftermarket support.

 

[spongebot64]

I wish I could see the photos, but I have to be logged in to see them...

 

[Boozad]

I'll upload them here tomorrow night. You can create a forum account over there for free of course.

 

[spongebot64]

Blimey, that's quite nice.

 

[Boozad]

If you do decide to go there and need any further help on deciding on a spec or any info on PCS in general feel free to give me a shout mate. Like I say, I can't recommend them highly enough.

 

[spongebot64]

OK then, thanks.