48 replies to this topic

[Sgt. Rho]

So my PC is now just not powerful enough for newer games. Even CnC3 makes trouble on maximum settings, and that game is from 2007.
My current setup looks like this:
-2gb DDR2-1066 RAM
-AMD Athlon X2 5000+ (2.61ghz) with stock cooler
-Asus 9800GT
-Not actually sure on the mobo.

I have a budget of about 500-600€. I already have a preliminary plan on what I want. HDDs I got plenty, so no need there:

-ASUS ENGTX560 DCII OC/2DI (aprox. 190€) -EVGA GTX560 Ti DS (aprox. 225€)
-AMD Phenom II X4 955 (125€) + Cooler Master Hyper 612S (43€)
-MSI 870-C45 (50€)
-Cooler Master GX-750W (80€) Corsair AX650 650W ATX23 (about 140€)
-G.Skill 16GB DDR3-1333 Quad Kit (70€)
And a new case, a Aerocool X-Warrior Evil Red Edition (50€)

Updated. This now brings me to just under 600€. I'll wait for the tower for a while longer then.

Edit: Overlooked that Raptor updated his post. The PSU would get me well over 600€ again, to like 650€. But oh well.


Happy Edit: I now have a budget of 5000€ and so I did this:
Cooler Master HAF-X
be quiet! Dark Power Po P8 1200W
Intel Core i7-3930K
ASUS Rampage IV Extreme
PoV GeForce GTX590 BEAST Watercooled
G.Skill DIMM 16 GB DDR3-1866 Quad-Kit
Kingston HyperX SSD 120GB

CPU and GPU Water-Cooled.

And these peripherals:
ASUS VG278H
Razer Orochi
Razer Nostromo Gaming Keypad
Razor BlackWidow
Logitech Z506
Corsair Vengeance 1500 7.1 USB
Tha's 902€,

Also for another 425€ I might add a Wacom Intuos4 L Tablett, putting me around 1330€ for peripherals. The system itself is I think about 2400€, so that makes 3730€ for the PC, and the water cooling costs about 450€, putting me at about 4130€

Edited by Sgt. Rho, 07 January 2012 - 17:35.

[ΓΛPTΘΓ]

First thing, to lower cost, you do not want 16GB of ram. Unless you are running CAD, multiple image/video editing software or crazy multitasking, it won't make a difference.

Second, on the CPU cooler, if you are not overclocking, a cheaper aftermarket cooler can be used to lower the noise.

Most importantly, what PSU are you going to use. Bad PSU means everything can get fried, not a good place to cheap out there.

EDIT: I am blind here... On the PSU, I suggest a Corsair AX650 which is a rebranded Seasonic X-650 for less money. The Coolermaster is a bad PSU which can go out of spec, avoid if you don't want burning silicon chips.

http://www.jonnyguru...Story3&reid=188

Edited by ΓΛPTΘΓ, 12 December 2011 - 14:02.

[Sgt. Rho]

Quote

-Cooler Master GX-750W (80€)

That's the PSU

As for the 16gb RAM: I do plan to actively do stuff with the UDK, so more RAM = Better, 8gb being the recommended minimum.

[CJ]

Well, if I can make a little suggestion here, it'd be to get an AMD HD6950 instead of the nVidia card.
They have pretty much the same specs (actually the AMD is better on most games), and you'd be saving 20€

And here's a detailed comparison of the 2 cards.

[Sgt. Rho]

I wouldn't be saving, the one I'm buying costs 190€

[CJ]

Sgt. Rho, on 12 December 2011 - 15:23, said:

I wouldn't be saving, the one I'm buying costs 190€

Ah, well I must've misread that
Still, the HD6950 costs 185€, so that's the same price D:

[Sgt. Rho]

Oh, then I misread. I read 200-something €, while it was $...making 180-ish €

Then again, I can also only find it for 224€ at best.

Edited by Sgt. Rho, 12 December 2011 - 15:39.

[Raven]

I hear that the 560Ti is a much better value for money option although I don't own one. On the other hand, I got some feedback from few friends who use the 560Ti that it even now struggles a bit when handling hi resolutions (1920x1080 and up). I know its not cheap, but a 570 would be a better choice in the long run.

[Wizard]

I have the 560TI, which I picked up for next to nothing. It handles everything I play perfectly, although I do not have BF3 or similar high spec latest release.

[Wanderer]

If you are thinking of getting 560, Then it's a better idea to put the extra 20€ or whaever it is for the TI -version. It's just that much better power for the price. If you got the extra cash, sure go for the 570 and not the TI. It is a better card overall.

[Sgt. Rho]

Then I think I'll go with the EVGA GTX 560 Ti DS, and not get a new case for now. Updated the original post.

Edited by Sgt. Rho, 13 December 2011 - 12:20.

[ΓΛPTΘΓ]

I think you can get a cheaper cooler, that mobo is a lower end board not design to overclock. You are not likely to squeeze much out of that barely cooled chipset.

Good choice on not getting that case, but make sure your older case is in fact mATX compatible. Some OEM case only fits their non standard or BTX boards like Dells. If you have built your previous computer, the case should be fine then.

[Sgt. Rho]

I got an mATX board in my PC right now, so I suppose it works. The mobo is just there to hold stuff together, I plan to OC at some point, but not until later.

[Sgt. Rho]

Ok, so I pushed it under 600 again, I've pretty much refurbished it from scratch taking into account all the advice I got from you guys, and I'm getting an apropriate cooler for free.

Quote

-AMD Phenom II X4 955
-G.Skill DIMM 8 GB DDR3-1333 Kit (No need for 16gb, I can get more when I need to.)
-MSI 890GXM-G65
-EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti DS (I always wanted that, it looks so effn cool!)
-Corsair CMPSU-650TXV2 (Went for the less cably version, much cheaper.)

[ΓΛPTΘΓ]

The gut of the TX650V2 is totally different to the AX650, big difference in efficiency as well. Not a big PSU but not the best either.

[Sgt. Rho]

It does however get me below 600€ again, and 600€ is the most I can spend, give or take a few bucks, and I still need a bigger fan, because I live in Spain and get a lot of heat during the summer.

Edit: I read the Corsair PSU is rather loud. What do you think of the "be quiet! Pure Power BQT L7-630W"? It's even cheaper and according to reviews, quite silent and a good PSU at that, too.

Edited by Sgt. Rho, 24 December 2011 - 14:06.

[Camille]

i have a be quiet and it's an excellent PSU i'd get one of those if you can.

[Amdrial]

If it's a gaming rig, why would you bother about the sound from your PSU anyway? It's not like you'll be hearing it when you're wearing headphones/a headset when playing games anyway.

Edited by Amdrial, 27 December 2011 - 19:42.

[Sgt. Rho]

I'm using a 5.1 system tho, and a mic, not a headset.

Edited by Sgt. Rho, 27 December 2011 - 23:34.

[Gen.Kenobi]

Are you really going with AMD's processors? Intel is in advantage. Both i5 and i7 Sandy Bridge architetures (did i spell it right? ) are far too superior to any AMD processor. It may be more expensive but it's really worth it. It's like comparing Nvidia's CUDA with ATI's OpenCL.

[Camille]

Amdrial, on 27 December 2011 - 19:17, said:

If it's a gaming rig, why would you bother about the sound from your PSU anyway? It's not like you'll be hearing it when you're wearing headphones/a headset when playing games anyway.

the quietness isn't really what it's about though, they are very good PSU's tout court

[Sgt. Rho]

Updated once again...

[TheDR]

Surely your going to need more than 120GB of HD. After windows and other basic stuff is installed you only have about 100GB to play with D:

[Sgt. Rho]

The 120gb SSD is for the OS, BF3 and Crysis 2 only. I already have another 350gb of hdd, and will get a 2tb HDD for free. I didn't add it because that's not what I'm buying

€: I updated the OP again with the planned Peripherals.

Edited by Sgt. Rho, 07 January 2012 - 17:11.

[Amdrial]

Since you have a roof of €5000 now, have you considered the EVGA Classified SR-2?

Oh, by the way, I raise you http://tweakers.net/...tab:inventaris. I know the website is in Dutch, but I think you should be able to find out what part is what. The total cost of that machine is give or take €4800 if you were to buy it in The Netherlands.


Cooler Master HAF-X
be quiet! Dark Power Po P8 1200W
Intel Core i7-3930K
ASUS Rampage IV Extreme
PoV GeForce GTX590 BEAST Watercooled
G.Skill DIMM 16 GB DDR3-1866 Quad-Kit
Kingston HyperX SSD 120GB

• Lian Li PC-P80
  
• Seasonic Platinum Series 1000 Watt
  
• 2x Intel Core i7 990X Extreme Edition Boxed
  
• EVGA Classified SR-2
  
• 2x MSI N580GTX Twin Frozr II/OC
  
• 2x Corsair Dominator CMP24GX3M6A1600C9 (12 sticks of 4GB DDR3 RAM YEAH!)
  
• OCZ Agility 3 SATA III 2.5" SSD 240GB
  
• 2x Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000, 3TB

Edited by Amdrial, 07 January 2012 - 18:21.