Gaming PC: Recommend me some specs!

[FarligOpptreden]

First of all, the reason I'm posting this here is because I need some recommendation from the gaming folk for a new PC as the PC will be primarily used for gaming. Any issues I have with hardware will be posted in the Hardware forums.

So, with that out of the way, the question: Could you folks please recommend me some specs / components for a new gaming PC? I'm looking at a budget of around R9k - R10k (max). I won't be buying a monitor, as I have a brand new 1080p Samsung 23" LED-backlit monitor on my desk at home. Everything else must be included though, from the case, PSU, optical drive, storage, other major components to keyboard and mouse.

I've been out of the PC gaming scene for VERY long now (going on a decade), so only have a faint idea of what to look at. I had a look at PC International's website and came up with the following as a starting point:

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-M LE
CPU: Intel Core i7 3820 Processor - 3.60GHz
GPU: ASUS ATI Radeon HD 7850 Direct CUII, 2GB GDDR5
Memory: 2x 4GB DDRIII-1600 Hyper-X (Kingston)
Storage: 1TB-7200RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3 (Seagate)
Optical Drive: DVD Writer 22/12x DL SATA
Case: Coolermaster Elite Cool Case 431+ - ATX No PSU
PSU: 550W ATX Power Supply- Huntkey Greenpower
Input: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 (KB + MS)

Total price works out to just below R10k. I'm not too fussed about SSD at the moment and have a PS3, so my Blu-Ray needs are catered for. Am I on the right track? Can you make any other recommendations?

 

[scotty777]

First of all, the reason I'm posting this here is because I need some recommendation from the gaming folk for a new PC as the PC will be primarily used for gaming. Any issues I have with hardware will be posted in the Hardware forums.

So, with that out of the way, the question: Could you folks please recommend me some specs / components for a new gaming PC? I'm looking at a budget of around R9k - R10k (max). I won't be buying a monitor, as I have a brand new 1080p Samsung 23" LED-backlit monitor on my desk at home. Everything else must be included though, from the case, PSU, optical drive, storage, other major components to keyboard and mouse.

I've been out of the PC gaming scene for VERY long now (going on a decade), so only have a faint idea of what to look at. I had a look at PC International's website and came up with the following as a starting point:

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-M LE
CPU: Intel Core i7 3820 Processor - 3.60GHz
GPU: ASUS ATI Radeon HD 7850 Direct CUII, 2GB GDDR5
Memory: 2x 4GB DDRIII-1600 Hyper-X (Kingston)
Storage: 1TB-7200RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3 (Seagate)
Optical Drive: DVD Writer 22/12x DL SATA
Case: Coolermaster Elite Cool Case 431+ - ATX No PSU
PSU: 550W ATX Power Supply- Huntkey Greenpower
Input: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 (KB + MS)

Total price works out to just below R10k. I'm not too fussed about SSD at the moment and have a PS3, so my Blu-Ray needs are catered for. Am I on the right track? Can you make any other recommendations?

Um... that CPU won't really work with that mobo

 

[FarligOpptreden]

Um... that CPU won't really work with that mobo

See, that's why I need recommendations. I just did a random pick of components from their stock list and tried to get the price below R10k.

 

[scotty777]

See, that's why I need recommendations. I just did a random pick of components from their stock list and tried to get the price below R10k.

just get a i5 3570, and I would steer clear of that Huntkey PSU... I got one 3 years ago, it popped two GPUs .

 

[Chevron]

First of all, the reason I'm posting this here is because I need some recommendation from the gaming folk for a new PC as the PC will be primarily used for gaming. Any issues I have with hardware will be posted in the Hardware forums.

So, with that out of the way, the question: Could you folks please recommend me some specs / components for a new gaming PC? I'm looking at a budget of around R9k - R10k (max). I won't be buying a monitor, as I have a brand new 1080p Samsung 23" LED-backlit monitor on my desk at home. Everything else must be included though, from the case, PSU, optical drive, storage, other major components to keyboard and mouse.

I've been out of the PC gaming scene for VERY long now (going on a decade), so only have a faint idea of what to look at. I had a look at PC International's website and came up with the following as a starting point:

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-M LE
CPU: Intel Core i7 3820 Processor - 3.60GHz
GPU: ASUS ATI Radeon HD 7850 Direct CUII, 2GB GDDR5
Memory: 2x 4GB DDRIII-1600 Hyper-X (Kingston)
Storage: 1TB-7200RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3 (Seagate)
Optical Drive: DVD Writer 22/12x DL SATA
Case: Coolermaster Elite Cool Case 431+ - ATX No PSU
PSU: 550W ATX Power Supply- Huntkey Greenpower
Input: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 (KB + MS)

Total price works out to just below R10k. I'm not too fussed about SSD at the moment and have a PS3, so my Blu-Ray needs are catered for. Am I on the right track? Can you make any other recommendations?

Crap power supply.

 

[Duff-Man]

First of all, the reason I'm posting this here is because I need some recommendation from the gaming folk for a new PC as the PC will be primarily used for gaming. Any issues I have with hardware will be posted in the Hardware forums.

So, with that out of the way, the question: Could you folks please recommend me some specs / components for a new gaming PC? I'm looking at a budget of around R9k - R10k (max). I won't be buying a monitor, as I have a brand new 1080p Samsung 23" LED-backlit monitor on my desk at home. Everything else must be included though, from the case, PSU, optical drive, storage, other major components to keyboard and mouse.

I've been out of the PC gaming scene for VERY long now (going on a decade), so only have a faint idea of what to look at. I had a look at PC International's website and came up with the following as a starting point:

Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-M LE
CPU: Intel Core i7 3820 Processor - 3.60GHz
GPU: ASUS ATI Radeon HD 7850 Direct CUII, 2GB GDDR5
Memory: 2x 4GB DDRIII-1600 Hyper-X (Kingston)
Storage: 1TB-7200RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3 (Seagate)
Optical Drive: DVD Writer 22/12x DL SATA
Case: Coolermaster Elite Cool Case 431+ - ATX No PSU
PSU: 550W ATX Power Supply- Huntkey Greenpower
Input: Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 (KB + MS)

Total price works out to just below R10k. I'm not too fussed about SSD at the moment and have a PS3, so my Blu-Ray needs are catered for. Am I on the right track? Can you make any other recommendations?

Hi FarligOpptreden

The i7 3820 is for LGA 2011 motherboards and thus won't work with LGA 1155 motherboards. Also stay away from Huntkey PSU's. Here's a quote for what you should be looking for around R10 000


CPU : i5 3450 @R1915
Motherboard : ASRock Z77 Extreme4 @R1555
GPU : MSI GTX 670 @R4675
HDD : Seagate Barracuda 1TB @R630
Power Supply : Corsair CX600 @R715
RAM : Kingston Hyper X 8GB - 1600MHz @R455
Case : Aerocool X Warrior @R480

Total = R10 425

_________________________________________________________
Hope this help. If you have any questions just ask or take a look at the The-PC-Build-Thread

 

[ponder]

Crap power supply.

Go for something like Antec High Current gamer or Corsair/Seasonic stuff.

 

[scotty777]

Hi FarligOpptreden

The i7 3820 is for LGA 2011 motherboards and thus won't work with LGA 1155 motherboards. Also stay away from Huntkey PSU's. Here's a quote for what you should be looking for around R10 000


CPU : i5 3450 @R1915
Motherboard : ASRock Z77 Extreme4 @R1555
GPU : MSI GTX 670 @R4675
HDD : Seagate Barracuda 1TB @R630
Power Supply : Corsair CX600 @R715
RAM : Kingston Hyper X 8GB - 1600MHz @R455
Case : Aerocool X Warrior @R480

Total = R10 425


_________________________________________________________
Hope this help. If you have any questions just ask or take a look at the The-PC-Build-Thread

I wouldn't go with that Mobo... it's awesome, but over kill... Just a basic H77 or something will be fine!
and I dunno about the GPU... for 1080 res, might be over kill... I think get a 7850, and an SSD... But that's my opinion .

 

[D3x!]

Think you guys are forgetting windows and some of you are forgetting optical drive?

Also headphones and decent kb and mouse this is for gaming after all

 

[FarligOpptreden]

Think you guys are forgetting windows and some of you are forgetting optical drive?

Also headphones and decent kb and mouse this is for gaming after all

Input devices, yes, but headphones aren't an issue. I've got some decent Sennheisers that I bought last year that will do the job just fine. OS is also not an issue - I've got a Windows 7 Ultimate license.

@Duff-Man: Thanks for the recommendations there! I should probably have mentioned that I'm not an absolute enthusiast gamer and won't be carrying the PC to LANs etc, but this is for home-based gaming only. Looks like I'll be going with a different PSU to the one I scouted out originally though - everyone here's is warning me against it.

@scotty777: Do you think the 7850 is good enough? Will it last me at least 3-4 years and give me decent bang-for-buck? If I can get the prices on some of the other components down (as already suggested by Duff-Man), I can quite possibly look into a primary SSD with 7200RPM HD for storage...

 

[scotty777]

Input devices, yes, but headphones aren't an issue. I've got some decent Sennheisers that I bought last year that will do the job just fine. OS is also not an issue - I've got a Windows 7 Ultimate license.

@Duff-Man: Thanks for the recommendations there! I should probably have mentioned that I'm not an absolute enthusiast gamer and won't be carrying the PC to LANs etc, but this is for home-based gaming only. Looks like I'll be going with a different PSU to the one I scouted out originally though - everyone here's is warning me against it.

@scotty777: Do you think the 7850 is good enough? Will it last me at least 3-4 years and give me decent bang-for-buck? If I can get the prices on some of the other components down (as already suggested by Duff-Man), I can quite possibly look into a primary SSD with 7200RPM HD for storage...

Well, I think if you are going to game on it for such a long time, then maybe a 670 will be best. The thing is, I think a 7850 will play everything just fine for the next 3 years, and I'm expecting it'll play things at medium/low by then. With the 670 you will still only get medium settings out of it in 3 years. Maybe a little bit more.

Either way, I think you will see a much bigger improvement with an SSD though. However, the call is yours. I'm going the SSD+7850 route, and i'm not 100% certain it is the best route to go, but I know I won't be disappointed!

 

[Pe-Killer]

You might want to look at the total amps output needed on the rails for a gtx 670 or radeon.Cause I don't think a budget power supply will have enough amps on it's rails.A decent gfx card normaly requires like 30amps on the rail.
Go for antec high current pro or gamer series or corsair.It will cost you a bit more but will be worth it in the long run.

And just a compatible mb+cpu.
Something like the Asus Gene V and Intel Core i5-3570K
Otherwise it looks good.

 

[FarligOpptreden]

You might want to look at the total amps output needed on the rails for a gtx 670 or radeon.Cause I don't think a budget power supply will have enough amps on it's rails.A decent gfx card normaly requires like 30amps on the rail.
Go for antec high current pro or gamer series or corsair.It will cost you a bit more but will be worth it in the long run.

And just a compatible mb+cpu.
Something like the Asus Gene V and Intel Core i5-3570K
Otherwise it looks good.

Yeah, I've been looking at the i5-3570k now, seeing as it's only around R200 more expensive than the i5-3550 and thrashes it in the benchmarks I've seen. Still looking for a good (and not too expensive) mobo. I've still undecided with regards to the GPU though - I'm considering upping my budget slightly by saving another month or two so I can go the GTX670 route. I need some recommendations on a more discrete case - most of the cases are too OTT for my liking. The Coolermaster range seems more discrete, even though most still have windowed panels and LED-lit fans. I don't want to break the bank on an extreme case - I'm looking at something in the region of R500, but that will comfortably fit the components I plan on buying. So, in summary, I need suggestions on:
- Motherboard (max R1500)
- Case (max R500)
- Power Supply (max R800)

 

[lacster]

hey, I'm looking for a new psu too, could you guys tell me whether the "GIGABYTE ODIN 24-Pin 585W Power Supply" would be reliable want it to last for at least 3years. If its not then could you pls recommend one to me for less than R500 should be at least a 500w. I don't really need much power as my pc is kinda suckish. (I know I'm cheap you don't need to tell me )

Ooooo found this too http://www.zapsonline.com/400w-psu/59267-corsair-vs450-120mm-thermal-controled-fan-450w-psu.html what do you guys think? I'm planning to get a gtx260 will it be enough for it?

I was going to buy the huntkey one but i see you guys don't like it, so any advice for me pls...
@FarligOpptreden, sorry I'm not take over your thread, I just searched for huntkey and found this thread.

 

[Chevron]

hey, I'm looking for a new psu too, could you guys tell me whether the "GIGABYTE ODIN 24-Pin 585W Power Supply" would be reliable want it to last for at least 3years. If its not then could you pls recommend one to me for less than R500 should be at least a 500w. I don't really need much power as my pc is kinda suckish. (I know I'm cheap you don't need to tell me )

Ooooo found this too http://www.zapsonline.com/400w-psu/59267-corsair-vs450-120mm-thermal-controled-fan-450w-psu.html what do you guys think? I'm planning to get a gtx260 will it be enough for it?

I was going to buy the huntkey one but i see you guys don't like it, so any advice for me pls...
@FarligOpptreden, sorry I'm not take over your thread, I just searched for huntkey and found this thread.

I'm sorry to say but you won't find a decent 550watt power supply for R500. They start at about R700.

That Gigabyte Odin is crap. Rather look at the Odin GT.

 

[snail]

I wouldnt recommend going with anything below 700W for all of that hardware.

 

[Inn3rs3lf]

700w for a single gpu, single HDD, a mobo and a cpu?

Im with Duff-Man on the mobo. Asrock has been hitting all the nails on their heads with their performance vs price. And the 670 is an excellent card. Truly is best bang for buck.......on par with my 680 when OC'd. If you dont want to fork out more cash in a year or two to play games at high/Ultra then get it. Having to select the med or low setting box is depressing

Also have a look on carbonite for some awesome deals. There are some trustworthy guys there selling parts for next to nothing with warranty.

 

[lacster]

dang it!... maybe i should look at some other graphics card then was thinking about the HD 5770... I was checking on the net a good branded 450w psu would be enough for this so would one of these be ideal?
http://www.zapsonline.com/400w-psu/...-pcar-extreme-power-plus-460w--fps-c460x.html

http://www.zapsonline.com/400w-psu/59267-corsair-vs450-120mm-thermal-controled-fan-450w-psu.html

and which one would you go for?

 

[Inn3rs3lf]

http://www.carbonite.co.za/f10/core-i7-2700k-intelboard-2x4gig-chassis-32932/#post222551

 

[Inn3rs3lf]

http://www.carbonite.co.za/f10/core-i7-2700k-intelboard-2x4gig-chassis-32932/#post222551

Its older tech, but damn good tech.

400w is too low to run that rig. Even with the low power consumption of the 670. Have a look at Corsair's 600w range. Fair bit cheaper than 700w+ PSU's. Its the one thing that will not increase the performace of your system in terms of speed, but one of, if not the most important.

There are many calculators on the net that you can enter your rig specs and it spits out the recommended wattage needed. Including amperage. Im on my phone now so cant really get the link for you. But whatever it says just add a little more to be safe.