Building a Gaming PC

[BLazerules]

Heya I am going to build myself a gaming PC since my laptop is pretty horrible in all honest And since I never built a PC in my life I would like some help with making it. Since some hardware isn't compatible with other hardware. I've asked on some forums but they are pretty damn slow with their replying and it usually turns into INTEL NO BETTER THAN _______

Anyways my budget is 1000 euro. Can be a little more I guess, we will see.
Here is what people helped me get so far... Except they aren't all that helpful on other things

Processor: http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/30299225/ ... fer=search

GPU: http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/34849694/ ... fer=search

RAM: http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/19137881/ ... fer=search

STORAGE: http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/30976877/ ... fer=search


PSU:

Case: http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/085745 ... -plus.html

CPU Cooling: http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/28101810/ ... fer=search

DVD Drive:

Monitor:

Keyboard: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Razer-RZ03-0026 ... d_add_1_dp

Not on play because of this: http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/8116176/R ... fer=search
Yes it costs 3714.95 EURO. The hell!? Almost had a heart attack.

Speakers: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-OEM-S2 ... 9UC1ADHR2T
EDIT: I will add the stuff I will get here along with the prices. Easier to see it if its on the first post I guess. Well I will add them once I am 100% sure I will get them.

-Mainboard (189,90e)
http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/129972 ... --atx.html
-CPU
-RAM
-SSD
-GPU
-CPU Cooling
-PSU
-Case
-DVD Drive
-Monitor
-Keyboard
-Speakers

[1337]

First of all, you should start with the mainboard. Build your pc around your mainboard not the other way around. Find a mainboard that seems good and see what you can put on it. Believe me, i have build my fare share of coms and that's the best way.

Also 1000e is perfect for a gaming pc, any more and it's overkill (obviously prices tend to vary following where you buy your parts). Also don't forget that you'll have to add up to 200e for a nice TFT.

Now taking into account that you want probably a socket 1155 mainboard:
- Keep that GPU, its perfect price/performance. You could get a better one if you really want to (or have some money left to spend), for 100e more you can get the better, faster asus gtx 670 (radeon 7950 built) but the one you have there is good too.

- Change your CPU! I don't know who told you to get a Xeon, but those intel parts are for server usage. You can have them in desktops too but you'll want to have sth which is natively build for desktops like a Core i5 3570K (costs less, for desktop, same power as the xeon) or you could end up having problems with it.

-Any RAM that is 8GB-1600MHz-CL9-DDR3 can be used. Look for kingston for example, they often sell cheap kits.

-You have the right HDD (for now, depends on how prices fluctuate too)

-The CPU cooling depends on your CPU and Case (in some cases) but it seems overkill to me. I tend to put a core i5 with an enermax cooler (around 30 40e) and works like a charm, but that's your choice i guess, i don't know your CASE so you'll need to work that out yourself.

-the power supply should be around 600 to 700Watt i think (you can calculate what you'll need for each part). Don't buy anything above 100e.

Last piece of wisdom, try adding an SSD for your pc. A small one of 64GB costs less than 100e and you can put your OS on it, really gives you a boost in speed when starting the OS or software.

[BLazerules]

The motherboard I was thinking of getting this: http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/34849707/ ... oduct.html
or this
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/34848040/ ... oduct.html
Although I am not sure whether it is very good so some advice could help.

As for the CPU I was thinking of getting the "Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge 3570K - 3.4 GHz - 6 MB L3 Cache - LGA 1155 Socket" but people kept telling me it sucks and the Xeon is better so I am kind of confused. Especially since I have very little knowledge of such things >_<

Any ram that is 8GB-1600MHz-CL9-DDR3 huh? Nice. I will look for it. (So far this is the list I am on. Crappy and in greek. I am glad chrome can translate stuff http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/777/xx ... 56021.html )

The only KINGSTON RAM I could find which is according to what you said is this one http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/120041 ... -8gx).html I will probably be able to look on play.com but I would like to know if this is any good first.

As for the CPU cooling. Can you suggest any for the current rig I will buy?

And for the SSD I will look up to see if there is a non expensive one I can get along with a 1TB. Mostly because I have a ton of songs on my PC that take up a large portion of my PC. Probably my fault that I don't have them on a USB or something

Oh also thanks for responding. From the other sites people just started shouting at me for being a PC noob and that I am "a fag go play your cods with your console you noob"

PS: I am mostly searching for things on Play.com however I will use this crappy site to buy things off if I can http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/home.html this is because I live in CY. And because I can convince my mother that we can go to their office and bi*ch to them about the stuff getting damaged or us getting ripped off. It was really hard convincing her to pay for stuff online. And even then I don't think she is going to use her credit card but the credit card of a friend *facepalm* Anyways I just thought you should know.

Problem with this site. The search engine can't search for sh*t...

EDIT: The GPU I am getting is probably this one http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/127951 ... -20g).html it is pretty close to what I originally chose except a little better for my wallet so I guess its a good thing?

[1337]

-mainboard
Yes, I was thinking about a z77 chipset too. That's the best you get right now for that price range and it works great with a i5. Anyone of the mainboards you were thinking about will do more than what you need of it right now, ensuring that you can evolve your pc in the future without needing to buy a whole new mainboard. Just look at the specs, try finding other mainboards and if you don't see any significant difference, take the cheaper one

-cpu

As for the CPU I was thinking of getting the "Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge 3570K - 3.4 GHz - 6 MB L3 Cache - LGA 1155 Socket" but people kept telling me it sucks and the Xeon is better

People are stupid. I'd say get the i7, but since your price range is of about 1000e, there's nothing better than the i5 3570K. That's the best performance/price ratio you'll get. Completely forget about the xeon, it never existed. The core i5 3450 is also a nice choice if you go overbudget and need to cut into your parts You really won't see much difference right now and the 3450 should be around 30e cheaper than the 3570K (I'm thinking ahead, as you'll need to have some money left to buy a TFT )

-RAM
For the RAM as I said any kit of 8GB DDR3 (1600MHz) will do the job. The mainboards you have chosen can probably go up to 32 or more GB but there's no software out there that you'll use that will use that kind of memory. Just keep in mind that you probably only have 4 slots on the mainboard (look through the specs to be sure) so if you can get 2x4GB it's better than 4x2GB, again that way you can upgrade your baby later on with less cost. Don't get tempted to buy a 16GB, we need to keep the costs down.

-SSD
For the SSD anything around 32GB to 64GB is enough. You'll only put your OS and programs in there (fast, silent usage) and you'll use the HDD for your files like music and such. But it's really optional, you can also add that later on. Actually it will probably be hard to get one without going overbudget mh...

-GPU
I can't open the gpu link (probably linked to some session var that i obviously don't have). For the gpu nowadays most stuff will do the job. You should stay with the radeon right now. So if you want to keep some more money, a radeon 7850 is great perf/price-wise and any radeon above will do the job. But considering the prices as i remember them (it's been some time now lol) i'd either go with the radeon 7870 or the cheaper radeon 7850. You won't see any difference afaik in actual games (and future ones for some time still).

To sum up: Prices are an estimate at best, I haven't seen prices for months now. It's just about how i remember it. :
i5 3450 , 8GB RAM (or even a cheap 4GB) , radeon hd 7850 , 500GB or 1TB HDD , no ssd , a normal 20e dvd-drive , a case + supply for max 150-200e
= 800e pc with super great perf/price ratio and easily upgradable. Add keyboard, mouse and a nice TFT and you have a great 1000e pc.

Go for the more expensive i5 3570K , radeon 7870 , SSD and about 50e for a blueray drive
= 1000-1100e pc with super great perf/price, upgradable as always but you'll still have to buy a TFT and mouse + keyboard.


PS: As I said before, when you know which mainboard you want, the rest builds around it.
Your 3 basic parts are: 1155 socket, Core i5, radeon HD. The rest of the parts don't have compatibility conditions.
For example if you find an AM3 socket main that looks nice, you won't go for a i5 but a AM3 cpu like a phenom II.

[BLazerules]

I am going to find all of these parts on Pixmania for now and see how that goes Oh remember how I said pixmania is bad? Yeah they only have like 1 keyboard. And its a numpad...

-Mainboard
http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/129972 ... --atx.html

-CPU
http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/123452 ... 570k).html

-RAM
Will both of these do then?
http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/089068 ... 00c9).html Chose this one because it is on sale and seems good. But if I buy this part when its not on sale I think I would rather go for this http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/078246 ... 00c9).html if it is not much of a difference.


-SSD
http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/142672 ... CE%92.html Cheapest 32GB SSD on the website.

-GPU
http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/127951 ... -20g).html I wonder if you will be able to go on the site and see it now. I tried opening the link I put and it didnt work for some reason.

-CPU Cooling
http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/114386 ... 40-tb.html is this fine :3?

-Case
Oh you mentioned you didn't know my Case so here this has some detailed information on it in case this will help http://www.coolermaster.com/product.php?product_id=6674

-Power Supply
http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/099232 ... 8-eu).html This is what I found 650 wats seeing you said around 600 and 700 so I guess the middle ground is a good choice. Its only 89.90e so not all that expensive.

-Hard Drive
Hmm I found this one on pixmania http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/106428 ... CE%92.html it is 2TB but only 7.50e more expensive than the one I originally wanted. Seems like a good deal? Also found a 1TB on here but its more expensive than this one http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/090303 ... CE%92.html Dunno if quality or just over priced.

-Screen
My friend recomends a 20 to 24 inches monitor with a 1920x1080 resolution. This is good for gaming right?

-DVD Drive
http://www.amazon.co.uk/LG-GH24NS90-AUA ... 709&sr=8-3
(This is just to give you the idea of what I will get for this.)

-Keyboard
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Razer-RZ03-0026 ... 867&sr=8-1
(I want a Razer Arctosa because it is very good and kind of cheep in most places. Play.com had it ad 3k euro but now its price is... Nothing? Strange. Anyways I am hoping to get this since it seems like a great gaming keyboard. I have a mouse since there is no way in hell I would use the touchpad on this laptop for playing games )

-Speakers
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-OEM-S2 ... B000QWFI9A
(Hoping of getting these speakers. Although not sure if they are good.)

PS: Don't I need a sound card or something? And I am guessing this PC will have an ETHERNET port right? Or do I need to buy another thing for that?

EDIT: This is the list of keyboards on this website http://www.pixmania.com.cy/cy/gr/755/xx ... eresn.html this is exactly what I have to deal with

[1337]

Everything's alright i believe. You have your groceries list but keep in mind that since you went for the pricier parts, your pc without TFT will be around 1000e, so you are going overbudget if you need to buy a TFT.

For the powersupply: I can't read the language lol, but it seems like a 650Watt. You need to check with all your components to be sure it's enough. I estimate from 600 to 700, if it's 600 it's all good, but if your pc needs 700Watt you could have problems when using everything on edge.

Case: again look for the specs, like gpu length, cpu cooler heigh and see if both have enough room in your case. Somewhere they have to tell you the max length that parts can have, but it should be alright i think. Look especially for the gpu length, ive read somewhere that the OC is longer than the standard one because it has 2-3fans.

CPU cooler: that's perfect. I've used it countless times in combi with i5 and never had a problem. (and for 40e it's a lot cheaper than that monster people recommended to you)

TFT: around that range yeah. It's more about personal preference here... your parts can tackle a 27" without problem. I still play around with two 19", i like this size lol. But a 24" is also nice. Go look at them in a shop and get a feel for what is the right size for you.

Sound: the mainboard has onboard sound. If you use a lot of sound, like being a dj or making music, i'd recommend to buy a sound card. But for normal usage, you don't especially need it. Obviously a sound card would have better sound, but try the pc out without one and buy one later if you think it's needed.

that's all i think lol

edit: the mainboard will have 1 or 2 ethernet ports obviously especially newer ones. No need for a ethernet card or stuff like that. See the specs on your mainboard to see how many you have.

[BLazerules]

Don't worry about me going over budget a bit. I could make a it more cash it shouldn't be too hard. As long as it is not way too over budget it is 100% fine.

Ah you can't read it? Same. Google Chrome translates everything though which is pretty cool, otherwise I would be lost on the site for hours.

Hmm alright, I guess I will now have to make sure everything will fit in the case. Hopefully it shouldn't be too hard.

Ah I see, so it has ethernet ports Yeah I am such a noob when it comes to computer hardware, guess its the right time to learn more about them seeing how I will get a PC

Thanks a lot for your help, you probably saved me 1-3 weeks of asking people and using google Anyways 1 final question. Probably a stupid question. But is amazon a trust worthy site to buy from? I am pretty sure it is but what if I get ripped off or something? I can just send an Email to the amazon guys or something right? Just a small question since I don't want to have a computer without a keyboard and speakers

By the way, is there any way to find out how much power each part uses? Or do I have to go on other sites and see if the specifications include that part?


EDIT: This is nice http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

[1337]

Im glad i could help lol

Amazon should be alright yes, just avoid "to good to be true" offers from amateur sellers.

One more thing, don't forget to buy phillips screwdrivers, you may need them when putting everything together. Buy phillips, they are durable and a perfect fit for most screws. Eg http://www.amazon.com/Wiha-26194-Screwd ... B000NZ5QGK or any set or kit you find, i just took the first link on google

[BLazerules]

Yeah I will only buy from trusted sellers IE Razer, Logitech, LG etc. Don't want to risk my money.

As for screw drivers. Yeah I have some laying around the house, my friend has a computer which he built himself and I am sure he has a kit so I might borrow it off of him. If not, then I will buy one so thanks for the link.

Its also amazing how Kenshi forums are more helpful with building a PC then forums about building PCs. Why is that I wonder? Probably has to do with people going overkill and saying Xeon is the best... I am guessing that is where the "PC master race" lives

[wolfleader01]

if your looking to build your gaming PC overclockers.co.uk is a brilliant website, i use them for all my purchases i built my entire rig with watercooling from the website, minus a few watercooling parts that they didnt have, dont know if they ship to Europe but there a great company so im sure they would
http://www.overclockers.co.uk
they also have a great support forum filled with computer geeks to help you if you get stuck.
My Rig

i7 980x ( Oc'd 4ghz. wc)
Mobo Gigabyte G1 Sniper
24 giggs ddr3 1600mhz Ram
500 Gigg Sata 2 hardrive ( old as fick now)
1x 180gigg SSD drive ( For OS and some of the more intesive games)
2x GTX590 (Both Watercooled)

for 1k euros you can build yourself a very nice rig indeed
is the 1k euros for just the tower? or computer periphirals aswell?
PS also for a case thermaltec towers are pretty good, if your worried about space i would get a super tower to make sure everything fits
ill link mine
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... 44&subcat=
This case also has a brilliant cable management system.
Dont forget your static wrist strap aswell so you dont have to worry about shocking your components when handleing them

[BLazerules]

Haha you are kinda late with the reply (Ordered the stuff days ago. 3 parts are here and the rest are in Germany. And since its the week ends well... They wont be here till Monday or Tuesday since monday is a national holiday)

Still good site nonetheless. Will defiantly use it next time. And recommend it to my friends thats for sure.

[wolfleader01]

no problem mate they pride themselfs on fast delivery too, everything ive ordered off there is usualy shipped the same day and arrives the next

[Phaser Rave]

You will not regret building your own computer at all. Building your own computer truly makes it feel like it's yours.

[toaster Assassin]

Its like working on a car. Especially when you fine tune that computer to every little spec you can. Half the fun of owning a computer is working inside it.

[BLazerules]

You will not regret building your own computer at all. Building your own computer truly makes it feel like it's yours.

That's why I am doing it. And its cheaper than buying a PC. Since the OS price is not included. Because I am a bad boy (I bought windows 7. Off the pirate bay )

Its like working on a car. Especially when you fine tune that computer to every little spec you can. Half the fun of owning a computer is working inside it.

Lol just lol at that picture And well its not like working on a car. Yeah the car would feel more like its mine. But it sure as hell wont be all that safe. And would probably fall apart or explode in a few minutes

[toaster Assassin]

BLazerules said: Because I am a bad boy (I bought windows 7. Off the pirate bay )

Are you insinuating that you knowingly purchased illegal material?

My main concerned was the word purchased, not the word illegal.

However, it is highly recommended that you don't be posting that kinda stuff.(Peoples be watching)

That's right, i'm talking about YOU.....Google [Bot]!

Shoo! Filthy creature.

[BLazerules]

IT LIVES! IT LIVES! MUWAHAHAHAHAHHA! AFTER 7 HOURS OF CONNECTING AND INSERTING IT LIVES! MUWAHAHAHAHAH

Now to get a monitor and keyboad. And hmm it kept turning off and on but I guess thats coz I didn't plug it into the wall well enough. I had to hold the thing in the wall in order for the PC to turn on. I will use a better wall once I will use my PC. But its great. It has a red glow on the front :O

Tomorrow its time for the keyboard and monitor then I am done :3

(BTW I bought it off the pirate bay. Is a joke :3 Because I obviously didn't buy it )

EDIT: Hmm... Whenever I test if my PC will work it turns on for a bit and then turns off and then on and then off ect... Is that because it has no OS or is it because it uses more than 650 watts of power

Or did I connect some stuff wrong?

EDIT 2: Took out the motherboard. Left only CPU cooling, 1 stick of ram to test it. The LED for power is always on but the fan only spins for a few secs. Computer makes no sound.

Connected monitor. Nothing happens.

Connected HDD nothing happens.

CPU led is red. CPU is perfectly fine.

[toaster Assassin]

If I recall that is a power supply issue.Is your power supply new or used?


Also a 640Watt power supply is WAY to low for most new computers. You will most likely need an 800Watt as minimum. (Whats your specs)?

[1337]

That's a shame It sounds like a PSU or mobo problem yeah but even a faulty CPU could be the culprit...

700watt should have been enough considering your build... what did that site for Watt consumption say? Maybe the OC card and the Mobo were hungrier than anticipated. Did you try the whole without your GPU? You won't have graphics but by the sound of the HDD you can tell if it works or not.

Don't worry, stick with it and you'll find what's wrong eventually, sometimes it's something really stupid...

Also does your case have any fancy leds and stuff like that? And could you see how much voltage the mainboard gives to the ram and compare those values. And if you haven't done it yet, try a different wall, who knows maybe that one just doesn't like our pc.

[BLazerules]

Fixed it. I did the first thing my teacher taught me in ICT. Yell at the PC. If it doesn't work. Yell louder. I dunno how that fixed it but it did... Weird thing...