Gaming Computer
Discussion
In the autumn I expect to need a gaming computer.
15+ years ago used to do a lot of gaming but I'm out of touch with modern stuff.
I'm thinking if I get a computer shortlist going, I might be able to keep a lookout for a chance to grab a deal on something suitable in the next few months, either as stock is cleared for a newer model's arrival or as retail sales dry up around the time the kids go back to school.
The provisional *minimum* specs for the games that interest the kids seem to be along the lines of:
Windows 10 (64-bit)
Geforce GTX 770
Intel Core i3 7100
4GB RAM
HDD: 80GB
When I used to buy gaming computers, I tended to go for machines with double or even quadruple the minimum spec for the games I wanted to play.
Whatever I buy may well be able to be reserved purely for gaming, so it won't become cluttered with photos, videos, office documents etc and I probably wouldn't bother to install Office.
Budget isn't really an issue but I would prefer to spend as little as I can get away with because the kids will probably use the cooling fans as pencil sharpeners and stick chewing gum into the USB ports.
Thanks for any suggestions.
R
15+ years ago used to do a lot of gaming but I'm out of touch with modern stuff.
I'm thinking if I get a computer shortlist going, I might be able to keep a lookout for a chance to grab a deal on something suitable in the next few months, either as stock is cleared for a newer model's arrival or as retail sales dry up around the time the kids go back to school.
The provisional *minimum* specs for the games that interest the kids seem to be along the lines of:
Windows 10 (64-bit)
Geforce GTX 770
Intel Core i3 7100
4GB RAM
HDD: 80GB
When I used to buy gaming computers, I tended to go for machines with double or even quadruple the minimum spec for the games I wanted to play.
Whatever I buy may well be able to be reserved purely for gaming, so it won't become cluttered with photos, videos, office documents etc and I probably wouldn't bother to install Office.
Budget isn't really an issue but I would prefer to spend as little as I can get away with because the kids will probably use the cooling fans as pencil sharpeners and stick chewing gum into the USB ports.
Thanks for any suggestions.
R
Questions
1. What screen will you be using, what refresh rate does it have and what resolution? (this drives the requirement of the GFX card as a 1080p 60hz screen means you don't really benefit much when you get to the upper expensive gpus).
2. What sort of budget are we talking about here?
3. Have you considered being brave enough to build your own? It isn't tricky as such but the first time always involves some nerves or some mistakes if you rush it.
I used these guys: https://www.chillblast.com/ and bought a 8700k i7 with 1080 gtx on 16gb of ddr4 2666mhz ram. I did my investigations and bang for buck they were a good company.
Since then (dec 2017) I have re-built it into two cases and the only original part is the power supply and the whole thing is watercooled on a meaty custom loop with 3 big radiators.
1. What screen will you be using, what refresh rate does it have and what resolution? (this drives the requirement of the GFX card as a 1080p 60hz screen means you don't really benefit much when you get to the upper expensive gpus).
2. What sort of budget are we talking about here?
3. Have you considered being brave enough to build your own? It isn't tricky as such but the first time always involves some nerves or some mistakes if you rush it.
I used these guys: https://www.chillblast.com/ and bought a 8700k i7 with 1080 gtx on 16gb of ddr4 2666mhz ram. I did my investigations and bang for buck they were a good company.
Since then (dec 2017) I have re-built it into two cases and the only original part is the power supply and the whole thing is watercooled on a meaty custom loop with 3 big radiators.
Ryzen 3600 CPU or older 2600 (bang for buck king)
16GB DDR4 3200 ram
X470 mother board (chekc bios has been updated)
1tb NVME drive
RTX 2060 Super or AMD 5700 XT
Have a play on PCpartpicker and Robert is your mother's brother.
16GB DDR4 3200 ram
X470 mother board (chekc bios has been updated)
1tb NVME drive
RTX 2060 Super or AMD 5700 XT
Have a play on PCpartpicker and Robert is your mother's brother.
I’ve just built my own after initially being very against it and insisting I’d buy pre built. It was much easier than I expected and with a couple of YouTube video guides the whole thing was hassle free.
I spent about £1,000 and a prebuilt system of the same spec was getting on for 50% more expensive.
Look at AMD Ryzen processors - they’ve just been heavily discounted due to the new models coming soon.
I spent about £1,000 and a prebuilt system of the same spec was getting on for 50% more expensive.
Look at AMD Ryzen processors - they’ve just been heavily discounted due to the new models coming soon.
Steven_RW said:
Questions
1. What screen will you be using, what refresh rate does it have and what resolution? (this drives the requirement of the GFX card as a 1080p 60hz screen means you don't really benefit much when you get to the upper expensive gpus).
2. What sort of budget are we talking about here?
3. Have you considered being brave enough to build your own? It isn't tricky as such but the first time always involves some nerves or some mistakes if you rush it.
I used these guys: https://www.chillblast.com/ and bought a 8700k i7 with 1080 gtx on 16gb of ddr4 2666mhz ram. I did my investigations and bang for buck they were a good company.
Since then (dec 2017) I have re-built it into two cases and the only original part is the power supply and the whole thing is watercooled on a meaty custom loop with 3 big radiators.
A new screen will probably need to be purchased. I doubt an 'upper, expensive GPU' will be required.1. What screen will you be using, what refresh rate does it have and what resolution? (this drives the requirement of the GFX card as a 1080p 60hz screen means you don't really benefit much when you get to the upper expensive gpus).
2. What sort of budget are we talking about here?
3. Have you considered being brave enough to build your own? It isn't tricky as such but the first time always involves some nerves or some mistakes if you rush it.
I used these guys: https://www.chillblast.com/ and bought a 8700k i7 with 1080 gtx on 16gb of ddr4 2666mhz ram. I did my investigations and bang for buck they were a good company.
Since then (dec 2017) I have re-built it into two cases and the only original part is the power supply and the whole thing is watercooled on a meaty custom loop with 3 big radiators.
Budget could be a few thousand pounds but above £1.5k (excluding screen, excluding accessories) I'll start wondering if I'm paying too much for things that aren't needed. The kids are more 'just getting into' computer games rather than late-teens with high demands. I expect they'll want a hardcore gaming machine in a few years time.
I would prefer not to build my own due to lack of current knowledge and the time required, especially if something doesn't go to plan.
Scan have a pretty solid rep for pre-built - plenty of options here...
https://www.scan.co.uk/3xs/custom/gaming/pc#anc
How big a screen are you wanting?
27"...??
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/27-asus-mg278q-144...
https://www.scan.co.uk/3xs/custom/gaming/pc#anc
How big a screen are you wanting?
27"...??
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/27-asus-mg278q-144...
https://www.chillblast.com/chillblast-fusion-ryzen...
Hard to fault this. A Nvidia 1080ti is still a very powerful GPU. It is what I use and will allow you to game in 144hz 1440p resolution. Not suggesting you will get 144 fps all the time but is it fast and you will have a great base machine.
Don't spend more than that unless you area really committed.
Scroll through list and see something around your budget and everyone can dive in with opinions.
https://www.chillblast.com/desktop-pcs/choose-by-t...
RW
Hard to fault this. A Nvidia 1080ti is still a very powerful GPU. It is what I use and will allow you to game in 144hz 1440p resolution. Not suggesting you will get 144 fps all the time but is it fast and you will have a great base machine.
Don't spend more than that unless you area really committed.
Scroll through list and see something around your budget and everyone can dive in with opinions.
https://www.chillblast.com/desktop-pcs/choose-by-t...
RW
Edited by Steven_RW on Friday 12th July 15:47
Steven_RW said:
https://www.chillblast.com/chillblast-fusion-ryzen...
Hard to fault this. A Nvidia 1080ti is still a very powerful GPU. It is what I use and will allow you to game in 144hz 1440p resolution. Not suggesting you will get 144 fps all the time but is it fast and you will have a great base machine.
Don't spend more than that unless you area really committed.
Scroll through list and see something around your budget and everyone can dive in with opinions.
https://www.chillblast.com/desktop-pcs/choose-by-t...
RW
For £30 more, better processor and GPU...Hard to fault this. A Nvidia 1080ti is still a very powerful GPU. It is what I use and will allow you to game in 144hz 1440p resolution. Not suggesting you will get 144 fps all the time but is it fast and you will have a great base machine.
Don't spend more than that unless you area really committed.
Scroll through list and see something around your budget and everyone can dive in with opinions.
https://www.chillblast.com/desktop-pcs/choose-by-t...
RW
Edited by Steven_RW on Friday 12th July 15:47
https://www.scan.co.uk/products/3xs-gamer-rtx-amd-...
Fastra said:
Scan have a pretty solid rep for pre-built - plenty of options here...
https://www.scan.co.uk/3xs/custom/gaming/pc#anc
Just browsing those in the link (very useful - thanks!), I suspect the mid-range ones (or equivalent from other sources) would be about right.https://www.scan.co.uk/3xs/custom/gaming/pc#anc
If those were the only computers in the world and I had to choose right now, it would be the £1057.37 one.
That chillblast is an excellent machine but it’s about £1,100 of parts for £1,600 which is ultimately what sent me down the self build route. I was willing to pay a fee for the build but £400-£500 to assemble a few push-fit components is taking the Michael.
It’s honestly so much easier than you think it’ll be. A few hours of methodical work and you’ll save yourself a significant sum of money.
It’s honestly so much easier than you think it’ll be. A few hours of methodical work and you’ll save yourself a significant sum of money.
Ron99 said:
Just browsing those in the link (very useful - thanks!), I suspect the mid-range ones (or equivalent from other sources) would be about right.
If those were the only computers in the world and I had to choose right now, it would be the £1057.37 one.
Don't envy you really - too much choice.If those were the only computers in the world and I had to choose right now, it would be the £1057.37 one.
OriginalFDM said:
That chillblast is an excellent machine but it’s about £1,100 of parts for £1,600 which is ultimately what sent me down the self build route. I was willing to pay a fee for the build but £400-£500 to assemble a few push-fit components is taking the Michael.
It’s honestly so much easier than you think it’ll be. A few hours of methodical work and you’ll save yourself a significant sum of money.
If you can build the parts list to re-create that pc for £1,100 (case, fans, cpu, gpu, ram, mass storage, OS drive, PSU) i'll build it for the OP and all he needs to do is pay for the postage to get it back down the road. It’s honestly so much easier than you think it’ll be. A few hours of methodical work and you’ll save yourself a significant sum of money.
Whilst that doesn't come with the all encompassing full chillblast warranty, you won't need it and each component bought will have stand alone warranty.
Of course OP could build it for themselves with out much issue.
RW
Edited by Steven_RW on Friday 12th July 16:07
Steven_RW said:
https://www.chillblast.com/chillblast-fusion-ryzen...
Hard to fault this. A Nvidia 1080ti is still a very powerful GPU. It is what I use and will allow you to game in 144hz 1440p resolution. Not suggesting you will get 144 fps all the time but is it fast and you will have a great base machine.
Don't spend more than that unless you area really committed.
Scroll through list and see something around your budget and everyone can dive in with opinions.
https://www.chillblast.com/desktop-pcs/choose-by-t...
RW
I think the *minimum* I'd feel comfortable buying would be the £799 Chillblast Fusion Sentinel GTX 1650 and even that I suspect I might wish I'd paid £100 more for a model or two higher. The maximum without a lot of reassurance would be around £1500, as per my earlier comment on budgets. Hard to fault this. A Nvidia 1080ti is still a very powerful GPU. It is what I use and will allow you to game in 144hz 1440p resolution. Not suggesting you will get 144 fps all the time but is it fast and you will have a great base machine.
Don't spend more than that unless you area really committed.
Scroll through list and see something around your budget and everyone can dive in with opinions.
https://www.chillblast.com/desktop-pcs/choose-by-t...
RW
Edited by Steven_RW on Friday 12th July 15:47
I'm sceptical of anything with an AMD because from the people I know or knew, they didn't stand the test of time well and were prone to overheating.
Ron99 said:
I think the *minimum* I'd feel comfortable buying would be the £799 Chillblast Fusion Sentinel GTX 1650 and even that I suspect I might wish I'd paid £100 more for a model or two higher. The maximum without a lot of reassurance would be around £1500, as per my earlier comment on budgets.
I'm sceptical of anything with an AMD because from the people I know or knew, they didn't stand the test of time well and were prone to overheating.
The stock cooler/fan on that AMD is designed to keep it cool under benchmarking which is simulated full load, so regular use is never in that range, thus way in spec. I'm sceptical of anything with an AMD because from the people I know or knew, they didn't stand the test of time well and were prone to overheating.
In the case of gaming, these chips are not pushed to their ultimate and as such the temps don't get out of control for either intel or AMD.
The AMDs of this generation just don't really want a mega overclock. A lot of the good intel stuff can be really pushed up higher than stock. That is the real difference.
RW
You can configure a build with Ryzen 3rd Gen on overclockers now. I'm not sure about the listed motherboards (I would want Wifi) or CPU coolers (out of the box Wraith Stealth is probably fine if not overclocking) but I'm sure they can be changed if you phoned them.
Overclockers are very good to deal with and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them (or their forums for support).
Example £1500 spec with the caveats about motherboards and CPU cooler above, adjust to budget: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk-tech-labs-amd-...
AMD has passed Intel now in the consumer CPU space (and I have an Intel CPU so I'm not biased).
Overclockers are very good to deal with and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them (or their forums for support).
Example £1500 spec with the caveats about motherboards and CPU cooler above, adjust to budget: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ocuk-tech-labs-amd-...
AMD has passed Intel now in the consumer CPU space (and I have an Intel CPU so I'm not biased).
Years ago, everything seemed to be in '2GB', '4GB', '8GB' and so on in a doubling pattern.
A lot of computers (graphics cards) now have '3GB' or '6GB'.
What's changed? Is a 3GB graphics card 1.5x more capable than a 2GB, or is the odd GB not going to make much difference?
A lot of computers (graphics cards) now have '3GB' or '6GB'.
What's changed? Is a 3GB graphics card 1.5x more capable than a 2GB, or is the odd GB not going to make much difference?
Edited by Ron99 on Friday 12th July 23:32
Ron99 said:
Years ago, everything seemed to be in '2GB', '4GB', '8GB' and so on in a doubling pattern.
A lot of computers (graphics cards) now have '3GB' or '6GB'.
What's changed? Is a 3GB graphics card 1.5x more capable than a 2GB, or is the odd GB not going to make much difference?
Nothing has changed. I had a GTX 580 with 1.5GB VRAM (that was later offered as a 3GB variant) 10 years ago. The GTX 780 I had after that had 3GB VRAM as well.A lot of computers (graphics cards) now have '3GB' or '6GB'.
What's changed? Is a 3GB graphics card 1.5x more capable than a 2GB, or is the odd GB not going to make much difference?
Ron99 said:
Years ago, everything seemed to be in '2GB', '4GB', '8GB' and so on in a doubling pattern.
A lot of computers (graphics cards) now have '3GB' or '6GB'.
What's changed? Is a 3GB graphics card 1.5x more capable than a 2GB, or is the odd GB not going to make much difference?
GPU RAM governs how much of the eye-candy you can turn on - the more and higher detail, the more RAM needed to store it.A lot of computers (graphics cards) now have '3GB' or '6GB'.
What's changed? Is a 3GB graphics card 1.5x more capable than a 2GB, or is the odd GB not going to make much difference?
Edited by Ron99 on Friday 12th July 23:32
I have just recently built one - i have not built a PC since 2005. And even then i needed significant help.
I defined a figure i wanted to spend.
I perused multiple magazines (pc gamer etc) to get a view on what was good/bad/best.
I spent hours trawling youtube videos on system buuilding.
I trawled a whole bunch of pre-made /build it for you websites like scan, overclockers etc. for best system for the defined budget.
I then shopped around and ordered all the bits and upgraded where i could based on savings from other components.
I spent two-three hours, watching youtube following instructions, and built a system that worked for me for the budget i wanted to spend. It was not perfect first time building it, but worked and booted first time. I've subsequently on two occasions cable managing it and introducing more cooling.
Don't forget to factor in - monitor, mouse, keyboard, mouse mat, and headphones + mic.
I defined a figure i wanted to spend.
I perused multiple magazines (pc gamer etc) to get a view on what was good/bad/best.
I spent hours trawling youtube videos on system buuilding.
I trawled a whole bunch of pre-made /build it for you websites like scan, overclockers etc. for best system for the defined budget.
I then shopped around and ordered all the bits and upgraded where i could based on savings from other components.
I spent two-three hours, watching youtube following instructions, and built a system that worked for me for the budget i wanted to spend. It was not perfect first time building it, but worked and booted first time. I've subsequently on two occasions cable managing it and introducing more cooling.
Don't forget to factor in - monitor, mouse, keyboard, mouse mat, and headphones + mic.
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