Advice on spec for a gaming PC ?

[SlinkyHD]

Hey,
I was wondering if I could get some hints or tips on whether or not this machine will be good enough for a fairly extreme gaming PC.
Would it be worth buying new gaming keyboard and mice at a later date? If so what are the advantages.

Any help you guys can give in making this PC as efficient as possible will be much appreciated.
Keep in mind that if you recommend any alterations I have a MAX budget of £1,350 (or as near as possible.)

I also plan on adding a 120GB SSD but not from PCS.. I will be getting it From Crucial.com.

I will be playing games such as Battlefield 3, Skyrim, Stronghold 3, MW3 and if possible I would like some high detail with good FPS too , I may be doing some photo editing in Photoshop and streaming videos online, HD if possible(My bandwidth can support this(50MB)).
Also I will be running a server for Minecraft which I will dedicate 4GB RAM to. So I would prefer the 16GB RAM. I want to make this rig as efficient, fast and future proof as possible. Any help you can give will be much appreciated.

Case
COOLERMASTER HAF 912 PLUS MID TOWER GAMING CASE

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7-2600 Quad Core (3.40GHz, 8MB Cache) + HD Graphics

Motherboard
ASUS® P8Z68-V PRO: USB 3.0, SATA 6GB/s, NVIDIA®SLI™, ATI®CrossFireX™

Memory (RAM)
16GB KINGSTON HYPER-X GENESIS DUAL-DDR3 1600MHz, X.M.P (4 x 4GB KIT)

Graphics Card
2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 - 2 DVI,HDMI,VGA - 3D Vision Ready

2nd Graphics Card
2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 - 2 DVI,HDMI,VGA - 3D Vision Ready

Memory - 1st Hard Disk
500GB SERIAL ATA 3-Gb/s HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)

1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM

Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (XD, MS, CF, SD, etc) + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT

Power Supply
COOLERMASTER 750W GX SERIES™ -80 PLUS® BRONZE (£72) **SPECIAL***

Processor Cooling
COOLIT ECO II A.L.C (ADVANCED LIQUID COOLER) (£59)

Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Network Facilities
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs

USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD

Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)

Office Software
FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)

Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL

Monitor
24" Widescreen TFT 1920 x1080 5MS, DVI, 23.6" Panel (£119)

DVI-D & HDMI Monitor Cables
1 x 2 METRE DVI-D CABLE (£5)

Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)

Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)

Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days

Quantity
1


Price: £1,364.00 including VAT and delivery.

[TudorVII]

I would downgrade the RAM to the 8Gb Samsung choice, unless you overclock you're not going to be getting the most from your current selection, also swap your hard drive for the WD Caviar Black for better performance from it.

[SlinkyHD]

So I should go for the Samsung RAM?
And how much better is that HDD?
Any other advice ?

[UndeadJack]

Scale down RAM, black is really fast. Upgrade to 1gb 560 ti as it is better.

[SlinkyHD]

1GB 560 is faster than 2GB 560 ?

[wereireland]

I have put together what i fell to be a better spec. EDIT yes 1 gb is better, the 1 gb of vram doesn't affect what fps you are getting. Its not like normal ram. I think it only helps if you are playing on really big screens (40"+) or multiple screens. (560ti sli benchmarks http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforc...-sli-review/11) (560 sli benchmarks http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforc...-sli-review/11)
Case
COOLERMASTER HAF 922 MID TOWER GAMING CASE Better cooling
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7-2600 Quad Core (3.40GHz, 8MB Cache) + HD Graphics
Motherboard
ASUS® P8Z68-V: USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs, NVIDIA®SLI™, ATI®CrossFireX Not really worth going with the pro. Has very little advantages.
Memory (RAM)
16GB SAMSUNG DDR3 DUAL-DDR3 1333MHz (4 X 4GB) No need for kingston unless overclocking
Graphics Card
1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 Ti - 2 DVI,HDMI,VGA - 3D Vision Ready Better graphics card
2nd Graphics Card
1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 Ti - 2 DVI,HDMI,VGA - 3D Vision Ready
Memory - 1st Hard Disk
750GB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD7502AAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm) Alot faster loading times and i put in extra storage.
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM
Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (XD, MS, CF, SD, etc) + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Power Supply
CORSAIR 750W ENTHUSIAST SERIES™ TX750 V2-80 PLUS® BRONZE (£86)
Processor Cooling
SUPER QUIET 22dBA TRIPLE COPPER HEATPIPE CPU COOLER (£19)
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Facilities
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs
USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
Office Software
FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)
Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL
Monitor
IIYAMA E2473HDS 24" LED WIDESCREEN, 2 x HDMI/DVI-D HD 1920x1080 (£169) Better monitor
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days
Quantity
1

Price: £1,400.00 including VAT and delivery.

Configure Here: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/comput...ndy-bridge-pc/

[Wozza365]

Id recommend one powerhouse graphics card rather than two weaker, as it will allow you to add a second more powetrful cad later (PSU may need adjusting) id say get the 570 or 580

[UndeadJack]

Yeah 570 is good but hella xpensive

[SlinkyHD]

Ok so do you guys think this will be a suitiable config?
I think I would rather go for the 2 560's instead of 1 570.. I'm a little tight on my budget as it is..



Is the i7 2600k any different from the 2600 ? .. If so is it worth getting or sticking to the little cheaper 2600?




Case
COOLERMASTER HAF 932 FULL TOWER GAMING CASE

Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™i7-2600 Quad Core (3.40GHz, 8MB Cache) + HD Graphics

Motherboard
ASUS® P8Z68-V: USB 3.0, SATA 6GBs, NVIDIA®SLI™, ATI®CrossFireX

Memory (RAM)
16GB SAMSUNG DDR3 DUAL-DDR3 1333MHz (4 X 4GB)

Graphics Card
1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 Ti - 2 DVI,HDMI,VGA - 3D Vision Ready

2nd Graphics Card
1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 Ti - 2 DVI,HDMI,VGA - 3D Vision Ready

Memory - 1st Hard Disk
500GB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD5002AALX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 32MB CACHE (7200rpm)

1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
24x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM

Memory Card Reader
INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (XD, MS, CF, SD, etc) + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT

Power Supply
COOLERMASTER 750W GX SERIES™ -80 PLUS® BRONZE (£72) **SPECIAL***

Processor Cooling
TITAN FENRIR EVO EXTREME HEATPIPE CPU COOLER (£39)

Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Network Facilities
ONBOARD 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs

USB Options
6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD

Operating System
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)

Office Software
FREE Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 (Limited functionality Word & Excel)

Anti-Virus
BULLGUARD INTERNET SECURITY - FREE 90 DAY TRIAL

Monitor
24" Widescreen TFT 1920 x1080 5MS, DVI, 23.6" Panel (£119)

DVI-D & HDMI Monitor Cables
1 x 2 METRE DVI-D CABLE (£5)

Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour) (£5)

Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)

Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 10 to 12 working days
Quantity 1

[Petchi b]

Yeah looks good. But you really need a HD monitor, upgrade to a Iiyama if you can 22" minimum. Also I think you would be better off getting a better single GPU than 2 weaker ones but if you cant stretch that far then it should still do a pretty good job of playing the latest games.

Also the "k" variant of the CPU is for overclocking so yeah you will be fine with the 2600 if you are not going to overclock. Finally, you could save £20 if you downgraded your CPU cooler to the tripple copper as it will still keep your CPU nice and cool. The more expensive coolers are only really needed if you are overclocking.