Opinions on this gaming PC

[DanBee]

This will be my first PC for 8 years, which I built myself, it's a i7 4790k, 16gb ram, asus strix gtx 980 and still running ok.

I didn't want the hassle this time though and decided PC Specialist gave me the best options for what I wanted after looking at various info on competitors

I'm a bit late as the PC is already "In Building", but I just wanted to double check that I got everything covered and the spec is all ok. The PC will be used for gaming, internet, possibly streaming games and hopefully paired with a Neo G9 in a month or so!

The processor cooler is actually the Corsair H150i RGB PRO XT Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler, but I couldn't choose that option this time.

Case
COOLERMASTER MASTERCASE H500M GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 12-Core Processor i7-12700K (3.6GHz) 25MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO WIFI (LGA1700, USB 3.2, PCIe 5.0) - ARGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 5200MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
24GB ASUS ROG STRIX GEFORCE RTX 3090 - HDMI, DP
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 7000MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 530 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 7300MB/R, 6900MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1200W HX SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® PLATINUM, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Braided Power Supply Cables
CORSAIR Premium Individually Sleeved PSU Cable Kit Pro - Black
Processor Cooling
Corsair iCUE H100i RGB PRO XT Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Headsets
ASUS TUF GAMING H3 Headset
Warranty
3 Year Platinum Warranty (3 Year Collect & Return, 3 Year Parts, 3 Year labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 6 to 8 working days
Price: £4,561.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z690-ddr5-pc/heAUG62wvA/

 

[MrWilson]

What an absolute monster!
There are probably some areas that I might have dialled back on for your uses (3080ti being much cheaper than the 3090 for example) but this is going to be absolutely phenomenal when it arrives and shouldn’t have any issues!

Would love to see some photos, especially paired with the G9 when it arrives!

 

[SpyderTracks]

Echo what @MrWilson says, that's a pretty well specced machine. It's well balanced, no bottlenecks which is the main thing.

 

[Scott]

Wayyyyyyy OTT, but everything matches well enough. I would have found better ways to spend £1700 though as a very similarly performing PC could have been had for £3k IMO. I may have even squirreled it away for the 4080 around the corner.

 

[Steveyg]

This would get similar performance for significantly cheaper mate

Case
CORSAIR iCUE 5000X RGB MID TOWER GAMING CASE
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 12-Core Processor i7-12700K (3.6GHz) 25MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI (LGA1700, USB 3.2, PCIe 5.0) - ARGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR5 5200MHz (2 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
10GB NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3080 - HDMI, DP, LHR
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
1st M.2 SSD Drive
2TB SEAGATE FIRECUDA 530 GEN 4 PCIe NVMe (up to 7300MB/R, 6900MB/W)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 1200W HX SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® PLATINUM, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Braided Power Supply Cables
CORSAIR Premium Individually Sleeved PSU Cable Kit Pro - Black
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE LCD Display RGB CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Warranty
3 Year Silver Warranty (1 Year Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 6 to 8 working days
Price: £3,166.00 including VAT and Delivery

Unique URL to re-configure: https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/intel-z690-ddr5-pc/we9r2sSxUV/

 

[DanBee]

I did consider the 3080 and was gonna go with the 3080 ti originally, but I decided the extra vram on the 3090 would be the better option if I go for the neo G9 monitor.

The PC went into "In Testing" this morning!

 

[Steveyg]

I did consider the 3080 and was gonna go with the 3080 ti originally, but I decided the extra vram on the 3090 would be the better option if I go for the neo G9 monitor.

The PC went into "In Testing" this morning!

For gaming there is pretty much nothing that uses more than 10GB of VRAM mate, the 24GB of VRAM will just not get used that's why the 3090 is not a recommended gaming GPU but hey it's your money

 

[Scott]

I did consider the 3080 and was gonna go with the 3080 ti originally, but I decided the extra vram on the 3090 would be the better option if I go for the neo G9 monitor.

The PC went into "In Testing" this morning!

That doesn't really hold up to be honest. The G9 isn't even 4k, pixel count wise, and the 3070Ti is a known decent 4k card. The 3080 is the top end, sensible, 4k option and ideal for the highest end gaming. Going above this offers hugely diminishing returns.

If you consider the point of the vRAM, it's to hold data while the GPU processes it. The faster the GPU processes, the less VRAM required for the same process.

For gaming, you won't be front loading the vRAM anywhere near the capacity of the 3080.

 

[DanBee]

Well 9 days ago I wrote that my order had gone into the testing phase, and guess what - it's still in the testing phase!

I have messaged tech support 3 times what the problem is and what is holding my order up and remained patient.

I'm still sat here clueless as to what the problem is, frustrated and seriously considering asking for my money back.

 

[Steveyg]

Well 9 days ago I wrote that my order had gone into the testing phase, and guess what - it's still in the testing phase!

I have messaged tech support 3 times what the problem is and what is holding my order up and remained patient.

I'm still sat here clueless as to what the problem is, frustrated and seriously considering asking for my money back.

Most likely a problem with a part that they are awaiting stock of to replace it, better they find the issue now than you finding the issue when the computer arrives mate

Give them a call I find it's the best way to get answers

 

[DanBee]

I phoned!

And.......they don't know what the problem is.

Lovely.

 

[DanBee]

The person who I spoke to yesterday said he would send me an email yesterday later in the afternoon when he had more information, never happened, they couldn't be bothered to inform me with whatever the problems are again.

I've requested a refund.

 

[DanBee]

I was contacted yesterday, about 13:00, by a member of the PC Specialist support team. We exchanged a few emails where he let me know what problems had arisen during the testing process and also informed me that they had been identified and resolved. He also gave me a little information as to why communications had broken down during the testing process.

He asked me if I would like to carry on with the cancellation of the order, or as the computer was now ready for dispatch, whether I would like to proceed with the order.

Needless to say, I said I would like to carry on with the order, but if anymore problems arise during the 2 week cancellation period, I will ask for a refund without hesitation.

The computer was delivered today, about 13:00, I met the DPD driver at the back gate to my house, and early impressions not too great so far! The box is in such a state I can see the PC through the edges of box and can feel it pressing against the cardboard. It had only been in transit say 8 hours, given I live in East Anglia.

The contents of the box cost me over £4,500, seeing the PC delivered in this state and after what's happened the last couple of weeks with communications, well I'm not exactly filled with confidence of the longevity of my PC that's for sure! It was slightly awkward even getting the box into the house without it falling apart......

Currently the box is sitting on my kitchen floor, unopened, Im waiting on a reply to an email I sent to PC Specialist after the delivery before I proceed any further.

The dpd image pic 4 was taken by the DPD driver, with me standing next to it.

 

[DarTon]

I'd open the box and get the PC setup. You've taken pictures of the state of the box, so you have evidence of it clearly being knocked around. To be honest, though the box is there to take those knocks so the PC doesn't have to. What matters is the state of the PC, not the state of the box. My box was also somewhat battered and the quality of the packaging left something to be desired but the bottomline was the PC was perfectly fine.

 

[DanBee]

I'm just a bit bemused atm, considering it was only packaged sometime friday through monday morning, I don't think I've ever had anything delivered in that state before.

I'll probably leave it till tomorrow now, if I unpack it.

 

[DanBee]

I thought about it Tuesday night and decided Wednesday morning to issue an RMA for refund.

The standard of service I've received from PC Specialist so far hasn't been of the quality I would have expected, it's been nothing but frustration and stress at how their customer services treated me and then the minimal protection they gave to the PC when they sent it out for delivery.

I no longer wish to have to deal with them again in future.

The PC was collected today by DPD at about 13:20.

 

[Steveyg]

Sorry you had a bad experience mate, hopefully get something you're happy with in the end