Gaming PC build advice.

[KWAKAMAN]

Hi guys.

Hoping to build my first PC but am getting a bit bogged down with so many options.
Read so many build threads/advice it has got me pulling my hair out.

Looking to build something that will run Project CARS and AC on high settings smoothly. Not too worried about ultra as long as gameplay is smooth.
Will only get used for Sim racing and browsing. No heavy video editing etc.

Will be running on a 47" 3D Led TV.
Budget between £600-£700 max. (must inc OS Win 8.1) no need for keyboard or mouse.

Would like a build that can be upgraded later on, so a decent PSU and MOBO/CPU maybe essential.

Any recommendations?

AMD FX or i5?

AMD FX 8350 or 6300 or i5 4690k or i5 ????

Ram will be 8GB no need for more.

Do I build the basics and choose the best GPU for max the budget, as that will be the thing that will get updated the most down the line.?

Do I buy the best GPU (within reason) then pick CPU/MOBO etc?

I think a small SSD for OS would be good and a 1 TB for other stuff or do anyone recommend a SDHDD hybrid?

.....................

Did a couple of sample builds.

AMD= http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3JjGNG
i5 = http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/r87wK8 slightly over budget.

Any suggestions on builds? Would like AC to run smooth with decent visuals.

Any pre built / off the shelf PCs that will do the trick? That way I get a warranty too.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[DQuaN]

I'll rply in full when I'm less drunk but I would go with Intel and nvidia.

 

[acascianelli]

Go with Intel CPU's if you can. The gaming performance gap between Intel and AMD CPU's is laughable.

I'm able to play AC just fine with a dual Xeon 5160 (dual-core 3ghz) and a Radeon 6850.

 

[KWAKAMAN]

Been changing a few things. http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3ThKdC

 

[Kitten]

Go watercooled.. AMD's tend to catch fire

Edit: Just saw you have a cooler

 

[Techy]

Been changing a few things. http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/3ThKdC

That system isn't half bad. Though I think the i5 is a better choice for gaming. The 6300, while decent enough to handle most games, will struggle a bit under CPU-bound games or moments that need CPU raw power. The i5 will handle even AC:U, a train-wreck of a game, well. But if you're really tight with budget, the 6300 will work pretty well. Also if you're getting it for its 6-cores, a lot of games can't take advantage of that yet. EDIT: Here's something worth reading about CPU performance
I would do a separate SSD and a separate HDD. The SDD will have the OS and your most-used programs on it while the HDD will have everything else. The only benefit games will receive when it's installed on an SSD is faster loading times.
As for the GPU, usually if you're gonna play games GPU is more prioritized. But it makes no sense to buy a high-end GPU but buy a low-end CPU.
As for upgradability, that depends on your budget.

 

[ENDURANCEGUY]

The only thing I can really say here is:

If you can go for Intel, go for it. AMD's FX CPU motherboards only have PCIe 2.0. Intel boards have 3.0
This will be better in the future in terms of upgrading.

 

[KWAKAMAN]

Getting mixed reviews.
Didn't even know 6300 was 6 core. Just picked from reviews and popularity or pcpicker.

Think the R280 3GB http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IYD0HYO/?tag=gtplanetuk-20 will be my GPU choice, just need a CPU and mobo to match that wont break the bank.
Added Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" SSD to the build for the OS now.

 

[Johnnypenso]

Getting mixed reviews.
Didn't even know 6300 was 6 core. Just picked from reviews and popularity or pcpicker.

Think the R280 3GB http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IYD0HYO/?tag=gtplanetuk-20 will be my GPU choice, just need a CPU and mobo to match that wont break the bank.
Added Samsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5" SSD to the build for the OS now.

The only thing the SSD affects is loading times and 120 gb might let you put Windows and 1 game on it if you're lucky. It doesn't make your games run any better. I'd take the money you're putting into the SSD and get an even better videocard right now. A GTX970 has nearly double the benchmark of the R9 280 and we know that Project Cars has been optimized for the NVidia cards already. If you want to run some large fields offline with weather and time change and high settings, and not experience slow frame rates, you're going to need some hefty GPU power to do that. I'd trade off some slower loading times on Windoze for the reassurance of power to spare with the GPU.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

120gb SSD is not big enough. I know because I have one. With windows and a *FEW* often used programs, in addition to a temporary "working file" directory, it's routinely full. Which is why I have a 1TB HDD "Y-Drive" archive.

 

[KWAKAMAN]

Thanks again for advice. Still think the R280 3GB will give me a good enough visuals for my liking.
Upped the SSD to 240GB to keep the load speed up. (as a bit of a moaner about slow load times).

R280 seems good value for money and can always upgrade later.

This is were I am at with the build now.

http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/p/9BCMrH

 

[sesselpupser]

I'd suggest only looking at a Samsung 850 (or 840 if they're still available) or Crucial M500 SSD, the former is generally accepted to be the best on the market while the latter isn't quite as good but is possibly better value for money. I've never heard anything about Sandisk SSDs but it seems like everyone I know either has an 840, 850 or M500 - I have an 840 256GB myself and it is pretty impressive.

Do you really need a DVD drive? If you can get Windows on a USB drive (I think you can?) then you could probably just lose that altogether, unless you want to play older games that you can only get on disc I suppose. Then again, at £13.15 there's not much reason to not get one, either.

You don't have a wi-fi card. I forgot to get one when I built my PC, too, but I'd recommend a pair of Homeplug devices anyway.

I'm also going to suggest Intel and Nvidia over AMD. Look up comparisons of the FX 6300 against the i5 4670k and you'll see the Intel wins on everything except price, so if you can stretch to it I'd recommend it. Don't be fooled by the fact that the AMD has two more cores than the Intel, not many games actually take advantage of having multiple cores and even if they did, the Intel is still better anyway. As for graphics, the specs aren't the whole story (read: AMD's software is awful) and Nvidia are way ahead of AMD right now.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I installed windows from a USB drive, so it's definitely possible.

 

[NLxAROSA]

I don't have an optical drive in my PC. Also installed Windows from USB, works brilliantly. Note that you will need another Windows PC to be able to create the installation media.

 

[KWAKAMAN]

@neema.. May swop to Samsung SSD or even drop it altogether. What do you guys recon on hybrid drives?

Must look up how to put Win 8.1 on a usb key as have heard its a lot quicker loading than the disc.

Agree an i5 4670k would be better but adds a whole lot of dosh to the build, that I can not really justify at the moment.

Delivery of my Fanatec CSW v2 & SQ shifter arrives tomorrow(hopefully). That has emptied the piggy bank.
The reason building this is the lack of an Xbone wheel for the V2 base and want to play AC.

Will have to stick with the TX wheel till get the xbone rim as should be compatible with pc as well.
................................................
Not looking forward to the first boot up to full up and running stage. So much to check/do. Flash bios / update everything etc. A noob to all this. Only ever bought off the shelf units.
Would much prefer to buy an off the shelf item, but nothing suitable with the spec I want for the price.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

You can get for just over £13 more, i5 4440 and H97 motherboard. Also probably worth getting a GTX 960, save some more power consumption and should get a decent performance improvement.