Building a gaming PC is necessary, your advice is very important.
Building a gaming PC is necessary, your advice is very important.
PCPartPicker List of Components
CPU:
*
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor
(£328.98 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler:
*
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III A-RGB 48.82 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
(£76.98 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard:
*
Asus TUF GAMING B650-PLUS WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard
(£169.99 @ Amazon UK)
Memory:
*
TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
(£122.36 @ Amazon UK)
Storage:
*
Lexar NM710 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
(£123.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Video Card:
*
Gigabyte WINDFORCE V2 GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16 GB Video Card
(£997.56 @ MoreCoCo)
Case:
*
Lian Li LANCOOL 216 ATX Mid Tower Case
(£109.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Power Supply:
*
be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(£144.06 @ NeoComputers)
Operating System:
*
Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit
(£103.84 @ Senetic)
Case Fan:
*
Lian Li UNI FAN SL V2 77.6 CFM 140 mm Fan
(£27.99 @ AWD-IT)
Monitor:
*
Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQML1A 27.0" 2560 x 1440 260 Hz Monitor
(£428.99 @ Amazon UK)
Overall Cost: £2633.73
Prices encompass shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected lowest-priced items based on specified criteria
Created by
PCPartPicker
2024-05-13 09:40 BST+0100
PCPartPicker List of Components
CPU:
*
Intel Core i7-13700KF 3.4 GHz 16-Core Processor
(£337.00 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler:
*
ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III A-RGB 48.82 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler
(£76.98 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard:
*
MSI MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
(£229.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Memory:
*
TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
(£122.36 @ Amazon UK)
Storage:
*
Lexar NM710 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
(£123.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Video Card:
*
Gigabyte WINDFORCE V2 GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16 GB Video Card
(£997.56 @ MoreCoCo)
Case:
*
Lian Li LANCOOL 216 ATX Mid Tower Case
(£109.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Power Supply:
*
be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 1000 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(£144.06 @ NeoComputers)
Operating System:
*
Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit
(£103.84 @ Senetic)
Case Fan:
*
Lian Li UNI FAN SL V2 77.6 CFM 140 mm Fan
(£27.99 @ AWD-IT)
Monitor:
*
Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQML1A 27.0" 2560 x 1440 260 Hz Monitor
(£428.99 @ Amazon UK)
Overall Cost: £2700.76
Costs encompass shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected parts based on predefined parameters
Created by
PCPartPicker
2024-05-13 09:43 BST+0100
I will be going with pre-built as I don't have the confidence to build my own without risking damage. At least then can rely on the warranty. The listed parts are VERY helpful as I can check/customise the build based on input.
That's true, though a lot of new games do not run due to the requirements, for example, Star Wars Jedi Survivor and Age of Empires 4 (think I got lucky with Cyberpunk, though it was very low detail).
In a nutshell what I am after is:
* Runs games at a high level of detail while maintaining good FPS.
* Within £2500 - £3000 (What my wife agreed I could spend after saving ^_^)
* Will have some future proof to it, spend a little more now to avoid spending later on (read that intel is bad for this?)
* With monitors, I would like 4k or a high-quality resolution around 32" upwards (curved) that can utilise the hardware to its best. Currently using a 42" TV at the moment as my old monitor broke and we decided to use the bedroom TV as the monitor (1920x1080).
Thank you everyone for all your advice its extremely helpful.
Matt
Considering the suggested price for the 4K monitor and the specific requirements (high detail and FPS), it would be wise to slightly increase the budget since 4K demands are substantial.
On the other hand, skipping the 4K requirement allows for a QHD gaming PC at a more affordable price while still offering top-notch components and a suitable monitor.
A £200 4K monitor is unlikely to meet gaming needs. Such models typically fall short in performance.
For around £3000, I would consider a 4K setup:
(
@helper800
'Initial build recommendations, or RX 790XTX builds are excellent.
@Why_Me
also recommended strong 4K and 1440p configurations)
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i7-14700K 3.4 GHz 20-Core Processor
(£382.99 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Phantom Spirit EVO 69 CFM CPU Cooler
(£42.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Motherboard:
MSI MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
(£169.99 @ Amazon UK)
Memory:
G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-5600 CL28 Memory
(£113.84 @ Amazon UK)
Storage:
TEAMGROUP MP44L 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
(£119.20 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card:
Gigabyte WINDFORCE V2 GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16 GB Video Card
(£979.00 @ MoreCoCo)
Case:
Fractal Design Meshify 2 ATX Mid Tower Case
(£135.99 @ Ebuyer)
Power Supply:
SeaSonic VERTEX PX-1200 1200 W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(£271.49 @ Scan.co.uk)
Operating System:
Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit
(£103.84 @ Senetic)
Monitor:
Samsung Odyssey Neo G8 32.0" 3840 x 2160 240 Hz Curved Monitor
(£787.99 @ MoreCoCo)
*** alternateMonitor:
Gigabyte GS27QC 27.0" 2560 x 1440 170 Hz Curved Monitor
(£258.44 @ Amazon UK)
Total:
£3106.33
Prices cover shipping, taxes, and available discounts
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-05-13 12:54 BST+0100
The motherboard might require flashing before it can accommodate the 14700K CPU. The procedure is straightforward, as demonstrated in the link:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHmmCXtGTKw
You don’t have to worry about assembling it yourself. The parts are robust enough, and you won’t void warranty by building the PC yourself.
If assembly costs arise, avoid opting for replacement parts unless necessary. We aim to provide only trusted, high-quality components, and we understand that some shops may push unnecessary upgrades.
Regarding future-proofing, the CPU isn’t a bottleneck, but newer models exist, so upgrading the CPU remains an option if prices drop.
Switching from 32 GB RAM to 64 GB could be feasible someday, though it’s unlikely in the near term. Finding lower latency DDR5 RAM might be possible, but it’s uncertain.
The PSU includes extra capacity for GPU spikes.
In reality, significant upgrades won’t be needed until the PC becomes nearly outdated—perhaps within a decade? We can’t predict game development trends.
The only upgrade path is adding more NVMe SSDs. There are four slots available.
1440p build
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: Intel Core i5-13600K 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor (£289.99 @ AWD-IT)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Phantom Spirit EVO 69 CFM (£42.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Motherboard: MSI MAG Z690 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX LGA1700 (£169.99 @ Amazon UK)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-5600 CL28 (£113.84 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: TEAMGROUP MP44L 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD (£119.20 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: Gigabyte WINDFORCE OC GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB (£787.00 @ MoreCoCo)
Case: Fractal Design North ATX Mid Tower Case (£118.99 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: SeaSonic FOCUS GX-1000 ATX 3.0 1000 W (£143.38 @ Amazon UK)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home Retail - Download 64-bit (£103.84 @ Senetic)
Monitor: Gigabyte GS27QC 27.0" 2560 x 1440 170 Hz Curved (£258.44 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £2146.67
Includes shipping, taxes, and available discounts
Generated by PCPartPicker
2024-05-13 13:27 BST+0100
Same motherboard applies; BIOS may be outdated and require flashing.
Expenses are lower mainly because the monitor isn’t a high-end gaming model. Upgrades to faster CPU and GPU can be considered later, but it meets 1440p requirements immediately.
With a clearer scenario in mind, here are several alternatives due to financial limitations:
AMD:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor
(£329.00 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Phantom Spirit EVO 69 CFM CPU Cooler
(£42.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Motherboard:
Gigabyte B650 GAMING X AX V2 ATX AM5 Motherboard
(£149.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Memory:
G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
(£116.28 @ Amazon UK)
Storage:
Lexar NM710 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
(£113.99 @ MoreCoCo)
Video Card:
PowerColor Hellhound Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24 GB Video Card
(£839.98 @ Ebuyer)
Case:
Lian Li LANCOOL 215 ATX Mid Tower Case
(£85.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Power Supply:
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 1050 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(£121.49 @ Scan.co.uk)
Overall Cost:
£1796.74
Costs encompass shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-05-13 16:39 BST+0100
Intel:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i7-13700KF 3.4 GHz 16-Core Processor
(£337.00 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Phantom Spirit EVO 69 CFM CPU Cooler
(£42.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Motherboard:
MSI MEG Z690 UNIFY ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
(£162.80 @ Amazon UK)
Memory:
G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
(£116.28 @ Amazon UK)
Storage:
Lexar NM710 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
(£113.99 @ MoreCoCo)
Video Card:
PowerColor Hellhound Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24 GB Video Card
(£839.98 @ Ebuyer)
Case:
Lian Li LANCOOL 215 ATX Mid Tower Case
(£85.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Power Supply:
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 - TT Premium Edition 1050 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(£121.49 @ Scan.co.uk)
Final Amount:
£1796.74
All amounts include shipping, taxes, and any available discounts
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-05-13 16:44 BST+0100
I would attempt to incorporate a 4080S by opting for DDR4 and selecting a premium SSD such as this.
Also, take a look at this miniLED display:
https://tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/aoc-agon-pro-ag344uxm
Review of AOC Agon Pro AG344UXM: a top-tier ultrawide flat-screen Mini LED monitor
The AOC Agon Pro AG344UXM is perfect for high-performance gamers, though it comes at a higher cost
www.t3.com
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
Intel Core i7-13700KF 3.4 GHz 16-Core Processor
(£337.00 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Phantom Spirit EVO 69 CFM CPU Cooler
(£42.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Motherboard:
ASRock Z690 Extreme ATX LGA1700 Motherboard
(£158.86 @ Amazon UK)
Memory:
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
(£63.98 @ Amazon UK)
Storage:
MSI SPATIUM M480 PRO 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
(£129.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Video Card:
Palit JetStream OC GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16 GB Video Card
(£967.98 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Case:
Phanteks XT PRO ULTRA ATX Mid Tower Case
(£66.95 @ AWD-IT)
Power Supply:
MSI MPG A850G PCIE5 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(£98.99 @ Amazon UK)
Monitor:
AOC AGON Pro AG344UXM 34.0" 3440 x 1440 170 Hz Monitor
(£599.99 @ Amazon UK)
Overall Cost:
£2465.73
Costs cover shipping, taxes, and any available discounts
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2024-05-13 20:14 BST+0100
Here are a few points to consider:
- There are numerous choices available, which can be both advantageous and overwhelming.
- Because the purchase is planned for September, it's wise to keep in mind that prices may fluctuate and new models could appear.
- It is anticipated that new GPUs will be released in Q 2024/Q1 2025, offering significant performance improvements, making it less sensible to invest in current GPU models.
- For evaluating monitor performance, you can refer to the following link: https://www.rtings.com/monitor
Additionally, as mentioned by @helper800, affordable options don't necessarily have to be inferior. Fast IPS panels are great for gaming despite weaker contrast, while VA panels provide excellent contrast and near-perfect blacks, though they may lag in response time. VA screens can appear washed out at angles, but this is unlikely to be a major issue if you're positioned directly in front of the screen. There are budget-friendly fast curved VA panels available, similar to IPS models. I recommend starting your search in the £200-300 range for better value. More expensive models often come with higher costs, and not every premium monitor offers a superior display. OLED and QD-OLED displays offer superior visuals without compromises compared to VA and IPS, though they come at a higher price point. Also, be cautious of monitors that may be prone to burn-in.
For gaming and general use, a 27-inch screen might be ideal. This recommendation is somewhat subjective, but larger screens tend to be heavier and bulkier. For 4K displays, a size of around 32 inches is recommended to fully utilize the resolution. It's advisable to try the monitor in person before making a purchase.