Build for a friend

[RadeonHDx]

This is a build for a friend. He wants to keep his budget under £700, so I had a look around and saw what I could get him for his money! Here's what I found. Tell me if I should get something different for him.

Corsair Builder Series CX 430 Watt ATX/EPS 80 PLUS Bronze Power Supply Unit - Corsair
£36.82

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium with Service Pack 1, 64-bit, English, 1 Pack, DSP OEI (PC) (This OEM software is intended for system builders only) - Microsoft OEM Licence; DVD-ROM
£69.99

Asus HD 7870 AMD Radeon DirectCU II Graphics Card - Asus
£195.13

AsRock Z77 Extreme4 Motherboard (Socket 1155, Intel Z77, Up to 32GB DDR3, ATX, 2 x SATA3 6.0 Gb/s, Supports NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX, Premium Gold Caps) - ASrock
£101.98

CiT Mars Midi Tower Part-Mesh Gaming Case with 2x Red LED Fans and LED Display - CiT
£28.99

Intel Sandybridge i5-2500K Unlocked Core i5 Quad-Core Processor (3.30GHz, 6MB Cache, Socket 1155) - Intel
£164.99

Seagate ST31000524AS 3.5 inch Barracuda 1TB GB 7200rpm SATA Drive with 32MB Buffer - Seagate
£55.29

Sony AD-7280S-0B 24x Internal SATA DVD Multi Writer Black Bare - Sony
£14.75

Corsair CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 8GB 1600MHz CL9 DDR3 Vengeance Memory Two Module Kit - Corsair
£44.15

Please feel free to tell me what you think and what I could get that is better for under £700. Thanks in advance!

 

[jamesriley94]

You can still get Windows 8 for £25. I know it's the upgrade version, but you can still install it fine on a new build, so I'd get that instead.

Does your friend really need an optical drive?

I'm sure you can find RAM cheaper elsewhere. You used to be able to get an 8gb kit from Aria for £25 I think?

Then I'd go with an MSI Z77a-G45 with a 3570k instead of the 2500k, then try and get a better case.

Also, I'd probably save money and go for a 7850 considering the price difference.

 

[RadeonHDx]

Thanks James! That's just saved my friend like £30, and he just told me on skype that he doesn't really need an optical drive. The case I have chosen for him is http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aerocool-Strike-X-Advance-Tower-Gaming/dp/B00606NAXW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1358798531&sr=8-7.
I hope you think that's worthy!

 

[jamesriley94]

I'd still say he should try for a better case.
Cases like that look nice and flashy on the outside, but are never that great in quality, or layout on the inside.

The Corsair 200R, 300R, or CM690 would be a better choice in my opinion.
But, it's up to you.

I'd also advise looking elsewhere than just Amazon. A lot of the smaller companies such as Aria have far better prices on certain items than Amazon does.

You even get free next day delivery with Aria just for being a member here.

 

[RadeonHDx]

Aww just looked down aria's case list and saw the 500R! Wish I could fit it into his build! Also just saw the Shinobi, I have loved that case since I first saw the Nurburg rig!

 

[OcSurfer]

maybe get a 7870 le theyre about 177 quid and perform slightly better than a 7950

 

[seumasbeathan]

i5 3570k £158
MSI Z77A G45 £85
HD 7870 £185
Corsair Vengeance 8gb 1600mhz £50? Have Ram prices suddenly gone up? :S the cheapest 8GB kit on Aria is £48
Corsair CX600 £55
Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB £55
Crucial M4 128GB £85
Corsair 300r Windowed £70

Total price - £748

For what is there I think it is worth the extra £40

 

[OcSurfer]

i5 3570k £158
MSI Z77A G45 £85
HD 7870 £185
Corsair Vengeance 8gb 1600mhz £50? Have Ram prices suddenly gone up? :S the cheapest 8GB kit on Amazon is £48
Corsair CX600 £55
Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB £55
Crucial M4 128GB £85
Corsair 300r Windowed £70

Total price - £748

For what is there I think it is worth the extra £40

Is the mushkin 50?
it wasnt earlier when i was looking

 

[RadeonHDx]

Thanks guys, I'm just looking on aria now and seeing how much it would be for him if he were to get it from there. But thanks for reminding me about the Tahile, and I was thinking about putting an SSD in there.