My Dell XPS 420 Upgrade!

[NeMiiZz]

Ok i currently i have a few components already but im not 100% if this machine is going to be compatible with each other and also the performance i am going to reach.

I will generally use this computer to : Roam the internet, Watch movies and play games like the CoD series upto black ops and Plants vs Zombies which is amazing i must add!

Not really sure how much i am willing to pay, but the most expensive thing I would want to buy would be the Graphics card (looking at the GTX 570) nothing over £300

Current kit :

Case : http://www.scan.co.u...ide-fan-w-o-psu

Motherboard : http://www.overclock...rodid=MB-051-AK

Optical Drives : http://www.overclock...rodid=CD-140-SA

Harddrive : http://www.overclock...=14&subcat=1279

And a few extra fans for case

Desired Kit :

Graphics Card : http://www.overclock...914&subcat=1010

Memory : http://www.overclock...d=8&subcat=1517 (But in blue version)

CPU : http://www.overclock...rodid=CP-360-IN

CPU Fan : http://www.overclock...rodid=HS-039-AR

Power : http://www.overclock...123&subcat=1084

SSD : http://www.scan.co.u...ache-15000-iops (for Windows install only)

In the future I may SLi Graphics card and install water cooling to both cards and CPU but as im not 100% about OCing and have only ever OCed a Graphics card water cooling isnt really needed until i do OC.

So any thoughts, have i made a mistake about the Motherboard?

NeM

 

[Ya93sin]

If you're going up to CoD BO, just go for:

GPU: GTX 560Ti (Twin Frozr II)

RAM: 4GB Mushkin RAM (Redline Ridgeback or Blackline)

CPU: i5-2500K

Cooler: Not sure which are good budget CPU coolers tbh, Noctua NH-D14 is expensive, but if you value quietness and a good overclock then its good for you.

PSU: IMO, you only need about 650W or even lower for the PSU, but if you wanted to upgrade or SLI in the future, the AX850 W is extremely good.

SSD: With the money you've saved, why not go for a much bigger SSD, at least 80GB, ideally 120/128GB? At least that way you easily have enough to put all games and apps on. Say Crucial M4 128GB?

The Mobo is OK, if its purely for gaming fps, the P67 Sabertooth is going to look very nice in a black case... or the ASUS P8Z68 V-Pro, or a Gigabyte P67 UD5 or similar...

 

[Pat123]

I'd avoid overclockers, i've only ever heard bad things.

As for the components the guy above me has given some solid advice. That rig would demolish CoD.

 

[NeMiiZz]

If you're going up to CoD BO, just go for:

GPU: GTX 560Ti (Twin Frozr II)

RAM: 4GB Mushkin RAM (Redline Ridgeback or Blackline)

CPU: i5-2500K

Cooler: Not sure which are good budget CPU coolers tbh, Noctua NH-D14 is expensive, but if you value quietness and a good overclock then its good for you.

PSU: IMO, you only need about 650W or even lower for the PSU, but if you wanted to upgrade or SLI in the future, the AX850 W is extremely good.

SSD: With the money you've saved, why not go for a much bigger SSD, at least 80GB, ideally 120/128GB? At least that way you easily have enough to put all games and apps on. Say Crucial M4 128GB?

The Mobo is OK, if its purely for gaming fps, the P67 Sabertooth is going to look very nice in a black case... or the ASUS P8Z68 V-Pro, or a Gigabyte P67 UD5 or similar...

Well for the Noctua CPU fan i would be looking around £60 - £70 i might just buy the cheap fan i intended just incase of problems and head straight into water cooling just for the cpu for the time being.

thanks for that advice and why would you want to go with the GTX 560 over the GTX 570 which is only £40 more?

Regards NeM

 

[Ya93sin]

Well for the Noctua CPU fan i would be looking around £60 - £70 i might just buy the cheap fan i intended just incase of problems and head straight into water cooling just for the cpu for the time being.

thanks for that advice and why would you want to go with the GTX 560 over the GTX 570 which is only £40 more?

Regards NeM

If you are going to be playing games about as demanding as Black Ops, the 560 is ideal, in fact it will max much more demanding games and still get you good framerates.

Also, the 560Ti has very good overclocking abilities, if you ever watercooled it, then you would be in for a heck of a speed bump.

The 570 is a very good card, but for your needs, its most definitely worth spending less on the GPU, and getting a 560Ti (it really isn't much worse at all imo), and spending more on the SSD. The SSD is going to make arguably the biggest difference to your system-in terms of responsiveness and in loading times. Many people buy an SSD but get one that is perhaps too small, so they regret it, imo 120GB is a perfect size, for all your games, the OS, and your applications. You don't want to have to go through the hassle of putting different apps on different drives.

 

[KiiYzOo]

I'd avoid overclockers, i've only ever heard bad things.

I've only heard good things about ocuk and I've got free postage from them too

 

[Diablo]

I'm guessing you've never had to return something to them. Twice I've had no end of grief for trying to return stuff that was DOA.