Time For Something New.

[JLR]

Hi everyone,
Been putting away some cash over the last few months for a new build and now the time has come.

I'm looking to upgrade to a new Mobo, CPU, RAM, Cooler and GFX Card. My budget is £400 and looking to get the best bang for buck. If the build comes to a bit over the limit I don't mind paying the exta.

The Mobo and CPU I have chosen so far are

Asus P8Z77- V
Intel i5 3570k

I have chosen this Mobo as I'm a fan of Asus and would like to stick with them.

What are everyone's thoughts on this so far and can anyone reccomend a good GFX Card (s) and RAM. I don't need a Case/HDD etc as I already have these.

Thanks,
JLR.

 

[jamesriley94]

You'd probably be better off with an MSI Z77a-G45 over the Asus. Don't get me wrong - Asus boards are good - but at the lower end they're possibly a little lacking in performance compared to the similarly priced MSI alternatives. Worth a look, even if you do choose to stick with Asus.

Are the motherboard and CPU included in the £400 budget? If so - that's only leaving around £150 to work with for GPU, RAM and cooler.

The minimum GPU I'd say get would be a 7850 (assuming you are using this for gaming?) which is already hitting the £150 budget.

RAM - any 8gb kit of Corsair or Mushkin RAM - DDR3 at 1600mhz would do you fine.

Then you'd have to see how much more you're willing to spend on the cooler.

 

[JLR]

You'd probably be better off with an MSI Z77a-G45 over the Asus. Don't get me wrong - Asus boards are good - but at the lower end they're possibly a little lacking in performance compared to the similarly priced MSI alternatives. Worth a look, even if you do choose to stick with Asus.

Are the motherboard and CPU included in the £400 budget? If so - that's only leaving around £150 to work with for GPU, RAM and cooler.

The minimum GPU I'd say get would be a 7850 (assuming you are using this for gaming?) which is already hitting the £150 budget.

RAM - any 8gb kit of Corsair or Mushkin RAM - DDR3 at 1600mhz would do you fine.

Then you'd have to see how much more you're willing to spend on the cooler.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply no the RAM and cooler are not in the budget (sorry I should have mentioned that) yes the PC will be used for gaming so I will need a decent card to run Battlefield etc. I don't mind spending more than £400 that is my guideline amount.

 

[Bang]

The 3570k will do you fine for gaming. For the mainboard I have to agree with James. MSI is making some very hard to beat kit. Asus tends to be a bit overpriced for the features you get IMO. However, narrow your choices down to 5 or 6 boards and pick the one with the features you want at the price you like. I would include the GD45 amongst the choices though.

For air cooling look at the review on the Noctua NH-D14 that Tom did. For water cooling most people would say the Corsair H100i. Stock cooling will do you fine as long as you dont OC too hard, till you can get the cooler you really want.

Please, dont get 1333Mhz ram

 

[IsaacJDean]

Or the Phanteks PH-TC14PE if you like prettier colours Aria have a deal on right now 8GB corsair vengeance for £25.99 I think, if they haven't run out already.

 

[JLR]

Thanks for the replies I will do a bit more research just checked Aria there's no Corsair Vengeance left :-(

Don't worry Bang it's going to be 1600mhz RAM

 

[Goldskis45]

I just have to throw my two bits in, I'm using that exact board, it is worth it...

 

[JLR]

The 3570k will do you fine for gaming. For the mainboard I have to agree with James. MSI is making some very hard to beat kit. Asus tends to be a bit overpriced for the features you get IMO. However, narrow your choices down to 5 or 6 boards and pick the one with the features you want at the price you like. I would include the GD45 amongst the choices though.

For air cooling look at the review on the Noctua NH-D14 that Tom did. For water cooling most people would say the Corsair H100i. Stock cooling will do you fine as long as you dont OC too hard, till you can get the cooler you really want.

Please, dont get 1333Mhz ram

Just been looking at the Corsair H100i that looks like a very nice water cooler dont think I will get it into my Antec Twelve Hundred case tho

That MSI board looks tasty too and its cheaper.

Hmmm decisions decisions.