New PC Time

[smite]

As mentioned in another thread, I am looking at a new PC. Last one purchased from Dell in 2007.
I have no idea of current technology so may need some help with my decision, as it needs to last another 5-6 years.
The build I have found / made so far from PC Specialist:
(Still undecided between the Nvidia GTX970 and the AMD R9 390)

[TABLE=class: tab_box, width: 100%, align: center]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdlb]Case
ZALMAN Z11 PLUS BLACK MID TOWER CASE
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
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[TD=class: tdl]Processor (CPU)
Intel® Coreâ,,¢i7 Quad Core Processor i7-6700k (4.0GHz) 8MB Cache
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdlb]Motherboard
ASUS® Z170 PRO GAMING: ATX, LG1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdl]Memory (RAM)
16GB KINGSTON HYPER-X FURY DDR4 2666MHz (2 x 8GB)
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdlb]Graphics Card
4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 970 - DVI, HDMI, mDP - 3D Vision Ready
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdl]1^st Hard Disk
240GB KINGSTON HYPERX SAVAGE SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 560MB/sR | 530MB/sW)
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdlb]2^nd Hard Disk
1TB WD BLACK WD1003FZEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdl]1^st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
16x BLU-RAY WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW & SOFTWARE
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdlb]Power Supply
CORSAIR 650W CS SERIESâ,,¢ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET (£69)
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdl]Processor Cooling
Corsair H55 Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler (£39)
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdlb]Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND (£9)
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdl]Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdlb]Wireless/Wired Networking
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT (Wi-Fi NOT INCLUDED)
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[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdl]USB Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdlb]Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
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[TD=class: tdl]Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£79)
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
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[TD=class: tdlb]Office Software
NO OFFICE SOFTWARE
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[/TR]
[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
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[TD=class: tdl]Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
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[TR]
[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdlb]Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
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[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
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[TD=class: tdl]Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
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[TD=class: tdw, align: center]
[/TD]
[TD=class: tdlb]Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 9 to 11 working days
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[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[Gunda]

how much? i'd take a look at overclockers.co.uk as well if you are looking for a re-built one. if not just build one yourself and use something like http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/ to pick your parts.

[TeaLeaf]

I have no idea of current technology so may need some help with my decision, as it needs to last another 5-6 years.
The build I have found / made so far from PC Specialist:

(Still undecided between the Nvidia GTX970 and the AMD R9 390)

Looks like despite lack of knowledge you've put together a solid system there Smite, good job! :thumbsup:

If you are only ever doing 1080 resolutions then the 970 does well and uses less power.  Increase the resolution to higher than 1080p though and the 390 seems to win everywhere.   So for a system designed to last 5-6 years it would seem to favour the 390 quite heavily as you are more than likely to want to use higher than 1080 resolutions.

Selection of benchmarks here (both OC and stock speeds for both).

I currently have 2 x nVidia cards in my system, but if I were buying today with your goals I'd be buying the 8GB R9 390.  Your motherboard supports Crossfire and SLI, so you could swing either way in the future or double up in the shorter term when needs demand.

[smite]

Hi Gunda, it all came to around £1,200. Working out a similar system on OC sent the pricey s much higher. I can't be arsed to build my own, I want someone else to do the hard work and 3 years warranty seems quite good.

Hi TL, I have done a bit of research but all the numbers mean little to me these days. SSD completely threw me for a while, how things have changed.
I have the same opinion on the cards, while I do need to buy a new monitor it was only going to be a 1080 as I'm not looking to spend over £200.

Thank you for the replies gents.

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

[Gunda]

looks good, i'd make your 2nd HD bigger though, 1TB runs out fast when games are getting to 40Gb each kinda level.

[smite]

Quite happy with this set-up.
I will probably wait for a few weeks before ordering, contemplating popping to the LAN on the Saturday to see what other people are using (as well as catch-up )

The next advice I need is a monitor... I can't spend anymore than £200.
The only manufacturers I recognise are Dell, Asus and Samsung. Who else make decent monitors.
What technology should I be looking at? IPS, curved, 1ms, 5ms etc...

[Gorion]

To be frank, you won't be able to afford curved or IPS in that price range.

A good TN panel of around 24" should be doable however.  You might need to find a discounted one however.

[OldBloke]

Dell U2412M is just under your budget. 1920x1200 so 16:10 which is a much more useful all-round ratio than 16:9.

[smite]

Cheers Gents, this Dell was currently at the top of my list. Makes me feel better that you mentioned it

[Gorion]

That's some mean discount.  Amazon shows £192 instead of £327.

[TeaLeaf]

Dell U2412M is just under your budget. 1920x1200 so 16:10 which is a much more useful all-round ratio than 16:9.

+1 for this one.  I got this one for my Dexterous and he has been very pleased with it (he uses for gaming and homework, more the former than latter!).  
+1 for the 16:10 ratio too, which I also use on my main desktop monitor.

[smite]

I'm confused. What is the picture difference between the U2412M and the U2414H ??
The 2412 has a brighter screen /m² and 16:10 ratio but that seems to be it.
The 2414 is cheaper, uses half the power, HDMI ports and thinner bezel.

Does the 16:10 1920 x 1200 make that much difference??

Same price on overclockers at £200.

[Gorion]

Does the 16:10 1920 x 1200 make that much difference??

Generally, yes it does as 16:10 are not that common, hence they charge more for them.

[TeaLeaf]

From my perspective there is not a lot of difference.    Both will connect to the planned graphics card, both same panel, the key differences are slightly different connection options and the ratio.

For my part, I really appreciate the 16:10 ratio which I use at home.   I have a 1920x1080 at work and it always seems too shallow to me.   If you do any work with documents then you'll notice the difference a lot - you also notice it in sims (eg Flight Sim) and gaming generally I find.    Overall I just prefer 16:10 to the approx 18:10 ratio used by 1920x1080 panels.

Unless you are planning some wierd multiple monitor daisy chain set up, DP or HDMI is a non issue.

[smite]

How about I throw in extra £27 and go for the U2415

Damn it, the price is going up again. SWMBO is gonna bitch slap me.