Hey guys so I need help choosing what parts to get for my new gaming rig, i can probably spend like 400 on it, i already have a hard drive i'll be using and i could potentially use the case i have now.

Anyway for starters I'm gonna get the Intel i5 2500k processor
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-Sandybridge-...r/dp/B004FA8NX2

And also this Corsair ram:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004CRS...WV55D0GFJQVVQ6Q

I'm not sure what other parts to get as i'm unfamiliar with their compatiblity with eachother, and also I just don't have a clue what decent graphics cards there are! I don't plan on overclocking as i'm a newb with technology.

so ye suggestions are welcome yo! :smug:

400 pounds? If that's the case, I'm not sure if you can afford to that cpu, unless you're gonna buy some really shitty graphic card.

Well how much are we talking for a graphics card? I don't want a shitty one but it doesn't have to be top of the range!

You need to use probably more than 400 pounds for your computer if you don't want to have a shitty gpu. For 500 pounds you get probably some semi good gaming machine.

P.S A decent gpu costs from 130 euros to 200 euros.

Well i could potentially move to 500, I wont buy it all at once, I'll buy in parts over time, Surely there's a decent gpu out there for not too expensive, something that can run most games nowadays at like medium - high settings.

Skates bought 6850 . That's probably gpu you're looking for. It costs about ~130 pounds I guess.

Looks decent, i guess i'll just do some more research but that looks pretty good as a price, what PSU and motherboard should i get? I wanna make sure all the parts are compatible and all connect to the motherboard etc!

You need to check that the motherboard supports i5 if you're buying Intel Sandybridge i5-2500k, you also need to check whether the motherboard supports DDR3. For instance this should support them both.

edit: Actually I wasn't 100% sure if the motherboard supported sandybridge, so I edited the link xd

If you want a motherboard that supports 2500K, you have to make sure it has the Socket LGA 1155 (Which is the one Sandy Bridge CPUs use) also, you need to make sure that the motherboard supports the ram you have chosen. It all really depends on the motherboard. I myself have the P8P67 Pro, though I have no idea if this is in sale anymore. (http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/P8P67_PRO/)

So, since you want the 2500K you have to make sure you find a motherboard with Socket 1155, and that it supports DDR3 Ram (Especially 1600Mhz, since that is the type you linked to in your first post).

You better link me which online shop you will use, and I can try to find some parts.

After a quick search, I found a Sandy Bridge capable Motherboard for ca 45 pounds. Though it is the P8H61, H means that you cannot overclock it. Also H61 also means that you can use the onboard Intel HD 3000 GPU on the Intel Sandy Bridge 2500K CPU. (If you go for the H chipset, or the Z one which supports it as well, this is a good backup GPU, incase your normal GPU dies).

Though, you better buy the Intel Sandy Bridge 2500 instead of the 2500K. K means that it can be overclocked, and if you are not going to overclock it, it is no point of spending extra money on it. Plus if you buy the H chipset motherboards, you will not be able to overclock it anyway.

Ah thankyou guys you've been so helpful so far! MPC i can buy from anywhere really, they don't all have to be from the same website! Though I guess it would be helpful for delivery purposes, I was planning on buying most of the parts from amazon, though if there is a better website I'll use that! That motherboard you linked me to Plexi looks good, all the requirements i'd need! I'm putting all these down into a document so I can work out which to buy!

EDIT: I just saw the rest of your post mpc, well i'll go for the 2500 then, I would overclock but i'm just not sure how easy it is etc, aslong as it works well without overclocking i'm not too worried!

MPC is putting all parts for his post, so my post isn't relevant anymore.

Here's a list from Amazon which fits together:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-GA-B75M-D...38154295&sr=8-1

Gigabyte SKT-1155 B75M-D3V (Sata 3, USB 3, very nice and cheap. Also supports GPU from CPU) 54.87 Pounds

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-Sandybridge-...38154155&sr=1-8

Intel Sandy Bridge 2500K (Same one I have) 156.20 Pounds
(Note, the 2500 one at amazon, is the same price as the K one)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMX8GX3M2A...38154638&sr=8-1

Corsair XMS3 2x4 GB Kit. 1333 Mhz. Some cheaper ram. Really do not need the fastest unless you really want it. 37.61 Pounds

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Palit-GeForce-Expr...38154814&sr=1-6

Palit Geforce 560 1 GB GDDR5 for 104 Pounds
(Enough to play BF3 at really good settings)


Total 352.68

What else did you need? Powersupply?

Edited mine and added Plexi's motherboard.

haha no worries! How does that gpu compare to the one skates bought?

EDIT: HOLY SHIT, thanks mpc! I will check all of these out, and yeah I need a PSU, the only things i'll use from old computer is my hard drive and maybe my case!

That gpu is about as fast as 6850. It depends on the games you play, but in general, it doesn't really matter.

Oh okay thanks. Mpc i checked out all the links and that all looks pretty good, I think i'll go with that, what else would i need to get completely started? PSU and a case i guess?

I edited my post and added plexi's motherboard he found. So 352 pounds

Check my updated link. I will find a PSU and a case as well. Also, do you need harddisk/dvdplayer and windows operative system?

Ah you guys are life savers!

I will need a dvd player, but I think my current harddisk will be okay, I'm not sure what type it is, but it's 1tb and seeing as harddisks are so expensive I thought i'd re-use it

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-GA-B75M-D...38154295&sr=8-1

Gigabyte SKT-1155 B75M-D3V (Sata 3, USB 3, very nice and cheap. Also supports GPU from CPU) 54.87 Pounds

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Intel-Sandybridge-...38154155&sr=1-8

Intel Sandy Bridge 2500K (Same one I have) 156.20 Pounds
(Note, the 2500 one at amazon, is the same price as the K one)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-CMX8GX3M2A...38154638&sr=8-1

Corsair XMS3 2x4 GB Kit. 1333 Mhz. Some cheaper ram. Really do not need the fastest unless you really want it. 37.61 Pounds

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Palit-GeForce-Expr...38154814&sr=1-6

Palit Geforce 560 1 GB GDDR5 for 104 Pounds
(Enough to play BF3 at really good settings)


Total 352.68 (From old list)

Other stuff needed:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CORSAIR-Builder-Se...38155647&sr=1-5

Corsair 600 Watt PSU: 51.95 Pounds

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-DDU1681S-0B-1...38155784&sr=1-1

Simple DVD Player (SATA Type, does not include cables, but you should get with your motherboard) for 12 pounds

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Antec-Three-Hundre...38155851&sr=1-1

PC Case: Antec 300 for 42.47 Pounds

My brother uses Antec, and they are nice cases. If you do not like it, just find something else, though make sure it supports ATX type motherboards.

So Old stuff + PSU + DVD + Case = 459.1 Pounds.

This does not include a Operative System. For Windows 7, you will have to pay an additional 60-70 pounds, depending on what type and if its 32 bit or 64 bit. I recommend 64 bit, because you have over the ram limit for 32 Bit. (I did not pay for mine, YARH!!)

Ahhh god i'm indebted to you! thankyou so much for helping me out with all of this, ye i will need an os system, but i was thinking there may be alternative ways to get hold of it AHEM. I have like 300 in my account so i'll probably start buying it tomorrow! I obviously need the other 150 but i'm sure i'll get that by selling stuff!

Also will i need a heatsink/fan for my cpu?

You get one with the Sandy Bridge CPU. Its not the best, but will suit you fine.

I use the default heatsink on my media PC without problems, but on my main gaming rig, I got a watercooled CPU cooler.

oh okay sweet! i'm presuming you OC on your gaming rig? I guess if you oc you need better heatsink haha. I'm slowly learning more stuff about computers! woo!

Ya, got it OCed from 3.3 ghz to 4.4 ghz

Very nice! I guess i'll look more into overclocking when i have more knowledge with pc's and stuff, so chuffed all the parts come to under 400 pounds.